Top News Releases | The Church of England

Legalising voluntary euthanasia 'not an option' says church report

23 June 2000

The case for legalising Euthanasia is not supportable, according to a new edition of a groundbreaking Church of England report. On Dying well - a contribution to the Euthanasia debate was first published in 1975 and the new edition covers the advances made in medical and legal thinking in the past 25 years. The preface for the new edition concludes that, despite these advances, the ethical and theological case against it remains firm.

Statistics can be a tool for mission, says Church report

21 June 2000

Statistics used 'as a tool for mission, may help the Church engage more fully in its prophetic, pastoral and evangelistic role by enabling it to face with honesty the implications of changing patterns of attendance,' says a report to be debated by the General Synod next month.

Synod runs hard right up to the tape

20 June 2000

The agenda for the July meeting of the General Synod in York - the last of the Synod elected in 1995 - is as busy as any other during its lifetime. Debates on clergy discipline, a call for steps which might lead to the consecration of women bishops, the healing ministry, mission among young people and reform of the House of Lords are just some of the highlights of a packed Synod agenda.

Parishes encouraged to develop their ministry of healing

08 June 2000

The healing ministry is one of the greatest opportunities the Church has today for sharing the Gospel, says the report of a review chaired by the Rt Rev John Perry, Bishop of Chelmsford. To encourage a wise and appropriate exercise of this ministry in congregations, Church of England clergy will receive a handbook on the development of good practice.

Church Commissioners to Move Management of UK funds

19 May 2000

The Commissioners are to transfer the day to day fund management of their £2,600 million UK equities securities portfolio to CCLA (Churches, Charities and Local Authorities) Investment Management Limited. The transfer is planned to be effective from 1 July 2000.

Amendment to the Learning and Skills Bill - a joint statement

18 May 2000

Statement issued by the Right Reverend Alan Chesters, Bishop of Blackburn, chairman of the Church of England Board of Education, and the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference Department for Education and Formation

Church moves Measure back to Synod

10 May 2000

The Legislative Committee of the Church of England has today unanimously decided to withdraw the Churchwardens Measure from the Ecclesiastical Committee of Parliament in order to resubmit the measure to General Synod in its July sessions in York with the recommendation that it be amended so that the power to suspend a churchwarden would be withdrawn.

Investing in God's people

19 April 2000

Blackburn Diocesan office is the latest part of the Church of England to gain the national Investors in People Standard. Investors is taking off in the wake of unanimous support at the General Synod in York, last July.

Seeing Salvation breaks Church House Bookshop Records

18 April 2000

The coffee-table catalogue to the National Gallery exhibition Seeing Salvation is Church House Bookshop's biggest seller of 2000, Mark Clifford, head of Church House Publishing's retail arm, announced today.

Commissioners hold to a steady course

13 April 2000

Speaking about the Church Commissioners' Report and Accounts for 1999 today, the First Church Estates Commissioner, John Sclater CVO, said: "For six successive years the Commissioners have produced a total return on their assets ahead of their independent benchmark. This is a fine achievement, but the fact is that the Commissioners' funds remain fully committed. The Commissioners will stick to their strategy of investing to provide sustainable support towards the costs of the Church's ministry in the long term. They will focus on looking for ways of increasing, if possible, their support for ministry in areas of need and opportunity in the years ahead."