STRAIGHT-talking Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Dr John Sentamu is coming to Ipswich for the first ever trans-Atlantic Stewardship Conference.The outspoken cleric will be a keynote speaker at the conference, supported by the Church of England, being held at Trinity Park Exhibition Centre, Suffolk Showground, between April 23 and 26.

STRAIGHT-talking Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Dr John Sentamu is coming to Ipswich for the first ever trans-Atlantic Stewardship Conference.

The outspoken cleric will be a keynote speaker at the conference, supported by the Church of England, being held at Trinity Park Exhibition Centre, Suffolk Showground, between April 23 and 26.

Last year Dr Sentamu called for Britain to fight would-be suicide bombers with love.

In his presidential address to the Church of England's ruling body, the archbishop said it was not enough to rely on security services and laws alone.

Instead the country needed to "out-imagine, out-plan and out-think" would-be bombers, he told the General Synod at York University.

Dr Sentamu said neighbourhoods which were flourishing, safe, clean and generous needed to be created.

He also said the grievances of would-be bombers needed to be tackled. He said: “Offering a vision of wholeness in a compelling and imaginative way that is so persuasive that would-be bombers would come to see this as their own vision.

“The way to do this is by drawing a large enough circle of love which includes them and us.”

Dr Sentamu called for unity and said that revenge and the desire to banish would-be bombers “won't do it”.

Fundraisers for Anglican churches in America, Canada and the UK will be joined at next month's conference by others from other countries such as Italy and Australia.

The event was given to Suffolk after representatives from the church in the county successfully bid for the conference in 2004.

Under the title Generosity and Mission, it also offers delegates the opportunity to sample the delights of the county.

A number are travelling to Kentwell Hall on April 23 for an evening meal.

Space for the conference is still available. Tickets are £175 for four days or day rates of £50 for the Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and £75 for Wednesday when Dr Sentamu will speak at the dinner.

Canon Jim Pendorf, one of the conference organisers, said: “Generosity and Mission will be an exceptional event, a once in a life-time experience. It offers anyone the chance to hear and be inspired by some of the best speakers on church fund raising in the world, right here in Suffolk.”