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BBC accused over religious shows TV programming 'concerns' Church
(about 3 hours later)
The Church of England's general synod is to discuss a claim by some of its members that the BBC has reduced broadcasting about religion. The Church of England's general synod has voted to back a motion expressing "deep concern" at what it believes is a cut in religious TV programming.
The broadcaster is also accused of marginalising the remaining programmes. But the synod drew back from singling out the BBC, instead backing a motion aimed at all mainstream broadcasters.
The BBC denies the accusation, but religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said the motion had already gathered support. It called for more programming that "imaginatively marks major festivals and portrays acts of worship".
The Synod will also hear a plea to recognise fellow Anglicans who have set up their own church in North America. Earlier, the BBC insisted it had actually increased the number of religious programmes in recent years.
Some Anglicans are said to be frustrated about what they see as the part played by the media in eroding Christian influence in UK national life.
Good Friday 'ignored'Good Friday 'ignored'
Some members of the synod believe that, despite the presence of long-running programmes such as Songs of Praise on BBC1, there has been a reduction in the scope of broadcasting about religion. Some members of the synod - effectively the Church's parliament - believe there has been a reduction in the scope of broadcasting about religion and that it is undermining Christian influence in UK national life.
Nigel Holmes, the lay member of the synod who put the motion forward, told the BBC's Today programme he was particularly concerned about the BBC's coverage on television. Nigel Holmes, a lay member, put forward the original motion singling out the BBC, saying its coverage was "frankly not good enough".
"The controllers in radio have been very supportive of religion, in television less so, over the past 10 years. "In radio, they have tended to value spiritual subjects, in television lack of innovation combined with marginalised scheduling would appear to suggest that they have largely shunned them," he said.
"A fortnight ago the BBC announced that it was commissioning research with a view to improving the representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
HAVE YOUR SAY The BBC should exist to educate and entertain, not to indoctrinate Olly, London Send your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The BBC should exist to educate and entertain, not to indoctrinate Olly, London Send your comments
"What triggered my proposal was last Good Friday when BBC seemed to ignore the Christian significance of that," he said. "Perhaps it could do the same for those who proclaim a faith."
The BBC insists that religious broadcasting has actually increased in recent years, to an annual total of 164 hours. Mr Holmes said his motion had been triggered by his feeling that the BBC "seemed to ignore the Christian significance" of Good Friday in 2009.
The BBC's head of religion and ethics, Aaqil Ahmed, admitted last year's television programmes on Good Friday could have been done better but said the BBC was committed to religious broadcasting. But the synod rejected his motion and instead voted by 267 to 4 in favour of expressing "deep concern about the overall reduction in religious broadcasting across British television in recent years".
"The Charter says that we should be doing 110 hours. We're doing 164 this year. The Reverend Jan McFarlane, the Archdeacon of Norwich, said "putting the BBC on the naughty step" would do little to improve relations or programming.
The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, said the Church of England needed to recognise and "cherish" what was already on offer, highlighting BBC programmes such as A History Of Christianity and Songs of Praise.
"Religious programming has a proper place across all the public service broadcasters; don't let them off the hook by naming only the BBC in the motion," he added.
Earlier, the BBC's head of religion and ethics, Aaqil Ahmed, admitted last year's television programmes on Good Friday could have been done better but said the BBC was committed to religious broadcasting.
"The Charter says that we should be doing 110 hours. We're doing 164 this year," he said.
It is important the BBC is not bullied into becoming an evangelical tool Terry SandersonNational Secular Society
"If you look at the broader broadcasting ecology, if you look at what's happening at ITV, channel Five, Channel 4, everybody is turning their back on religion, but we live in a time when the BBC isn't doing that," he said."If you look at the broader broadcasting ecology, if you look at what's happening at ITV, channel Five, Channel 4, everybody is turning their back on religion, but we live in a time when the BBC isn't doing that," he said.
Extra funding for Christian worship and festivals programming had been secured in the past couple of months, he added.Extra funding for Christian worship and festivals programming had been secured in the past couple of months, he added.
'Evangelical tool''Evangelical tool'
The National Secular Society (NSS) said research suggested religious programmes were not popular or valued. The National Secular Society said research suggested religious programmes were not popular or valued.
"It is important the BBC is not bullied into becoming an evangelical tool for the Church of England while ignoring the clearly expressed wishes of the licence-payer," said NSS president Terry Sanderson. "It is important the BBC is not bullied into becoming an evangelical tool for the Church of England while ignoring the clearly expressed wishes of the licence-payer," said president Terry Sanderson.
Meanwhile, another motion is calling on the synod to support traditionalist Anglicans who have set up their own church in North America. Meanwhile, another motion is calling on the synod to support traditionalist Anglicans who have set up their own Church in North America.
It was established in opposition to the ordination of a gay bishop and the blessing of same-sex relationships by the Anglican Churches in the United States and Canada.It was established in opposition to the ordination of a gay bishop and the blessing of same-sex relationships by the Anglican Churches in the United States and Canada.
Recognising the breakaway church would not bring it into the Anglican Communion, but it would represent a significant snub to the official Anglican Churches there, our correspondent added. Recognising the breakaway church would not bring it into the Anglican Communion, but it would represent a significant snub to the official Anglican Churches there, BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Piggott said.