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Diocesan Enews
Welcome to the Enews for February 20

Welcome to the latest Enews with events, resources, news and more.
Click on headlines or pictures for more details.  
Contact  [email protected]  with your news. 
News
Slogans and shallow messaging on social media are harming scrutiny of big political issues, argues Bishop Nick Baines in the Church Times. Writing in last week’s edition, he warns against a trend to avoid conventional media, especially the BBC. Read more here
Our churches and worshippers have supported communities through two devastating storms and the Archdeacon of Halifax has praised the region's courage. Writing in the Yorkshire Post, the Ven Dr Anne Dawtry commented on the “heartbreaking” situation in Calderdale: “As ever in such circumstances people have pulled together and shown immense resilience and courage. The churches have played their part in this.” Read more here
A national churchyard mapping project is being launched in our diocese at the end of the month. Kirkburton, All Hallows and Shelley, Emmanuel, two churches near Huddersfield received a Sharing Heritage grant of £6,100 in March 2018 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the pilot project focused on their two churchyards. Read more here
Faith leaders and young people from across the diocese have gathered to learn from the events of the Holocaust. The visit to the Holocaust Education and Memorial Centre in Huddersfield was attended by Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith leaders, including Bishop Nick and Bishop Toby, as well as some 15 young people from the different faiths. Read more here
The builders are in at St Paul’s Ireland Wood, two years on from becoming one of the diocese’s Resource Churches. Workers have now broken ground on a building project to refurbish and renew the worship space. “This physical renewal is an outward sign of the growth the church has been going through in mission and discipleship,” said Revd Mark Harlow. Read more here
Christians from across the national Church have agreed a bold new climate target last week, by committing to make the Church carbon ‘net zero’ by 2030. At a meeting of General Synod, the Church’s governing body, members voted in favour revising the date for this carbon target, encouraging all parts of the Church of England to take action and ramp-up efforts to reduce emissions. Read more here
A new church planting conference run by the national church will be held in our diocese this summer. Building on the success of a similar event last year, attended by 350 people from the Northern Province, this will again be held at St George’s, Leeds. Read more here
Christians keen to work for social reconciliation are invited to a special Difference training day, backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Bradford Cathedral this summer. Archbishop Justin Welby has a vision for the church to be a reconciling presence in the midst of conflict – The Difference movement. Read more here
Around the Areas
150 young voices from Bradford primary schools have sung out at the annual ‘Cathedral Sing!’ event, in a morning filled with workshops, performances and a final service in front of parents and guardians. The event, which followed a tour of primary schools in the Bradford District as part of the ‘Golden Ticket’ scheme, was a huge success with over 80 signing up to the Saturday Singers. Read more here
Restoration of an inspirational mural at Birstall Parish church has taken place thanks to the determination and generosity of worshippers. The glory of the chancel arch mural has just been completed at a cost of around £22,000 – all of which was given by members of the congregation and friends of the church. Read more here
The importance of commitment was the subject of a sermon by the Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Revd Tony Robinson, when RAF Cadets from Sectors 4 and 5 of the South and West Yorkshire Wing of the Air Training Corps came together for their annual service of commemoration at St Hilda’s Church, Cross Green, on Sunday, February 2, to give thanks for the work of the organisation. Read more here
An English Passion , a work based on St Matthew’s Gospel, will be performed at Ripon Cathedral on Sunday, March 29 with several international participants. Leslie Flannigan, Australian baritone, will be joined by Bertie Yates, a tenor coming from the Netherlands to play Jesus, with the performance conducted by American Dr Bryan White. Read more here
Rhubarb-mania is gripping Wakefield which hosts its annual rhubarb festival in honour of the fruity pink vegetable this week. Wakefield Cathedral is playing its part in celebrating the wondrous product of Yorkshire’s Rhubarb Triangle.  Read more here
Events
Is your church discoverable online? The communications team are to offer an exciting range of courses for 2020 to help answer that very question. Some are repeats of popular courses from last year, whilst others are entirely new. Topics covered will include social media, church websites, A Church Ne ar You, creating video and search engine optimisation. Find out more and book onto a course here .
Government plans envisage 300,000 new homes being built in England every year. How should local churches respond to new housing developments in their neighbourhood? On Saturday, June 20 at Moortown Baptist Church the New Housing Hub Conference aims to address this God-given opportunity for welcome, ou treach and building community. Find out more and book here
'Developing Challenging and Engaging RE' is a conference for all who teach RE. Taking place on Thursday, February 27 at St George's Conference Centre with two outstanding keynotes and practical workshops aimed at the Primary sector, this conference offers colle agues a wide range of ideas and strategies to develop excellent and inspiring RE. Find out more and book here
For Clergy, Leaders and PCCs who want to lead their churches into growth, the Big Turn-A-Round Day takes place at St Christopher's Church, Holmewood on Saturday, March 14 at 10am. It will focus on creating a culture of growth, building an evangelistic strategy, making a good plan and clearing pathways for new people. The speakers will include Neil Short, Sharon Kaye and Robin Gamble. Find out more here.
S ri Lanka Awareness Day
Do you have links with a project in Sri Lanka? If so, the diocesan Sri Lanka Task Group are hosting a Sri Lanka Awareness Day on Saturday, April 25, 10am at St Mary’s Parish Centre, Burley in Wharfedale. There will be opportunity to showcase the links and projects groups in the Diocese are involved with. If you would like to be involved, please contact Mark Edwards on [email protected]
Canon Debbie Child, Diocesan Secretary for the Diocese of Leeds, is to retire from her post on Tuesday March 31 2020. She has served the Diocese of Bradford and, latterly, Leeds since 1991. To celebrate her ministry, Bishop Nick and Dean John invite everyone to a Diocesan Thanksgiving to be held on Sunday, March 29 2020 5.30pm at Ripon Cathedral. Find out more here.
What does church planting and growth look like in specific local contexts? How does it work in smaller churches or city centres? What lessons can we share about planting into urban estates? St Hild College is partnering with the Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication and STC Sheffield for a day of storytelling and reflection on church growth and planting in local contexts of Yorkshire and the surrounding region. Find out more here
This is an exciting opportunity for supporters from across Yorkshire to meet together, share ideas and be inspired by stories of our work in Kenya ahead of Christian Aid Week 2020, which is 10-16 May this year. Get your first look at resources, information and discuss fundraising ideas to inspire us all to tackle the climate crisis.   Find out more here.
The Year of the Burial Ground Conference will be coming to Sheffield on Thursday, March 26. Harold Mytum, Professor of Archaeology and author Recording and Analysing Graveyards,
and Dr George Peterken, author and national woodlands and meadows expert, will be present. Join together to find out how to create a haven for wildlife, heritage and people. There are limited places costing £15, including lunch and refreshments. Concessionary and travel expenses available if required. Find out more here
For further events:
Across the Diocese click here
Across one of the 5 areas : Bradford - Huddersfield - Leeds - Ripon - Wakefield
Training events across the diocese - Digital Learning Platform
Resources
This year the Church of England Digital Team are launching their first Labs Learning Webinars. Short training courses, on all things digital, will be streamed online and available for anyone with internet access. Topics covered will include A Church Near You, Instagram and Facebook Pages for Churches. Find out more here
This Lent, the Church of England are encouraging adults and children to engage in God’s plea for us to “Care for Creation”. As part of this the diocese is running an online course enabling study and discussion of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 'Saying Yes to Life' by Ruth Valerio. Find out more here
Church Growth Adviser, Robin Gamble, has just released a new evangelistic booklet. It works especially well alongside the enquiry course START but also operates as a standalone for anyone exploring faith. It costs £5.00 for 10 copies (plus P&P). Please get in touch with Robin on [email protected] if you wish to buy some copies.
The free monthly printed news for March has been delivered around the diocese - check pick-up points and where your church's are here. March's issue includes: a new national church green investing index, Bishop Helen-Ann taking over responsibility for education in the diocese and a look at how contactless giving has been working in our parishes.
"Take responsibility for your discipleship ...join the online learning community" urged Bishop Nick at the close of the Diocesan Lay Conference in 2018. The Digital Learning Platform is full of great information - and you ca n join up now by visiting it and registering here
The latest edition of the Prayer Diary is now online to download.There are fresh prayers for Sudan as well as prayers for Tanzania. Download prayers here.
Media
 .. .is the name of Bishop Nick's blog, which includes his appearances in the House of Lords and can be viewed here .
A group from the Diocese have been visiting Sri Lanka, building links with the local church while exploring this beautiful country. They have been recording their explorations in a series of video blogs. Watch all the videos here
Vacancies
The Diocese of Leeds wish to appoint a Safeguarding Team Leader to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. Safeguarding is an integral part of the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Leeds and we believe everyone involved in church activities has a role to play as we deliver our commitment to creating a safer culture and a responsive service for all. This is a new role following a restructure of the team and the successful applicant will need to build and encourage a culture where safeguarding is positively integrated into the life of the Diocese.   Find out more here
Useful links & Information
For safeguarding issues, contact: 
Jenny Price 07800 740001 
Jenny Leccardi  07872 005189 or
 Narinder Lyon  07872 005309
Moves and Appointments
Revd John Davies to be Incumbent in the the Benefice of Clapham with Keasden and Austwick (Ripon EA)
Useful Contact Details
The Who's Who directory lists clergy & diocesan staff (email addresses & phone numbers). Access it here  
Contact us with your news
Please contact the Communications Team with your news for future editions. The e-news is published twice a month. The next edition will be sent out on February 20. Area news stories to [email protected]   
© Anglican Diocese of Leeds, 2020
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