Interfaith meeting at Number Ten to become regular fixture
Faith leaders were invited to Number Ten Downing Street yesterday morning, for a breakfast event during interfaith week, including a pledge from the Prime Minister that faith leaders would have a part to play in formulating policy across a wide-range of areas in the future. Jewish News reports that Keir Starmer said the government was one of service to all communities and praised the work of faith groups during the pandemic. He promised another similar event in six months time. For their part, the faith representatives emphasised the importance of interfaith work to maintain cohesion between communities. Attendees included the Faith Minister Lord Khan, representatives from many religious traditions including Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Imam Asim Hafiz, Akeela Ahmed, Ari Jesner from the Office of the Chief Rabbi, Bishop Mike Royal, The Bishop of London Sarah Mullaly and Archbishop Angaelos. More pics here
An impossible job in a shrinking church riven by schism: Who would want it?
Andrew Brown reflects that in 2001 it was still possible for a church report, written by the former foreign secretary, Douglas Hurd, to claim: “The Archbishop of Canterbury is generally recognised as one of the most significant Christian leaders in the world.” But even then, the job was recognised as an impossible one, with the archbishop doing the jobs of at least six people. He says that today, the role has become even less possible. In the past two decades the church has lost about a third of its regular worshippers, the Anglican Communion has split in two over homosexuality, and in this country, the faction opposing same-sex reforms does not, in practice, recognise the archbishop’s authority either. Read Andrew Brown’s comment here
Justin Welby is in Jerusalem, a time of reflection, healing and spiritual growth
Justiin Welby is in Jerusalem this weekend as the guest of the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, Dr Hosam Naoum. In a statement, Dr Naoum said he would lead him on a tour of a small part of his diocese and hoped it would be a time of personal reflection, healing and spiritual growth as he meets local leaders and young people struggling in the midst of a devastating war. He said he had received the news of Justin Welby’s resignation with great sadness, “especially in view of the horrific circumstances precipitating it”. He believed the decision to resign was appropriate and he renewed his commitment to effective safeguarding procedures to prevent such abuses from happening again.
Sir Jamie Colman and his wife the Rev Sue Colman step back from church duties after Makin report
Sir Jamie Colman, heir to the Colman’s mustard dynasty, and his wife the Rev Sue Colman, associate minister at St Leonard’s Church in Oakley, near Basingstoke in Hampshire, have been asked to step back from church activities after being named in the Makin report. Sir Jamie is an Eton contemporary of Justin Welby, attended the Iwerne summer camps and became the chair of the Zambezi Trust UK, set up to support John Smyth’s work in Zimbabwe. His wife, one time curate at Holy Trinity Brompton, was a trustee. The report said: “It is likely, on the balance of probabilities, that both Jamie and Sue Colman had significant knowledge of the abuses in the UK and Africa, given their positions as trustees.” In a statement on Thursday, the Diocese of Winchester said it has asked Mrs Colman “to step back from all ministerial duties while we reflect on the review’s findings and work with the National Safeguarding Team to take steps to manage any associated risk. Mr Colman has no official ministerial position in our diocese but has also been asked to step back from volunteering.” St Leonard’s church has also issued a statement
Dispute over compensation for survivors of John Smyth’s abuse
A Channel 4 news report that survivors of the serial abuser John Smyth may not receive compensation from the Church of England’s redress scheme because Smyth was not under the authority of the CofE and the abuse took place in a garden shed at his home, has been challenged by the CofE. It issued a statement saying: “Channel 4 News this evening (November 14) reported incorrectly that victims of John Smyth ‘won’t receive financial compensation’ from the Church of England’s redress scheme. The redress scheme will be run independently of the Church, and it is therefore not for the Church to determine who will and will not receive redress. That does not mean that John Smyth’s victims will not receive redress”. Smyth led the summer camps on behalf of the Iwerne Trust, which has now closed down. He was a member of the Church of England, many other leaders and boys at the camps were from the CofE and the purpose of the camps was to create the next generation of leaders. The abuse was reported to CofE clergy in the early 80s and it is this connection that led to the Makin review which said the church had covered it up. The Rev Ian Paul, a member of the Archbishops Council, told Channel 4: “John Smyth had connections with the Church of England, but the abuse happened primarily in connection with Winchester, with the school there and in his own home. So this is not a question about abuse that happened in the Church of England”. £150 million has been set aside in the CofE’s redress scheme to compensate survivors of abuse.
Assisted Dying: Most NHS workers have a religious affiliation
The Guardian carries a story charting opinions from religious groups and others on the assisted dying bill, which will be voted upon by MPs on Friday 29 November. Doctors will be able to opt out with a conscience clause, but the BMA says doctors should be required to proactively “opt in”, have a right to decline and be given a choice. The article summarises polls amongst health professionals and finds those in favour are the Royal College of Surgeons and BMA. Those opposed are the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of GPs. Among faith groups those opposed are the Church of England bishops, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Chief Rabbi and the British Islamic Medial Association. The article reports a 2014 report suggests seven of 10 NHS workers have a religious affiliation and an estimated 10 per cent of NHS staff are Muslim.
“Last Jew in Afghanistan” finally reaches Israel
72-year-old Zebulon Simentov, who claimed to be the last Jew living in Afghanistan, has finally arrived in Israel after a three year journey. He looked after the synagogue in Kabul’s Flower Street, proudly taking over from a custodian who died. The Jewish Chronicle tells the story, saying that at first he refused to leave with neighbours on a private plane, but when he relented, he escaped to Pakistan then Turkey and now Israel. During his travels, he granted his wife, who lives in Israel with their two daughters, a Get (divorce) after refusing it for more than 20 years.
