Communications Update

Communications Update – June 2009

Monthly news bulletin from the Communications Office, Church House, London.

Feel free to forward this to others, or to use in diocesan or parish newsletters, magazines or websites.

This news bulletin is issued to members of General Synod, recipients of the e-mailed daily briefing, within the National Church Institutions’ All Staff bulletin and to parish magazines via the http://www.parishpump.co.uk website. 

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Please scroll down to read items. Comments, please, to Peter Crumpler, Director of Communications, at commsupdate@c-of-e.org.uk 

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This month’s contents:

• Lost for Words this Fathers’ Day?
• Shrinking the footprint in every parish
• Pray now, act now urges Archbishop
• Ready, Steady, Slow … the countdown begins
• Top of the iPods
• Postman to priest – Archbishop of York ordains 20
• Refugee week: Archbishop of Canterbury
• Feasts and festivals unwrapped for all ages
• Archbishop’s election statement
• College inspection reports published
• Church universities and colleges to consider their distinctive role amidst ‘crisis of values’
• New Bishop of Carlisle announced
• More news from the Archbishop of Canterbury
• More news from the Archbishop of York

Lost for Words this Fathers’ Day? Put God in your card

The Church of England is making a bid to put God into Fathers’ Day with a prayer for children to include in their cards on June 21, asking God to help dads grow in love and wisdom.  Read all about it here 

Shrinking the Footprint in every parish

A senior bishop and a Government minister have spelled out the importance of the Church of England’s role in mobilising action on climate change, as its Shrinking the Footprint campaign unveiled energy saving toolkits for every parish in a bid to create the 20% Church by 2050.  Read more details here

Pray now, act now

The Archbishop of Canterbury has urged churches to pray for the planet and campaign for climate change in the run up to the important UN talks later this year in Copenhagen. Dr Williams said it was vital for Christians and people of all faiths to take a lead in praying and campaigning for action. A new deal at the UN summit could directly improve the lives of the world’s poor whose living conditions are affected by climate change.  More here

Ready Steady Slow …. the countdown begins

Ponder the planet with the Church of England's 2009 Advent campaign and enjoy some creation time-out. The online Advent calendar www.whywearewaiting.com (from November 29 but take a look now and sign up) will have daily videos, podcasts, thoughts and challenges on environmental issues linking with the vital UN Climate Change talks in Copenhagen this December. Slow down for the planet's sake this Advent.

Top of the iPods

Don't miss recent podcasts - which have an environmental theme. Martyn Goss, Director of the Council for Church & Society at Exeter Diocese, shares how Exeter Diocese is working hard to reduce its own 'footprint', and reminds us why it’s important for the Church to care for the environment. Meanwhile, Canon Dr Joanne Grenfell of Sheffield Cathedral talks about the Cathedral's Think Green policy. Listen in to these and over 20 other podcasts from 2009 here.

Postman to priest – Archbishop of York ordains 20

The Archbishop of York ordained twenty people to the Priesthood on Sunday 7th June at 10am in York Minster. Twelve men and eight women from across the Diocese of York were ordained Priest: among these people are butcher turned postman Ben Nicholson, former squadron leader Charles (Taff) Morgan, and radiographer Judy Cook. Full story here.

Refugee week: Archbishop of Canterbury

The Archbishop of Canterbury shares what the word 'Refuge' means to him for Refugee Week 2009 -  a UK wide programme of events which celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK. During Refugee Week 15 - 21 June hundreds of events exploring refugee experiences take place across the UK. The focus of activities this year is the Simple Acts Campaign which is about inspiring people to use small, everyday actions to change perceptions of refugees. Watch the video and find out more here

Feasts and Festivals unwrapped for all ages to worship

From a pageant of the seasons, harvest and beating the bounds to celebrating the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Together for a Season’s latest volume, published by Church House Publishing, provides the resources for all ages to mark the Feasts and Festivals of the Christian year. More here

Archbishop’s election Statement

In a joint statement the Archbishops said: "We hope that electors will use their vote on June 4th [for the European Parliamentary and local elections] to renew the vision of a community united by the common good, public service and the pursuit of justice." They added: “This is not a moment for voting in favour of any political party whose core ideology is about sowing division in our communities and hostility on grounds of race, creed or colour.” More here

College inspection reports published

The Church of England published  inspection reports on two of its ministerial training colleges: Ripon College, Cuddesdon, and Oak Hill College, London.

The Church has a long track record of ensuring the quality of the initial training of its clergy by regular inspection of its training institutions. Theological colleges and part-time training courses are inspected every five years by teams of inspectors appointed by the bishops of the Church of England. Where training is delivered ecumenically, Church of England inspectors work in partnership with teams from the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church and the Baptist Union.

The reports are now published  More here           

Church universities and colleges to consider their distinctive role amidst ‘crisis of values’

Landmark conference marks launch of Anglican college and university network

Academics and chaplains from across UK colleges and universities with an Anglican foundation have gathered in London on Wednesday 27 May. They considered how their institutions can help society respond to the economic downturn, and how to sustain a vision for the role of higher education that extends deeper than a marketplace of ‘degree factories’. More here

New Bishop of Carlisle appointed

The Queen has approved the nomination of the Right Reverend James William Scobie Newcome, at present Suffragan Bishop of Penrith, as Bishop of Carlisle. Bishop James formally takes up his appointment at a service traditionally called an enthronement  expected to happen in the Autumn. The plan is that Bishop James continues, as he has been doing since Bishop Graham retired in April, to give episcopal leadership to the Diocese until the beginning of August, when he has leave booked, which he will extend until mid September. Read more here 

MORE NEWS from the Archbishop of Canterbury

God’s Mission and Ours in the 21^st Century
An address by the Archbishop of Canterbury to a meeting of the Intercontinental Church Society at Lambeth Palace. Read more here

We should care more for the carers. Article in Daily Telegraph

Archbishop to launch Greater London Presence and Engagement Network

The Archbishop of Canterbury has joined the Bishops of Chelmsford, London, Tonbridge and Southwark and representatives from 120 parishes across London at a series of events that were held on the 1st June to launch the Greater London Presence and Engagement Network (PEN). More here

Archbishop of Canterbury welcomes new Archbishop of Westminster

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, greeted Archbishop Vincent Nichols at his Installation Mass as the new Archbishop of Westminster. More here

BBC Pause for Thought on Ascension Day

Read text of talk or download here

Winner of £15,000 Theology Prize Announced

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has awarded the 2009 Michael Ramsey prize to ‘Jesus and the Eyewitnesses’ by Richard Bauckham at the Guardian Hay festival today. More here

MORE NEWS from the Archbishop of York

Collegeof Evangelists marks top ten years of spreading the word

Four Christian leaders prepared to join the College of Evangelists – a collective of modern-day missionaries gifted at helping others discover a living relationship with Jesus Christ – as part of the tenth anniversary celebrations of the group. Their special welcome service took place at York Minster, and was led by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. More here