Re-establishing relationships in the Anglican Communion will be a ‘long task’
The Archbishop of Canterbury has acknowledged the ‘critical’ situation facing the Anglican Communion at the end of a six-day meeting of Primates in Dublin. Around 10 Primates from the Global South were absent from the meeting out of opposition to the attendance of Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church in the US. The Church has angered large parts of the Anglican Communion by continuing to bless same-sex unions and consecrate partnered same-sex bishops. Dr Rowan Williams said the absence of the Primates had been ‘felt and noted every day’, and that the names of the missing Primates had been placed on seats in the meeting and candles lit for them. In spite of their absence, Dr Williams said there was still a lot of solidarity between churches in the Communion on a broad range of issues and that the meeting had met his hope of clarifying the role of the Primates standing committee. Pray: for healing and unity so that the Church can focus on delivering the Gospel message. (Ep.4:3)
Luton protest raise fears of disorder
Police expected to mount their biggest operation in the town's history, as thousands of English Defence League activists from across England will descend on Luton. Anti-racism campaigners are holding a counter demonstration in Luton also on Saturday. Unite Against Fascism, which is organising the event, says it expects supporters to travel from across the country. Luton councillor Mahmood Hussain said, ‘This event is creating more fear than anything else, especially among the elderly who have seen the pictures of what has happened at these events in the past. Everyone is very much concerned about what could happen because you only have to look at the record of this group to see what we face'. Community leaders and politicians have been working with different community groups in Luton since the EDL announced it was going to stage the protest. Pray: for the people of Luton this weekend and against confrontational, violent protests. (Je.29:7) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jan/31/edl-protest-luton-fears-disorder
Charity calls for action to close gap between rich and poor
Church Action on Poverty has called for a closing of the growing gap between rich and poor in the UK. They are also mobilising faith communities to conduct their own counts of street homeless people, as official statistics have been shown to underestimate the numbers of people sleeping rough. The charity is using Poverty and Homelessness Action Week, which runs from 29 January to 4 February, to highlight that while the UK remains one of the five richest nations on the planet, more than one in five here live below the poverty line. CAP supports its case for inequality pointing out that the wealth of the top 10 per cent is now 100 times higher than the net wealth of the poorest 10 per cent. The three-year Close the Gap campaign will aim to mobilise thousands of people across the faith communities to give, act and pray to close the wealth gap (www.church-poverty.org.uk). Pray: for such initiatives that seek to support the most vulnerable in our communities. (Ac.20:35)
Western Isles' to fall foul of new equality law
Councillors on the Western Isles could be forced to abandon a centuries-old religious tradition of keeping sports and community centres closed on a Sunday because it breaches new equality legislation, the Guardian has learned. The islands of Lewis, Harris and North Uist are the last places in the UK where publicly owned and lottery-funded facilities such as leisure centres, golf courses, school grounds and community halls are closed because of sabbatarianism, which bans work and play on Sundays on religious grounds. The tradition, promoted vigorously by the staunchly protestant Free Church and the Church of Scotland, has caused deep divisions on the islands and bitter rows between pro-opening campaigners and senior figures in the church and council. Pray: for God to be the authority and have the last word in this dispute. (Gen.2:3) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jan/31/western-isles-sunday-laws-equality-act
'Flying Dutchman' appointed to Scots oil and gas chaplaincy
A Dutch Church of Scotland minister has been appointed to one of Britain’s most prominent chaplaincy posts. The Rev Martin Grashoff will take over as chaplain to the oil and gas industry on 1 March 2011. His predecessor, the Rev Andrew Jolly MBE, died last year at age 54 from cancer. Rev Grashoff will be a pastor to workers on the British oil and gas rigs and installations, as well as to their families, and also will connect with the industry onshore and with churches. ‘I will have to go out and meet them where they work and live. For me it is a strong and positive challenge to find God out in the world and be led from there. It may seem odd to enjoy going to a 'parish' with over 32,000 people, stretching from the Shetlands to the South of England, but I really do enjoy the prospect. I'll be kind of a Flying Dutchman,’ he said. Pray: that as he pastors workers and their families in such a diverse environment God’s kingdom will be revealed. (Mt.22:37-39).
Ireland: Election on as 30th Dáil ends
The dissolution of the 30th Dáil has brought an end to the Irish Government’s slow and ignominious decline. During close on four years, the Coalition parties lost control of the economy; then lost public confidence and finally lost faith in each other. It began with the demise of the Progressive Democrats, continued with the forced resignation of Bertie Ahern, accelerated with the banking and building collapse, continued with the International Monetary Fund/European Union bailout and ended with the resignation of the Green Party. The seeds of destruction were sown before Mr Cowen took charge, as the taxation base was deliberately narrowed and bank lending and public spending soared. His Government’s response was weak and indecisive. The banking guarantee was given and defended by Government on the basis of spurious information. From there, it was all downhill. Pray: that the Irish people will be given wisdom and His revelation over their decisions. (Eph.2:17a) More: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0202/breaking10.html
Christianity the last bastion against ‘totalitarianism’
An Austrian think tank and non-governmental organisation is warning that freedom of religious expression is ‘at risk’ in Europe from secularist intolerance on the left. Public expressions of religious belief by Christians are growing in Western Europe, the cradle of Christendom. Gudrun Kugler, a lawyer and director of the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe says that ‘Europe Christianity is hated because it is the last obstacle to a new vision of secularity which is so politically correct that it verges on totalitarianism. Christians are increasingly marginalized and are appearing more often in courts over matters related to faith. So I think that we are heading for a bloodless persecution.’ Dr Massimo Introvigne, of the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe, said this week that European Christians are not being ‘oversensitive.’ Discrimination against Christians in Europe, he said, ‘is more subtle’ than in countries where they are outright persecuted, but it is real. Pray: for all Christians as they battle secularism and anti-Christian persecution across Europe. (Ac.4:29)
Christianity the last bastion against ‘totalitarianism’
An Austrian think tank and non-governmental organisation is warning that freedom of religious expression is ‘at risk’ in Europe from secularist intolerance on the left. Public expressions of religious belief by Christians are growing in Western Europe, the cradle of Christendom. Gudrun Kugler, a lawyer and director of the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe says that ‘Europe Christianity is hated because it is the last obstacle to a new vision of secularity which is so politically correct that it verges on totalitarianism. Christians are increasingly marginalized and are appearing more often in courts over matters related to faith. So I think that we are heading for a bloodless persecution.’ Dr Massimo Introvigne, of the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe, said this week that European Christians are not being ‘oversensitive.’ Discrimination against Christians in Europe, he said, ‘is more subtle’ than in countries where they are outright persecuted, but it is real. Pray: for all Christians as they battle secularism and anti-Christian persecution across Europe. (Ac.4:29)
Hungary: Churches reach out to Roma
Hungary's new centre-right government has allied itself with the churches in a drive to create jobs and pull Roma (Gypsy) communities out of poverty. The BBC's Nick Thorpe reports that social work by the churches is already helping to improve the lives of Roma in eastern Hungary. The Hungarian government is due to sign a deal with the main churches to allow them to apply for state funding for educational, social and labour programmes. So for the first time, the churches can get involved in job creation. Hungary's 800,000 Roma - many of them destitute - are a priority. The government wants to get a million Hungarians back to work in the next 10 years - 200,000 to 300,000 of them Roma. Hungary's State Secretary for Social Inclusion, Zoltan Balog, is himself a Protestant pastor. ‘It will be the job of the churches to go to the communities with their own proposals,’ he says. Pray: for these initiatives by the Government and Church to help the Roma that God would bless them.
Hungary: Churches reach out to Roma
Hungary's new centre-right government has allied itself with the churches in a drive to create jobs and pull Roma (Gypsy) communities out of poverty. The BBC's Nick Thorpe reports that social work by the churches is already helping to improve the lives of Roma in eastern Hungary. The Hungarian government is due to sign a deal with the main churches to allow them to apply for state funding for educational, social and labour programmes. So for the first time, the churches can get involved in job creation. Hungary's 800,000 Roma - many of them destitute - are a priority. The government wants to get a million Hungarians back to work in the next 10 years - 200,000 to 300,000 of them Roma. Hungary's State Secretary for Social Inclusion, Zoltan Balog, is himself a Protestant pastor. ‘It will be the job of the churches to go to the communities with their own proposals,’ he says. Pray: for these initiatives by the Government and Church to help the Roma that God would bless them.