…Christians are fighting an uphill battle for recognition. There are signs, however, that society is beginning to take more notice of Church leaders for positive reasons ”“ and the proof of this is in Yorkshire. John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, was right to use Holy Week to urge the Church of England to use pubs to get its message across ”“ however much it confused traditional worshippers.
We are all too familiar with studies showing Britons pay remarkably little attention to Easter. The latest of this type showed that more than half of six to 10-year-olds are unaware of its religious significance. So reaching out, as Dr Sentamu is trying to do, is vital. It’s not just in the local hostelry, however, that new audiences can be found. It’s also in the boardroom. That’s why the diocese of Ripon and Leeds appointed the Rev Rob Hinton as its first minister to the business community. When I met him, he pointed out that simply yelling at bankers ”“ much as it sounds good fun ”“ will not make them change their ways, and that it is understanding which helps people live their lives differently.
It’s an unfashionable view but he’s right. Even more unorthodox, however, was the now infamous Nativity sermon from a York parish priest, which was dubbed “Thou shalt steal”. Father Tim Jones’ message ”“ that stealing from large national chains could sometimes be justified for vulnerable people ”“ rather got lost in the outrage that followed, which reached its height when a man threw a bucket of spaghetti and ravioli at him. But he had a point, even if he expressed it badly. Stealing is wrong, but if you are homeless, starving and cold it could be the seen as the least-worst option. Rather that than breaking into somebody’s home.
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Peter Edwards: Despite the scandals, Churches continue to protect the weak and comfort the miserable
…Christians are fighting an uphill battle for recognition. There are signs, however, that society is beginning to take more notice of Church leaders for positive reasons ”“ and the proof of this is in Yorkshire. John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, was right to use Holy Week to urge the Church of England to use pubs to get its message across ”“ however much it confused traditional worshippers.
We are all too familiar with studies showing Britons pay remarkably little attention to Easter. The latest of this type showed that more than half of six to 10-year-olds are unaware of its religious significance. So reaching out, as Dr Sentamu is trying to do, is vital. It’s not just in the local hostelry, however, that new audiences can be found. It’s also in the boardroom. That’s why the diocese of Ripon and Leeds appointed the Rev Rob Hinton as its first minister to the business community. When I met him, he pointed out that simply yelling at bankers ”“ much as it sounds good fun ”“ will not make them change their ways, and that it is understanding which helps people live their lives differently.
It’s an unfashionable view but he’s right. Even more unorthodox, however, was the now infamous Nativity sermon from a York parish priest, which was dubbed “Thou shalt steal”. Father Tim Jones’ message ”“ that stealing from large national chains could sometimes be justified for vulnerable people ”“ rather got lost in the outrage that followed, which reached its height when a man threw a bucket of spaghetti and ravioli at him. But he had a point, even if he expressed it badly. Stealing is wrong, but if you are homeless, starving and cold it could be the seen as the least-worst option. Rather that than breaking into somebody’s home.
Read it all.