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THE BapTisT TimEs

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THE BapTisT TimEsThursday, January 17, 2008

Picture: W ayne Coles/The Salvation Army

Harold meets his neighbours in York

Charity - Actor Ian Smith, who plays Salvationist Harold Bishop in Neighbours , collects for The Salvation Army

By PAUL HOBSON

THERE were some classic double-takes in York city centre just before Christmas as shoppers recognised Neighbours star Ian Smith under a Salvation Army hat. Ian, who plays Harold Bishop in the long-running soap, was in town to play Baron Hardup in Cinderella at the Grand Opera House

and also to take part in filming for a Channel 5 TV documentary, New Neighbours at Five, marking the move of Neighbours from BBC1. The actor conducted York Citadel Band and brushed up on his tuba-playing skills. ‘I was only too pleased to take time and collect for The Salvation Army – after all it is only what Harold would do back in Erinsborough,’ he said.

‘The Salvation Army does fantastic work throughout the year and relies on the kind generosity of the public – I’m glad I helped make an impression and bring in an extra few pounds at the same time.’ A donation was also received from TV company Talkback Thames, which was making the documentary, and the Grand Opera House allowed a

collection to be taken at the end of the January 4 performance of the pantomime. ‘We were also delighted that Ian Smith took time to collect with tin in hand for us on what was a cold but bright morning,’ said Major Paul Westlake, Corps Officer at York Citadel. ‘His efforts are very much appreciated, as is the generosity of Talkback Thames and the Grand Opera House.’

Nadia loses religious discrimination case

THE BRITISH Airways worker who was denied permission to wear a gold jewellery cross to work has lost her case for religious discrimination at an employment tribunal. Nadia Eweida’s case hit the headlines

when she challenged instructions by BA that she should wear the cross under her clothes, as employees are not permitted to wear visible jewellery. The publicity forced BA to change its uniform policy, and employees are now

allowed to wear crosses. Miss Eweida said she was ‘speechless’ at the decision. She continues to work for BA, though said she would consider whether to stay with the company.

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January 17, 2008
THE BAPTIST TIMES Thursday, January 17, 2008

home news • 

Generous, but Home Mission target missed

Charity’s warning oncannabis use

By MARK WOODS

AROUND £3,694,000 was given by Baptists to Home Mission last year – falling short of the previous year’s total by some £20,000, the first time since 1954 that giving has not increased. At only 95.7 per cent of the Appeal figure of £3,860,000, the gap of £160,000 means that in order to reach next year’s target of £4m an increase in giving of 8.3 per cent will be needed. Legacy income was greater than had been expected, absorbing some of the impact of the shortfall, but cannot be relied upon to balance the books in future. ‘While expressing sincere thanks for the response to the 2007 Appeal, I feel it is my responsibility as Union Treasurer to appeal to ministers, church secretaries and treasurers to give serious prayerful thought to their church’s financial support for this wonderful vision called Home Mission,’ BUGB treasurer Bernard Rouget said. He issued a stark warning about what would happen if giving did not increase. ‘Although the Union currently has reserves to bridge deficits, these are diminishing at an unhealthy rate and if not stemmed could severely affect ongoing Kingdom work.’ BUGB general secretary the Revd Jonathan Edwards said, ‘We praise God for the generosity of the thousands of Baptists who contributed to this year’s Home Mission Appeal. ‘Financially, it has been a tight year for most charities and churches, and it is a huge achievement to have achieved such a large sum of money. ‘However, there is no disguising the fact that there is a disappointment that we didn’t come closer to the Appeal target. ‘I urge the Baptist family to pray hard and dig deep as we accept the challenge of a £4 million Appeal this year.’ Home Mission money finances most of the approximately £6m annual expenditure of the work of the BUGB, and the budget is set in consultation with regional Associations. It supports more than 400 ministers and student ministers, as well as staff employed at Baptist House and the thirteen regional Associations, and evangelistic and social action projects also benefit from dedicated funds. Recent figures released by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations showed that overall giving to charity in 2006-7 fell by three per cent. Giving to religious causes actually rose by eight per cent over the same period, though this figure is for all religions and may include giving to religiousbased charities in areas like relief and development.

Nuclear protests, but no consensus

By PAUL HOBSON

PLANS to build a new generation of nuclear power stations have prompted a mixed response from the Christian community. Christian Ecology Link criticised last Thursday’s announcement that the Government is strongly in favour of a new generation of privately-built nuclear plants to replace Britain’s ageing reactors. CEL maintains that concerns about radiation risks and disposal of nuclear waste have not been fully addressed. The organisation said nuclear will not significantly reduce CO2 emissions, and has urged the Government to increase its current ‘paltry’ investment in renewables. It also wants the Government to use its legislative power to urgently drive down energy consumption. Three of its members even visited Downing Street to enact a symbolic act of resistance to the plans, which included presenting a solar powered torch and a sample of insulation material to symbolise renewable energy and energy efficiency. But Dr John Biggs, environmental campaigner and former president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, described the new nuclear build as both ‘desirable and inevitable’ if energy security and CO2 emission targets are to be achieved.

Picture: C hristian Ecology Link

Protest - (from left) Eleanor Orr, Ruth Jarman and Jonathan Essex of carrying items to Downing Street as part of a symbolic act of resistance to the government’s nuclear plans

Because our ability to use coal is diminishing and with North Sea gas supplies now almost exhausted, the UK would become over-reliant on gas from Eastern Europe and Russia if there is no investment in more nuclear power, he said. Nuclear stations have virtually no CO2 emissions, Dr Biggs said, and because they are efficient (one single gigawatt

nuclear station generates as much electricity as between 500 and 800 average-sized onshore wind turbines), they form an integral component of the government’s ‘sensible’ energy mix of sources of power that are carbon neutral. As regards dangerous radioactive waste, Dr Biggs said the new designs would only produce about 10 per cent

of the waste of the present stations. In addition, he argued that safe methods for the storage and disposal ‘are proven’. Dr Biggs added: ‘Of course the best solution would be for us to drastically reduce our energy demand, but despite measures that have been and are being taken, that is a race we are losing.’

Church mourns for tragic Matthew, 11

By PAUL HOBSON

A BAPTIST church in Dartford is in mourning after a member

of its congregation was killed by a bus on his way to school. Eleven-year-old Matthew Hobbs was walking to Wilmington Boys Grammar School last Wednesday when he was struck by a Fastrack bus on the town’s Princes Road. He was killed instantly. At the time, Matthew was with his older brother Duncan and several friends. Matthew was a Year 7 pupil at Wilmington Grammar, and

attended Highfield Road Baptist Church with his family. Its minister, the Revd David Parsons, told The Baptist Times : ‘The news has attracted considerable publicity and had a devastating effect on his family, friends, school and church. ‘A keen footballer and promising pupil, he was also regular in attendance at church and noted for his lively cheerfulness. ‘His youth leaders spoke

of his growing awareness of Christian faith and his participation in youth activities. ‘He is reunited with his grandfather Stan, and with Jesus.’ There will be a service of thanksgiving and remembrance for Matthew’s life at Highfield Road Baptist Church, Dartford on Friday, February 1 at 12:00, followed by a cremation at Eltham Crematorium at 2:00pm.

By PAUL HOBSON

A CHRISTIAN drug education charity has backed a Government rethink on the classification of cannabis. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is set to complete a report in the next few months recommending whether or not to reverse the decision to downgrade the drug. Cannabis was reclassified from Class B to Class C in 2004. The Times reported last week that the Government is now keen on reversing that decision. The charity Hope UK has sent a submission to the ACMD stating there is a ‘strong argument’ now for returning cannabis to Class B status, although it accepted there are arguments in favour of retention at Class C. George Ruston, the charity’s executive director, told The Baptist Times that increased research points to the harmful effects of cannabis use, while there has also been an increase in the availability of stronger strains of cannabis. However, he said cannabis classification is only part of the picture. Investment in drug education and prevention activities need to accompany any decision made on the reclassification. Mr Ruston said: ‘With the benefit of hindsight, it may have been more appropriate to retain cannabis at Class B, but set a review date because there is an increasing amount of evidence becoming available. ‘There is a strong argument now for returning cannabis to Class B status, and this would be Hope UK’s preference, albeit expressed in a balanced way.’ The Revd Chris AndreWatson, former pastor at Brixton Baptist Church, addressed a parliamentary consultation on the drug four years ago. He argued against its downgrading, and welcomes the potential reclassification from a policing point of view. ‘Declassification has made it easier to start your cannabis business, which has brought issues of criminality into local communities,’ he said. ‘If it goes back to Class B, the police would spend more energy on policing the drug.’

Baptist support for repeal of ‘outdated’ blasphemy law

By PAUL HOBSON

BAPTIST theologians have come out in support of the Government’s favourable stance towards abolishing the blasphemy law. The abolition was the subject of a Criminal Justice Bill amendment last week tabled by Lib Dem MP Evan Harris. Although he withdrew his amendment, the Government announced it wanted to consult the Church of England. Justice Minister Maria Eagle said

the Government had ‘every sympathy’ for the case for abolishing the law. The law covers attacks on Christianity, and specifically Church of England beliefs. Its last conviction was in 1977, when Mary Whitehouse brought a private prosecution against Gay News for publishing a poem that depicted a centurion’s love for Christ. The Revd Sian Murray Williams, tutor at Bristol Baptist College, said the blasphemy law was a means of controlling

those who disagreed with the state church. She said: ‘The provisions of the blasphemy law were designed to prevent giving offence to members of the state Church. ‘As a dissenting Baptist, I’m wary of any law which shores up the privileged position of the Church. The right to religious freedom and to the expression of faith, Christian or otherwise, is now protected by other legal provision. ‘So I think that the law is not only anachronistic but is unjust

in a religiously plural society and should be repealed.’ The Revd Dr Nicholas Wood, director of the Oxford Centre for Christianity and Culture at Regent’s Park College, agreed that the law is outdated and ‘needs thorough revision if not abolition’. He added: ‘Liberty of religion and freedom of conscience should be key elements of a Baptist approach to such matters, while proper sensitivity to the feelings of all members of the community

should be appropriately safeguarded by laws in relation to incitement to hatred or violence.’ Dr Nigel Wright, principal of Spurgeon’s College, said the current blasphemy laws were ‘impossible to defend’. But he warned, ‘We also need to learn as a culture how to engage in intelligent and civil debate. ‘It would be a pity if tidying up a piece of outmoded legislation led to the idea that nothing is sacred.’