“In a world as complicated as ours has become, it would be a very rash person who would feel able to say without hesitation, this was absolutely the right or the wrong thing to do, the right or the wrong place to be.”  Read the full text of the sermon given on the 9th October 2009 by the Archbishop of Canterbury at a service of commemoration to mark the end of military operations in Iraq, held at St Paul’s Cathedral London

Fingertip facts from the CofE

In a lecture at Southwark Cathedral (sponsored by the Christian environmental group Operation Noah) the Archbishop of Canterbury, set out a Christian vision of how people can respond to the looming environmental crisis saying the Bible offers “an ethical perspective based on reverence for the whole of life”.

The Revision Committee established by the General Synod to consider the draft legislation on enabling women to become bishops in the Church of England on the 8th October completed the first phase of its work. The Committee has further meetings planned between now and December and is aiming to complete its task by Christmas so that its report can be debated in full Synod in February and the draft legislation begin its Revision Stage in full Synod. More here
Pic: General Synod July 09

“The Policing and Crime Bill is making its way through the House of Lords and it is important that everyone, regardless of political allegiance or background, unites to ensure the bill is passed so we can send a strong message that funding sex slavery, and the systematic abuse of women, is not acceptable in this country. That is why I feel the time is right to speak out.” Read the full story
 

More churches should be saying yes to couples who want their whole wedding day - ceremony and reception - in church, say two Church of England bishops. Read more about what the Bishop of Hereford the Rt Revd Anthony Priddis and the Bishop of London the Rt Revd Richard Chartres have to say  and listen to the wedding podcast.

The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Revd Michael Langrish, has released a statement responding to the Director of Public Prosecution’s Interim Policy for Prosecutors in Respect of Cases of Assisted Suicide. The Archbishops’ Council’s Mission and Public Affairs Division has created a website section called Protecting Life – Opposing Assisted Suicide. 
Pic: Bishop of Exeter

A major conference is to bring together leading thinkers on rural economies, planning, policy and mission to explore the sustainability of rural communities and their churches. Faith and the Future of the Countryside – 2010 will also mark 20 years from the publication of Faith in the Countryside, the seminal report of the Archbishop’s Commission on Rural Areas chaired by Lord Prior.

This month, Dr Rachel Jordan (pictured), the Archbishops' Council's Mission and Evangelism Associate, talks about how young people are communicating God’s love through ice-cream, surfing and sock puppets - thanks to the latest round of pump-priming grants from the Youth Evangelism Fund.  Subscribe to the podcasts.