wfn.org | ACNS3574 Former Bond girl leads clergy on the catwalk

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3574     |     ENGLAND	|     10 SEPTEMBER 2003

Former Bond girl leads clergy on the catwalk

[ACNS Source: Christian Resources Exhibition] A former Bond girl will be
among a dozen church ministers taking part in Clergy on the Catwalk, a
clerical fashion show at the Christian Resources Exhibition, GMex,
Manchester (Wednesday 24 September, 11am).

Rev Dr Shannon Ledbetter, who sported a #250,000 designer PVC dress in the
1997 Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, was ordained deacon in the Church of
England last year. She lectures in Theology and Religious Studies at
Liverpool Hope University College.

Clergy on the Catwalk will feature colourful, contemporary vestments from
leading ecclesiastical designers. A former model, Shannon has written a
number of articles on religion and the arts and welcomes an initiative which
emphasises the symbolism behind clergy clothes.

"In contemporary art, most of the century has been spent taking the glamour
and idealisation away from the body," she explains. "Ironically, the only
place Western culture appears to idealise the human form today is on the
catwalk. The supermodel has become the form we place on a pedestal draped
with exotic fabrics and captured on film. I hope Clergy on the Catwalk will
direct attention away from the superficial to the spiritual."

Part of Shannon's work is to develop partnerships and links between
Liverpool Hope and the wider church and community. She is currently working
with a number of partners in the Anfield Regeneration initiatives. She also
working with other faith communities and starting an affiliate of the
international housing charity Habitat for Humanity in Liverpool.

Clergy on the Catwalk will take place on the opening day of the 8th Northern
Christian Resources Exhibition - often dubbed the 'ideal church show' - at
GMex, Manchester (24-26 September).

"We are keen to recruit a few more 'ordinary' clergy for the catwalk," said
Steve Goddard, one of the exhibition organisers, based in St Helens. "They
don't have to have Shannon's modelling background - and can be all ages,
shapes and sizes!"

More than 5000 people are expected to visit Northern CRE, where everything
from computers to communion wine, pilgrimages to pews will be on display.
While hundreds of clergy visit the show, four out of five visitors will be
local church members. The three-day event will be opened by the Bishop of
Liverpool, the Rt Revd James Jones.

For more information see www.creonline.co.uk.

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