Don’t judge kids on hoodies, says redcap church leader
-02/05/06
Dr John Sentamu, the
Don’t judge kids on hoodies, says redcap church leader
-02/05/06
Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, broke rather dramatically with usual clerical dress conventions yesterday, as he illustrated the prejudice faced by young people on Britainís streets by wearing a ëhoodieí.
Speaking at a conference on church youth work, the Anglican leader urged the public not to judge teenagers by their choice of fashion ñ and he joined them by donning a fashionable one-piece red jacket and hood.
“Ninety-nine per cent of those who wear hoodies are law-abiding citizens,” declared Dr Sentamu, the Church of Englandís first black archbishop, who at the weekend urged voters in Englandís local election on Thursday 4 May to cast their ballot against racism and fear.
Some 150 teenagers were among the 650 delegates at Monday’s event at Bradford Grammar School in West Yorkshire.
“In a rapidly changing culture, many are bewildered about how to communicate with young people,” Dr Sentamu commented. “There are a lot of young people here today and to me that is very telling – they play a major part in the life of the Church.”
He continued: “I’m delighted that the Diocese of Bradford is facing this issue head on. It can be risky allowing young people to participate but I’m glad that the Diocese of Bradford is prepared to take that risk.”
According to the BBC, Dr Sentamu was wearing the hoodie given to him by teenagers when he was Bishop of Birmingham.
The archbishop has himself been the victim of racism, hate mail and prejudice because he is black. Last year he made the point of forgiving those who mistreated him, and he has called on churches to mobilise against racism in their midst and in society.
Yesterday he also led the youth conference participants in a conga-like procession as he played African drums ñ something he also did at his high-profile multicultural installation in York Minster.
During the conference this week, Dr Sentamu met many youngsters from the diocese, which stretches from the city of Bradford into the rural areas of the Yorkshire Dales.
Declared the archbishop, who combines a popular style with an acute legal mind acquired in Uganda: “Jesus said, ‘Unless you become like a little child you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven’. We have a lot to learn from young people as well as much responsibility for them.”
The Anglican Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev David James, told the BBC: “We are making young people our priority in 2006 and I’m delighted that we have this particular day to really focus on our work with them.
He commented: “There are some brilliant examples of imaginative youth and children’s work within the diocese.”
Christian-Muslim relations are also a high priority for the churches in Bradford, which have seen inner city disturbances in recent years.
Don’t judge kids on hoodies, says redcap church leader
-02/05/06
Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, broke rather dramatically with usual clerical dress conventions yesterday, as he illustrated the prejudice faced by young people on Britainís streets by wearing a ëhoodieí.
Speaking at a conference on church youth work, the Anglican leader urged the public not to judge teenagers by their choice of fashion ñ and he joined them by donning a fashionable one-piece red jacket and hood.
“Ninety-nine per cent of those who wear hoodies are law-abiding citizens,” declared Dr Sentamu, the Church of Englandís first black archbishop, who at the weekend urged voters in Englandís local election on Thursday 4 May to cast their ballot against racism and fear.
Some 150 teenagers were among the 650 delegates at Monday’s event at Bradford Grammar School in West Yorkshire.
“In a rapidly changing culture, many are bewildered about how to communicate with young people,” Dr Sentamu commented. “There are a lot of young people here today and to me that is very telling – they play a major part in the life of the Church.”
He continued: “I’m delighted that the Diocese of Bradford is facing this issue head on. It can be risky allowing young people to participate but I’m glad that the Diocese of Bradford is prepared to take that risk.”
According to the BBC, Dr Sentamu was wearing the hoodie given to him by teenagers when he was Bishop of Birmingham.
The archbishop has himself been the victim of racism, hate mail and prejudice because he is black. Last year he made the point of forgiving those who mistreated him, and he has called on churches to mobilise against racism in their midst and in society.
Yesterday he also led the youth conference participants in a conga-like procession as he played African drums ñ something he also did at his high-profile multicultural installation in York Minster.
During the conference this week, Dr Sentamu met many youngsters from the diocese, which stretches from the city of Bradford into the rural areas of the Yorkshire Dales.
Declared the archbishop, who combines a popular style with an acute legal mind acquired in Uganda: “Jesus said, ‘Unless you become like a little child you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven’. We have a lot to learn from young people as well as much responsibility for them.”
The Anglican Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev David James, told the BBC: “We are making young people our priority in 2006 and I’m delighted that we have this particular day to really focus on our work with them.
He commented: “There are some brilliant examples of imaginative youth and children’s work within the diocese.”
Christian-Muslim relations are also a high priority for the churches in Bradford, which have seen inner city disturbances in recent years.