Bishops encouraged to go back to school to mark big birthday of church schools

Preparations for celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Church of England opening the first free schools in England and Wales have now begun in earnest

A website, www.natsoc200.org.uk, is aimed at inspiring today's 5,000 Church of England and Church in Wales schools, and their associated churches, to mark the landmark birthday in creative ways.

Ideas suggested at www.natsoc200.org.uk include: encouraging bishops to go 'back to school' themselves for a day; planting a new section of school garden or churchyard with fruit trees or a vegetable plot; or holding a community litter-pick event or painting a mural design on an appropriate wall to 'give something back' to the local community.

The 'National Society for the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church' (now known simply as the National Society) was founded in 1811 with the intention of establishing a school in every parish providing education for those who had no other opportunity. This pioneering vision was brought into reality through a huge programme of building, staffing and equipping new schools - fifty years before the State saw the importance of providing free education.

Bishops highlight unchanging duty to share the Good News

The Church of England's long history of witnessing to the unique significance of Jesus Christ is a duty that continues in today's multi-faith environment, says a new report.

Following a debate in February 2009, the General Synod asked the House of Bishops to produce a report on "their understanding of the uniqueness of Christ in Britain's multi-faith society [and to include] examples and commendations of good practice in sharing the gospel of salvation through Christ alone with people of other faiths and of none".

A small group led by the Bishop of Willesden, the Rt Revd Pete Broadbent, drafted the document, which was subsequently commended by the House of Bishops at its recent meeting. The report affirms that missionary activity has always been a hallmark of the English Church's life, whatever the country's social and political context, and should continue to be so.

While acknowledging the "shadow side" of some historic evangelistic endeavours, the report notes that: "...the fear of getting it wrong should never obscure the Christian's commitment to the good of all and to making Christ the centrepiece of that good. Too much reticence is as untrue to our history and our vocation as too much stridency."

Within this context, the report urges caution about the language of 'market choice' when used in the context of religious belief. The foreword summarises this idea with the reminder that "it is not we who bring others to Christ but God working in them", suggesting that "when our encounters with our neighbours, of other faiths and none, are distinguished from exercises in salesmanship, we can be confident that we are sharing God's love rather than marketing another lifestyle choice."

The report is on the Church of England website at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/july2010/gsmisc/gsmi...