Maria Miller, the newly appointed Minister for Women and Equalities, has voiced her support for controversial plans to rewrite the definition of marriage. Mrs Miller was put in overall charge of the Government’s same-sex marriage plans by last week’s cabinet reshuffle. Gay campaigners expressed concern, fearing that she wouldn’t be supportive enough of same-sex marriage. But Mrs Miller, who was also appointed as the Culture Secretary, revealed her support for the controversial change yesterday. Speaking to the Sunday Times Mrs Miller said marriage needs to be redefined to make sure it ‘remains as a relevant and vibrant institution’. She added: ‘Look, I think everybody should be married. It’s something which creates strength in our society and whether it is two men, two women or a man and a woman it is something which is a way for us to strengthen our society further.’ Nearly 600,000 people, including a number of politicians, have signed a petition opposing any change to the current law. It is being run by the Coalition for Marriage.
Pray: for Maria Miller that she will be guided by the Holy Spirit into God’s definition of marriage and not be pressured to rewrite the definition. (Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/gay-marriage-new-equalities-minister-backs-redefinition/
Worshippers in London on Sunday added their signatures to new petitions against David Cameron’s plans while one charity launched an online campaign to encourage Catholics to lobby their MPs. Last week more than 1,000 priests – a quarter of all Catholic clergy in England and Wales – signed a letter to The Daily Telegraph arguing that the change could open the door to new discrimination against Christians. These moves signal the start of a string of new ‘grassroots’ protests organised independently of the Church hierarchy in the run-up to the publication of the Government’s Equal marriage Bill, due at the end of this month. Meanwhile evangelical Christians from Britain travelled to Paris to observe a mass protest by Christians and Muslims against President Francois Hollande’s plans for same-sex marriage in France. Organisers said that 800,000 people converged around the Eiffel Tower for a demonstration attended by Jean-Francois Cope, the leader of the centre-right UMP party.
Pray: for the success of these protests and that the petitions will have the desired effect. (1Cor.12:2)
Gay couples to be allowed ceremonies in church
07 Nov 2011Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, will say that the ban on the ceremonies in religious surroundings will be lifted on Dec 5. The move has been championed by David Cameron but is likely to be opposed by some church groups. The scheme will be ‘voluntary’ with no church compelled to offer same-sex services. However, it is likely that some campaigners will seek to push the matter further if churches refuse to open their doors to gay couples. It is estimated that about 1,500 civil partnerships a year would take place in religious settings once the ban is lifted. There are currently about 5,500 civil partnerships taking place every year. Liberal Jewish groups, Quakers and other minor Christian organisations have lobbied for the right to host civil partnerships with religious readings and hymns. However, the Church of England has warned that it would not bless same-sex couples.
Pray: that the Church would hold fast to God’s guidance as laid down in His Word. (1Tim.1:9-11)
Churches fear that problem gambling is set to rise after the government announced plans to relax rules on the number of fruit machines in arcades and double the stakes from £1 to £2. Two draft Statutory Instruments were submitted to Parliament on 7 June. These measures would increase the maximum stake for category B3 gaming machines (a type of fruit machine) and raise the cap on the maximum number of such machines at adult gaming centres and bingo halls. The Evangelical Alliance, the Church of England, the Methodist Church, the Salvation Army, Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs and CARE have expressed concern at the Government's plans. The church groups are shocked and disappointed that the coalition government has made these proposals which will further liberalise the law. They are calling on the government not to implement this irresponsible rise when research into the potential effects has not been done. (See Prayer Alert 07-2011)
Pray: for the government to have wisdom over the problems that gambling excesses cause. (Dt.32:29)
More: http://www.eauk.org/media/gambling-set-to-rise-with-stakes-doubled-on-fruit-slot-machines.cfm
A judge was ordered to keep a ‘lower profile’ on Tuesday – after he spoke out in favour of marriage. Judicial watchdogs rebuked High Court family law judge Sir Paul Coleridge following protests about his involvement in a campaign to make marriage ‘the gold standard of relationships’. Sir Paul is listed as ‘founder and chairman’ of the Marriage Foundation think-tank and boosted its launch with a series of high-profile interviews and newspaper articles. But a barrister complained to the Office for Judicial Complaints (OJC), the disciplinary body for judges, that Sir Paul was breaking rules that prevent judges associating themselves with any ‘organisation, group or cause’. The disciplinary panel, led by Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling and a senior High Court judge, President of the Queen’s Bench Division Sir John Thomas, found there had been no judicial misconduct. The OJC said: ‘Mr Justice Coleridge has agreed to keep a lower profile role within the organisation.
Pray: that Sir Paul’s interviews will have raised the profile of marriage and may his influence continue to bear fruit. (Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2012/12/05/gagged-judge-who-dared-to-stick-up-for-marriage/
GAFCON Primates’ boycott meeting in Dublin
17 Jan 2011At least ten Primates from the Global South are now expected to boycott the Primates’ Meeting in Dublin in January. Five African Primates, members of the GAFCON Primates’ Council (See http://www.gafcon.org/ ) confirmed that they would not attend the two-yearly meeting. In addition, it is understood that the Primate of South-East Asia, the Primate in Jerusalem & the Middle East, and the Primate of the Indian Ocean, will not go to Dublin. Furthermore it is expected that two new Primates, Primate of the Southern Cone, and the Primate of Rwanda, will also boycott the meeting. Five further Primates, from West Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya — say they ‘join with other Primates from the Global South in declaring that we will not be present’. They acknowledge the Anglican Covenant is ‘well-intentioned’ but say they ‘have come to the conclusion the current text is fatally flawed’. In response, Canon Kenneth Kearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, said: ‘The decision whether to come remains a matter for the Primates’.
Pray: for the Anglican Covenant to succeed in representing the broadest sense of Anglicanism. (1Co.13:1)
FTSE 100 companies must adopt living wage
05 May 2011
A campaign to lobby FTSE 100 companies to adopt the Living Wage has been backed by the Methodist Church and its Central Finance Board. The Living Wage is the minimum hourly wage necessary for an individual to meet their basic needs, including shelter, clothing and nutrition. Revd Alison Tomlin, President of the Methodist Conference, will publicly endorse the launch of the FairPensions campaign at Methodist Central Hall on May 2, with more than 2,000 people expected to attend. Revd Tomlin said: ‘The Living Wage is about treating people with dignity and respect; it is about recognising our value as individuals, as human beings. It is absurd to pay people a wage that will never allow them to meet their needs. The majority of those living in poverty are in working households and this kind of practice keeps people in poverty. FTSE 100 companies should lead the way in bringing about fair wages for all who work.’
Pray: for a positive outcome for the FairPensions campaign. (Dt.15:7)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=502
Frozen to death as fuel bills soar
13 Feb 2012The number of pensioners dying from hypothermia has nearly doubled in five years, a period when a succession of cold winters has been coupled with drastic rises in energy bills. The official figures emerged after several days of Arctic conditions which drove temperatures across the whole country as low as minus 10C (14F). They showed that 1,876 patients were treated in hospital for hypothermia. The number of sufferers who died within 30 days of admission shot up from 135 to 260. Three-quarters of victims were pensioners, with cases soaring more than any other age group. The increasing toll of hypothermia over the past five years coincides with a surge in energy costs, especially gas prices which have gone up by 40 per cent. The row over energy prices is poised to be reignited later this month when the 'big six' energy companies reveal their latest profit figures. Campaign groups said yesterday it was 'scandalous' that pensioners in modern Britain could be suffering from hypothermia.
Pray: for effective support for the most vulnerable during the very cold weather. (Jas.2:16)
More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100232/Frozen-death-fuel-bills-soar-Hypothermia-cases-elderly-double-years.html