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 or magazines.

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. It is also available on the Church of England website at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/cofegazette/

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

This month’s contents:

• Church responds to flooding
• Archbishop calls for donations to fund for flood-hit farmers
• General Synod, Summer 2007
• Archbishop given award for environmental role
• Archbishop responds to Prime Minister's Statement on constitutional affairs
• Church youth worker finds faith in popular culture with Harry Potter and The Simpsons
• Cathedral schools set to spread expertise
• Church welcomes review of supercasino
• Are you Shrinking your Footprint? - test Defra's new CO2 Calculator
• Study resource released to explore Ordination
• Church says IVF children need fathers
• Church says no to true human hybrids

Church responds to flooding
The Church in Oxfordshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire tells of open churches and warm welcomes for flood victims. Full details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr07floods.html

Archbishop calls for donations to fund for flood-hit farmers
The Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, has joined HRH the Prince of Wales in supporting an appeal fund for farmers hit by recent floods.

The ARC-Addington Fund, which was originally launched in 2001 to help those farmers who were affected by the foot and mouth crisis, is specifically aimed at those farmers who are facing hardship as a result of having their crops or livestock ruined by the floods. http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/abyfundplea.html

General Synod, Summer 2007
A wide range of issues were discussed at the General Synod, meeting at York earlier this month. Details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/gsjul07shortsumm.rtf

Archbishop given award for environmental role
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has received an award from parliamentarians for his work in helping to promote environmentally friendly causes.

The award, presented to the Archbishop by the Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group, recognises the work of the Archbishop and the Church of England in promoting sustainable energy issues to the public and to policy makers. The award was accepted on the Archbishop’s behalf by Claire Foster, who is the Church of England’s lead policy officer on environmental matters as Dr Williams is currently on a period of study leave. She said that the Archbishop’s leadership had clearly had an impact. Full details at: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/releases/070713.htm

Archbishop responds to Prime Minister's statement on constitutional affairs
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister regarding changes to the process by which diocesan bishops are appointed.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, who is on study leave, was made aware at the outset of the Government’s wish to talk to the Church about its intentions. Dr. Williams agreed that the Archbishop of York was to deal with the matter and was briefed by Dr. Sentamu in advance of the Prime Minister’s statement. Full details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/abyconst.html

Church youth worker finds faith in popular culture with Harry Potter and The Simpsons
Two new books from the Church of England suggest that youth leaders should use the popular Harry Potter series of books and films and the exploits of Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Marge and Homer Simpson as launch pads for exploring Christian themes within Church youth groups or Sunday schools. Full details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr6407.html and http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr6907.html

Cathedral schools set to spread expertise
Church of England cathedral schools could soon act as sponsors for city academies or even convert into academies themselves, in a move designed to spread the musical and educational expertise of the country’s cathedral schools across their wider communities.

The proposed move seeks to unlock the resources and expertise held by cathedral schools for the wider benefit of their respective cities and regions. Full details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr6307.html

Church welcomes review of supercasino
The Church has warmly welcomed the Prime Minister’s statement reviewing the creation of a supercasino, particularly noting his concern as to whether a supercasino can socially and economically regenerate an area. Full details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr6207.html

Are you Shrinking your Footprint? - test Defra's new CO2 Calculator
A public trial version of Defra's new CO2calculator has been launched which you can find at: www.direct.gov.uk/ActOnCO2. It enables everyone to understand and measure their carbon footprint and consider appropriate actions to reduce it.

Defra have also issued a methodology paper to go alongside the calculator which sets out the detail that lies behind the rationale for the assumptions and factors used. You can find this at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/individual/actonco2

The trial aims to give the calculator exposure to a wide range of specialist and non-specialist users. Defra hope to use feedback to improve the calculator before launching a full version later in the year and encourage and value any feedback on how it can be improved. Any feedback can be sent to Defra via the calculator website or to the national Church Shrinking the Footprint team here.

Study resource released to explore Ordination
More than 560 men and women will join the Church of England’s clergy this year – the highest number since 2000. Among the 566 being ordained as deacons this year, 283 will go on to stipendiary ministry - a figure that has risen over the last two years. It is therefore a fitting time for the Church to publish a new resource that, in one volume, brings together the Common Worship Ordination Services and the 1662 Book of Common Prayer Ordinal, alongside a brief history of ordination rites and a commentary by the Liturgical Commission. Common Worship: Ordination Services also includes a comprehensive practical guide to planning ordinations, including sections on using the worship space, vesture, music, and compiling the service booklet. Full details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr6007.html

Church says IVF children need fathers
The Mission and Public Affairs Council of the Church has given cautious acceptance to the proposal to produce cytoplasmic hybrid embryos for research into the alleviation of serious diseases. It has, however, accused the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee (STC) of ‘a serious disregard for ethics in favour of seeking scientific knowledge by all available means’. The Church has also challenged an apparent Government u-turn on the need of a child for a father. For details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr5907.html

Church says no to true human hybrids
The Mission and Public Affairs Council of the Church of England has opposed the creation of true human hybrids but given a cautious acceptance to the proposal to produce cytoplasmic hybrid embryos for research into the alleviation of serious diseases. Research using human embryos donated by IVF patients, it adds, is acceptable but using human embryos created specifically for research from donated eggs and sperm is not. Full details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr6807.html