Military can lead on moral values and ethics
10 Nov 2011Former head of the army said Britain is losing its moral compass to such a degree that the armed forces can no longer rely on young recruits to behave in a way once expected. General Lord Dannatt, a committed Christian, has previously expressed concern about British society, suggesting that many members of the armed forces lacked moral values when they joined up. Speaking in a lecture sponsored by Theos, a thinktank he said now the military can teach society about the importance of ethics and morality. ‘In the past it was often assumed that young men and women coming into the armed forces would have absorbed an understanding of the core values and standards of behaviour required from their family or from within their wider community. Such a presumption, he adds, cannot be made now.
Pray: that ethics and morality will become central to our forces and to our nation. (Jas.1:21)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/08/military-moral-values-ethics-dannatt
Labour leader Ed Miliband has released a video thanking churches and Christian agencies for their efforts in social justice, and emphasising the importance of Christians being involved in politics. "You do incredibly important work here at home: helping people who go to food banks, helping the homeless and helping all those at risk of disadvantage and those who are vulnerable in our communities," he says. He also commends the action Christians undertake in different countries across the globe "for development, against climate change, on all the important issues that matter". The video encourages Christians to engage with politics and Miliband spoke of his support for Christians on the Left - formerly the Christian Socialist Movement - which works in partnership with the Labour Party to put Christian values and ideas around social justice into political action. The society, which counts forty MPs among its members, believes that to make lasting change, Christians must be a real voice from within the political world, not just outside of it.
Pray: for a greater recognition of the significant and crucial role played by Christians inboth public and political life. (Mk.16:15)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/miliband.urges.christians.to.engage.with.politics/34861.htm
UK-based international development agency Christian Aid has welcomed Labour leader Ed Miliband’s determination to tackle the tax havens which are harming UK public finances but it urges him to go further, because financial secrecy is a curse for poor countries too. The intervention comes as the opposition leader and the Conservative Prime Minister exchange words about 'responsible capitalism' which critics say have rested on amelioration rather than a tackling of fundamental problems and injustices. ‘It’s great that Mr Miliband has recognised that tax haven secrecy is damaging people in the UK, by providing a cover for people and companies to hide their wealth and avoid paying the taxes that are so urgently needed,’ commented Dr David McNair, Christian Aid’s Principal Adviser on Economic Justice, earlier this week. But, he added, ‘We now hope the Labour leader will also recognise that financial secrecy has devastating effects on public services and people’s lives across the world, especially in poor countries.’
Pray: for message from Christian Aid to heard and acted upon by all parties in Parliament. (Lk.16:11)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16120
Midwives take hospital to court in abortion row
19 Jan 2012Two midwives went to court Tuesday (17 Jan) to challenge a policy introduced by Southern General Hospital in Glasgow which requires midwives to help with abortions, regardless of their religious convictions. The right of midwives to refuse to participate in abortions on the basis of their religious beliefs is explicitly protected by the 1967 Abortion Act, and has
historically been respected by the hospital. However, the hospital recently changed its stance by imposing an obligation on midwives to watch over, and sometimes assist, with late abortions, which were frequently being transferred from the gynaecology department to the labour ward. The two midwives, Mary Doogan and Teresa Wood, both Catholics, were unable to persuade the hospital to uphold their right to refuse to participate in abortions during the statutory grievance procedure.
Pray: for Mary and Teresa as they face this challenge to their faith and their rights. (Is.7:9b)
Methodists to ‘pay attention’ to God
02 Jul 2010
The Methodist Conference in Portsmouth last Saturday heard a fresh call from the new President to pay attention to God and to those who have been discarded or rejected by society. The Rev Alison Tomlin said paying attention to God meant living with Him at the centre and loving, even enemies. ‘We talk about God as central, except of course that the God we serve tends to spend a lot of time on the edge, on the periphery, on the outside, not within our buildings, not within the places we choose to call home, but out there with those who have been discarded, rejected, those who are distressed and distraught. So if we are serious about paying attention to God at the centre of our lives we have to make sure that we are paying attention far wider than ourselves.’ Pray: for all Christians to renew their commitment to put God at the centre of our lives. (Rev.7:17)
The Methodist Church will play a larger role than ever before at this year’s Greenbelt Festival - Europe’s longest running Christian event celebrating the arts, faith and justice. The Church has sealed a three-year partnership deal with Greenbelt organisers, which will see free tickets made available to Methodist ministers, deacons, preachers and worship leaders who have not attended the festival for the past five years. The free tickets, which must be claimed before 31 July via the Greenbelt office, will be on offer during the first two years of the partnership. Over time, the deal will allow the Methodist Church to have as influential a presence at the festival as the Department of International Development and Christian Aid – Greenbelt’s existing major partners. Gawain Hewitt, Festival Director, said: ‘The Methodist Church and Greenbelt both have a history steeped in a commitment to social justice and community engagement. We also share a commitment to dialogue, trade justice, environmental and development issues and human rights'.
Pray: for the Greenbelt Festival as it reaches out to a wide spectrum of mainly young people. (2Th.2:14)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=441
A website for young people run by young people has been launched by the Methodist Children and Youth Team. Generous is a safe online space designed to enable young people to discuss and act upon decisions made at Youth Assembly – an interactive body designed to maximise the impact of young people’s influence on the Methodist Church in Britain. Young people can sign up to the site and pledge their commitment to different goals, such as confronting racist behaviour or challenging Churches on the opportunities available to them. The website offers young people the opportunity to work together on maximising the impact they can have on the wider Church. Every young person who signs up and joins the
debate becomes an activist and voice for social change. Pete Brady, Methodist Youth President, said Generous was a great way for young people to keep in touch with others they met at Youth Assembly.
Pray: for this initiative and others that reach out to our young people. (2Ti.2:22)
Methodists gear up for Christmas giveaway
15 Oct 2010
Shops are already stacking their shelves with Christmas cards and presents, hoping to make a profit from early-bird shoppers. But the Methodist Church is encouraging people to give a free gift to their friends and neighbours this Christmas. ‘A Gift of Christmas’ is a brand new booklet from the Methodist Church that celebrates and reflects on the story of Christmas. It includes Bible passages, stunning images from the Methodist Collection of Modern Art, prayers and reflections from a variety of authors, including John Byron, Valerie Collinson and Graham Kendrick. It’s the latest in a highly successful series that includes ‘A Gift of Peace’, which has already sold nearly 15,000 copies. ‘The birth of Christ is the greatest gift ever given to humankind and we want to celebrate Christmas by sharing that gift with others,’ said Deacon Eunice Attwood, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference and a contributor to the booklet. Pray: for such initiatives to reach the many who do not fully know the Christmas story. (Ro.10:17) More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=468