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 confirms principles of protocol to review past child protection cases
• Archbishop of Canterbury Speaks out on Middle East
• Archbishop of York presents Slave Vase to Speakers of the House of Lords and House of Commons
• Church of England partners Energy Saving Week
• The Christingle Cube
• Church supports guidelines on doctors’ personal beliefs
• Trick or treat gets brighter make-over
• ‘Start as you mean to go on’ – book explores changing face of Christian initiation
• Christian leaders call for better deal for developing countries
• Joint registration of births risks reducing parental responsibility
• Organ donation an example of 'giving oneself'
• Archbishop of Canterbury- atrocities 'disgrace of twentieth century'
• Archbishop of Canterbury - new national Armed Forces Memorial 'to make the invisible visible'
• Archbishop of York address to Leading African Clerics
• Archbishop of Canterbury's response to A Common Word
• Archbishop of Canterbury - greetings and prayers for Eid
• Archbishop of Canterbury's visit to Armenia, Syria and Lebanon
• Churches work for farmers and rural communities
• Special convocation in West Indies for Archbishop of York
• Archbishop of York is made a Freeman of the City of Montego Bay
• World Mission Conference
• Archbishops consult on Crown Appointments
• Church of England’s ‘parliament’ repeats virtual question time
• News from the Conservation Foundation
• Churches of Europe meet in Romania
• York Courses Lent 2008
• Tailor Made: Communications training to suit you - new programme launched on October 1st

Church confirms principles of protocol to review past child protection cases
The Church of England has confirmed the broad principles for a protocol for the systematic review of past child protection cases, as announced by the Archbishop of Canterbury earlier this year. Each diocesan bishop is to initiate a review of clergy and other files, and will also write to previous bishops, archdeacons, bishops’ chaplains and secretarial staff to ask whether they have any information about any cases of abuse or concerns expressed that they can recall from their time in the diocese, which were not followed up at the time in the way that they would be now. Details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr10007.html

Archbishop of Canterbury Speaks out on Middle East
In an interview with the BBC, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, spoke about the situation in the Middle East, including the fate of Christian refugees, and giving his views on the Iraq war, as well as on any further military action against countries like Iran and Syria by Western governments. Details here: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/releases/071008.htm

Archbishop of York presents Slave Vase to Speakers of the House of Lords and House of Commons
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has presented two slave vases to the Speakers of the House of Lords and House of Commons representing both Houses of Parliament to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Details at: http://www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/cgi/news/news.cgi?t=template&a=1180

Church of England partners Energy Saving Week
The Church of England is backing the messages of the Energy Saving Trust as a partner in Energy Saving Week, 22 – 28 October. The Church's own carbon-cutting campaign, Shrinking the Footprint, reflects its desire to take practical steps, as a large national organisation, to reduce carbon impact and promote greater ecological awareness among the wider community. Details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9907.html

The Christingle Cube
Christingle services bring together family and friends of all ages. Held from Advent to Epiphany, this festive celebration communicates the Christian message in an inspiring way to adults and children alike. Its wide appeal makes it an ideal way to encourage newcomers to church and extend your congregation. The colourful Christingle Cube will encourage children to join in too. This fantastically clever device, produced in partnership with Church House Publishing, takes children through the cornerstones of the Christian faith via the symbolism of the Christingle. Details and how to order Cubes at: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/get+involved/christingle/
the+Christingle+cube/the+Christingle+cube.htm

Church supports guidelines on doctors’ personal beliefs
The Church of England has supported General Medical Council guidelines on personal beliefs for doctors, while suggesting there could be greater recognition of the potential benefits of doctors being open about their religious beliefs and those of their patients. Details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9407.html

Trick or treat gets brighter make-over
An appeal by the Bishop of Bolton, the Rt Revd David Gillett to supermarket bosses appears to have done the trick and could lead to a significant shift in the way Halloween is marketed in the UK. Some of the country’s leading retailers have responded positively to the bishop’s call and the results of a new survey show that most people support - or are sympathetic to - his stance. Details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9307.html

‘Start as you mean to go on’ – book explores changing face of Christian initiation
The place of baptism in the life of the nation and the Church has changed significantly in the last century, a new book from Church House Publishing has found. In Connecting with Baptism, experienced Church ministers explore the most recent statistics and research into the role of baptism in the Church. Details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9007.html

Christian leaders call for better deal for developing countries
Nineteen senior Church figures - including three diocesan bishops and the leaders of several other UK denominations - have joined forces to urge the Secretary of State for International Development to act to ensure that the world’s poorest countries are not forced into new trade agreements that will make them even less able to develop a healthy economy. Details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr8807.html

Joint registration of births risks reducing parental responsibility
The Church of England has questioned Government plans to force both parents to register every birth, arguing that legislation could reduce rather than promote parental responsibility. Details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9707.html

Organ donation an example of 'giving oneself'
Giving oneself and one’s possessions voluntarily for the well being of others and without compulsion is a Christian duty of which organ donation is a striking example, the Church of England has told the House of Lords. Details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9607.html

Archbishop of Canterbury- atrocities 'disgrace of twentieth century'
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that violence targeted against whole communities is ‘one of the greatest disgraces of the twentieth century’. Speaking during a ceremony on 25th September at the Genocide Memorial at Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan, during his visit to Armenia, he said that such atrocities had scarred the international community. “This ceremony reminds us of one of the greatest disgraces of the twentieth century … the history of brutal massacres of whole peoples on ethnic and religious grounds; the turning away of the rest of the world and the denial of the suffering of the victims throughout the 20th century - this has been one of the most regular and terrible features of international conflict.” Details here: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/releases/070927.htm

Archbishop of Canterbury - new national Armed Forces Memorial 'to make the invisible visible'
The Archbishop of Canterbury gave a sermon at the Service of Dedication of the Armed Forces Memorial, in which he said that the memorial reminds us of the often invisible service and skill that keeps our national community secure. Details here: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/releases/071012.htm

Archbishop of York address to Leading African Clerics
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, attended a meeting of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa at their meeting in Mauritius from 3rd – 5th October 2007. The meeting recorded the Council’s distress at the suffering and devastation in East Central, and West Africa; military oppression in Myanmar; political oppression in Zimbabwe; and the conflict between Muslims and Christians in Darfur. It responded with honesty to a report on the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the meeting also described the growing number of people living in abject poverty within the African provinces as a devastating indictment of poor governance in a continent that has been blessed by God with remarkable resources. Details at: http://www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/cgi/news/news.cgi?t=template&a=1170

Archbishop of Canterbury's response to A Common Word
The Archbishop of Canterbury received a copy of a key letter from Muslim scholars and religious leaders addressed to Christian religious leaders. Dr Anas S. Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists, and one of the signatories to the letter, presented it to the Archbishop at Lambeth Palace.

The Archbishop welcomed the letter as a clear reaffirmation of the potential for further development of existing dialogue and common action between Christians and Muslims and other faith communities: “The theological basis of the letter and its call to “vie with each other only in righteousness and good works; to respect each other, be fair, just and kind to another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual goodwill', are indicative of the kind of relationship for which we yearn in all parts of the world, and especially where Christians and Muslims live together. It is particularly important in underlining the need for respect towards minorities in contexts where either Islam or Christianity is the majority presence." Details at: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/releases/071011.htm

Archbishop of Canterbury - greetings and prayers for Eid
The Archbishop of Canterbury sent a greeting to Islamic communities for the festival of Eid, marking the end of Ramadhan. The Archbishop included in his greeting the hope that the year to come would be one of "love of neighbour" amongst Christian and Muslim communities, both in the UK and the Middle East. Details here: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/releases/071011a.htm

Archbishop of Canterbury's visit to Armenia, Syria and Lebanon
In a gruelling schedule of visits, meetings and services, the Archbishop spent time with senior politicians, Church leaders, senior Muslim clerics, refugees and communities and community projects ranging from prison inmates and chaplains in Armenia, to people with learning disabilities living in a L’Arche community in Damascus, and first, second and third generation refugees living in one of the Palestinian camps outside Beirut. In Armenia the Archbishop signed a joint communiqué with Catholicos of All Armenians, HH Karekin II, committing their churches to an early resumption of the theological Dialogue between the Anglican Communion and the family of Orthodox Oriental Churches. More details at: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/releases/071005.htm and http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/releases/071005a.htm

Churches work for farmers and rural communities
The Arthur Rank Centre, the churches' rural resources centre has been at the forefront of the work to provide support to the farming community following the outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease and Bluetongue Virus in August and September. One of the main roles for the staff at the Arthur Rank Centre, which includes the National Rural Officer for the Church of England, Dr Jill Hopkinson, has been to provide regular briefings and pastoral care for Diocesan Rural Officers, Agricultural Chaplains and local clergy. Full details at: http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/

Special convocation in West Indies for Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York has apologised to the people of the West Indies for the involvement of the Anglican Church in the transatlantic slave trade. The Archbishop was speaking at a special convocation of the University of the West Indies (UWI) where he was made an honorary Doctor of Laws. This only marked the sixth time in the history of the UWI that a special convocation was held. Speaking at the National Arena, before a capacity crowd, Dr. Sentamu urged the congregation to pursue authenticity and to rejoice in God’s individual gifts to each: “God rejoices in the fact that he created each one of you … That is the greatest message of the sermon this morning, be yourself and don’t try and be somebody else.”

Archbishop of York is made a Freeman of the City of Montego Bay
The Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, has been made a Freeman of a city which was part of the Golden Triangle of the Slave Trade. During a visit to Jamaica to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, Dr. Sentamu was made a free man of the city of Montego Bay and given a key to the city. The Archbishop was given the honour due to his “fight for justice and freedom on behalf of the fellowman”. Accepting the key of the city the Archbishop spoke of the challenges that faced cities everywhere: “The responsibility of every councillor is to ensure that Montego Bay resembles the city of God. And in the city of God, everyone is welcome. At the end we will not be judged by how well we play, but by how well we serve, particularly the poor and the people facing poverty and injustices”. Details at: http://archbishopofyorkinja.com/blog/?cat=13

World Mission Conference
The World Mission Conference being held November 5th - 7th at Swanwick will explore preparations for the pre Lambeth Conference Hospitality Initiative that all the dioceses in England, Scotland and Wales are involved in. The World Mission Conference is an annual event bringing together the mission agencies and diocesan world mission officers in the Anglican Churches in England, Scotland and Wales. This year the main theme is "Incomplete without the Other" and will explore the significance of the Hospitality Initiative pre the Lambeth Conference next year. This Initiative is an invitation for any bishop and their spouse who is coming to Lambeth to come as guests of dioceses in Britain for the long weekend before the actual Conference begins in Canterbury.

Archbishops consult on Crown Appointments
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have published a consultation paper on the process for future Crown appointments to senior Church posts. The consultation is a response to the Green Paper, The Governance of Britain, published on July 3, which signalled the Government’s wish to change the role Ministers and civil servants play in some Church appointments. Details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9807.html

Church of England’s ‘parliament’ repeats virtual question time
The Church of England’s General Synod is repeating last year’s ‘virtual question time’, highlighting the growing ways in which the Church is using the web and other electronic communications media. Details at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr9507.html

News from the Conservation Foundation
The latest issue of the Parish Pump News has been published and includes the first results from the Church of England's Shrinking the Footprint research of its churches, diocesan offices and bishops' houses. The aim of the research is to establish the CofE's energy use in 2005 in order to monitor future reductions. If you would like to join the Parish Pump programme and receive the Autumn issue contact davidshreeve@conservationfoundation.co.uk . You can also see recent issues on www.conservationfoundation.co.uk

Churches of Europe meet in Romania
Climate change, migration, human rights and the mission of the Churches across the ‘new’ Europe were at the forefront of discussion, prayer and worship at the Third European Ecumenical Assembly, held in September in Sibiu, Romania. The Bishop of London led a Church of England delegation to this five-day event, the third in twenty years, which brought together Christians for planning and encounter on the theme The Light of Christ Shines Upon All! Action points from the Assembly are being fed back into the Church of England’s ecumenical and European networks, and a full report will be available soon as a General Synod publication. Meanwhile, many resources from and about the Assembly can be downloaded at: www.eea3.org

York Courses Lent 2008
Looking forward to Lent next year, York Courses, featuring contributions from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, are shortly to distribute their Lent course booklet on The Lord's Prayer. Based in York, in the North of England, York Courses produce courses specially designed for groups of Christians from different traditions to study together. The courses are used all over the world, helping people to share their experiences and understanding of the Christian faith. Details at: http://www.yorkcourses.co.uk/

Tailor Made: Communications training to suit you - new programme launched on October 1st
Ever wished that more people knew about the good things that are going on at your church? The Communications Office's 'Tailor made' communications training programme can help you harness the power of the media to maximum effect. The new 2008 programme features a half day aimed at helping get church websites noticed in cyberspace, and a day looking at ways in which a message can be made to stick in readers' and listeners' minds, as well as our popular radio, TV and presentation skills training. Visit www.commstraining.cofe.anglican.org for details of the new programme and an online booking form.