Methodist, CofE, Catholics and Quakers - energy and climate justice
The Methodist Church has deep roots in UK mining and manages £1.1bn of investments for charities and pension funds. Under a new climate policy announced this week, those funds could exclude investment in coal used for power generation, tar sands and companies whose business model is dedicated to finding and exploiting new fossil fuel reserves. The Church of England has announced it will end investments in heavily polluting tar sands oil and thermal coal. A third of Catholics say they will make their lifestyle greener if Pope Francis makes an official statement on climate change, ahead of a significant publication from the Vatican on the environment. (See article 1 in this week’s Europe section) The Quakers in the UK are disinvesting their money from fossil fuels and want an end to unconventional fracking and tar sands oil. See: http://www.quaker.org.uk/sites/default/files/Fracking-briefing-for-Friends-web-April-2015.pdf
Muslim and Gay prayer services in churches
A leading liberal clergyman (Rev Giles Goddard, vicar of St John's Waterloo) who had defended his right to offer services of thanksgiving for gay weddings and hold a full Muslim prayer service in his church has now apologised for the ‘great consternation’ and offence caused by his comments. When the Bishop of Southwark issued a statement expressing his sorrow at the infringement of Church of England guidelines, it was thought that was the end of the matter. However on Saturday the Dean of Westminster defended the choice of a prayer in which the prophet Muhammad was described as 'The Chosen One' at the Abbey as ‘within orthodox Christian worship’. See also the statement from THE MILL GATHERING in January 2015 (http://wpc.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/The-Mill-Statement-Apr-2015.pdf).
Praying for the next government
To those of us within the UK: we have the responsibility of standing guard in prayer over the whole process that will now roll out on this Election Day and beyond - what a privilege! Use 1 Timothy 2: 1-3 and Ephesians 3: 10-12. Let’s continue to worship Jesus as Lord; thank Him for His goodness; seek His forgiveness; release the blessing of Father, Son and Holy Spirit into the whole process and pray for His Kingdom to come and His will be done. Pray for: 1. God’s mercy on the UK - we have done much to grieve God’s heart. | 2. God’s plans and purposes for the UK to be fulfilled. | 3. Safety from terrorism – up to and beyond the election. | 5. God to call new Christians into our assemblies, parliaments & in local government. | 6. Wise & unbiased reporting by the media. | 7. Many people to turn out and use their votes wisely - in England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland (James 1:5). | 8. Wisdom in the formation of a new government in Westminster and in the start of the next season in the Assemblies in Northern Ireland and Wales and Parliament in Scotland (Prov. 14:34; Prov. 11:14).
God bless Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
The Duchess of Cambridge had an 8lbs 3 oz baby girl at 8.34 am last Saturday. Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge is the fourth in line to the throne. Her great-grandmother has held, and her grandfather, father and brother will all in turn hold, the title of, 'Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.' The Church of England website has published the following prayer for the new royal arrival: ‘Lord of all, we offer our deep thanksgiving for the gift of new life, and especially for the daughter born to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, sister to Prince George. Pour your blessing upon the whole family, and be their light and guide in all that they are called to be and do in life. Enfold them in your love and hope, now and always, we pray, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.’
Australia: Planned closure of indigenous communities
Christianity has influenced Aboriginal spirituality in many ways and many Aboriginal people are Christians. Prior to invasion Aboriginal people owned all of Australia but courts today successfully turned down their land claims. This week there's been an outcry across Australia over the conservative government’s plan to cut services to more than 150 remote indigenous communities in Western Australia. Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the government could not ‘endlessly subsidise lifestyle choices.’ Between 500 - 1000 attended a Perth rally and thousands more protested in Sydney, Canberra, Darwin, Adelaide, Alice Springs, and 1,000 in four New Zealand cities against funding withdrawal from remote communities. Kimberley Land Council says the proposal contravenes the UN declaration on the rights of the indigenous person. For material on Aboriginal culture go to http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/#axzz3ZLxtuWNR
North Korea: Willing to be martyrs for national freedom
While speaking at a North Korea Freedom Week forum on Capitol Hill, the first North Korean defector to be ordained as a Methodist minister asserted that Korean Christians not only want to topple the regime of dictator Kim Jong-un but want the unification of North and South Korea to occur through the Gospel. Kang Chul-ho, who established the first North Korean defector church congregation in South Korea (and is also the vice president of the North Korean Christian Association) spoke at a forum entitled ‘Ending the Kim Regime's Reign of Terror in North Korea: What Must Be Done,’ and explained that the socialist regime fears the power of the North Korean defectors more than it actually fears the military strength of South Korea. Kang says that Kim Jong-un fears those who risk death in search of freedom and dignity because he knows they will eventually come back to liberate their homeland.
Libya: Now a ‘failed state’
Since Qaddafi’s downfall Libya’s newly formed, militia-run police force terrorises religious minorities, officials and workers who previously served under Qaddafi. This has prevented tens of thousands of experienced government workers from providing millions of Libyans access to any form of government programme or service. Currently, daily life for Libyans is both dysfunctional and untenable. Libya has tumbled to the point of being a ‘failed state’ with no security force to protect its people. The country’s perpetual state of civil war has brought about desperate living conditions, food scarcities, a collapsed economy and groups of armed militias roaming the streets carrying out acts of terror against the people. Tens of thousands of working people are fleeing the country using any means at their disposal. For facts concerning Libya’s people smugglers who sell refugees hopes of a better life go to:
Nepal: Quake female survivors exposed to sex trade traffickers
NGOs are warning that criminal networks using the cover of rescue efforts are targeting rural communities that were devastated by the earthquake. Each year an estimated 15,000 girls and young women from poor communities are trafficked and forced into sex work. Now tens of thousands more young women from earthquake-devastated regions are in danger of being abducted and forced into the trade to supply a network of brothels across south Asia. The UN and local NGOs said that this is the time when the brokers go in the name of relief to kidnap or lure women away, and they are making people aware that someone might come with that aim. ‘We are getting reports of individuals pretending to look for people and rescue them.’ Trafficked sex slaves from Nepal are taken to South Korea, South Africa and India. The majority go to Indian brothels, where tens of thousands work in appalling conditions.
Nepal: Christian minority responds to earthquake
Less than 3% of Nepal’s population is Christian. After years of intense persecution, Nepalese Christians now have freedom to meet, though proselytising remains illegal. Baptist Global Response reported that local churches were pooling limited resources to become community hubs for disaster relief. They offer shelter, clean water, and food to neighbours who are now sleeping in the streets. Rescue Network Nepal, an indigenous Christian organisation, have activated volunteers whom they had already trained through local churches to provide first aid and trauma care in rural regions. Samaritan’s Purse and Convoy of Hope are dispatching teams and supplies to the region and offer relief in conjunction with church networks in local communities. Nepal Christian Relief Services and Tearfund, along with other Christian agencies, have workers currently hard at work distributing food and other items to affected families.
Nigeria: Turning point in Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram
Last week Prayer-Alert reported the release of 234 women and girls from Boko Haram. The total number of hostages released in the past few days has risen to 700. This marks a revival of fortunes for Nigeria’s military. More hostages have been freed in the past few weeks than in the past six years of the Boko Haram insurgency. This is due to the military receiving vital equipment and more support from the Nigerian people, who gave valuable information to track down the insurgents. Getting the Nigerian people on the side of the army would have been unlikely a few months back, given the military's appalling human rights record in the north east. The imminent arrival of Muhammadu Buhari as President has piloted a new sense of confidence. The former military strongman has vowed to crush the Muslim extremists. As the assault on Boko Haram’s stronghold continues it is hoped more victims will be released.