This week’s prayer points from the WPC’s 'Every Vote Counts' prayer guide are: Ask God to lead all who are undecided how to vote (Ps. 27:14). For the release of a new hunger for prayer for our nation (Is.62:6). For blessings and wisdom to guide the peoples in Northern Ireland (Pr.3:5-6). For the referendum decision to bless future generations (Lk.1:50). For strengthening unity among the peoples across the UK nations (Ps.133). For truth in all final speeches (Ja.1:5). Pray for God’s protection for every voting station and around our borders (Ps.121:7). Ask God to shape political leaders’ decisions during and after Thursday. (Ro.13:1). We declare Jesus is Lord over the decision taken across the UK (Lam.5:19). Pray for peace and stability throughout our nation and continent (Ps.72:18-19). Pray for Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, San Marino, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia to approach God’s throne of grace.

The Archbishop of York appeared on Piers Morgan’s ITV show to discuss the referendum, but the presenter changed the topic to the church's views on gay rights following the attack in Orlando. Dr Sentamu refuses to bless gay marriage but urges Christians to speak out in support of persecuted LGBT people. Piers asked, ‘What would you say if I told you that because of the colour of your skin, you can only have a civil partnership marriage?’ He replied, ‘People say that sexuality is equal in terms of argument to slavery, no it's not. Some of my relations actually died on those ships. Slavery was a very wrong thing. I have many gay friends, they see me as someone who wants to protect them from homophobia. Not supporting same-sex marriage doesn't equal homophobia.’ His comments at the same interview were inaccurately reported in the ‘Pink News’. They reported, ‘Archbishop John Sentamu says Homosexuality is not a sin.’ See

A report by the Royal Society for Public Health and the Faculty of Public Health said the Government's approach to a ‘drugs policy’ had failed, and there should be a greater focus on treatment and education. The Home Office defended its record, saying that drug misuse had declined over the past 10 years. The report said criminal sanctions failed to deter illegal drug use, undermined people's life chances, and could act as a barrier to addicts coming forward for help. It said the UK should adopt the Portuguese system under which people caught using drugs were offered treatment and support rather than being punished. However, dealers and suppliers would still be prosecuted. The report also suggested that drugs education should be made mandatory, and responsibility for drugs policy moved from the Home Office to the Department of Health. Those who misuse drugs are in need of treatment and support - not criminals in need of punishment.

Plans to shake up special educational needs funding for people with disabilities could see special units close. Cuts from £10,000 to £6,000 a year would be ‘disastrous’ and would not address the wide disparity in funding for children with similar needs. The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said that the proposals do not address the so-called ‘top-up’ funding for children with very complex needs, where there are variabilities in funding levels for children with very similar needs (£2,000 of education funding in one local authority but £20,000 in another). The Department of Education needs to develop parameters and controls to ensure that funding is fairly distributed within local authorities. Recently, a primary school excluded thirty disabled children. Tory councillor John Lines has claimed that the 'unusually high' exclusion rate was part of a ploy to improve behaviour figures in a 'rush to become an academy'. See:

The Prison Reform Trust has proposed the establishment of a women’s centre on the site of the existing visitors’ centre at HMP Holloway, which is due to close later this month. Last December the trust wrote to the Secretary of State for Justice, following his announcement of Holloway’s closure, with a proposal to work with strategic partners to adapt the visitors’ centre (a purpose-built space refurbished by the Tudor Trust) into a women’s centre. Michael Gove confirmed at a Justice Committee meeting in March that the proposal was ‘a good idea’ and was under consideration by the Ministry of Justice. He has not yet acted to provide much-needed services for vulnerable women and a proper sentencing option for north and east London courts. Pray for resources to provide safe housing, mental health and addiction services, debt counselling, employment training and a crèche.

This week, on the anniversary of the Magna Carta (15 June), we can remember the words signed by King John that formed its first clause, ‘that for us and our heirs in perpetuity, the church shall be free, and shall have its rights in full and its liberties intact’. Over the referendum we can pray for our nation to rediscover our God-given identity and purpose, and be positioned for maximum influence in the days ahead. Jesus gave his Church the great commission, so that we can decree and declare over this land ‘freedom to the Church to fulfil its call to preach the gospel, heal the sick, set the captives free and to bring in the Kingdom to these nations.’ We praise and thank God for the freedoms which, based on His word, have been our inheritance, encompassed in our laws, and impacted the world.

Football fans are clashing with each other and the French police. People are being arrested, hospitalised, and some sent home after continued brawling in and around Marseille and Lille. Hundreds of French riot police have been charging groups amid chaotic scenes. French authorities have drafted in extra police and emergency services to swell their numbers to 4,000. Uefa’s executive board has warned England and Russia that they could be thrown out of the tournament if there are repeats of the violence in Marseille where England fans clashed with police, locals and 150 highly-organised Russians, resulting in several serious injuries and one fan in a critical condition. Police used teargas to break up big groups on streets dotted with cafes and apartment buildings. A French family was seen coughing and wiping their eyes as they struggled with the lock to their apartment block.

There are positive and encouraging developments in the Church as evangelicals grow in strength, confidence and a sense of identity in most countries. This is demonstrated by the increase in an evangelical presence in mainline churches, which are otherwise declining; the stability of conservative denominations; and the arrival of dynamic new evangelical and charismatic fellowships and networks onto the Church scene. All of this is modest compared to great gains in Asia and Africa, but is a light in an otherwise bleak European religious landscape. There has been an impact of evangelical and charismatic movements within the mainline confessions. The Church of England is significantly touched by renewal, by evangelical activism, and especially by discipleship courses. We have also seen the proliferation of new prayer movements, the emergence of pan-European ministries such as the European Evangelical Alliance, and large European conferences. There is a growing ecumenism of the faithful that accepts differences and recognises the need for spiritual unity and cooperation in the face of increasing marginalisation.

Four Democratic senators are asking for more gun control legislation after an American born man with an assault rifle entered a gay nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 and wounding 53. They want an immediate passage of a bill to prevent people on terror watch lists and other ‘suspected terrorists’ from being able to buy firearms and explosives. Last December Democrats tried to pass the same legislation, but it failed. This push comes after President Barack Obama said weak laws have allowed disturbed and dangerous persons to be able to get guns. Meanwhile the US has appealed for the UN to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. ‘If we are united in our outrage by the killing of so many, let us be equally united around the basic premise of upholding the universal dignity of all persons regardless of who they love.’ See:

Last Tuesday night the sky around the city of Durban was burnished with a bright orange blaze, seen from kilometres away. Vehicles stopped on a freeway to gaze at the consuming tongues of fire. As firemen frantically fought the blaze, hundreds of people huddled together to watch the Durban Christian Centre, Jesus Dome, dramatically being destroyed. Members of the church prayed, wept, or bravely sang, with voices thin and choked with emotion. The Jesus Dome was in ashes. But five days later 7,500 voices were raised to Heaven in praise, adoration and thanksgiving in Growthpoint Kings Park rugby stadium – an incredible reaction by the saints of the Jesus Dome, giving a triumphant response to Tuesday’s disaster. ‘We are coming back bigger and stronger,’ was the unequivocal cry from senior pastors, and an ‘amen’ response was enough for passers-by to think there was a rugby match in progress. From Sunday worshippers will meet in a borrowed 2,500-seater tent pitched opposite the burnt-out Jesus Dome.