News Briefing: from Britain and Ireland

The former Bishop of Durham, David Jenkins (above), has died aged 91. Dr Jenkins, who headed the diocese from 1984 to 1994, caused controversy with his heterodox theology and in a BBC radio interview recorded shortly after his consecration referred to the Resurrection as “a conjuring trick with bones”. He also expressed doubts about the Virgin Birth and Jesus’ walk on water. Twelve thousand people signed a petition opposing his consecration.

The bishop was an outspoken critic of the Conservative government and often joined miners on marches during the 1980s miners’ strikes. His funeral will take place at Durham Cathedral at a later date, his family said.

‘Yes’ priest criticised
A priest in Glasgow has been criticised by parishioners for using homilies to make pro-independence statements.

Canon Peter McBride, of St Peter’s and St Simon’s in Partick, west Glasgow, has described the Westminster parliament as “irreformable” and describes himself in a parish biography as a “Yes man” and “always a Yes man” [in relation to the independence referendum].

Parishioners have lodged a protest with Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, arguing that a parish priest is not qualified to brief the laity on political matters. In a lively Facebook discussion of the issue, one contributor Brian Fitzpatrick said that whatever personal views Canon McBride held it was “inappropriate” to make them public “while garbed in priestly vestments”.

A Church in Scotland spokeswoman said the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the Church “respects and encourages the political freedom and responsibility of the citizen”, and added: “This applies equally to clergy.” Canon McBride did not respond to requests for comment.

Bishop’s sexuality ‘irrelevant’
The Anglican College of Bishops is due to meet this week to discuss issues around episcopal ministry, including the acceptance of homosexuality.

The discussions come as Bishop Nicholas Chamberlain of Grantham, a suffragan diocese in Lincoln, became the first Church of England bishop to say that he is gay. The bishop, who said that he spoke up after a Sunday newspaper threatened to “out” him, said: “Sexuality is part of who I am, but it’s my ministry that I want to focus on.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said he was aware of Bishop Chamberlain’s sexuality and the fact that he was in a relationship. “His sexuality is completely irrelevant to his office,” he said. Subsequently 14 Church of England clergy in same-sex marriages wrote a letter to the Sunday Times calling on the Church to celebrate gay weddings.

Meanwhile the chairman of Gafcon, a conservative evangelical group within the Anglican Communion, has written a pastoral letter urging its members in the UK and the Anglican Mission in England to take bold action against moves to recognise gay marriage, noting that “schisms happen”.

Deprivation index
The Church of England has released an online poverty index that identifies deprivation within its parishes.

The Church Urban Fund’s (CUF) database, put together with help from the Church of England’s Research and Statistics division, compares indicators from areas such as employment, education, income, crime and health with national and diocesan levels to reveal the most and least deprived parishes and dioceses.

The tool showed that, outside large urban areas, Britain’s coastal towns had the highest levels of deprivation.

“The look-up tool has been immensely helpful,” said Bishop of Jarrow, Mark Bryant. “I can draw the attention of congregations to some of the issues people face in the communities they are called to serve.” Paul Hackwood, executive director of CUF, said it was “amazing to see how churches are already responding to meet the needs of those in deprivation”.

In Scotland, the University of Aberdeen has been awarded £1.2 million to support divinity research. The endowment, given by the Kirby Laing Foundation, will fund post-doctorate research in New Testament Studies, enabling the university to offer three-year research fellowships for emerging scholars.

“This exceptionally generous new investment will make a major contribution to the overall health and vitality of the discipline across the UK,” said Professor Grant Macaskill, chairman of New Testament Exegesis, who will act as a mentor to the fellows.

The Kirby Laing Foundation, established in 1972 by the Sir Kirby Laing Trust, supports a wide range of charities in the UK and overseas.

A priest will go on trial later this month over claims that £90,000 went missing from parish funds intended for church renovations and charity work. Fr John Reid, 69, who leads congregations at the County Durham churches of St Cuthbert’s, Chester-le-Street, (above) and St Bede’s in Sacriston has denied two charges of fraud by abuse of position, and another of failing to keep proper receipts and accounts. He withdrew from public ministry after a police investigation began in 2014. The charges relate to the period between June 2009 and October 2013. Fr Reid was granted bail until his trial at Durham Crown Court begins on 28 September.

A convent in Swaffham, Norfolk, run by the Daughters of Divine Charity, has welcomed five new members into its community. The women – a postulant, two novices and two sisters – will almost double the existing community of seven nuns. Sr Mary Goncalves and Sr Anna Yeo were admitted to the order; Sr Renata Pivarnikova and Sr Michaela Switaj took their first vows and Judith Charmak was welcomed as a postulant. The sisters, members of an Austrian-based order, run the Sacred Heart school in Swaffham, a nursery in Chesterfield and a small care home in Hunstanton. Last year the number of women entering Catholic convents in England attained a 25-year high, of 45 women.

The extent of homelessness and hunger in Dublin today is creating a divided society of which no one can be proud, the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has warned.

Opening a photographic exhibition to mark the 75th anniversary of the foundation of Crosscare, the social care agency of the diocese of Dublin, the archbishop stressed that there has been “unprecedented pressure” on all of Crosscare’s services due to the economic crisis and financial austerity.