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the Diocese of Ripon and LeedsNews from TogetherTogether

Inside this month’s Together:p II Chocolate decorationsp III Synod Newsp IV New readersp V Archbishop’s visitp VI Challenge to churchesp VIII Loan sharks

Focus on the future as Archbishop tours areaDr John Sentamu sees fresh expressions and community involvement in two day visit

Revised diocese plans published

Time to decide

www.riponleeds.anglican.org

november 2012

The Archbishop of York spent two days in the diocese last month, visiting pio-neering projects and seeing the church’s mission in both Leeds and the rural areas of North Yorkshire. The Archbishop met a night club boss, health professionals, pioneer ministers, and civic representatives during his two day visit and also saw a debt advice centre based in rural North Yorkshire.

Day One of the Archbishop’s visit included visiting Holy Trinity, Boar Lane to hear about redevelop-ment plans, meeting Pioneer Ministers James Barnett and Beth Tash and the general manager of Tiger Tiger Nightclub. At Leeds Minster he shared in midday prayer for the city and heard about the Minster’s vision, before making a return visit to the David Young Community Academy in

Seacroft, the school he opened in 2006. His visit also took in

the Moyes Centre next to the school, meeting community representatives before moving on to Holy Trinity Meanwood for their Gather fresh expres-sions service - followed by an evening meeting with health care professionals. (Continued on Page 2)

Final detailed proposals for a new diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales are being issued by the Diocese Commission which announced last month that it will press ahead with plans to bring together the three dioceses of Ripon and Leeds, Bradford and Wake-field.

In a statement it said after con-sideration of all submissions, members had unanimously de-cided to proceed with the draft scheme. The statement added, “The Commission firmly believes that the scheme rep-resents a once-in-a generation opportunity for reinvigorat-ing mission which should be grasped. It intends to issue a revised scheme embracing all (Continued on Page 2)

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Archbishop Dioceses reorganisation

Meaningful Christmas decorations

(Continued from Page 1)On Day Two in Richmond, Dr Sentamu visited the ‘FunKey’ Service at St Mary’s church and then travelled to the Chantry Hall Bedale hearing about the Hope Debt Advice agency.

Later the Archbishop went to Harrogate to visit the Kairos Network Church and had a practical introduction to Witnessing on the Streets with one of the Kairos Cells and the Kairos’ project rehabilitating homeless people.

(Continued from Page 1) three dioceses by the end of October, together with a fresh report which will both address concerns that have been put to the Commission, and set out the benefits to mission that it believes will come from a new single diocese.”

The Commission said that di-ocesan structures no longer re-flected realities on the ground. It added, “The Church needs a single diocese to engage effectively in mission with the people and communities of West Yorkshire and the Dales. The Commission believes that the benefits to the Church’s

mission and ministry in West Yorkshire and the Dales will only be fully realised by a scheme embracing all three dioceses. They each have their own distinctive contribution to make, and have a part to play in creating something new...”

Bishop John said that he wel-comed the announcement: "I am pleased that the Dioceses Commission have decided to proceed with their propos-als for a new diocese. I look forward to the publication of the revised scheme and to ex-ploring the mission opportuni-ties it offers for the Synods to consider in March."

Chocolate tree decorations with the message of Christmas are once again on sale this year, bringing a tasty yet thoughtful element to the Christmas cel-ebrations.

The Meaningful Chocolate Company, started in Manchester Diocese, has produced a Christmas box set containing a new lim-ited edition Christmas story booklet, a nativ-ity character sticker set and five hand-wrapped blank chocolate discs.

David Marshall, from The Meaningful Chocolate Com-

pany, said; “Research has found that only 12% of adults know the Christmas story. So

these decorations can help adults communicate the es-sentials of the Christmas story to the next generation.”

Profits from the sales will be going to charity and the deco-rations are made from Belgian

Fairtrade chocolate.The tree decorations cost £4.20 or £4 if more than 20 boxes are ordered at a time.

Church orders can be made through www.Meaningful-Christmas.co.uk or exclusively from Traidcraft.

Orders should be made by the end of

November 2012 as supplies are limited.

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Synod news... Synod news... Synod news...

Synod debates gay marriage

Church schools endorsed

Church partnership signedSynod members gathered at Trinity Methodist Church following their meeting, to witness the signing of a new and groundbreaking regional partnership between the dio-cese and the Leeds District of the Methodist Church.

The agreement, signed by Bishop John Packer and Revd Dr Liz Smith, opens the way for greater sharing of clergy, more joint services, working together to support mission and ministry and greater consultation over fu-ture deployment of staff. The Covenant Area Partnership - the first of its kind in Great Britain - means greater co-op-eration between 85 Anglican parishes and 65 neighbouring Methodist churches.

“The lives of both Churches have already been greatly enriched by our determination to work, worship and grow together,” said the Revd Julian Pursehouse, Acting Chair of the Leeds Methodist District.

New Synod members were welcomed to the first meeting of a new three year term by its President, Bishop John, and clergy and lay chairs, Canon David Paton-Wil-liams, and Can-on Ann Nicholl (pictured).

Proceedings got off to a lively start with a debate, tabled by Michael Laycock of Har-rogate, asking Synod members to back the Archbishops’ official opposi-tion to gay marriage.

In a good quality debate,

several speakers expressed opposition to the stance taken by the Church of England, many expressing the view that homosexual couples in com-mitted monogamous relation-

ships should be able to have their relationship blessed in the sight of God.

But a motion to ‘move to next business’, and so avoid a controversial

vote, received Synod backing with members expressing the view that the debate should continue.

The role of church schools was debated as Synod mem-bers heard about the recent Chadwick report, “The Church School of the Future.”

Diocesan Direc-tor of Education, Clive Sedge-wick said that the report was an important contribution which should be endorsed. “The Chadwick report is a major report and really is very important for the Church of England, and for education for every child.”

He described the report as far reaching and challenging, and said he hoped the debate would lead to greater thought and prayer about the diocese’s

role in educa-tion. He added, “Church schools don’t claim to be better ... but they should be claiming to be distinctive... and we need to define what that

distinctiveness is.” The motion to welcome the Chadwick report was supported without opposition and with seven abstentions.

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New readers licensed

Bishop James writesSimplification

At a recent meeting, Rowan Williams spoke of the need for a “simplification programme.” It was a phrase that caught my imagination – and the catching of the imagination is where, of course, everything starts to happen; for example, faith, action, movement, change, growth and generosity.

Rowan’s point was that we need a programme of simpli-fication to free us from the lesser things for which we long, or to which we attach ourselves, and which make us less than we are, less than we are capable of being, to free us to concentrate on the big things. Of those big things, nothing is bigger than our life in Christ, both our personal life and our corporate life.

Christ invites us to that programme of simplification when he says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” The Message Bible renders that, “You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and your heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.” Being pure in heart means desiring, longing for the one thing, the one thing that matters. I guess that applies to each heart and the heart of each Christian community.This is what we are doing each day when we pray, isn’t

it? Letting things be made simple again; letting go of the confusions and complexities and calculations in order to be assured and reassured of the simple truth that we are loved.

In regard to healthy churches, Robert Warren wrote of doing fewer thing and doing them better. The one thing needful is for the church, whether it is made up of two or three or twenty or thirty, two hundred or three hundred, to attend to the words of Christ: “love one another as I have loved you – by this will all people know that you are my disciples.” Nothing could be simpler than that.

+James

Six new readers were licensed at the annual service held this October in St. Mary’s Garforth. From L to R: Paul Staleton, Moor Allerton & Shadwell; Christine Shaw,

Holy Trinity, Ripon; Petra Noble, St. Matthew's, Chapel Allerton; Christina McGrath, Bishop Thornton, Burnt Yates, Markington, S.Stainley & Ripley; Alison Sen, Christ Church, Upper Armley; and Carole Rodd, St. Mary's, Garforth.

More than a thousand internet users across the diocese are now reading about news, events, resources and much more via the diocesan e-bulle-tin. The Together e-bulletin is sent out about once a fortnight. If you would like to subscribe (free, of course) simply go to the home page of the diocesan website (www.riponleeds.anglican.org) and scroll down to the headline Together e-bulletin – click through to read previous editions and subscribe.

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Archbishop’s two day tour focuses on growth and community involvement across the diocese.

Exploring the Future

Archbishop John, pictured here with Bishop John, began the visit at Holy Trinity, Boar Lane, before moving on to Leeds Minster.

Day 1: Leeds Archdeaconry Day 2: Richmond Archdeaconry

At the David Young Community Academy, Dr Senta-mu met students and headteacher Ros McMullen, and saw its community services base, the Moyes Centre.

A hundred children greeted the Archbishop at St Mary’s, Richmond, as he released doves of peace, before visiting the Hope Debt Advice centre (below).

In Harrogate, Dr Sentamu visited the Kairos Net-work Church with Archdeacon Janet and Rev Mark Carey, and saw their project for homeless people.

Elaine Storkey delivers challenge to churches

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New Generation - New MediaFacebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Flickr, Youtube and many other online applications have opened up an exciting array of new opportunities to com-mu-nicate crea-tively with young people.For many adults it is all a bit of a mystery, so a training day has been arranged on Novem-ber 10th to help fire imagina-tion and to build confidence for those working with young people.

Diocesan Youth Adviser, Nic Sheppard said, “ Like many who work with young people, I’m very aware how much they are influenced by and rely

upon new media to commu-nicate, share information and simply have fun. This is a day for anyone of any age and technical ability who works with young people to explore positive, creative

Christian writer, author and broadcaster Elaine Storkey has called on churches to take more seriously their responsibilities for the care and nurture of children, in a keynote address at Ripon Ca-thedral.

Dr Storkey, a member of the General Synod since 1987 and Presi-dent of Tearfund, was giving the St Wilfrid Lecture on the subject, ‘Ethical Guardianship: Giving Childhood a High Priority’, as part of the 2012 series ‘Questions of Right and Wrong: The role of faith in contemporary society’. She

said recent evidence showed a worsening of childhood for many. “There are symptoms

of acute disorder in soci-ety which are linked to our underlying worldview and attitudes,” she said. At the same time, she argued that the

Christian view of childhood gave an important and often undervalued perspective on

children and their development.

Drawing on a wide range of writings, Dr Storkey argued for the full involvement of faith in policy making - and she challenged the church itself: “Churches should be doing much more in resourcing parents and families in the neigh-

bourhood.” She added, “There is a lot we can do in affirming children or by, for example, supporting single parents who are struggling.”

and safe ways to communicate online with young people.”

The New Media day in Don-caster will bring together ex-

perience from many churches across the region

and has been planned jointly by the ecumenical ‘Faith in Young People’ group.To learn more about what the day offers and to register online visit: www.weusenew-media.com

y Diary Dates Your guide to events

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Novemberin the Diocese of Ripon & Leeds

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All Saint’s Day, Festal Eucharist, Ripon Cathedral at 7.30pm

Mozart’s Requiem. A liturgical per-formance at St Wilfrid’s Church, Duchy Road, Harrogate 5.00pm The Haydn Choir and Orchestra in a mass for All Souls with Fr. Gary Waddington celebrant

Connect 2012 Across Our Diverse city - An annual creative networking event for Christians from different backgrounds, cultures and postcodes co-hosted by LCTiM . At City of Leeds School, Wood-house Cliff, Leeds, LS6 2LG, 6.30pm –9pm

New Media in Youth Ministry. Day Conference. At Salvation Army, Lake-side Community Church, Doncaster. 10am – 4pm £10 per person. Contact trish.stafford@sheffield.anglican.org (01709)309147

Remembrance Day service led by Bishop John Packer, Ripon Cathedral, 11.40am

Treasuring the Little People in God’s Story - an ecumenical opportunity to explore resources for children’s workers and leaders of children’s liturgy of the word – 7.15pm – 9.30pm. More details Anne Carter annecleeds@aol.com or (01423) 509859

Quiet Morning led by Adrian Alker at Hollin House, Weetwood Avenue, Leeds,

LS16 5NG 10am to 12.30pm. For details please contact Sue Rusholme on (0113) 2000547

Hook Lecture at Leeds Minster , 7.30pm. Faith in Public Life - Guest Speaker Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic Studies at Glasgow University. Tickets (0113) 245 4700, general@leedschurchinstitute.org. www.leedsparishchurch.com

Oak Leaf service. A memorial service for victims of road accidents on North York-shire’s Roads. Ripon Cathedral, 3pm

Standing on Holy Ground, Hinsley Hall, Leeds for those being licensed or relicensed to administer at the Eucharist 4.45pm – 8.30pm with shared supper . £10 per person. Contact gail.matthew-man@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk or call (0113) 200 0558

General Synod, London

St Wilfrid Lecture – ‘Capitalism, the Root of all Evil?’ – Peter Vardy, 7pm -free

Signs of Hope. An ecumenical morning for those who care daily for those with degenerative diseases. 10am – 2pm Christ Church, The Stray, Harrogate HG1 4SW, lunch provided - gail.matthewman@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk

Christmas Gift and Food Fair, Ripon Cathedral, 10am-4pm – over 70 stalls. £2.50, children free)

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Moves and Appointments

Church’s award for combating loan sharks

David Brighton Editor(0113) 2000540, email:Together @riponleeds-diocese.org.uk

John Carter Managing Editor(01423) 530369, email: jhgcarter@aol.com

Cost and delivery enquiries:Julie Milbourne, Ripon & Leeds Diocesan Office, (0113) 2000540

Loan sharks are illegal money lenders, charging exorbitant rates of interest – 131,000% is the highest rate reported to date. They often target the most vulnerable and often use intimidating tactics and violence.

The West Leeds Debt Forum was set up in 2004 at the initia-tive of Church Army Captain, Peter Green, with assistance from diocesan urban officer Kathryn Fitzsimons. Its aims were, and remain, to alert people to the dangers of loan sharks, to signpost to affordable sources of credit, such as credit unions, and to sources of advice on money matters. The Forum meets six-weekly at St Mar-

garet’s, Bramley, and draws together a mix of local organi-sations from both the voluntary and public sectors to exchange information and identify areas

for action. For example, in De-cember 2010 and early 2011, Forum members, in partnership with the Illegal Money Lend-ing Project, organised a series of local events around ‘Break-ing the Chain of Debt’.

The current economic situation

and the effects of Welfare Re-form have resulted in signifi-cant increases in the number of people in debt. The Forum is once again working with

the Stop Loan Sharks/Illegal Money Lending team on a campaign for West Leeds.

“Please join us in cam-paigning against loan sharks,” says Kathryn. “Let your local com-munity know that help

is available round the clock on 0300 555 2222 or people can text ‘loan shark + message’ to 60003. For more details on Stop Loans Sharks visit www.direct.gov.uk/stoploansharks. For more information on West Leeds Debt Forum, contact norah.gibson@tiscali.co.uk

Revd Paul Cressall to be In-cumbent of the new benefice of Bishop Thornton, Burnt Yates, Markington, Ripley and South Stainley.

Revd Timothy Hurren to be Assistant Curate (to be known as Associate Priest) of Har-rogate St Peter.

Revd Richard Glover, Rector of the Benefice of the Lower Swale; and Sister Jennifer

East, Church Army Officer at St Stephen and St Agnes, and Leeds St Cyprian with St James Harehills; to retire.

Revd Bryan Dixon, Priest in Charge of Crakehall, Hornby and Patrick Brompton with Hunton; to be also Priest in Charge of Spennithorne with Finghall and Hauxwell.

Revd Dr Sandra Jane de Gay to be Assistant Curate (to be

known as Associate Priest) of St Martin, Potternewton.

Readers will be saddened to hear that Canon Paul Carter, has died.

The West Leeds Debt Forum, supported by Bramley Parish and run by volunteers from the Parish, has recently been given the English Illegal Money Lending Project’s 2012 Regional Champions Award for its community work in combating loan sharks. Together found out more.