Brave new church
The ecclesiastical landscape is changing and new mission movements are growing out of, or in some cases, away from traditional church models. The challenge is: how old and new can grow long into the future in a way that allows them to complement, rather than challenge, each other. Around a hundred Christians engaged in fresh expressions and mission movements across the UK convened at Sheffield Cathedral on Thursday in an attempt to break some new ground on this issue. The Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft, sees it as one of the most important in the coming years. In his opening address to the New Monasticism conference, he said: ‘The principal challenge for the Church of England in the next 10 years is helping structures of the institutional church relate to the new mission structures that are emerging, and to help these mission structures relate to the Church of England.’
Pray: for both 'new' and 'old' to work together to more effectively carry out the work of the Church. (Isa.13:4)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/brave.new.church/29565.htm
Archbishop: ‘identity politics’ leaves society ‘fragmented’
‘Identity politics’ should not trump the common good, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He said: ‘Identity politics, whether it is the politics of feminism, whether it is the politics of ethnic minorities or the politics of sexual minorities, has been a very important part of the last 10 or 20 years because before that I think there was a sense that diversity was not really welcome.’ Dr Williams added: ‘We are now, I think, beginning to see the pendulum swinging back and saying identity politics is all very well but we have to have some way of putting it all back together again and discovering what is good for all of us and share something of who we are with each other so as to discover more about who we are.’ He continued: ‘Once we start saying this is my identity and that’s it then I think we are in danger of really fragmenting the society we belong to.’
Pray: for greater understanding of our differences that they may be respected, valued and allow people to live and work together in harmony. (Ps.133:1)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/archbishop-identity-politics-leaves-society-fragmented/
Bishop criticises BBC over 'sidelining' of religion
The Bishop of Bradford has criticised the BBC for its ‘lazy intellectual sidelining of religion’ and questioned why the broadcaster does not have a religious editor. In a disparaging analysis of religious programming, the Rt Revd Nick Baines claimed major television networks chose to ignore faith as if it had become ‘a toxic contaminator of decent culture’. He called for a shift in attitudes among leading broadcasters and warned that a wide variety of political and economic stories could not be adequately covered without taking ‘religion seriously. Writing in the Radio Times, he asked: ‘How does the BBC fulfil its public service remit by transcending the lazy intellectual sidelining of religion – challenging the ridiculous assumption among some in the Corporation that the ‘non-religious’ world view is neutral? The BBC has a sports editor, an economics editor, a political editor and editors for other areas of life. It has no religion editor.’ (See also Prayer Alert 09-2012)
Pray: for the BBC that the pressure fom the Church and the public will lead to recognition of the importance of our faith. (1Cor.2:6)
Church schools must 'assert Christian ethos'
Church schools must robustly assert their Christian ethos in the face of challenges and attacks from secularists, a Church of England report has warned. Launched at Lambeth Palace on Friday, The Church School of the Future report says that the challenge facing all Church schools is to maintain their distinctive character in an increasingly fragmented education system and increasingly secular society. 'Church schools must be responsive to parents and the communities they serve while celebrating their distinctive Christian ethos,' the report states. 'More than ever, as economic pressures drive a utilitarian approach to education, children in Church schools should experience Christianity as part of their moral and spiritual development, reflected throughout the curriculum. We believe that the opportunities afforded by such significant changes should be grasped confidently.' The report is based on evidence from clergy, school leaders, politicians and other stakeholders in education.
Pray: for our Church schools to be places where the Gospel message is lived out in a clear and relevant way. (Pr.4:4)
Twitter users invited to help choose the new Archbishop
Having wrestled with the best way to choose a new leader, the Church of England has decided to use the social networking site Twitter. It will also seek the views of people of all faiths and none, from the Chief Rabbi to Professor Richard Dawkins. For the first time in history, the long and usually private process will begin with a widespread public consultation, to be finished by the end of May. The Crown Nominations Commission, which must present the Prime Minister with two possible successors to Dr Rowan Williams, will also ask for contributions from ‘senior figures in other faiths, the secular world and the life of the nation’. A spokesman for the Church of England said the invitation would be made through the Church press but also through other media including the social networking site Twitter, where the CofE already posts news in nuggets of 140 characters or less. (See Praise story above)
Pray: for our nation to engage and respond to the debate in the early phase of finding a new Archbishop of Canterbury. (Lk.24:15)
Boost for Church of England schools and churches
A wave of new faith-based schools could lead to the building of new churches in the United Kingdom for the first time in more than half a century. Churches are planned for new towns and expanding housing developments, set to burgeon as planning laws are relaxed, according to Britain’s Daily Express newspaper. The newspaper reports that the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, confirmed that areas around his own diocese will be part of the expansion plans. After the publication of a new report, The Church School of the Future, Church of England schools are set to enjoy a renaissance as hundreds are converted into Academies, the newspaper said. Rt Rev Pritchard, who is chairman of the Church's Board of Education, said: ‘It is around new communities that we see our one area of new expansion in terms of building new schools. Around my diocese in Oxford, for example, there is a vast number of new houses’.
Pray: for the opportunities that arise for building churches in new communities. (1Chr.29:16)
MP’s try to overturn ban on claiming God can heal
Last month the Advertising Standards Authority told a group of Christians in Bath that they could not continue to make any claims in their advertising which state or imply that, by receiving their prayer, people could be healed. The group, called ‘Healing On The Streets Bath’, were specifically banned from using their leaflets which stated: ‘Need healing? God can heal today! We believe that God loves you and can heal you from any sickness.’ Atheist Hayley Stevens took offence at the group’s adverts, complaining to the ASA that the claims by the Christians could 'not be substantiated'. Her complaint was upheld and the ASA ordered the group to stop stating on their website or in literature that God can heal. Now three Christian MPs, Gary Streeter (Con), Gavin Shuker (Lab) and Tim Farron (Lib Dem) have written to the ASA asking them to produce ‘indisputable scientific evidence’ that prayer does not work, otherwise they will raise the issue in Parliament. (See Prayer Alert 06-2012)
Pray: that the work of HOTS will continue unhindered and that the ASA will reverse it’s decision. (Jn.16:33)
British Military in Afghanistan
On Sunday, 25 March, a member of the Afghan National Army opened fire at the entrance gate to the British headquarters in Lashkar Gar city, killing the two British service personnel and injuring a third. On Tuesday, 27 March, 11 suicide jackets were seized inside the Ministry of Defence in Kabul and 18 people arrested including some Afghan National Army soldiers. This puts incredible pressure on our personnel, in areas which should be ‘safe’. Our servicemen work closely with Afghan police and troops but these attacks serve to make our personnel more fearful.
Pray: that God will protect our service personnel and help them remain vigilant at all times. That He will guide them through the long hours on duty and that wherever they are, they can rest in the knowledge that the Lord is covering them. (Ps.91)
Human trafficking in Scotland
For a number of years Christian organisations have rightly campaigned on the issue of global human trafficking, leading national and international debate on the issue. Organisations such as International Justice Mission, Stop the Traffik, and CARE have raised awareness of both trafficking within and outside the Church. Most recently, a group of Christian musicians came together to produce the song Twenty Seven Million. The song tells the true story of a girl trafficked from Eastern Europe into London's sex trade. In Scotland the issue is also gaining momentum both within and outside the Christian community. Recently the Scottish Parliament held a debate looking into the extent of human trafficking in Scotland and the possibility of legislating to strengthing the law. Subsequently the Equal Opportunities Committee brought together a number of key stakeholders to begin the process of developing a holistic strategy for tackling trafficking in Scotland.
Pray: that the Scottish Parliament will strengthen the law legislating against trafficking. (Ps.119:53)
More: http://www.eauk.org/current-affairs/politics/human-trafficking-in-scotland.cfm
European ruling: Gay marriage is not a 'human right'
Same-sex marriages are not a human right, European judges have ruled. Their decision shreds the claim by ministers that gay marriage is a universal human right and that same-sex couples have a right to marry because their mutual commitment is just as strong as that of husbands and wives. The ruling was made by judges of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg following a case involving a lesbian couple in a civil partnership who complained the French courts would not allow them to adopt a child as a couple. The ruling also says that if gay couples are allowed to marry, any church that offers weddings will be guilty of discrimination if it declines to marry same-sex couples. The ruling comes just days after the Government published a consultation paper which promised marriage to same-sex couples and made clear that Britain is only catching up with other countries.
Pray: thanking God for this ruling from the EU and pray that the UK Government would listen. (Ps.119:126)