Diocese of Chelmsford - Bishop's Speeches

Afghanistan

Matthew Dawkins — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:35:54 +0000

The Rt Revd John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford, asked a supplementary question to the Minister during Lord Astor's Question, 'To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the future role of Her Majesty’s armed forces in Afghanistan' on 13 July 2009:

"My Lords, we on these Benches too send our condolences and our prayers to those who have lost their lives. Perhaps we in the House might also remember those in the Chaplaincy Service, for whose services there will be considerable demand as a result.

2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Matthew Dawkins — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:44:23 +0000

The Rt Revd John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford, made the following contribution to a debate on 18 June 2009 on a motion, ‘To call attention to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London’, moved by Lord Coe:

My Lords, I share with others around this Chamber a huge appreciation of the noble Lord, Lord Coe, for giving us this opportunity today and also for the leadership and inspiration that he has given to this whole enterprise. You may ask why a Bishop is taking an interest in all of this. Let me tell you that the vast majority of the Stratford site lies in my diocese.

Ecclesiastical Offices Measure and CofE Pensions Measure

Matthew Dawkins — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:33:59 +0000

The Rt Revd John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford, moved approval both of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure and of the Church of England Pensions (Amendment) Measure in the House of Lords on 2 April 2009. Both motions were agreed following debate.

Measures

Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure - Motion

Moved By The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford

That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent.

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford:

My Lords, the measure before you represents a very significant development in the life of the Church of England.

Data: Personal Information

Matthew Dawkins — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:25:52 +0000

The Rt Revd John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford, spoke in a debate on Data: Personal Information about confidence in the service holding requiring assurance about its confidentiality and security in the House of Lords on 2 April 2009.

The Bishop of Chelmsford:

My Lords, this is a welcome and timely debate and I join others in thanking the noble Earl for offering it to us. It is no good being luddite about modern communication systems. Government at all levels is not only bound to make full use of them but has a duty to do so because citizens have a right to the best possible service from public authorities. The benefits are multiple.

Royal Marriage and Succession

Matthew Dawkins — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:23:54 +0000

The Rt Revd John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford, asked a supplementary to a Question on the Constitution: Royal Marriage and Succession in the House of Lords on 2 April 2009.

Question

Bishop of Chelmsford:

My Lords, does the Minister accept that in recent times, Protestants and Catholics have developed increasing bonds of affection and friendship, and that we have made a little progress ourselves in these matters since the 16th and 17th centuries? Will he repeat the fact that complex issues lie behind these matters and that there is no immediate practical need for action? That gives time for the necessary consultation to take place and for these matters to be presented in a way which is rooted in a genuine consensus.

Lord Bach:

My Lords, I

Alcohol

Matthew Dawkins — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:40:11 +0000

The Rt Revd John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford, spoke in a House of Lords debate on 1 April 2009 on a Question by Lord Avebury:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to reduce consumption of alcohol among 15-16 year olds, in the light of the finding by the European School Survey Project about levels of drunkenness and alcohol consumption in the United Kingdom among that age group.

The Bishop of Chelmsford:

“My Lords, will the Minister accept that there is some evidence to suggest that the worst problems of alcohol consumption are among the adult middle classes? Will she accept also that we could help young people by having a slightly more disciplined approach to alcohol in the adult community?

Baroness Thornton:

Presidential Address

Matthew Dawkins — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:00:45 +0000

We are entering a storm. It is already testing the soundness of our financial and economic institutions. It is causing confusion and threatens panic. The just and the unjust are hit at random. The senior banker who was flavour of the month but weeks ago has now fallen on his sword. The single pensioner who had made prudent provision for retirement finds both income and pension diminished. The retailer who opened a new business in Chelmsford in the last few months is sitting alone with no customers at all entering the shop. Our political lords and masters struggle to know what to do. The storm rolls relentlessly on. No institution in our society will be untouched by its effects. So the church had better start doing some work.

Thankfully, there is gro

House of Lords Bill

Matthew Dawkins — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:21:02 +0000

The Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Revd John Gladwin, took part in a debate on Lord Steel of Aikwood’s House of Lords Bill on 27 February:

My Lords, I am a member in this House of a very small, distinguished and select band of people. That is not because I sit on these Benches but because I was one of those who voted for a 50 per cent elected House when last we voted. I think that we were the smallest group. I have also been part of the group that worked with the Lord Chancellor on the White Paper. Without any criticism of the Lord Chancellor, who chaired the operation brilliantly, I think that that, in itself, illustrates the difficulties of tackling some of the fundamental issues that are around when you start to enter the politics of the subject.

Take note on Gaza

Matthew Dawkins — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:45:48 +0000

The Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Revd John Gladwin, spoke in a 'motion to take note on Gaza' in the House of Lords on 6 February 2009:

My Lords, I was enormously grateful to the Minister for beginning by talking about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. It underlines for me, as a former chair of Christian Aid, the universal importance in our country of the DEC appeal and the need for it to be properly publicised. This is urgent. May I also say that I am president of the English Friends of Sabeel, which is a Christian organisation in the Holy Land that is working on the issues of Palestinian liberation?

I shall pick up where the noble Lord, Lord Wallace, left off towards the end of his speech.

Celebration of CUF in Chelmsford Diocese

Matthew Dawkins — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:00:33 +0000

When we launched this Appeal – and I am enormously grateful to John Spence and the Team who have worked with such dedication on this – we could not have known that in January 2009 we would be entering a recession. Even though the world and British Society has moved on in all sorts of ways since the 1980’s I am constantly brought back to the days of ‘Faith in the City’ and its impact upon the church and nation. As a resource person to the Archbishop’s Commission I travelled the country and met people struggling to make a difference in the midst of severe economic difficulty and change. That report and its outcomes including the establishment of CUF spoke in a genuinely prophetic manner to our nation.

‘Let justice flow down like rivers and righteousne