Issued at 09.05 by sj

 

1.   Church needed to fill gap left by end of Commission for Rural Communities

A leading Professor in Social Renewal says the Church has a vital role to play both locally and nationally in lobbying on rural disadvantage, with the closure of the Government's Commission for Rural Communities at the end of this month.
http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2013/03/church-needed-to-fill-gap-left-by-end-of-commission-for-rural-communities.aspx

2.  NEWS RELEASE FROM PPDG

ARCHBISHOP OF YORK TO PRESENT LEARN DIRECT AWARDS

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, is to present certificates of achievement to 15 people who have completed the Learn Direct Awards at Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) at York, YO31 7RE at 11.30am on Thursday 7 March 2013. For further information, see end of Digest or go to: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/articles.php/2832/archbishop-presents-learn-direct-awards

3. 100th anniversary of Mothering Sunday

One hundred years after the campaign to re-establish Mothering Sunday was launched at Coddington in Nottinghamshire, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, is calling for a celebration of thanksgiving for mothers and motherhood to mark the centenary.  For further information, see end of Digest or go to: http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2013/03/100th-anniversary-of-mothering-sunday.aspx

4. Male focus important at UN Commission on Women, says CofE rep

International Women's Day 2013 celebrated tomorrow, Friday March 8
Mandy Marshall, the CofE rep at this week's UN Commission on the Status of Women, UNCSW, says that educating men and boys is key to preventing violence against women, adding that faith groups must lead the way. The Commission, which runs from March 4-15, is designed to coincide with tomorrow's International Women's Day.  For further information, see end of Digest or go to: http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2013/03/male-focus-important-at-un-commission-on-women,-says-cofe-rep.aspx

5. NEWS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK

Archbishop Welcomes Leeds Children's Heart Surgery Unit High Court Decision

Campaigners trying to keep child heart surgery in Leeds have today won a legal challenge at the High Court.  For further information see end of Digest or go to: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/articles.php/2833/archbishop-welcomes-leeds-childrens-heart-surgery-unit-high-court-decision

6. Today's press coverage

Tel p17
Report that the views of Archbishop Justin Welby on sexuality and the state of the Church, when he was a parish priest, are 'revealed' in a biography entitled Archbishop Justin Welby: The Road to Canterbury, by the Rev Dr Andrew Atherstone, extracts form which will be published in the Telegraph tomorrow.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9916955/Archbishop-of-Canterbury-Justin-Welby-Sex-only-between-a-man-and-a-woman.html

Mirror p20, Metro p4
Report that Father Martin Powell, St Edwards, New Addington, 'has launched an iPray text service to help his congregation find time to say their prayers.

Ind p28
Report that a panel including a rabbi, a Muslim, a Christian and a sociologist were in agreement on faith schools at the Independent Bath Literature Festival yesterday, sharing the 'view that what sours our relationship with the spiritual is certainty, pride and power'.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/bath-literature-festival-believers-losefaith-in-the-role-of-religion-in-the-classroom-8525308.html?origin=internalSearch

Exp p4, Ind p25, Mail p22
Report that 'the number of single parents almost triples over the past 40 years, official figures reveal' and that nearly half of women have never married.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/382706/Rise-of-the-single-parent-family
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/feel-like-the-sole-single-well-yourenot-alone-half-of-women-have-never-got-married-8525241.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9916134/Britain-becoming-lonelier-place-to-live.html

Ind p73
Report that Scotland rugby international Euan Murray will return to his country's team to play Wales tomorrow, having missed his last international for religious reasons as it was played on a Sunday.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/six-nations-scotland-happy-euan-murray-is-back-for-saturday-service-8525549.html

 

Letters
Guardian p45 - Rev Barbara Calvert on the work the Churches do and the lies that are told about poverty.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/07/men-women-unite-for-change

 

Ends

News Release from PPDG

Thursday 7th March 2013

ARCHBISHOP OF YORK TO PRESENT LEARN DIRECT AWARDS

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, is to present certificates of achievement to 15 people who have completed the Learn Direct Awards at Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) at York, YO31 7RE at 11.30am on Thursday 7 March 2013.

During his visit to the employment and training specialists, the Archbishop is to meet with the award recipients and their families.  Dr Sentamu will then tour the York advancement centre where he will spend time with jobseekers and their employment coaches.   The Archbishop is expected to meet with staff at the centre to find out more of the work PPDG does to deliver the government's Work Programme.  The Work Programme aims to give tailored support for claimants to help them overcome barriers that prevent them from finding or staying in work.

In advance of his visit, the Archbishop said: "As a society, we need to look to protect the most vulnerable members within it.  We need to look at practical ways that we can help individuals break the cycle of benefit dependency for them to flourish and prosper.  I am looking forward to presenting the Learn Direct Awards, to meet the individuals and their families.  It is my hope that with their newly acquired skills that these individuals are encouraged to go for it!"

Following the presentation of the Learn Direct Awards, the Archbishop will also meet with PPDG's Chief Executive Officer, Steve King and the Site Manager, Claire Davis.

NEWS from the Church of England

PR 49.13

7/3/2013

100th anniversary of Mothering Sunday

One hundred years after the campaign to re-establish Mothering Sunday was launched at Coddington in Nottinghamshire, the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, is calling for a celebration of thanksgiving for mothers and motherhood to mark the centenary.

Bishop Butler said: "This diocese has a special connection with Mothering Sunday, going back to the initiative of Constance Penswick-Smith from one of our parishes who put the day on the national agenda again. Mothering is something we all need at times although it's something we can take for granted. This year I'm especially aware of all those children and young people who don't have mothers or even fathers and are without the care and love of a family. In Southwell and Nottingham we're asking parishes to focus on the work of Family Care - our local adoption and family support agency that gives practical help to children and young people. This special Mothering Sunday is an opportunity to think and pray for mothers and pray about how we can be a 'mother' to someone who desperately needs care and love."

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham also urged people to celebrate mothering Sunday by posting online prayers at www.prayoneforme.org giving thanks for their mothers and remembering too those for whom the day is difficult due to bereavement or family breakdown. He was joined giving thanks by Bernadette Kenny, Chief Executive of the Church of England Pensions Board, who speaks of her own thanks for mothers in a special video message on the Church of England website, at www.churchofengland.org.

In 1913 Constance Penswick-Smith (1878-1938), the daughter of the vicar of Coddington, Nottinghamshire, caught the vision to celebrate Mothering Sunday. Later in 1921 Constance wrote a booklet asking for a full revival of Mothering Sunday, eventually founding The Society for the Observance of Mothering Sunday and spending more than 25 years promoting the celebration of the festival. Thanks mainly to Constance's efforts, Mothering Sunday - which has its roots in the pre-Reformation Church - has been widely observed and re-established across the Church of England, and celebrated in wider society.

The Revd David Anderton, the present day vicar of All Saints Coddington, is looking forward to a busy Mothering Sunday service: "Mothering Sunday is important in the life of the church and it is one of our most popular services - thanks to Constance, who is buried here in the churchyard. The choir of Coddington Church of England Primary School join us and mothers are given a Primula plant. The congregation then takes part in 'clipping the church', forming a ring around the building and, holding hands, embracing it. It's a wonderful celebration and I'm encouraging people to post their prayers for mothers online as we mark 100 years of Mothering Sundays."

NEWS from the Church of England
 
PR 52.13
 
7/3/2013
 
Male focus important at UN Commission on Women, says CofE rep

International Women's Day 2013 celebrated tomorrow, Friday March 8
Mandy Marshall, the CofE rep at this week's UN Commission on the Status of Women, UNCSW, says that educating men and boys is key to preventing violence against women, adding that faith groups must lead the way. The Commission, which runs from March 4-15, is designed to coincide with tomorrow's International Women's Day.
Writing in her blog http://cofeuncsw.wordpress.com/ on "Men at a Women's conference", Mandy referred to a presentation from the Sonke Gender Justice Network in South Africa outlining 10 points required in engaging men to prevent and end violence against women. But she stressed that there must be "a focus on including faith leaders, as transformers of cultures, in the process of prevention".

Mandy who is using social media to keep supporters updated during the Commission concluded her latest blog with: "With one in four women in the UK suffering abuse in her lifetime, and two women a week being killed by their partner or former partner, it is indeed time for action."
Twitter: @UNCSWCofE
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/cofe.uncsw
Blog:  http://cofeuncsw.wordpress.com/
Email: cofeuncsw@gmail.com

News from the Office of the Archbishop of York

7 March 2013

Archbishop Welcomes Leeds Children's Heart Surgery Unit High Court Decision
Campaigners trying to keep child heart surgery in Leeds have today won a legal challenge at the High Court. 

The High Court's decision upheld the challenge by local campaigners that the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts' review process and decision was unfair and legally flawed.

Nearly 600,000 people signed a petition against the decision to end surgery at the unit in Leeds, which treats children from across Yorkshire and the Humber region. If the plan went ahead, children would instead have to travel to Newcastle or Liverpool for operations.

The Archbishop visited the Children's Heart Surgery Unit at Leeds earlier this year and gave his backing to those battling to keep the Unit open. 

Following the High Court's decision this morning, the Archbishop said:

"It is great news that the High Court today has upheld the legal challenge brought by local campaigners, asking for all the evidence and facts to be considered before a decision is taken to close paediatric heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.

"The Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts' review process and decision to remove children's heart surgery services from Leeds was unjust and flawed. It is utterly unjustified and unethical that the Leeds Unit could be earmarked for closure without the full facts being properly considered.

"Earlier this year, I visited the Leeds Children's Heart Surgery Unit, to see the life-saving work that they are taking on a daily basis.  These hardworking NHS staff are doing incredible work. 

"The Leeds Unit serves the whole region and has saved the lives of so many across Yorkshire and further afield over the years. This is one of the top performing units in the country and it is the only one with the recognised 'gold standard' of having the co-location of all paediatric services that are required. 

"I hope that the Independent Review which has been set up to re-examine the provision of heart surgery across the country is carried out properly and makes its decisions based on hard evidence.  It is vital that the right decisions are made as this will determine how children with congenital heart disease are treated for decades to come - we cannot afford to rush and make a bodge job of this.

"I would like to express my deep thanks to all those people who gave generously to enable the legal challenge to be mounted in the High Court. Thank you for trusting all the clinicians at the Leeds Children's Heart Surgery Unit."