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

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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:

• Statistics show increased giving and vocations
• Church proposes independent ombudsman to stop supermarkets squeezing farmers
• Government needs better case to extend detention of terrorist suspects
• Archbishop of Canterbury meets Chief Rabbis in Jerusalem
• Study tours to kick start pilgrimages to the Holy Land
• Archbishop of York calls for fair trade in Wilberforce lecture
• Setting free the hearts and minds of young people: conference to explore Bicentenary themes
• Archbishop of Canterbury - greetings for Diwali
• ‘Virtual’ questions receive answers
• Archbishop of York awarded ‘Yorkshire Man of the Year’
• Pocketful of daily Bible reflections launched
• Future of Worcester hospitals chaplaincy secured
• Billy Elliot shows churches how to follow God’s call
• Archbishop of Canterbury - best wishes for Korea peace conference
• Transforming Worship gathers momentum with launch of online information portal
• Bishops join debate on Queen’s Speech
• Archbishop of Canterbury's tribute to Chad Varah

Statistics show increased giving and vocations
Church Statistics 2005/6 can now be seen on the web. This is the first year that the statistics are only available on the web and not published for sale in booklet form. Details here.

Church proposes independent ombudsman to stop supermarkets squeezing farmers
The pursuit of cheap food coupled with the buying power of the big supermarkets is putting farming livelihoods at risk, the Church of England has told the Competition Commission, while putting forward recommendations to consumers, supermarkets and Government. Details here.

Government needs better case to extend detention of terrorist suspects
The Government needs to produce a better case if it wishes to extend the time suspected terrorists can be detained without charge, according to the Church of England. Details here.

Archbishop meets Chief Rabbis in Jerusalem
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, held talks in Jerusalem with Israel's Chief Rabbis. The Archbishop, accompanied by Bishop Suhail Dawani (Bishop in Jerusalem) and Bishop Michael Jackson (Bishop of Clogher), held the second in a series of annual discussions with Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar and Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger of Israel, accompanied by the Chief Rabbi of Haifa Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen. Details here.

Study tours to kick start pilgrimages to the Holy Land
The Church of England is running subsidised study tours of the Holy Land to counter a marked drop in the number of pilgrimages being organised by dioceses and parishes. Two eight-day study tours have been arranged for early 2008, including workshops run by Christian Aid. Details here.

Archbishop calls for fair trade in Wilberforce lecture
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, delivered a lecture entitled Freedom is Coming as part of the Wilberforce Events at Hull City Hall. Reflecting on a recent visit to the West Indies, part of the infamous Golden Triangle that formed the basis of the slave trade, Dr Sentamu compared the historical scene with forms of slavery today. His speech was the fifth lecture in the 2007 series to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Details here.

Setting free the hearts and minds of young people: conference to explore Bicentenary themes
An ecumenical conference for church youth workers considers how the legacies of slavery in all its forms can still impact minority ethnic young people today, as the Bicentenary year of the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade comes to a close. Details here.

Archbishop - greetings for Diwali
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has sent a message of greeting to the Hindu community for their celebration of the festival of Diwali. Dr Williams praised the Hindu Community for their contribution to so many areas of life in this country, and also expressed the hope that Christians and Hindus "should renew and further develop the local and national frameworks within which we can explore and appreciate our common and our distinctive characteristics". Details here.

‘Virtual’ questions receive answers
The Church of England’s General Synod has held its second virtual question time. The text of all 43 Questions and Answers is available on the Church of England web site. Details here.

Archbishop awarded ‘Yorkshire Man of the Year’
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, received the Yorkshire Man of the Year award. The Yorkshire Awards recognise people and organisations that have had an impact on Yorkshire and its people, and the Man of the Year award is chosen with the help of the Yorkshire public. Details here.

Pocketful of daily Bible reflections launched
A collection of renowned Christian authors have contributed to a new series of Bible notes, the first daily reflections to be produced by the Church of England. Details here.

Future of Worcester hospitals chaplaincy secured
The Chairman and Chief Executive of Worcester Royal Hospitals NHS Trust have confirmed that chaplaincy provision at the Trust is secure for the future. Details here.

Billy Elliot shows churches how to follow God’s call
Churches across England will be encouraged to look to the story of young ballet dancer Billy Elliot next Lent, through a new book which suggests using extracts from the popular film as a way of exploring the dynamics of discovering a special calling. Details here.

Archbishop - best wishes for Korea peace conference
The Archbishop of Canterbury held discussions with the Rt Revd Dr Robin Eames, former Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, about the forthcoming Worldwide Anglican Peace Conference in Korea, known as TOPIK. They also discussed concerns about the humanitarian situation in North Korea, particularly following floods there earlier this year, and issues of religious freedom that might affect the role the church could play in promoting peace and reconciliation. Details here.

Transforming Worship gathers momentum with launch of online information portal
A new website from the Church of England to help clergy, readers and all who help plan and lead worship was launched today. Details here.

Bishops join debate on Queen’s Speech
In the House of Lords debate on the Queen’s Speech, bishops have spoken on international and development issues, specifically as they relate to Africa (Winchester); children's policy (touching also on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill) (Leicester); education and skills policy (Ripon & Leeds); home affairs (Liverpool); legal and constitutional affairs (Salisbury); the environment and climate change (London); local government issues (Portsmouth); housing (Truro); and economic affairs (St Albans).

Archbishop's tribute to Chad Varah
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, paid tribute to the founder of the Samaritans, Prebendary Chad Varah, whose death was announced on 8 November. Details here.