Diamond Jubilee New Testamants
Since going on sale in the first week of April, more than 400,000 copies of the Diamond Jubilee New Testament have been ordered by churches of all denominations around the UK and other countries too - more than double the expected amount.
Produced by the Church of England, HOPE and Biblica, the souvenir Diamond Jubilee edition of the New Testament has been created to be given away by local churches in schools, at street parties and via other Diamond Jubilee events and initiatives. It includes eight pages of images from the Coronation and the Queen's life, linking her 60-year reign and her Christian faith. There is a suggested reading section with Bible references on various topics and a clear guide to help readers understand the significance of Christ's birth, life, death and resurrection. The text is the British New International Version 2011, which has been 'donated' by Biblica.
Dr Rachel Jordan, National Mission and Evangelism Adviser, Archbishops' Council, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the response from local churches with a heart to give the New Testament away to those in their local communities. Many homes that don't have a copy of the key Christian stories about Jesus Christ will now be given this wonderful gift so they can read and think about the Christian faith for themselves."
Mark Finnie, Church and Bible Engagement Director, Biblica, said: "Our passion is to distribute Bibles and New Testaments in creative and culturally engaging ways. We are delighted to be working with HOPE and the Archbishops' Council to provide churches, schools and organisations with the Diamond Jubilee New Testament, in what is possibly the largest single distribution of scriptures within our country in living memory."
Roy Crowne, Executive Director of the national mission movement HOPE, said: "We are thrilled with the response so far. We are making this souvenir New Testament available at cost price - so that churches can give them away as a lasting reminder of the Queen's 60 years of faithful service to the country and Commonwealth. We hope that many more churches will use this opportunity to give this special gift to people in their communities as they celebrate the Diamond Jubilee."
VAT
Vital alterations to churches should be not be compared to installing luxury swimming pools, says Dean of Wakefield's wife and Second Church Estates Commissioner
In a new CofE podcast published April 25 (http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/follow-us-online/podcasts.aspx), Tony Baldry MP, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, says he is confident that the Government wants churches to be able to adapt their facilities - in order to deliver the Big Society agenda - and not be penalised by new VAT rulings.
Church leaders including Mr Baldry and the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Richard Chartres, met with Chancellor George Osborne to express concern about Government plans to apply standard rate VAT (currently zero-rated) to approved alterations to listed buildings. The meeting was also attended by Anne Sloman, Chair of the Church Buildings Division, and director Janet Gough.
Speaking afterwards Mr Baldry said he was confident the Government did want to find a way forward that differentiated between churches carrying out vital alterations and rich people in Grade I listed houses installing swimming pools. He said he thought it was significant that both the Chancellor and Executive Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke attended the meeting.
A national e-petition calling on the Government to bring back zero rate VAT to alterations to the CofE's 12,500 listed churches has already attracted more than 18,000 signatures and Mr Baldry says churches should encourage their members to sign up. "The Government does take note of public opinion," he said. http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/32229
Janet Gough, director of the Cathedral and Church Buildings Division of the Archbishops' Council, said: "The Church understands the Government's wish to close unfair tax loopholes for owners of listed houses - who may want to install swimming pools - but the provision of zero-rated VAT for alterations to listed places of worship is not a tax loophole. It is the Big Society in action."
The Dean of Wakefield's wife Pamela Greener wrote and performed a campaigning ditty in the demolished nave of Wakefield Cathedral as part of the CofE campaign to halt Government VAT plans unveiled in the budget. The YouTube recording has proved a huge hit and in song explains their project will cost £200,000 more under the proposed new regulations. http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/04/going-for-a-song-cofe-youtube-recording-calls-on-government-to-bring-back-zero-rate-vat-on-alterations-to-listed-buildings.aspx