This month’s contents:

• Women bishops, climate change … General Synod agenda published
• Government ‘moral without a compass’ says report
• Lambeth Conference London rally
• Wider wedding welcome for couples
• Dads feel more responsible for the spiritual care of their child
• 42 day detention briefing
• Church publishes prayers to ease exam stress
• High level charity jump
• ‘Nice sermon vicar, but …’ new book on preaching
• Bishops’ office and working costs published
• Church secures new funding options for training future clergy
• Make ‘Time for God’s creation’ – autumn environment season for churches
• New bishop for Truro Diocese
• More news from the Archbishop of Canterbury

Zimbabwe – call for UN mediation and protection
Dalai Lama welcomed at Lambeth Palace
Calls for stronger Christian-Muslim engagement
Faith leaders unite in campaign to combat poverty
Opening of Goldsmiths’ summer exhibition

• More news from the Archbishop of York
  • 
    Liverpool visit
    Speech on the role of religion in politics
    Cluster bombs

General Synod agenda out now
Women bishops, climate change, church tourism …. these are just some of the major debates on the agenda at the General Synod when it meets at York University next month. Full details here

Government ‘moral without a compass’ says report into Church and Welfare
The government is ‘planning blind and failing parts of civil society’ when it comes to faith communities in general and aspects of charity law and social policy in particular, concludes a report by the Von Hügel Institute. Full details here

Lambeth Conference London event to challenge global governments on tackling poverty
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has today announced plans to mount an unprecedented mass walk of bishops and other faith leaders through central London during the forthcoming Lambeth Conference to demonstrate the Anglican Communion's determination to help end extreme poverty across the globe. Read the full story here

Wider wedding welcome for couples as the Church of England names the day
Thousands of couples dreaming of a wedding will find more churches to choose from 1 October 2008 the day when the new Church of England Marriage Measure comes into effect. Full details here

Dads feel more responsible for the spiritual care of their child
Nine out of every 10 fathers feel responsible for the souls of their children, research commissioned by the Church of England has revealed. Full details here

42 Day Detention Briefing
MPs were briefed on the position taken by the Church of England in advance of debate in the House of Commons on proposals to extend detention without charge to 42 days within the Counter Terrorism Bill. Full details here

Church publishes prayers to ease exam stress
The Church of England has published a selection of prayers offering reassurance to students and teachers in coping with the current examination period. Read the full story here

High level charity jump
The Archbishop of York completed his charity sky-dive in a puff of orange smoke. Read (and watch) the full story here

‘Nice sermon, vicar but …’
Congregations should offer their preacher a healthy dose of constructive feedback, argues a new book from the Church of England’s official publishers. Read the full story here

Bishops’ office and working costs published
The 2007 office and working costs of bishops in the Church of England are published today. Full details here

Church secures new funding options to help meet challenge of training future clergy
The vital role of Christian ministers in building social capital and community cohesion within England and Wales has been recognised in provisional arrangements to secure the future of funding for clergy training. Full details here

Make ‘Time for God’s creation’
The Archbishop of Canterbury and other Church leaders have called upon Christians throughout England to use the period from 1 September until October 4 as an opportunity to put the environment at the heart of their worship. Full details here

New Bishop for Truro Diocese
The Rt Revd Tim Thornton, at present Bishop of Sherborne in Salisbury Diocese, has been appointed the new Bishop of Truro, Downing Street announced this week. Read the full story here

Zimbabwe: Archbishops call on UN for mediation and protection The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of Cape Town yesterday spoke to Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, to express their grave concern about the increasing violence of what appears to be a sustained campaign against the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe. Full details here

Christian-Muslim engagement ‘for the sake of peace in our common home’
The Archbishop of Canterbury has convened an ecumenical gathering to discuss ways in which Christian-Muslim engagement might be strengthened and deepened. Read the full story here

Archbishop of Canterbury and Religious Leaders call for Cooperation to Combat Poverty
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, today hosted religious leaders of different faiths to discuss the power of multi-religious cooperation to combat poverty and achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Full story here

Archbishop attends opening of Goldsmiths’ Exhibition
Dr Rowan Williams attended, as patron, the opening of the Goldsmiths' Summer Exhibition: Treasures of the English Church: Sacred Gold and Silver 800-2000. Read the full story here

Dalai Lama welcomed at Lambeth Palace
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Lambeth Palace as part of his visit to Britain. Read the full story here

Archbishop of York’s Liverpool visit

• Dr John Sentamu defends the right to believe and practise faith, stating that 'whenever we can agree to cooperate with each other for the common good- I want to be there'. He also welcomed the Von Hugel Institute report 'Moral, but no Compass'. Full details here
• Dr Sentamu challenges young people to fight against injustice and oppression; not to do so would be to disobey God. He said, "Neutrality and silence in the face of oppression always aid the oppressors. “ Full details here
  

Archbishop of York ‘s speech on the role of religion in politics
Dr Sentamu launched a scathing attack on the consumerist values of society in a speech to the Institute of Jewish Policy Research. Read the full story here

Cluster bombs: Archbishop of York commends Britain’s high moral tone
Dr John Sentamu has commended "the necessarily tough decision" to join the international ban on the use of cluster bombs. Read the full story here

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The Diocese of Worcester is one of 44 dioceses in the Church of England. It covers an area of 671 square miles and includes parishes in the County of Worcestershire, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes in northern Gloucestershire, south east Wolverhampton and Sandwell.