Girls go top of the class for cyber-bullying
21 Apr 2011
Teachers will today call for an investigation into rising levels of poor behaviour among girls in the classroom. The girls, they argue, are more likely to resort to cyber-bullying – the form of bullying utilising the internet and mobile phones that is worrying school leaders. A survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) reveals that half the teachers believed girls' behaviour had got worse during the past two years. One in five thought it was now more challenging than boys. Teachers interviewed for the survey accused girls of being ‘sneakier’ than boys in the way they misbehaved. They were also more adept at using modern social media such as Facebook to bully their fellow pupils. ‘Girls spread rumours and fallouts last a long time,’ a 34-year-old teacher from Reading told researchers. ‘Boys tend to sort it out fairly quickly.’ Pray: for our young people that they will take a stand against such bullying. (Ps.94:16)
Girl Guides considers dropping God
25 Nov 2011Girls wanting to become Guides, Brownies or Rainbows currently promise to ‘love’ God when signing up to the 101-year-old organisation. However, the association is considering reviewing the wording of its affirmation for new members, to remove religious references. The move comes after parents complained it was unfair to exclude children who had not received a Christian upbringing. The promise is optional but only girls who have taken it can be awarded the movement's highest badges. Christian campaigners yesterday warned that the 600,000-member association risks losing its values if it abandons the religious element of the oath. 'It would be terribly sad,' said Mike Judge, spokesman for The Christian Institute. ‘The Girl Guides has always embraced all people but has its roots in Christian values, which is what has made it so popular and successful. It will be very difficult for it to maintain its values if it removes the ethics from where those ideas spring.’
Pray: for the association to look at other options so that they can retain the promise to ‘love God’. (Mt.22:37)
Girl Guides consider dropping 'God' from Promise
11 Jan 2013Girlguiding UK are consulting the public on whether the Girlguiding Promise should be changed to ‘make it more meaningful to girls and women.’ The consultation follows a similar move from the Scout Association, (See Prayer Alert 49-2012) which is also consulting the public on possible changes to the Scout Promise. Girls make the Promise when they join the Guides, which includes the vows to ‘love my God’ and ‘serve the Queen and my country.’ It will be the first major reform under the Guides’ recently appointed chief executive Julie Bentley. Some alternatives put forward to replace the reference to God in the Promise are ‘to search for the spiritual value in my life’ and ‘serve the highest truth and love faithfully at all times.’ The potential changes follow two cases of families who wanted their children to become Guides but objected to the oath.
Pray: that pressure from a small atheist minority will not cause the movement to revise its founding principles. (1Cor.3:10)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/social/girl-guides-consider-dropping-god-from-promise
Gift Aid warning to charities
02 May 2013Charities are being urged to ensure they are clued up about changes to claiming Gift Aid. A new system went live on Monday replacing paper claims forms with an online service requiring charities to connect their databases directly to HMRC's computers or make claims by uploading data via standard HMRC spreadsheets. Charities have until September to update their systems but Stewardship and NCVO are concerned that awareness of the changes is low among the estimated 100,000 charities claiming Gift Aid. They fear many charities have underestimated the challenges involved in making the adjustment. While charities are being advised to review the HMRC guidance with urgency, the organisations are also asking HMRC to take further steps to make sure charities are aware of the changes and able to meet the September deadline.
Pray: for wisdom and understanding as they adjust to the new regulations. (Pr.2:6)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/gift.aid.warning.to.charities/32222.htm
Generation ex-christian
17 Jan 2011Research and surveys show that many atheists, agnostics, and spiritual-seekers are former Christians. There was no research-based book that explained in depth why people were leaving, until Generation Ex-Christian. This recently released book by Drew Dyck, editorial manager of the ministry team at Christianity Today International, breaks down ‘leavers’ into six categories: postmodern leavers, recoilers, modern leavers, neo-pagans, rebels, and drifters. These categories were formed after Dyck interviewed nearly 100 people while researching the book. ‘I’m not a sociologist or statistician, but I knew as a journalist I could bring something to this issue by introducing people to some of the faces and the stories behind the statistics’, Dyck said, ‘and by providing profiles of these, what I call ‘leavers’, these 20-somethings and early-30s that have walked away from the faith’. He continued ‘then provide some kind of tips on how to engage them in meaningful conversations about God that will ultimately lead them back’.
Pray: that this work will assist the success of the mission of God's church. (Rev. 2:7)
Andrea Minichiello Williams spoke to the General Synod today (6 Feb), challenging the Church of England to take a stand for traditional marriage before it is too late. Urging the Presidents of the Synod (the two Archbishops) to authorise an Emergency Debate, Andrea Williams, member of the General Synod and CEO of Christian Concern, called on the Church to resist David Cameron’s attempt to introduce same-sex marriage, noting that such a concept is contrary to both the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. ‘If the national Church were to stand for marriage as traditionally defined then our Prime Minister would be defeated even before he began. Is it not the job of the established Church to hold Government to account and not to let her stray from biblical precepts which are good not just for individuals but for communities and nations?’
Pray: that the challenge laid down by Andrea will be taken seriously by the Church. (Mt.19:1-6)
The Crown Prosecution Service has been accused of “double standards” over abortion laws as it brought criminal charges against a string of pro-life protesters yet refused to prosecute doctors over illegal practices. One outspoken peer accused the CPS of operating a policy “worthy of Alice in Wonderland” and subverting the will of Parliament by deciding against bringing charges for “public interest” reasons, despite there being enough evidence to do so. There were growing calls for a judicial review of the decision, supported by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, not to charge two doctors exposed in an undercover Daily Telegraph investigation agreeing to arrange abortions because the babies were female. In contrast the CPS has taken several recent cases of Pro Life Christians to trial for their anti-abortion activities. Lord Alton said: “Holding different people accountable to different standards should not be the basis on which the CPS operates.”
Pray: for clear guidance to be given to the CPS on how they handle such cases to ensure parity and fairness within the legal system. (Pr.18:5)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10292249/Gender-abortions-CPS-accused-of-double-standards-after-putting-pro-life-campaigners-on-trial.html
GDOP London links up with Micah Challenge
08 Oct 2010
Global Day of Prayer London (GDOP) is partnering with Micah Challenge’s 10-10-10 campaign as part of their 500 days of prayer initiative. They are encouraging churches across the UK to pray for the marginalised in their local areas and the world’s poor this October. As churches throughout the UK are getting behind this initiative, GDOP’s London Convenor, Jonathan Oloyede, wants to continue to build this momentum of prayer by providing more and more resources to keep mobilising Christians towards 24-hour intercession. GDOP London is now producing a monthly podcast with regular interviews and features with key Christian leaders. Their October podcast has a special focus on praying for the world’s poor. Oloyede also presents a monthly video blog to keep Christians inspired and updated on the 500 days of prayer movement and there are a number of prayer resources on the GDOP London website. Pray: that all Christians remember and pray for the world’s poor that their plight is lessened by God's strong intervention. (Dt. 15:7)