Almost two-thirds of parents responding to a survey said their children did not take part in collective worship at school every day, it was revealed. Secondary schools are far more likely to shun the traditional requirement which has been compulsory in the state system since the Second World War. The disclosure – in research commissioned by the BBC – will add weight to growing calls to drop the legislation. It comes after a delegation of teachers, secularists and religious leaders wrote to Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, last year insisting children should not be ‘coerced’ into religion in schools. Under the 1944 Education Act, schools must provide ‘broadly Christian worship’ every day. Parents have the right to pull children out of religious assemblies but the power is not extended to pupils themselves.
Pray: that schools will not keep ignoring this law and pray that the authorities will enforce it. (Pr.6:23)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8743072/Most-schools-shunning-law-on-Christian-assemblies.html
Most children will be born out of wedlock by 2016 because of the decline in the number of marriages, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics. The statistics show that the number of children being born to unmarried parents has increased for 40 consecutive years, reaching 47.5 per cent in 2012. If this trend continues, the figure will rise to more than 50 per cent by 2016. MPs and social groups have warned that children have the best chances in life when raised by married parents, and that the government must do more to “deliver on its family friendly pledge.” Former children’s minister, Tim Loughton, who is calling on the government to introduce tax breaks for married couples, said "Without marriage people drift in and out of relationships very easily. "In families where parents break up children do less well at school, are more likely to suffer mental health problems and are more likely to have substance abuse problems.
Pray: for a re-adoption of marriage as the social norm providing a more stable environment for children. (Pr.18:22)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/family/most-children-will-be-born-to-unmarried-parents-by-2016
Most Britons still identify as Christian
01 Oct 2010
New figures from the Office for National Statistics has found that most British people still consider themselves to be Christian. The number of homosexuals, meanwhile, is far lower than previously estimated. According to the office, 71 percent of the population is Christian. The statistic was welcomed by the Evangelical Alliance. ‘Christians have increasingly felt bewildered about what they can and cannot say or do,’ Stephen Cave, advocacy director at the Alliance, commented: ‘Of course faith is personal to each individual but that doesn’t mean to say it’s entirely private – far from it. In fact we welcome dialogue with people of all beliefs, including atheists. Where possible we should engage in conversation not confrontation’. The figures will be good news to those who believe Christianity should still have a prominent role in public life and indicate that affiliation to the faith remains strong in spite of declining church attendance. Pray: for Christians to re-establish our faith as the heart of public life and society.(Pr.1:20) More: http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100924/most-britons-still-identify-as-christian/index.html
More on the Pope’s visit
11 Sep 2010
During his weekly general audience at the Vatican Pope Benedict XVI declared: ‘I can't wait to undertake my trip to the United Kingdom’. He said he was aware that preparation for the controversial visit had required ‘a vast amount of work by Catholics, the British Government and local authorities in Scotland, Birmingham and London. The Pope said it would be ‘a particular joy’ to beatify the Anglican convert Cardinal John Henry Newman. ‘This truly great Englishman lived an exemplary clerical life and through his many writings made a fundamental contribution to the Church and society,’ Pope Benedict said. The Pope will beatify Cardinal Newman at Cofton Park, Birmingham, on Sunday Sept. 19, bringing the 19th century clergyman a step closer to sainthood. The Pope begins his visit in Edinburgh where he will be received by the Queen before celebrating mass at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow. Pray: that the Pope’s visit will raise the spiritual awareness of the UK population. (2Sa.22:26)
More Jesus and less motivational speaking
10 May 2012Thousands of Baptists from across the UK gathered in London last weekend for the General Assembly of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB), which also celebrated 400 years since the founding of the first British Baptist church. The weekend was spent trying to discern God’s vision for the church going forward. Agu Irukwu the senior pastor of Jesus House, in London, said some churches were too focused on trying to make Jesus and the cross palatable. The church must put Jesus back at the centre of its message he told Baptists. ‘Thank God for advances in theology, for thinkers in the church and for churches that have to be seeker-friendly. But it seems that the more seeker-friendly we get, the less of Jesus we get so when people come to church they are not sure whether they are in church or at a gathering where someone is giving a motivational speech’.
Pray: that the message given by Agu will strike a chord with all churches and that Jesus would be at the heart of what they teach and preach. (Jn.14:6)
More British converting to Islam
30 May 2013A British strand of Islam is emerging as more people become converts, the Economist reports. Using census data on race and religion and questionnaires issued to mosques, Kevin Brice, a researcher at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, reckons around 5,200 Britons turn to Islam every year, bringing the total number of converts to about 100,000. According to the report, those who embrace Islam tend to do so after years of contact with Muslims. Some, mostly women (who make up around two-thirds of new believers), want to marry a Muslim. Others are fed up with the bawdiness of British society. Many speak of seeking a sense of community. Batool al-Toma, an Irish-Catholic convert who runs the New Muslim Project in Leeds, was attracted, she says, by the spirituality of Islam and the warmth of relationships she saw among Muslims. For men, prisons have proven a fertile ground for conversions. Just over 11,000 prisoners are Muslims, about 13% of the total.
Pray: that those who are attracted to Islam will instead be led by the Holy Spirit to the ways of truth and find Jesus. (Jn.17:17)
More: http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=109348
The number of babies born weighing just 2lbs has more than doubled in the last two years, causing pro-lifers to reinforce the demand to lower the abortion limit from 24 weeks. Statistics do not disclose at what stage the babies were born but reports suggest that a child weighing less than 2lb 3oz is likely to have been born at least three months early. This would inevitably include some babies being born at an age when they could, in other circumstances, have been aborted. The number of tiny babies stillborn has almost halved during the same time span. The latest figures, from the NHS Information Centre, show that in 2008/09, some 3,836 children weighing less than 2lb 3oz (1kg) were born in England and Wales. That is a 115 per cent rise on 2006/07. A spokesman for the ProLife Alliance said: ‘These statistics are yet more proof that more and more babies are being born very prematurely and surviving’.
Pray: that in the light of these changing statistics the decision over the abortion limit would be reconsidered. (Job.31:15)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/more-babies-born-early-fuel-calls-to-lower-abortion-limit/
Morality still matters
29 Sep 2011Nearly half of people are prepared to change their vote for moral reasons. The personal moral standards of politicians and journalists still matter to most of the population, a ComRes poll for think tank Theos has found. The poll is featured in the Party Conference issue of Total Politics. 43% of people would change their vote if their local candidate was shown to have low personal moral standards, and even more (52%) would change the newspaper they buy because of the immoral behaviour of journalists. The majority of people (71%) think that politicians ought to have higher moral standards than the public they serve, and those most likely to vote (the elderly) have higher expectations than most. On balance, people do not believe you can divorce public from private morality. A majority of people believe that ‘If a politician is unfaithful to their husband or wife it does affect their job as it shows they cannot keep their word’ (51% agreeing vs. 36% disagreeing).
Pray: that morality and integrity would be considered essential for our politicians and a guide for a vote. (Jas.1:21)
More: http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Morality_Still_Matters.aspx?ArticleID=4799&PageID=14&RefPageID=5