Stephen Lowe (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Lowe was, until his retirement in July 2009, the suffragan Bishop of Hulme
in the Anglican
Diocese of Manchester
, Link Bishop for Namibia
and Chair of the Urban Bishops Panel. Whilst retaining these roles, he was released from all pastoral oversight in the diocese in order to concentrate on his 2006 appointment as the Church of England's first Bishop for Urban Life and Faith, promoting and disseminating the conclusions of the Faithful Cities
report.
Lowe is noted for his comments on the hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country
in August 2004, when he called for its first verse to be removed from Church of England services, calling it "totally heretical". He believed it placed national loyalties above religious ones and encouraged racism and an unquestioning support of governments. His words sparked a debate on the wider implications of the hymn.
He has also defended the Church's review of its shares in Caterpillar Inc.
and other companies used in the occupied territories
by Israel
, and the Church's planned sale of Jacob And His Twelve Sons by Francisco de Zurbarán. More recently, he has become noted as a supporter of Archbishop Rowan Williams
in the media controversy over Williams' remarks on sharia law, calling the media treatment of Williams "disgraceful" and a "knee-jerk" reaction in interviews on Newsnight
and Radio 4
on 8 February and an appearance on Question Time
on 14 February 2008. In June 2008 a report commissioned by Lowe, Moral, But No Compass - Church, Government And The Future of Welfare, by Francis Davis and Elizabath Paulhus was the lead story in The Times and has subsequently been the subject of two House of Lords debates.
In June 2009 his book, What Makes a Good City? Public Theology and the Urban Church (which Lowe had co-authored with the theologian Elaine Graham
), was published by Darton, Longman and Todd.
Bishop of Hulme
The Bishop of Hulme was an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Manchester, in the Province of York, England...
in the Anglican
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
Diocese of Manchester
Anglican Diocese of Manchester
The Diocese of Manchester is a Church of England diocese in the Province of York, England. Based in the city of Manchester, the diocese covers much of the county of Greater Manchester and small areas of the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire.-History:...
, Link Bishop for Namibia
Anglican Diocese of Namibia
The Anglican Diocese of Namibia is part of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, which is itself part of the Anglican Communion.The diocese, which covers the whole country of Namibia, was originally known as the Diocese of Damaraland....
and Chair of the Urban Bishops Panel. Whilst retaining these roles, he was released from all pastoral oversight in the diocese in order to concentrate on his 2006 appointment as the Church of England's first Bishop for Urban Life and Faith, promoting and disseminating the conclusions of the Faithful Cities
Faithful Cities
Faithful Cities was a report on urban life by the Church of England, produced by the Commission on Urban Life and Faith. Its findings were launched by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, and Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, at St Michael's Church, Camden Town, London, in May 2006. It was...
report.
Lowe is noted for his comments on the hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country
I Vow to Thee, My Country
I Vow to Thee, My Country is a British patriotic song created in 1921 when a poem by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice was set to music by Gustav Holst.-History:...
in August 2004, when he called for its first verse to be removed from Church of England services, calling it "totally heretical". He believed it placed national loyalties above religious ones and encouraged racism and an unquestioning support of governments. His words sparked a debate on the wider implications of the hymn.
He has also defended the Church's review of its shares in Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
and other companies used in the occupied territories
Israeli-occupied territories
The Israeli-occupied territories are the territories which have been designated as occupied territory by the United Nations and other international organizations, governments and others to refer to the territory seized by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967 from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria...
by Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and the Church's planned sale of Jacob And His Twelve Sons by Francisco de Zurbarán. More recently, he has become noted as a supporter of Archbishop Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
in the media controversy over Williams' remarks on sharia law, calling the media treatment of Williams "disgraceful" and a "knee-jerk" reaction in interviews on Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
and Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
on 8 February and an appearance on Question Time
Question Time (TV series)
Question Time is a topical debate BBC television programme in the United Kingdom, based on Any Questions?. The show typically features politicians from at least the three major political parties as well as other public figures who answer questions put to them by the audience...
on 14 February 2008. In June 2008 a report commissioned by Lowe, Moral, But No Compass - Church, Government And The Future of Welfare, by Francis Davis and Elizabath Paulhus was the lead story in The Times and has subsequently been the subject of two House of Lords debates.
In June 2009 his book, What Makes a Good City? Public Theology and the Urban Church (which Lowe had co-authored with the theologian Elaine Graham
Elaine Graham
Professor Elaine L Graham is the Grosvenor Research Professor at the University of Chester. She was until October 2009 the Samuel Ferguson Professor of Social and Pastoral Theology at the University of Manchester.-Education:...
), was published by Darton, Longman and Todd.
External links
- Stephen Lowe's Diocese of Manchester homepage
- Profile of Stephen Lowe on The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
website