Equalities Minister wants sexuality declared
Lib Dem Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone wants teachers, nurses and policemen, among others, to have to disclose their sexuality. She said that all public sector organisations should consider sending ‘diversity monitoring forms’ to staff to prove that they are treating all sections of society fairly. In June 2009, Ms Featherstone said that public sector employees who face a conflict between their job and their conscience should get another career. ‘On the execution of public duty, it is important that we make it clear here and now that carrying out public services cannot be a matter of conscience.’ This could mean that those identified as having a religious background that may hold certain moral views may potentially have restricted access to many public service jobs. Critics have also questioned how intrusive such questioning is.
Pray: that the Government comes to recognise the Big Brother nature of such damaging ideas. (Jas.2:4)
Financial crisis affects MOD
Following the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is about to conclude an extremely challenging further savings exercise in order to correctly balance military forces with the finances available. This will involve some very difficult decisions affecting people’s careers and military capabilities. Key decisions are likely to have to be made on 25 January 2011 and 10 February 2011 by the Defence Board. Those charged with deciding the outcome include senior leaders in defence especially the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Permanent Under Secretary for Defence and Service Chiefs. The Prime Minister, addressing Parliament at the outset of the SDSR stated ‘We are the sixth largest economy in the world. Even after this review we expect to continue with the fourth largest military budget in the world’.
Pray: for wisdom that right decisions are reached for the benefit of the nation and our Service personnel (2Ch.7:14)
More:http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/PolicyStrategyandPlanning/SDSR/StrategicDefenceAndSecurity
Christian faces sack for beliefs
David Booker has worked as a hostel support worker for the English Churches Housing Group, recently taken over by the Society of St James, for four years. Allegations against him followed a discussion with colleague Fiona Vardy. The free-flowing conversation lasted 35 minutes and Mr Booker answered his co-worker’s questions while making clear that he had homosexual friends and was not homophobic. ‘I did say that I didn’t agree with same-sex marriages, I didn’t believe pastors or vicars should marry same-sex partners and I didn’t agree with practising homosexuals being a pastor or a vicar.’ A few days later, he was formally suspended. A formal notice told him: ‘On 26 March 09, whilst on shift with Fiona Vardy, you seriously breached ECHG’s Code of Conduct by promoting your religious views which contained discriminatory comments regarding a person’s sexual orientation’. The charity has the Archbishop of Canterbury as a patron.
Pray: for common sense, enabled by the Holy Spirit, to rule for this Christian and others in like situations. (Ac.4:25)
More: http://domain1239156.sites.fasthosts.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1339&Itemid=1
Russia: Asalted Church youth leader in critical condition
Vladislav Korabel, who serves as the regional church youth leader in Russia’s Novgorod Oblast (state), is in the hospital with severe brain injuries following an assault and beating by unknown assailants. Vladislav was on his way to church in the city of Veliky Novgorod when he was brutally attacked. Initially he was treated by a neurosurgeon, then transferred to another unit where he underwent craniofacial surgery on Friday, January 14. Vladislav is the son of Anatoly Korabel, regional pastor for the Novgorod Oblast. According to Pastor Anatoly, the doctors are withholding any comments on prognosis for the time being. The church leadership believes the assault is related to anti-Baptist propaganda broadcasts aired on television, and they sent a letter to the local television station protesting the false reports. Local authorities including the regional ombudsman and governor’s administration have promised to investigate the matter.
Pray: not only for Vladislav’s full recovery, but also for the protection of churches, pastors and church members. (Is.49:7)
Russia: Asalted Church youth leader in critical condition
Vladislav Korabel, who serves as the regional church youth leader in Russia’s Novgorod Oblast (state), is in the hospital with severe brain injuries following an assault and beating by unknown assailants. Vladislav was on his way to church in the city of Veliky Novgorod when he was brutally attacked. Initially he was treated by a neurosurgeon, then transferred to another unit where he underwent craniofacial surgery on Friday, January 14. Vladislav is the son of Anatoly Korabel, regional pastor for the Novgorod Oblast. According to Pastor Anatoly, the doctors are withholding any comments on prognosis for the time being. The church leadership believes the assault is related to anti-Baptist propaganda broadcasts aired on television, and they sent a letter to the local television station protesting the false reports. Local authorities including the regional ombudsman and governor’s administration have promised to investigate the matter.
Pray: not only for Vladislav’s full recovery, but also for the protection of churches, pastors and church members. (Is.49:7)
Turkey: Education should facilitate freedom of religion or belief
Many in Turkey see an urgent need to reform primary and secondary school education to facilitate freedom of religion or belief. This is because aspects of the school system play a role in fuelling a type of nationalism behind intolerant attitudes, violent attacks and possibly even murders experienced by vulnerable groups. Key problems identified by members of various religious communities include compulsory Religious Culture and Knowledge of Ethics (RCKE) school classes, strict limits on exemption from such classes, discrimination against those seeking exemption, and misleading information in textbooks on the History of Turkish Republican Reforms and Atatürkism. An overdue first step would be to implement an October 2007 European Court of Human Rights judgment to legally enable all parents to exempt their children from RCKE classes. Implementing respect for everyone's freedom of religion or belief in school education will contribute to Turkey flourishing as a truly pluralistic democratic society.
Pray: that those who have authority over the educational establishment will be granted wisdom to reform and to remove intolerant attitudes. (Pr.13:14)
Turkey: Education should facilitate freedom of religion or belief
Many in Turkey see an urgent need to reform primary and secondary school education to facilitate freedom of religion or belief. This is because aspects of the school system play a role in fuelling a type of nationalism behind intolerant attitudes, violent attacks and possibly even murders experienced by vulnerable groups. Key problems identified by members of various religious communities include compulsory Religious Culture and Knowledge of Ethics (RCKE) school classes, strict limits on exemption from such classes, discrimination against those seeking exemption, and misleading information in textbooks on the History of Turkish Republican Reforms and Atatürkism. An overdue first step would be to implement an October 2007 European Court of Human Rights judgment to legally enable all parents to exempt their children from RCKE classes. Implementing respect for everyone's freedom of religion or belief in school education will contribute to Turkey flourishing as a truly pluralistic democratic society.
Pray: that those who have authority over the educational establishment will be granted wisdom to reform and to remove intolerant attitudes. (Pr.13:14)
India: Two families see God’s power
Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries Bhavi and Dipan are the pastors of two growing churches in South Asia. They have seen God’s power in the lives of many people in their congregations. Giri suffered from ongoing kidney stone problems. After six operations failed to cure him Giri didn’t know what to do. It was then that Giri heard about the church where Pastor Bhavi served. He approached with great hope, and after Pastor Bhavi and the other believers prayed, the Lord healed Giri. With great joy and thankfulness Meenu and his wife received an equally powerful miracle in their lives. After years of marriage they had no children. But when they heard of Jesus’ loving power from a Bible college student, they had new hope! They went to visit Pastor Dipan, who prayed with them and the Lord blessed them with a baby boy. Like Giri’s family, Meenu and his wife now serve the Lord wholeheartedly. Praise: God for His miraculous power that brings life to those who believe. (Dan.2:2-3)
India: Two families see God’s power
Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries Bhavi and Dipan are the pastors of two growing churches in South Asia. They have seen God’s power in the lives of many people in their congregations. Giri suffered from ongoing kidney stone problems. After six operations failed to cure him Giri didn’t know what to do. It was then that Giri heard about the church where Pastor Bhavi served. He approached with great hope, and after Pastor Bhavi and the other believers prayed, the Lord healed Giri. With great joy and thankfulness Meenu and his wife received an equally powerful miracle in their lives. After years of marriage they had no children. But when they heard of Jesus’ loving power from a Bible college student, they had new hope! They went to visit Pastor Dipan, who prayed with them and the Lord blessed them with a baby boy. Like Giri’s family, Meenu and his wife now serve the Lord wholeheartedly. Praise: God for His miraculous power that brings life to those who believe. (Dan.2:2-3)
CTBI launches social networking site
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) has marked the start of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with the launch of a new social networking site. CT Connect is a free website for local Churches Together groups to access CTBI’s online resources. CTBI hopes the website will facilitate groups sharing resources for worship and spirituality and publicising events. More importantly, they want to see groups use the website to interact and discuss current issues locally, nationally and internationally. CTBI General Secretary, the Rev Bob Fyffe said: ‘It’s about building an on-line community. Significantly, it will allow Christians at a local level to engage directly with each other and with the many organisations in the ecumenical family.’ Praise: God for this initiative and pray that interaction via CT Connect will be a blessing to God’s Church. (Ph.1:1-2)