InReview August 2015

The National Church Institutions working for you

August 2015

Synod calls for climate change action - page 2

WELCOME to the latest edition of InReview, featuring news from the National Church Institutions.

Our aim is to keep people in touch with the activities of the Archbishops’ Council,

Church Commissioners, the Pensions Board and other bodies who serve the Church at national level.

Do check out In Focus, our sister publication designed to be a centrespread for A5 parish magazines.

inreviewwww.churchofengland.org

The Bishop of Carlisle has encouraged congregations in the Church of England to contact their MPs to highlight the risks involved in proposed legislation to legalise assisted suicide.

James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle, has asked that parishioners either make an appointment to see their MP or write them a letter expressing their concerns about a Private Member’s Bill to be debated in the House of Commons on Friday September 11.

The Bill is expected to seek to grant phy-sician assisted suicide for mentally com-petent, terminally ill adults, who have six months or less to live.

Continued on page 4

Church encouraged to contact MPs over assisted suicide Bill

Also in this edition:• Reports from

July’s General Synod in York- p2 and p3

• Latest news on Reform and Renewal - p3

• Acts 435 celebrates five years of financial aid - p4

Lead Bishop for the Environment, Nicholas Holtam, pumping water from a lake affected by drought during a visit to Malawi.

The picture was used during a presentation to Synod about the effects of climate change in the developing world.

Page two | The National Church Institutions working for you

The General Synod pledged that urgent action is needed to tackle climate change, in a wide rang-ing motion acknowledging that global warming is disproportionately affecting the world’s poorest.

The Synod overwhelmingly backed a call for world leaders to seek to limit the global rise in average temperatures to a maximum of 2 C - widely considered to be the threshold above which the impacts of climate change will be the most severe.

The motion on combating climate change, the Paris climate change conference and the mission of the Church, included a pledge to draw attention to an initiative to pray and fast for the success of the Paris talks.

The Bishop of Salisbury, Nicholas Holtam, the Church of England’s lead bishop on the environ-ment, introducing the motion, said: “In the last 150 years we have burned fossil fuels that took one billion years to lay down in the earth. The earth cannot sustain this level of consumption. This is about our ‘reading the signs of the times’ and ‘seeking the common good’.

“The science, economics and politics all point in the same direction.

“Climate change disproportionately affects the poorest. They are most vulnerable to increased storms, rising sea level, changing patterns of rain-fall, floods and drought. We live interconnected lives. What is bad for our neighbours is bad for us.”

Speaking during the debate, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby called on the Church to look outwards to tackle climate change.

Archbishop Justin said:“We have unrivalled access to

networks around the world. How are we going to use them and look beyond our own boundaries as the Church of England to draw in the resources of the whole Commun-ion? This is a moment not for just looking inwards.”

Negotiators from more than 190 nations will gather in Paris in December to discuss a new global agreement on climate change aimed at limiting greenhouse gas emissions from 2020 when current commitments run out.

During the afternoon session, the Synod also overwhelmingly welcomed the new climate change policy adopted by the Church’s investing bodies.

Speaking during the debate, entitled ‘climate change and invest-ment policy’ debate, the Bishop of Manchester, David Walker said:

“Climate change calls for an urgent response from all of us - individually, institutionally, nation-ally and internationally. And that includes investors.”

The new policy has already been welcomed from both within and outside the Church. The Bishop of

Salisbury called the policy ‘exem-plary’. Nick Stern, Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change, has praised the investing bodies ‘fine and wise leadership’. Christiana Figueres, the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Cli-mate Change, has said the policy is ‘expressive of investor integrity’.Read more about the Church’s work on the environment at:www.churchcare.co.uk/shrinking-the-footprint

Synod gives final approval for Safeguarding legislation

Urgent action needed on climate change urges Synod

The General Synod gave final approval to a package of propos-als intended to take further the process of making the Church a safer place for children and vulnerable adults. Namely, by making the disciplinary processes under the Clergy Dis-cipline Measure 2003 more effective where safeguarding issues arise and by strength-ening the Church’s wider legal framework in relation to safeguarding in various ways. The legislation was originally introduced in February 2014 following a con-sultation launched at Synod in July 2013.

Speaking in the debate, Bishop Paul Butler, lead bishop on safeguarding (pictured), said:

“We all want every single one of our churches and institutions to be safer places and commu-nities for all people; notably for children and adults at times of

risk and harm, whether that be long or short term.” He added that along with facing up to the consequences of the past “our emphasis has to be on pre-vention” stressing that, along with the new legislation, high quality training, safe recruiting and effective quality assurance needed to be implemented at every level of church life.

Read the full news story at:bit.ly/safeguardingfinalapproval

The Bishops of Bath and Wells, and Salisbury pass a baton to be used during Pilgrimages to Paris ahead of the climate summit in December

Don’t stop at the lights - update to environmental guide

Don’t Stop at the Lights - Leading Your Church Through a Changing Climate, first published in 2008 by Church House Publishing, has now a new booklet giving updated information and practical tips to churches on incorporating the environment into the Church year. People who already have the book, co-authored by Claire Foster and David Shreeve, can either download the update or apply for a free copy by email.

David Shreeve, the Church of England’s environmental adviser, said: “So much has happened since Don’t Stop at the Lights was first published in 2008 - the update provides new website links including vital information about how churches can prepare for the forthcoming Paris climate change talks. “Don’t Stop at

the Lights takes the whole of the Church year and gives advice and ideas to churches on how they can include the environment throughout the Christian calendar year. You don’t have to wait for Harvest festival to do something on the environment.”

InReview | Page three

Church should reflect reality of multi-cultural society More needs to be done to promote

the full inclusion and representation of minority ethnic Anglicans at every level of the Church of England, including the most senior clergy appointments, the General Synod heard.

Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford,(pictured, right) introducing a presentation to Synod by the Commit-tee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns (CMEAC) said it was “critically important” that the leadership of the Church of Eng-

land at every level reflects the reality of a multi-cultural society.

“Quite simply, the leadership and min-istry of the Church of England no longer looks like or adequately reflects the diver-sity and creativity of the communities it serves. This should be a huge concern and directly affects our credibility as a national Church and our mission,” he said.

“Until we look like the community we serve, not only are we denying ourselves of talent and insight, we are making the

work of evangelism and service so much harder. That is why this work of inclusion and represen-tation is unfinished business.”

His remarks were made after Synod members watched a video, part of a follow-up to the 2011 report Unfinished Business on inclusion and representation of minority ethnic Anglicans in the Church of England.

Those featuring in the film include Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Revd Jason Roach, and Sheila Root and Shay Prince, who are both lay members of the Church of England.

Bishop Stephen was joined by Dr Eliz-abeth Henry, CMEAC national adviser, the Archdeacon of Reigate, Danny Kajumba, Fr Paul Cartwright and Canon Linda Ali in a panel question-and-answer session following the presentation.

The discussion at General Synod fol-lowed the publication today of Everyone Counts, a congregational survey carried

out in a sample of parishes as part of a long-term commitment to monitoring diversity within the Church.

Read the full report at:bit.ly/cmeacjuly15

For more information about the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns, visit:bit.ly/cmeac

elsewhere at SynodFinal votes to approve

Alternative Baptism Texts and amended regulations for Holy Communition sat alongside presentations, addresses from the Archbishop of York and Archbishop of Uppsala, Antje Jackelen (pictured, right) and other business in the final meet-ing of the current General Synod.

The Bishop of Sodor and Man, Robert Paterson introduced final approval motions for Alterna-tive Texts for Holy Baptism, which will complement the cur-rent service and are designed to make the rite of baptism more accessible; and Administration of Holy Communion Regula-tions which were both approval for use in churches.

The Synod heard presen-tations about the work of the National Society and the Ethical Investment Advi-sory Group.

In a presentation about the work of the National Society,

Joy Carter, Vice Chancellor of Winchester University and Nigel Gender, Chief Education Officer for the Church of England Educa-tion Office presented proposals for new training and leadership development to support teach-ers and governors and other groups involved in Church of England schools.

All of the business done at General Synod are available online at:www.churchofengland.org/media-centre

New group to develop sustained increase in vocations

The Archbishops of Canter-bury and York have appointed the Bishop of Guildford, Andrew Watson, as chair of the new Vocations Working Group - set up as an outcome from the Resourcing Ministerial Educa-tion, RME, report. It will provide stimulus and encouragement for the Church of England and its dioceses in seeking to widen and deepen the development of vocations to ministry and leadership.

The Vocations Working Group will take forward the output from the consultation process and debate in synod, to develop a medium term strategy to achieve a sustained increase in vocations as a whole. The membership will be drawn from expertise in the Dioceses and regional representatives will also be appointed to help the flow of ideas and create real momentum across the Church.

The film report (pictured above) is available now at:bit.ly/itooamcofe

The work of the Reform and Renewal agenda for change in the Church was affirmed at General Synod with the passing of measures to simplify clergy terms and conditions.

Building on the work of the Simplification Task Group General Synod formally passed amend-ments to the Ecclesiastical Terms of Office regula-tions in response to requests from dioceses across the country.

The passing of the legislation follows consulta-tion by the simplification task group with dioceses on what aspects of “ecclesiastical red tape” got in the way of churches carrying out their mission.

As a result of the vote taken at Synod it will now be open to dioceses and parishes to:

• Create and appoint to a new category of “interim posts” for up to three years

• Extend training posts for curates for up to one year

• Ensure that onerous reporting regula-tions for Self Supporting ministers are removed if they fall ill.

These measures form the first part of a series

of reforms requested by dioceses and which will come to Synod over the next five years as part of the reform and renewal programme. Read more about Reform and Renewal at:https://churchofengland.org/reform-renewal.aspx

Bishop of Guildford, Andrew Watson

Synod Audio

Every speech, debate and presentation from General Synod is available online now on the Church of England’s Sound-cloud account:bit.ly/SynodJuly15

Page four | The National Church Institutions working for you | InReview

Church announces full divestment from SOCOThe Church Commissioners for England has

divested fully from their holdings in SOCO Inter-national to the total of £1.6 million.

The decision to divest follows the recommen-dation from the Ethical Investment Advisory Group

of the Church of England and extensive and sus-tained engagement with the company.

The EIAG began engaging with SOCO Interna-tional following a series of allegations of human rights abuses, bribery and corruption related to

operations in and around Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Church Commissioners and the Pensions Board persis-tently raised concerns with SOCO International and its board since Novem-ber 2013, with engage-ment intensifying since December 2014. Read more about the work of the EIAG at: bit.ly/EthicalInvestment AdvisoryGroup

rural church leadership programme open to applications

The Church of England’s rural resources centre, the Arthur Rank Centre, has opened appli-cations for the Germinate Lead-ership programme to train for effective rural church leadership.

The Bishop of Knares-borough, Rt Revd James Bell observed:

Promoting creative leader-ship in the rural church isn’t about making up for a lack of clergy; it is about recognising and receiving the gifts given by the Spirit for the good of all. It has been a privilege to share in this imaginative and intel-ligent process and ... I believe that the work and witness of the rural church will be enriched by this contribution to leadership development.”To find out more Germinate Leadership and apply please visit: www.germinate.net/go/clirc

Pensions Board publishes annual review

The Church of England Pen-sions Board has published its full Annual Report and Accounts for 2014. The Board provides retire-ment services set by the Church of England for those who have served or worked for the Church.

The report and review (pictured, above) are available at: www.cepb.org.uk

Government minister praises role of cathedrals

Ed Vaizey, Minister of State for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries has praised the important role of cathedrals in national life, high-lighting the Government’s award last year of £20 million for fabric repairs to cathedrals in the First World War Centenary Cathedral Fabric Repair Fund.

He was speaking at the launch of a new book showcasing the Church of England’s Cathedrals, at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Cathedrals of the Church of England has been written by Janet Gough, who is the Direc-tor of ChurchCare, the Church of England’s Cathedrals and Church Buildings division. The book fea-tures short descriptions of each cathedral, and is illustrated with photographs, such as Wakefield Cathedral pictured above.Cathedrals of the Church of England is available now at:chbookshop.co.uk

New Head of Formationannounced

The Archbishops’ Council has announced the appointment the Revd Canon Dr Ian McIn-tosh has been appointed as the new Head of Formation in the Ministry Division.

The new role of Head of Formation includes responsibil-ity for the Division’s work in both discernment and initial minis-terial education. Ian will take up his new role at the start of September 2015.To read more about the news, visit:bit.ly/headofformation

News in Brief“This is a key moment for all of us as we decide what sort of society we want to live in” Bishop of Carlisle on resisting new assisted suicide Bill

Continued from front page

Bishop James, the Church of Eng-land’s lead bishop on health care, said the proposed legislation, if passed into law, would have a detrimental effect both on individuals and on the nature of society.

He said: “Our concern about this proposed legislation is rooted in our practical care for the most vulnerable in our society. In our communities and through healthcare chaplaincy, the Church of England cares daily for the elderly, the ill, the dying and their families.

“If this Bill is passed we will have crossed a line that will make the future very uncertain and dangerous for a significant proportion of the

most vulnerable people, including the elderly and those living with disabilities.

“This is a key moment for all of us as we decide what sort of society we want to live in and what future we want for our children and grand-children, one in which all are valued and cared for, or one in which some lives are viewed as not worth living.

“I ask those who are happy to do so, to contact their MPs, either by making an appointment to see them in person at their constituency surgery, or by letter, to make it clear that they oppose this Bill.”To hear a full interview with James Newcome on the Assisted Dying Bill listen at: bit.ly/resistassistedsuicidebill

Acts 435 celebrates five years of financial support70 representatives from 48

churches and charities met at Bishopthorpe Palace to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the launch of Acts 435, the Archbishop of York’s online giving charity.

The Archbishop thanked and encouraged the local churches and charities for their work in helping those living in pov-erty across the UK. The event included practical workshops to equip the Acts 435 advo-cates. The Archbishop also cut an anniversary cake to mark the 5th anniversary.

Acts 435 was launched in July 2010 at General Synod by the Archbishop of York and over

5 years has helped over 5,000 people with specific items they needed such as a cooker, clothes and a bed. £500,000 has gone

directly to those in need.To find out more about the charity, visit:www.acts435.org.uk

Virunga National park rangers look after the park and its wildlifeCredit: Joseph King, 2014

“ “Our concern about this pro-posed legislation is rooted in our practical care for the most vulnerable in our society.

” James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle