I wan
ted to be sure of the correct protocol when introducing the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, at a business discussion I am chairing among Cambridge entrepreneurs next week.
So I asked Sheila Rainger, who used to work at Lambeth Palace and is now head of campaigns at the RAC Foundation. She confirmed my thoughts, that "Your Grace" was fine in a formal setting, but that the less formal "Archbishop John" was also acceptable. I think I shall opt for the latter.
Sheila pointed me to Archbishop John‘s latest social media campaign. He has recently launched a very attractive new website where he asks: "Who is your virtual neighbour? Social networkers given guidance to stop, think and act for change this Lent." He is a man very close to my heart when it comes to communications.
It reminded me of the proverb: "If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain."
The opening comment might be unfortunate timing, bearing in mind the current difficulties the Archbishop of Canterbury is facing about Sharia law, but the doors are clearly open for discussion on this. And surely it is better to have open doors than closed ones. This is what the Archbishops say:
"This Lent, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Dr Rowan Williams and Dr John Sentamu, are calling for ‘good neighbours’ – online and offline – to try out daily suggestions to help create a safer and more pleasant environment in the real world.
"The innovative campaign will use popular social networking websites and blogs to share actions to make the world a better place in small and simple ways. These range from leaving a thank-you note for your postie to going a whole day without gossiping."
It goes on to say:
"Church leaders hope that the online social network group will help develop a community of ‘Love Life Live Lenters’ sharing their experience of following the daily suggestions. In return, Facebook will reward those completing three or more actions a week with the elements to ‘build a neighbourhood’ or ‘grow a garden’ on their profile.
"The latest project is the Church of England’s second initiative involving Facebook. Last Christmas, more than 2,500 users of the social networking site downloaded a special ‘application’ – sponsored by the Church of England – to send virtual Christmas cards to their friends."
Is this the way forward for the church? Social media is certainly a valuable communications tool for businesses. But churches and their diocese have to be profitable and successful organisations too, reaching out to their publics and stakeholders, engaging with them and interacting in order to survive today’s changing world.
I think it is fabulous, a positive way to reach out to younger members. I am so looking forward to meeting Archbishop John. I hope I don’t forget myself and greet him the friendly continental way….
This Archbishop would be a much better candidate for the Canterbury role than the current incompentant.
Perhaps Dr Williams was cleverly opening the debate on Sharia law in the most benign way he thought possible.”It looks as though its integration into our law will be innevitable” as opposed to “WE’RE BEING TAKEN OVER !” which would sound shrill and non PC. By not going ‘nuclear’ maybe he hoped that he could protect his career but induce debate with similar potency – it seems in vain.
Perhaps I’m being too charitable with the man. He is as he seems – a clever dick with no common sense.
I’m more appalled with the politicians who feign horror at the prospect of Sharia law when they’ve been allowing it to go on under their noses all along. Gordon Brown wants the Western centre of Sharia banking to be based in London. They’ve already conceded so much to Islam.
Honestly – they really are only any good for fiddling their own expenses.
Yes. I agree with Jean-Luc Picard. John Sentamu – bold, brave and black. It’s time for muscular Christianity in the Anglican Communion.
God free us of these lefty wimps.
I think I would try to get in “Your Grace” just once, it sounds so much more elegant. When the Queen visited our university we were advised to address her simply as “Ma’am”. But we she stopped to chat about my research in Shetland I insisted on calling her “Your Majesty”. She didn’t seem to mind.
I think you missed my own latest by a couple of minutes!
Yes, I’m with you, Ellee. I was watching a documentary on how singer Dionne Warwick temporarily eliminated lyrics offensive to women. She stated that “There are few things in life that cannot be resolved with dialogue”. Unfortunately for her and for ht rest of us, the respect in “Rap Music” was short-lived. This will be fascinating to re-visit on your site!
Maalie, I have reported on a few royal visits and was told that one did not speak to them unless they spoke to you first. They never did speak to me.
I remember getting moved further away from the Queen Mother by her bodyguards who felt I was too close. I was trying to pose for a picture for our photographer with the Queen Mum nearby, and we got a great picture too.
Yes, “your Grace” does sound very elegant, I am sure I will have the opportunity to use both.
Yes I like Your Grace, too!
I suppose ‘Archbish’ is out? He seems like a get down sort of guy -so how about ‘Johnny’? Your Grace seems a bit feeble when a Mayor of tiny village gets to be Your Worhsipfullness… or have I got that wrong? I always thought a Duke or an Earl was your grace…
I wouldn’t stir it up by mentioning Mohammed
Yes, I would call him “Your Grace” the first time. I think he has a great idea there.
lol Elle,
I’d settle for Archbishop
no need to use my first name (unless I’m among a forest of archbishops) or to call me Your Grace – I have no airs & graces.
PS –
… and I do hope you ‘greet’ me in the continental way. There really is no better or more christian way.
The latest project is the Church of England’s second initiative involving Facebook.
Unholy alliance, that is.
I was waiting for you to mention the Archbishop of Canterbury’s suggestion about incorporating Sharia into British law. It was big news in the States. I would have guessed that the story would be bigger in England, but your rather mild passing reference suggests otherwise. Is that just because Dr. Williams is regarded as merely dotty and not dangerous?
Enshrining Sharia into Western civil law in any way strikes me as absolutely and astoundingly stupid and wrong. Sharia presumes Islam as the established religion and that all actions of the state will be governed by Islamic precepts. A woman’s testimony does not have equal weight with a man’s — and, of course, a non-Muslim’s testimony has less weight than a Muslim’s. And that’s without getting into chopping hands off for theft….
Curmudgeon, it has been very big news in the UK too, and not deliberately overlooked by me, but just impossible to get round to writing about everything.