Jim Thompson (bishop)

James Lawton (Jim) Thompson (1936-2003) was an Anglican Bishop in the last decades of the 20th and the very start of the 21st centuries. Firstly the (Area) Bishop of Stepney (one of five Episcopal Areas of the Diocese of London in the Church of England) from 1978 to 1991 [Who's Who 1992 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0713635142] he was later translated to be (Diocesan) Bishop of Bath & Wells in succession to George Carey who had become Archbishop of Canterbury. He retired in 2001.

"Bishop Jim" (as he was known) was probably best known to many, in and outside of the Church, as a regular contributor to "Thought for the Day" on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Following his untimely death in 2003, obituaries in the national press praised his deep humanity and lively sense of humour. One obituary referred to his gift of "conveying the warmth of his physical presence in his voice and in his words", adding that "his reflection on the events of 11 September 2001 was nominated for a Sony Broadcast Award, uniquely for religious broadcasting." [McCurry, Ruth "The Rt. Rev. Jim Thompson", "The Independent on Sunday" September 22, 2003 [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-right-rev-jim-thompson-548792.html Obituary] ] He used his seat in the House of Lords to express his concerns for equality and education. "The Telegraph" described him as "the Church of England's best known commentator on social and political matters as well as a prominent advocate of religious and racial tolerance." ["The Rt Rev Jim Thompson", September 20 2003 "The Telegraph"] Thompson famously wrote that "a bishop who doesn't give offense to anyone is probably not a good bishop." [ "The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations", edited by Robert Andrews, NY: Columbia University Press, 1993 ISBN 0231071949 p 146 citing the "Daily Telegraph", May 30 1991. ] Bishop Thompson was also an important figure in interfaith relations in Britain, chairing the British Council of Churches advisory committee and co-chairing the Interfaith Network for the United Kingdom. He believed that when Christians helped to create opportunities for all faiths to participate in public and in institutional life (such as in educational and health care chaplaincy) they were being good neighbours in a multi-faith world.

Career

The bishop was born in Birmingham August 11, 1936, and was a Cambridge theology graduate. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant (1959). National service saw him commissioned into the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment (1959-61) with the rank of Second Lieutenant, stationed mainly in Germany. [Debrett's People of Today: Ed Ellis,P (1992, London, Debtrett's) p 1621 ISBN 1870520092] before going to Emmanuel College, Cambridge and then Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford. He was ordained deacon in 1966 and priest in 1967. He was a Curate in East Ham from 1966 to 1968 and became Chaplain to Cuddesdon Theological College under Robert Runcie (then Principal) in 1968. From 1971 he was Ecumenical Team Rector of Thamesmead. He became Bishop of Stepney in 1978 succeeding Trevor Huddleston. In 1991 he was translated to the historic see of Bath and Wells. He retired in 2001 although continued to minister as an honorary assistant bishop of Exeter [BBC News, September 19 2003 "Bishop Jim dies at 67" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/3123280.stm Bishop Jim Dies at 67] ]

Giving Offence to Some

Before beginning his ministry as a Bishop in 1978, Thompson, for a public figure, attracted perhaps more than the ususual share of criticism - particularly from supporters of the Thatcher Government in the 1980s. This was largely due to his championing of the causes of those he viewed as disadvantaged - particularly the urban poor of East London when he was Bishop there. Some of his public comments were perceived by some as unduly political. This was undoubtedly behind Prime Minister Margret Thatcher's decision to overrule the Church of England's appointment procedure by not appointing him Bishop of Birmingham (the second name on the list submitted to her was appointed). That said, he was (in later life) certainly not party political. His aim was - perhaps idealistically - to apply the values of the Kingdom of God to everyday life and issues. That caused him to stray into the political arena, whether he intended to or not; something for which he never apologized. His clergy - whether or not they agreed with him on particular issues - tended to regard him as a good man, a warm-hearted pastor and an engaging personality. "Something to Celebrate" the C of E Board for Social Responsibility's sub-committee on family life's 1995 report, stirred controversy by suggesting that partners who are faithful in relationships outside marriage should not be thought as of living in sin. Thompson chaired the Committee. From some of his colleagues, says McMurry, "he met with little support for his passionate concerns - for gay and women's rights, for Bangladeshis, for all who were marginalised" [McCurry, op cit]

=British Council of Churches and interfaith relations=

In 1983, Bishop Thompson was chosen to succeed David Brown of Bishop of Guildford as moderator of the Committee for Relations with People of Other Faiths (CROPOF) working closely with Kenneth Cracknell, executive secretary until 1987 and also with his successor, Clinton Bennett. As Moderator, Thompson also sat on the Council's general committee. On taking up his appointment as Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1989 he stepped down from the Committee and was succeeded as moderator by Archdeacon David Silk of Leicester (later Bishop of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Bishop Thompson was also co-chair of the Inter-Faith Network for the United Kingdom from its formation in 1987 until 1992. He enjoyed an excellent relationship with leading members of the various faith communities not least of all with his co-chair, Holocaust survivor and fellow Thought for the Day presenter, Rabbi Hugo Gryn and with Zaki Badawi, Chair of the Imam and Mosques Council. Interfaith relations were becoming increasingly important in Britain's multi religious and multi cultural society. The Salman Rushdie affair, the 1988 Education Act's clauses on school worship and Religious Education and the first Gulf War were among the many issues on the CROPOF agenda under Thompson's leadership.

Other Posts and honors

Thompson Chaired the Children's Society from 1997–2002. From 1995, he was Joint President of the English Churches Housing Trust. He was awarded the Doctor of Letters from the East London Polytechnic (now the University of East London in 1989 and from the University of Bath (awarded December 1, 1998). ["Obituary: Rt.Revd Dr Jim Thompson", University of Bath, [http://www.bath.ac.uk/internal/news/death-bishopjim Obituary] ] In 1995 Exeter University gave him an honorary D.D. Queen Mary, University of London made him an honorary fellow in 1986. In 1987, Thompson was presented with the Sigmund Sternberg Award for Christian-Jewish Relations. Emmanuel College, Cambridge elected him to an honorary Fellowship in 1992. [McCurry, op cit]

Notes

Bibliography

* Thompson, Jim (1989) "Docklands Redevelopment", London: Docklands Forum ISBN 1872453015
* Thompson, Jim (1986) "Half Way: reflections in middle life", London: Collins ISBN 0006269672
* Thompson, Jim (1990) "The Lord's Song", London: Fount ISBN 0006271065
* Thompson, Jim (1991) "Stepney Calling", London: Mowbray ISBN 0264672089
* Thompson, Jim (1997) "Why God?" London: Mowbray ISBN 0264673883
* Thompson, Jim (2003) "Good Morning!: a decade of thoughts for the day", London: SPCK ISBN 0281054983