Show brings shame say Norwich church leaders

Twenty-one Christian church leaders from Norwich and Norfolk have gone public with their opposition to the staging of the controversial show Jerry Springer the Opera at Norwich’s Theatre Royal next week, saying it will bring shame upon the city.

 

The letter, which has been sent to the local media and was co-ordinated by Transforming Norwich chairman John Betts, makes clear the leaders’ opposition to the show appearing in Norwich from May 8 to 13.

 

“This opera is full of expletives and foul language which if used on the streets of Norwich could possibly result in arrest and prosecution,” say the leaders.

 

“The depiction of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ is blasphemous. God the Father and Jesus are mocked and degraded. Jesus is identified with a pervert dressed in an oversized nappy and is finally told by Springer to ‘Grow up and put some clothes on’, with expletives. The Father is depicted as an old fool who needs therapy. Mary is told she was ‘raped by God’, and she rants at Jesus saying He abandoned her by dying on the cross. The Saviour of the world has a foul-mouthed exchange with Satan and sings, ‘Talk to the stigmata.’ Even His wounds are ridiculed. And there is much more.

 

“This opera is highly offensive to Almighty God and to many Christian believers,” continues the letter. “We cannot stand by whilst the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is being denigrated in this way. The Christian community has been conducting a campaign against the opera for some months; people have prayed; petitions have been signed; many have written to Mr Peter Wilson at the Theatre Royal to express their opposition; letters have been written to corporate supporters and local councillors questioning their support, with Council Tax money, of a theatre which pays no regard to the blasphemous content of this opera.

 

“We wish it to be known that to allow this opera to go ahead will bring dishonour to our Lord and shame upon our city and county. We wish to avoid that. We appeal to those who have made the decision to bring Jerry Springer the Opera to Norwich to change their minds and avoid the consequences of such an outrage,” ends the letter.

 

Rev’d David Adams, Witard Road Baptist Church

Rev’d Peter Baker, St. Ann & St. Mary Earlham

Rev’d Alan Beardsmore, St. Andrews Eaton

Maj. Ray Begley, Salvation Army Citadel

Rev’d John Betts, The Christian Fellowship Norwich

Maj. Alan Burns, Salvation Army Divisional Commander

Pastor Tom Chapman, Surrey Chapel Free Church

Dr. Alan Clifford, Norwich Reformed Church

Rev’d C. R. Densham, Dereham Baptist Church

Rev’d Patrick Foreman, Vicar of Heacham

Rev’d Nigel Fox, Wroxham Road Methodist Church

Rev’d Paul Griffiths, Vicar of Hellesdon

Father Patrick Hodson, Orthodox Church of St. John the Theologian

Captain David House, Salvation Army, Boundary Road, Norwich

Pastor Geoff Lawton, Norwich Vinyard Christian Fellowship

Rev’d Alan Nelson, Fakenham Baptist Church

Rev’d Michael Paddison, Vicar of Reepham

Pastor Trevor Pimlott, Mount Zion FLC

Rev’d J Howard Spencer, Cromer Baptist Church

Rev’d Neil Walker, Free church Chaplain at the UEA and Foulsham Baptist Church