Campaigning against child poverty
From Canon Andrew Lightbown
Madam, — I read “Williams backs Brown’s child-poverty campaign” (News, 8 August) and “PM should heed Brown’s child-poverty clarion call” (Comment, same issue) with considerable interest and sympathy. I agreed with everything that was written except for the Revd Helen Dixon Cameron’s argument that “Britain still has a hidden poverty epidemic.” If it is hidden, it is hidden in plain sight.
As Canon Missioner at St Woolos’ Cathedral, Newport, and Chaplain to the City of Newport, I encounter child poverty in all its ugliness every single week. In Newport, there are currently more than 500 homeless families, and those are just the ones included in the official statistics. Every school runs some form of breakfast club or food pantry. We have specialist health visitors working with homeless families.
The Royal Foundation is involved in seeking to end homelessness in the city. The cathedral actively seeks to support those working on the front line, in the belief that we are called on to “seek the prosperity of the city”, as the prophet Jeremiah put it. Part of our pastoral responsibility is to care for and support the health visitors, schools, and community projects that characterise our civic life. In Ms Cameron’s terms this is our missional “essence” and what we “are called to be”.
If the Church is to move towards what I think of as an ecclesiology of poverty, it needs to look beyond itself and commit itself to serving others of good will. It also needs to speak truth to power and have the confidence to name and invite others to see the appalling poverty that really is hidden in plain sight; for this is what it means to be prophetic. All our actions and utterances must, of course, be rooted in and routed from prayer.
All churches can play a part in helping to bring the disgrace of child poverty to an end, even, perhaps especially those in areas of relative affluence. Perhaps such churches could prayerfully ask how we can support and serve those churches that minister in areas of significant deprivation? Maybe this is the essence of what it means to be a good neighbour?
If the Church is to play its part in ending child poverty, it can do so only through serving others — those on the front line — prayerfully, pastorally, and prophetically; for these three are the very essence of a much needed ecclesiology of poverty.
ANDREW LIGHTBOWN
St Woolos’ Cathedral Office
105 Stow Hill
Newport NP20 4ED
From the Revd Ulric Gerry
Madam, — Childhood poverty needs to be addressed. Let’s start by looking at the underlying factors. These range from non-working parents (65 per cent), large families (44 per cent), and single parents (43 per cent) to housing costs and disability from consanguineous marriages. Some solutions are in the gift of government: a welfare state that incentivises marriage and employment, and affordable social housing provision.
Other causes, however, are strongly culturally sensitive, difficult to address, and no amount of money can fix them. A change of hearts and minds is required. To acknowledge this is the start of finding a solution. Human flourishing relies on four things: family, education, employment, and a moral framework for life. Let us as a Church do our part.
ULRIC GERRY
The Vicarage
Ryefield Avenue
Uxbridge UB10 9BT
Coventry diocese’s actions in discipline case
From Dr Margaret Wilkinson
Madam, — I write as the previous chair of Broken Rites, the organisation that supports separated and divorced clergy spouses and partners.
I am at a loss to understand the recently reported clergy-discipline case in Coventry diocese (News, 8 August), in which a complaint was raised against a female member of the clergy whose husband, against whom there were allegations of abuse, was provided housing by the diocese.
In our experience, it is extremely rare for our members to have received any significant help with housing, even though three-quarters have experienced domestic abuse. Indeed, they are more likely to be told to return to the tied house than to be helped with alternative housing. If our members raise a complaint against their clergy spouse/partner with similar evidence to this case, it will invariably be dismissed for lack of evidence, and there is no apparent effect on the abusive spouse’s ministry.
So I am left wondering what was it that enabled this case to proceed while our members are dismissed. Was it because it was brought by a male member of the clergy against a female respondent, while our members are predominantly female, making complaints about male members of the clergy?
Or is it simply that the Church has difficulty in believing female victims of male abuse and does not understand how it affects them?
MARGARET WILKINSON
27 River Grove Park
Beckenham BR3 1HX
C of E and recognition of Palestinian statehood
From the Revd Dr Fiona Haworth
Madam, — I welcome the statement of the Archbishop of York on recognition of Palestinian statehood.
The proposal by Sir Keir Starmer to recognise Palestine by the UK is a long-overdue recognition of British responsibility to fulfil its obligations as set out in the Balfour Declaration of 1917: “It being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine.”
It was not, as the Revd Dr Ian Paul (Letter, 8 August) suggests, that Mahmood Abbas refused to consider Ehud Olmert’s proposal of specific borders. He was refused a copy of the detailed proposal for wider consultation unless he signed it.
While there is no doubt that the founding charter of Hamas is deeply anti-Semitic, on winning the 2006 elections, in a vote judged free and fair by international observers, Hamas offered Israel a 30-year ceasefire in order to revive the moribund peace process. In 2017, Hamas issued a new charter, in which it committed itself to accepting a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, should that be the will of the Palestinian people.
With regard to recognition of Palestinian statehood as being a reward for the use of extreme sexual violence, readers should be aware that, horrific as the acts of 7 Octboer were, the Israeli prosecutor Moran Gaz has acknowledged that no evidence exists to support accusations of sexual violence on 7 October, despite intensive investigations. There is, however, substantive evidence of the use of sexual violence against Palestinian prisoners.
Supporting action to address a longstanding injustice is exactly what the Church of England should be doing. For too long, we have ignored the cries of our Palestinian siblings in Christ.
FIONA HAWORTH
40 Heigham Road
Norwich NR2 3AU
Order of St John’s work in the Middle East
From Mr Simon Ramacci
Madam, — As the situation in Israel/Palestine continues to attract attention from people with very different views, I thought it might be good to highlight a lesser-known organisation doing much compassionate work in the area.
The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group is the only charitable provider of specialist eye care in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, and has continued to support the local population, regardless of ethnic or religious background, even in the midst of the ongoing conflict.
It is one of the charitable endeavours of the British Order of St John (alongside St John Ambulance), and has suffered physical damage and staff deaths during the ongoing conflict.
It relies on the public’s donations; so, I think, those of us who feel overwhelmed by the complexities of what is happening might find supporting their work a good option.
SIMON RAMACCI
Address Supplied
Draw on retired clergy with a lighter form of PTO
From Dr Penelope Upton
Madam, — The letter from Canon Richard Suffern (8 August) resonated. Many years ago, in the diocese of Coventry, I suggested a second type of permission to officiate (PTO). I know elderly clergy who no longer have PTO because the application process has become too onerous, when they require only an occasional altar, say once a month and at Easter. I suggested a lighter and less burdensome application process.
This would be very helpful to clergy such as Canon Suffern. He could stay in post longer, knowing that there was someone available who would be content to provide cover once a month. As he observed, with such an arrangement, he would be more available for local ministry and have the benefit of also being more available to family.
It was also bizarre some years ago to attend a service of communion by extension one Sunday, conducted by a Reader, when there was a fit and active elderly clergyman in the congregation, who had given up PTO because it had become too onerous to apply, and who had previously accepted the offer of an altar once a month in that benefice.
I happen to live in a deanery where the celebration of holy communion has become a rare event, and many churches are locked on a Sunday, but where there are clergy who have given up PTO and otherwise would be available. It is a pity for Canon Suffern that he has to retire when he has so much still to give, and when there could be a pragmatic solution.
PENELOPE UPTON
Redlands, Banbury Road
Lighthorne
Warwickshire CV35 0AH
Theological exploration assisted by courses
From Canon David Driscoll
Madam, — The Revd Professor Sarah Coakley’s article (Comment, 8 August) was very timely. As she said, we must not “underestimate the intellectual capacities of lay people and seekers”.
An excellent example of a diocese that has taken this seriously is Chelmsford, with its Course of Christian Studies going back nearly 40 years. Three thousand have taken part so far. I had the privilege of being one of the course tutors for ten years. Courses take place in centres all over the diocese, and more recently can be done online.
Professor Coakley’s desire would certainly be realised if every diocese followed Chelmsford’s example. A renewal of the Church could take place at a time when it is greatly needed.
DAVID DRISCOLL
24 Baileys Barn
Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1BX
From the Revd Robert Croft
Madam, — I write in support of Professor Coakley’s words last week. In July, Education for Ministry (EfM) celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since its founding in 1975, EfM has helped more than 120,000 participants become “theologically informed, reflective, and articulate seekers of God”.
The EfM programme is a course of study in groups of six to ten which focuses on small-group engagement, theological reflection, and transformation. With a group mentor, we offer participants the opportunity to explore the Bible, church history, and modern theology over one or four years and, in exploring, to reflect theologically on culture, their lived experiences, and their personal responses.
In July, too, the newly revised programme was launched with multi-media online resources on our Pathwright platform, now available in the UK for groups here, or for individuals wanting to join an online group. I would commend the Welcome video at: theology.sewanee.edu/education-for-ministry
ROBERT CROFT
Chair of Trustees, The Education for Ministry Trust
2 Fairford Road
Chester CH4 8EQ
More listening needed in science/religion debate
From the Revd John Henry
Madam, — We may be glad to see the decline of the tired “science v. religion” trope, but I remain cautious about how the science-and-religion conversation is now so often framed.
As the Rt Revd Dr Richard Cheetham and the Revd Dr Muthuraj Swamy rightly observe (Comment, 1 August) meaningful dialogue requires that no single context be treated as the default. But let us be honest: not all perspectives are equally informed, and not all deserve equal airtime.
There is nothing virtuous in confusing ignorance with insight. My own understanding of quantum-field theory — last studied some twenty years ago — cannot carry the same weight as that of a working physicist. Likewise, the average scientist’s views on fourth-century Trinitarian theology cannot be expected to match the authority of a trained theologian.
To platform views that deny evolution, climate change, or the value of vaccination as if they were credible “alternatives” is not dialogue: it is dangerous and misleading. Similarly, Christians have known how to read Genesis allegorically for millennia; Origen was doing so, 1800 years ago. That some church leaders still feel the need to “wrestle” with Genesis in the light of modern science is, frankly, an embarrassment.
The task now is not to reconcile science and religion as if they were adversaries, but to cultivate mutual humility. Scientists must acknowledge the philosophical and theological limits of their disciplines. Religious believers must have the courage to open their hearts and minds to the insights that science offers into the world. All must learn to discern when to speak — and when to listen.
Some conversations should not be “balanced”.
JOHN HENRY
Address supplied (London NW5)
Deborah — not guilty
From the Revd Robin Brown
Madam, — I searched in vain in the Church Times (8 August) for a correction and/or apology. Can it really be that no one has come to the defence of Deborah, her rejoicing notwithstanding (“Clouds of glory and of ruin”, Faith, 1 August)?
ROBIN BROWN
2a Harbour View
Bedale DL8 2DQ
It was, indeed, not Deborah, but Jael, wife of Heber, who killed Sisera (Judges 4.21). Editor
Correction. The first sentence of the fifth paragraph of Mr Dixon’s letter was misprinted last week. It should have read: “Even more deplorable is the suggestion that to give this one per cent annually would be ruinous to the Commissioners’ discretionary spending ability and would require the setting aside of £3.5 billion (almost one third of their total endowment) to make it possible.” Our apologies.
The Editor reserves the right to edit letters
