Cop29 – faith-inspired solutions for a greener future
Cop29, the United Nations conference on climate change, closes its meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan today. A parallel “Faith Pavilion” has hosted talks in parallel there, on how faith communities could hold the answer, with arguments from a spiritual, moral or ethical perspective. The Pavilion was set up by the Muslim Council of Elders, and the issue of climate change is of particular importance to Muslim communities, which have been especially impacted worldwide, in places such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, where droughts and flooding have taken thousands of lives. Maira Butt reports on Muslim climate change activists working here and globally, on initiatives to teach the idea of stewardship of the earth, raise awareness of the challenges, create energy efficient buildings and change financial systems to promote environmental protection. Her report is here
Faith Minister says religious groups are key to fostering community harmony
Faith communities are key to long-term harmony, Faith Minister Lord Wajid Khan told a conference in London on Wednesday. He said a more unified society where communities can thrive benefits everyone and described the role of faith communities as key in fostering harmony, sharing diversity and common ground. “After the riots: A Cohesion Summit”, organised by Belong, British Futures, and Together, and held at Quaker central offices, discussed developing a collective response to the summer riots, with participants telling the Minister of the need for a national long-term cohesion strategy. They said it should have cross party support, providing resources at a local level to address the challenges. The wide ranging discussion considered key areas of concern arising from the riots including racism and hate crime, the role of social media, falling resources to build community and the need to support good work underway in communities across Britain. Quakers in Britain report here
Three priests suspended following Makin review
The Times reports that the Diocese of London has announced that three priests named in the Makin review into abuse by John Smyth, have had their permission to officiate withdrawn pending investigation – in other words suspended from active ministry. The report quotes a spokesman saying: “Working in co-ordination with the National Safeguarding Team, following the publication of the Makin Review, the PTOs of Hugh Palmer, Sue Colman and Rico Tice have been withdrawn pending further investigation.” The Church Times reports that Hugh Palmer has also had his permission to officiate removed in the diocese of Gloucester. The Makin review investigated horrific abuse by John Smyth, a Christian barrister, on boys and young men who attended a Christian summer camp intended to create future leaders of the Church of England and wider society. The review says the Rev Rico Tice, formerly of All Souls Langham Place, was said to have been told of the abuse in 1987; The Rev Hugh Palmer, former rector of All Souls, was told in 1982; and the Rev Sue Colman was told before she was ordained. She and her husband, Sir Jamie Colman, heir to the Colman’s mustard dynasty, stepped back from their parish roles as a priest and a volunteer last week.
How conservative evangelicalism enabled John Smyth abuse
Madeleine Davies, writing in The Church Times, reports on how conservative evangelicals in the Church of England are “reckoning with the legacy of John Smyth’s abuse and its cover up”, which has been revealed in the Makin review. Smyth, an evangelical Anglican and barrister, abused public school boys groomed from the Iwerne summer camps, led by evangelicals to train the future leaders of the CofE. The review lists clergy who knew of the abuse coming from “many of the powerhouses of the conservative evangelical constituency in England. They include All Souls’, Langham Place; St Ebbe’s, Oxford; St Aldate’s, Oxford; and the Round Church (now St Andrew the Great), Cambridge”. The Church Times reports that the Church of England Evangelical Council announced this week that “culture-changing action” was required. It quotes a clinical psychologist’s contribution to the review, saying the beliefs and values of the conservative evangelicals are critical to understanding how the abuse happened and was perpetuated, including an authoritarian culture, focus on personal sinfulness producing a default sense of guilt, and narcissistic leaders. The Church Times report is here
CofE same sex blessings proposal on track despite recent turmoil
The Church of England has issued information about the membership of the four working groups considering the implementation of same sex blessings and the likely fall out. The names are recorded in a statement on the CofE website, together with details of a weekend residential discussion, a leaflet and a video, where the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, who is leading the process, explains what happens next. Standalone services of blessings can only take place once provision is made for people who object – they are asking for alternative bishops and have already started a breakaway movement with a separate fund of money and a group of “overseers” and quasi-curates, legitimised by the group. Despite the turmoil over Welby’s resignation, the CofE statement is clear that the process remains on track. The working groups will produce material for the February synod to consider, there will be further local discussion and then more decisions in July.
President Macron “infuriated” by the Pope declining Notre Dame invitation
President Macron of France is said to be infuriated by Pope Francis’ decision not to attend the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral on 7 December, after its renovation following a devastating fire. The Times reports that he is particularly irked by the fact that the Pope is visiting Corsica a week later. The Pope’s reason given is that there is a consistory creating new cardinals on the same date. But a commentator suggests there is a tension between Macron and the church, and Macron and the Pope. The suggestion is that the Pope objects to Macron’s decision to make abortion a constitutional right, and the church objects to a parody of the last supper in the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris. The church rejected the President’s request to deliver an address inside Notre Dame and has to speak in the square outside instead. However Élysée officials say a presidential speech in place of worship could breach the separation of church and state. Article here
Baptist pastors given high office in Trump’s administration
Donald Trump has nominated a former Southern Baptist pastor to be the next head of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Doug Collins was a lawyer, senior pastor of Chicopee Baptist Church in Georgia, chaplain in the Navy and is currently Southern Baptist chaplain in the Air Force Reserves. He was elected to Congress from 2013-2021. He follows into office another Baptist pastor, Mike Huckabee, was has been announced as the next US Ambassador to Israel. He is a former Arkansas Governor and once ran for the presidency. AP reports that he calls himself a Zionist and is an advocate of a “one state solution”, believing God gave “the title deed” to the land to Israel.
One time wealthiest evangelical in America jailed for 18 years for fraud
Former billionaire investor Sung Kook “Bill” Hwang, said to have been once the wealthiest evangelical in America, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for fraud. He was found guilty in July of ten criminal charges of fraud and market manipulation, linked to the failure of his investment fund Archegos Capital Management in 2021, making losses which cost banks more than $10 billion. Premier Christian News reports that Hwang had set up the Grace and Mercy Foundation with $600 million and donated to many Christian organisations across the globe. Hwang’s co-defendant, former Archegos Chief Financial Officer Patrick Halligan, was convicted at the same trial on three criminal charges and will be sentenced in January.
42 Shiite Muslims killed in gun attack on vehicles in north-west Pakistan
In north-west Pakistan, 42 Shiite Muslims have been killed when gunmen opened fire on buses and cars carrying them in a convoy from the city of Parachinar to Peshawar. The dead included six women and a further 20 people were injured, with 10 in a critical condition in hospital. The Associated Press reports witnesses saying the convoy left from an area with an open field. Police say it’s one of the deadliest attacks in recent years in a region which is volatile, with frequent sectarian clashes.
“I’m a Celebrity” contestant Rev Richard Coles tested immediately and told to lie
The Rev Richard Coles has joined “I’m a celebrity, get me out of here!”, the ITV show where random celebrities are invited to live together in the Australian jungle, taking part in gruesome tasks. He was immediately told to lie about the plush surroundings he and camp mate Maura Higgins have been told to enjoy, while the others are living in sleeping bags and very basic conditions. He said he would fast. He’s also been asked to excuse Maura for swearing – and said she was forgiven.
