Bishop Treweek Joins the Lords: The Rt. Rev. Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester, was the Church of England’s first woman in the episcopate to join the House of Lords on Oct. 26. She becomes one of Parliament’s 26 Lords Spiritual. Media coverage concentrated on her recent remark that she speaks only of God rather than he or she.
Cricket Diplomacy: The Vatican’s cricket won its return match against the Church of England team played at the Capanelle Ground in Rome on Oct. 24. More than 1,000 people turned out, including Archbishop Justin Welby and the Papal Nuncio. The match, which took place at the conclusion of the Synod on the Family, raised funds for the Global Freedom Network, an anti-trafficking initiative. St. Peter’s XI scored 147 for 6 wickets, with the Archbishop’s XI all out for 105 runs.
South African Primate Joins Fees Dispute: Nationwide student protests in South Africa against rises in university fees have prompted Archbishop Thabo Makgoba to appeal for a constructive resolution of the dispute. “I appeal to bishops and parishioners in all our dioceses to support students and staff at tertiary institutions, and to pray for an amicable resolution to the crisis,” said the South African primate, whose son was arrested in a Cape Town protest. ”Apart from holding prayer vigils, I appeal to our churches to give practical help to students in distress.”
Retreat Center Welcomes Refugees: Offa House, a Georgian retreat house in Warwickshire that belongs to the Diocese of Coventry in England’s midlands, is turned accommodating refugee families. The 27-bedroom mansion, with a chapel and conference suite, is the biggest single property so far to be set aside in the Church of England’s response to the refugee crisis. The church’s stance places it at odds with the U.K. government.
