New adviser for minority-ethnic concerns
ELIZABETH HENRY has joined the Church of England's Mission and
Public Affairs Council as National Adviser for the Committee for
Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns. Ms Henry was previously CEO of
Race on the Agenda, a charity that focuses on issues of race
equality. The Director of Mission and Public Affairs, the Revd Dr
Malcolm Brown, said that Ms Henry would "not only be working on the
concerns of the Church's minority-ethnic members, but helping the
Church to engage effectively with such issues in society at
large".
MP calls for gay-marriage protections
EDWARD LEIGH, Conservative MP for Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, is
to call on the Government next week to amend the Equality Act, in
order to protect those who do not agree with plans to introduce
same-sex marriage, The Daily Telegraph reported on
Wednesday. Mr Leigh is expected to say in an address that, if the
Equality Act is not amended, "it will open the doors to Christians,
Muslims, Jews - and anyone else with a conscientious objection -
being disciplined, demoted, or even sacked for backing the current
definition of marriage."
Canon for Discipleship sought by Liverpool
Cathedral
LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL is seeking to recruit a Canon for
Discipleship, it was announced on Monday. A statement from
Liverpool diocese said that the appointment was "a direct response"
to the "Growth Agenda" set out by the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt
Revd James Jones. "The Canon for Discipleship will focus on the
early nurture of members of the cathedral company, helping members
to discern their gifts, deepen their discipleship, and develop
their sense of vocation," the statement said.
Priest charged with voyeurism offences
THE Revd Richard Lee, joint Priest-in-Charge of St Augustine's,
Locking, has been charged with eight voyeurism offences and 18
offences of making indecent images, Avon and Somerset Police
announced last week. He is due to appear at North Somerset
Magistrates' Court on 11 February. Mr Lee was suspended from active
ministry after his arrest in July.
Air Cadets to offer non-religious oath
THE British Humanist Association (BHA) welcomed an announcement
by the Air Cadet Organisation this week that it would, for the
first time, offer a non-religious oath for recruits. The decision
came after a campaign by the BHA and the UK Armed Forces Humanist
Association (UKAFHA). The General Secretary of the UKAFHA, David
Brittain, said that not providing a non-religious oath had
"excluded a significant number of young people of good conscience
who do not believe in any god and are not willing to lie by saying
words they don't believe".
Bradford FC chaplain irks Villa manager
THE manager of Aston Villa FC, Paul Lambert, complained on
Monday that the chaplain of Bradford City FC, the Revd Paul Deo,
had been "disrespectful" during the first leg of the League Cup
semi-final match between the two sides on 8 January. Mr Deo, who
had been the stadium announcer at the match, had told Bradford's
supporters to "book hotel rooms for London", after Bradford
unexpectedly won the first leg 3-1. Aston Villa won the second-leg
match on Tuesday 2-1, meaning that Bradford went through to the
final, having won 4-3 on aggregate.
Correction: a picture accompanying a note about
a digital exhibition (News, 11
January) was an example of a Moon Bible, not Braille. Our
apologies.