Oxford-Blue bishop takes on new sporting position

THE Bishop of Sherwood, the Rt Revd Tony Porter, has been named as the Archbishops' Sport Ambassador. Bishop Porter played hockey for England Schoolboys, won an Oxford Blue, and was club chaplain at Manchester City Football Club. His main work will be to "encourage parish churches to be involved in the world of sport, and for the world of sport to receive Christian ministry in a culture and language they understand", he said last month.

Kidnapped friar released in Syria

A FRANCISCAN friar kidnapped in Syria has been released, the Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo in Syria, the Rt Revd Georges Abou Khazen OFM, confirmed last Friday. Fr Hanna Jallouf OFM was seized with about 20 other Christians at gunpoint from the small village of Knayeh, close to the Syrian border with Turkey, on 5 October, allegedly by members of the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front (News, 10 October). There is no news of the release of the other men who were kidnapped.

Faith leaders stand together in Rotherham

A JOINT statement on child sexual exploitation in Rotherham (News, 19 August) was released by faith leaders in Sheffield on Tuesday. Signatories included the Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Steven Croft, and the President of the South Yorkshire branch of the Islamic Society of Britain, Abdool Gooljar. The statement said: "Regardless of these perpetrators being of Pakistani heritage, in the eyes of the Muslim community they are perpetrators of criminal acts and should have the full force of justice brought to bear on them." The full statement can be read on www.churchtimes.co.uk.

Theological journal awarded international prize

CONCILIUM, the international theological journal, has been awarded the Herbert Haag Prize for 2015, a coveted award in the field of theology. The prize was also given to the German theologian Regina Ammicht Quinn, a member of the Concilium board and regular contributor. Concilium is published by Hymns Ancient & Modern, publisher of the Church Times.

Welby turns down Royal College of Organists

THE Archbishop of Canterbury has chosen not to become a vice-president of the Royal College of Organists, breaking with a 150-year-old tradition. The College has the Queen as its Patron, and a large number of other church leaders as vice-patrons, among them the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of London. A spokesman for Archbishop Welby said that he was focused on his priorities of prayer and evangelism.
 

Correction. Paul Spicer's new oratorio, reviewed last week (Arts, 10 October), was performed at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham, not in Lichfield. We apologise for the error.