Babylon
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 5, 2009
- 1,332
- 82
Archbishop warns BBC not to neglect Christians as muslim is tipped to take over as religious supremoBy Steve Doughty
Last updated at 10:59 AM on 30th March 2009
Warning: Dr Rowan Williams
The Archbishop of Canterbury has asked the BBC not to turn its back on Christianity.
Dr Rowan Williams had a meeting at Lambeth Palace with director general Mark Thompson in which he said the corporation should not ignore its Christian audience.
The talks came at a time when some senior figures are worried about signs that the BBC is more interested in promoting minority faiths than in broadcasting Christian programming or teachings.
Further talks between another bishop and BBC managers are to be held next month.
Church leaders are making their concerns known at a time of upheaval in the BBC's religious department.
A reorganisation of management posts has seen the former head of religious programmes, Methodist preacher Michael Wakelin, fail to land the renamed job of Commissioning Editor, Religion and Head of Religion and Ethics.
A leading contender for the post is Aaqil Ahmed, a Muslim who is commissioning editor for religion at Channel 4.
Mr Ahmed has taken part in campaigns in favour of a greater Muslim presence in the media, and is a trustee of the Runnymede Trust, a pressure group that has champ-ioned multiculturalism.
Mr Wakelin's continued employment at the BBC remains in question.
There have also been raised eyebrows at the appointment last year of Tommy Nagra, a Sikh, as executive producer of BBC TV's longrunning Songs of Praise programme.
Church of England bishops have been unhappy for some time at what has been seen as the downgrading of religious programmes at the corporation.
The fear now is that Christianity is on the slide among the BBC's priorities. It is believed Dr Williams challenged Mr Thompson in particular over the decline in religious broadcasting on the BBC World Service
Last updated at 10:59 AM on 30th March 2009
Warning: Dr Rowan Williams
The Archbishop of Canterbury has asked the BBC not to turn its back on Christianity.
Dr Rowan Williams had a meeting at Lambeth Palace with director general Mark Thompson in which he said the corporation should not ignore its Christian audience.
The talks came at a time when some senior figures are worried about signs that the BBC is more interested in promoting minority faiths than in broadcasting Christian programming or teachings.
Further talks between another bishop and BBC managers are to be held next month.
Church leaders are making their concerns known at a time of upheaval in the BBC's religious department.
A reorganisation of management posts has seen the former head of religious programmes, Methodist preacher Michael Wakelin, fail to land the renamed job of Commissioning Editor, Religion and Head of Religion and Ethics.
A leading contender for the post is Aaqil Ahmed, a Muslim who is commissioning editor for religion at Channel 4.
Mr Ahmed has taken part in campaigns in favour of a greater Muslim presence in the media, and is a trustee of the Runnymede Trust, a pressure group that has champ-ioned multiculturalism.
Mr Wakelin's continued employment at the BBC remains in question.
There have also been raised eyebrows at the appointment last year of Tommy Nagra, a Sikh, as executive producer of BBC TV's longrunning Songs of Praise programme.
Church of England bishops have been unhappy for some time at what has been seen as the downgrading of religious programmes at the corporation.
The fear now is that Christianity is on the slide among the BBC's priorities. It is believed Dr Williams challenged Mr Thompson in particular over the decline in religious broadcasting on the BBC World Service
