Former US bishop to be jailed for manslaughter
PROSECUTORS have agreed that the former US Episcopalian suffragan bishop Heather Cook should be imprisoned for ten years, after she pleaded guilty to manslaughter and drink-driving. Ms Cook was involved in a collision in which a cyclist was killed, in Baltimore, on 27 December last year (News, 16 January). She will be sentenced by a judge on 27 October.
Dean bans concert over Muslim call to prayer
THE Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Nelson, in New Zealand, the Very Revd Nick Kirk, has refused to host a concert that includes Karl Jenkins’s Mass for Peace, because the work refers to the Muslim call to prayer. Dean Kirk told the Nelson Mail that “the Islamic call to prayer is not Christian,” and that he decided to reject the concert owing to “different beliefs”. The performance will now take place in a nearby college on 26 October.
Former President of the Methodist Conference dies
A PAST President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd David Gamble, has died, the Methodist Church announced on Saturday. Mr Gamble, who was President in 2009-10, was praised by the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Revd Paul Bayes: “David’s work in the area of safeguarding was pioneering, and crucial in helping our Churches become safer communities. . . His commitment, experience, and wisdom will be sorely missed.”
Government moves to register religious leaders
PRIESTS, imams, rabbis, and other religious leaders could be required to enrol in a “national register of faith leaders”, and take part in government training and security checks, under a new proposal by the Home Office to combat extremism. The Daily Telegraph reported the move after the Government’s latest counter-extremism strategy was leaked. The document states that registration will be compulsory for all religious leaders who work with the public sector.
Coalition condemns Dr Sentamu’s decision on Reader
THE organisation LGBTI Anglican Coalition has condemned a proposal by the Archbishop of York, Dr Sentamu, to remove his permission for a Reader, Jeremy Timm, to officiate in his diocese, because Mr Timm is planning to convert his civil partnership to a civil marriage (News, 14 August). The coalition says that it is the first known instance of its kind since the publication in February 2014 of the House of Bishops’ statement of Pastoral Guidance on Same-Sex Marriage, which refers only to clergy and ordinands.
Chaplain recognised for contribution to rural community
THE Chaplain of the Great Yorkshire Show, the Revd Leslie Morley, has won an award for his contribution to the rural community. The Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which runs the annual show, joined the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution in presenting the award to Mr Morley for his work in preventing suicides in the farming sector. Mr Morley believes that the future of rural parishes lies in churches’ “not just being Sunday buildings”.
Teenager wins campaign for women composers
A TEENAGER has won her campaign to ensure that female composers are included on the A-level music syllabus of the exam board Edexcel. Jessy McCabe, of Twyford Church of England High School, in London, began a petition last month after discovering that none of the 63 composers on the Edexcel syllabus were women. Miss Twyford told The Independent: “There’s been a lot of progress. I didn’t think it would be as easy as it was, but Edexcel have been great — they automatically saw the need to rectify this, and are making changes.”
Correction: the Six Point Foundation (News, 11 September) offers aid specifically involving Holocaust survivors, and not as stated. Our apologies.