Britain's most senior policeman has been urged to issue guidelines to his officers to protect Christians’ rights to free speech, amid claims they are suffering intimidation and discrimination from police. Christian activists have called on Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to inform all his officers that it is legal to cite traditional Bible teaching which describes homosexuality as a sin when speaking in public. The campaigners say free speech is under threat after a series of cases in which street preachers were arrested for delivering sermons which referred to the traditional Christian view of homosexuality. Andrea Williams, the director of the CLC, has written to Sir Bernard insisting that human rights laws allow Christians to express their genuinely-held views without fear of arrest, providing they do not incite a breach of the peace. Mrs Williams suggested Christians were becoming “fearful” of expressing their lawful views because of the police’s “intimidatory tactics”.
Pray: for the police in their difficult role but that they will recognise the legality of free speech in these matters. (Dt.32:1)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10206335/Christians-demand-free-speech-guidance-from-Scotland-Yard-chief.html
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has told a group of Christians in Bath not to make any claims which state or imply that, by receiving their prayer, people could be physically healed, reports Christian Concern for our Nation. A registered Christian trust, the ‘Healing on the Streets – Bath’ (HOTS) team, comprised of Christians from many different churches, have been praying for the public outside Bath Abbey for three years and regularly offer to pray for people who are sick to receive healing. But atheist Hayley Stevens took offence to the group’s adverts, complaining to the ASA that the claims by the Christians could 'not be substantiated'. Her complaint was upheld and the ASA have now ordered the group to stop stating on their website or in literature that God can heal. Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said: ‘This decision strikes at the heart of freedom of belief in the UK.’
Pray: that the ASA ruling will not limit the work of the HOTS team but that God will use them more powerfully.. (Jn.16:33)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue15373.html
Christians back call for banking code of conduct
05 Jul 2012The Association of Christian Financial Advisers (ACFA) has come out in support of calls for a mandatory code of conduct for the banking industry. The ACFA said it wants to see ethics put back at the centre of banking and a return to the founding Quaker principles of ‘honesty, integrity and plain dealing’. Arwyn Bailey, of the ACFA, welcomed the accountability shown in Mr Diamond's resignation. ‘In falling on his sword and resigning Bob Diamond has done the honourable and probably inevitable thing. The pressure must have been intolerable, for both him and his family,’ he said. Barclays chairman Marcus Agius, who announced his resignation one day before, will now become full-time chairman and oversee the process to appoint Mr Diamond's successor. ‘Without question Mr Diamond is the man who carries the can, but given such pressure for him to resign, who would be willing to step into his shoes?’
Pray: for much higher standards of moral integrity in international banking and commerce. (De.8:18)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.back.call.for.banking.code.of.conduct/30187.htm
Christian trade union leaders in the National Union of Journalists (NUJ)and the media and entertainment union BECTU, working at the BBC, are calling on church leaders to intervene against the deep cuts imposed by the government on the BBC World Service, as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. Analysis by the NUJ on the impact of the cuts was handed to the Archbishop of York, the Rt Rev Dr John Sentamu, during his visit to the BBC on Sunday. He pledged to raise the issue in the House of Lords. David Campanale is the NUJ Father of Chapel in the BBC World News TV and a director of the Christian aid agency Tearfund. He said the World Service plays a vital role in truth-telling around the world. He is looking to the churches to speak out against the cuts, which the unions say will deeply damage an internationally respected and successful broadcaster. (See also Prayer Alert 04-2011) Pray: that Christians will speak out boldly and defend the reputation of the World Service. (1Tim.3:7)
Christians arrested in blockade at Arms Fair
19 Sep 2013Five Christians have been arrested for successfully blockading the Custom House entrance in London at an arms fair supplying weapons to repressive regimes. For over forty minutes the group, associated with the activist organisation Christianity Uncut and supported by a range of other NGOs including Christian CND, sat and lay down at the entrance of the Defence and Security Exhibition International (DSEi), which is backed by the UK government and has as its guests a range of dictators and autocrats, including the armers of President Assad in Syria. The protesters recited the Lord's Prayer, and one of the people arrested also announced the 23rd Psalm boldly while being dragged away by police. Superglue was used to secure the gate by the anti-arms activists. The first two people arrested included a trainee Methodist minister and the third was Quaker activist Chris Wood. Two others were removed. All were driven away to be charged.
Pray: for those protesting in this controversial area and give the authorities discernment and wisdom. (Is.2:4)
More: http://christianityuncut.wordpress.com/news/
Christians are ‘evil’ if they resist the redefinition of marriage to allow for same-sex marriage, the Head of Research and Development at Tesco.com has said. The company has already faced criticism for dumping its support for the Cancer Research ‘Race for Life’ and sponsoring London’s gay pride festival. The ‘evil Christians’ comment was made by Nick Lansley, Head of Research and Development for the Tesco website. He wrote: ‘I’m also campaigning against evil Christians (that’s not all Christians, just bad ones) who think that gay people should not lead happy lives and get married to their same-sex partners.’ Director of The Christian Institute, Colin Hart, said: ‘I won’t be shopping at Tesco this Christmas, and I am repeatedly hearing from other Christians who have already come to the same conclusion. ‘Mr Lansley is entitled to his opinions, and Christians are entitled to choose not to shop at Tesco.
Pray: for a more balanced view by Tesco to respect and not alienate the Christian community. (Dt.13:3-4)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christians-are-evil-for-backing-marriage-says-tesco-rd-boss/
Christians a minority at 'biased' BBC
05 Dec 2011The BBC employs more atheists and non-believers than Christians, an internal ‘diversity’ survey has found. The new research has been seized on by critics who accuse the Corporation of bias against Christianity and marginalising the faith in its output. The survey found that just 22.5 per cent of all staff professed to be Christians. BBC veteran Roger Bolton, who until recently presented BBC Radio 4’s religious current affairs programme, Sunday, said: ‘There is an inbuilt but unconscious bias against religion, fuelled by the fact staff are not representative of the public. It is not a conspiracy but it needs a correction.’ Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said the statistics confirmed the belief that the BBC is ‘institutionally incapable of reflecting the society it serves since BBC staff are not representative of the audience they broadcast to’.
Pray: for the BBC and their work, that it may present a better-balanced view of our society including the Christian community. (Ps.11:7)
More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2069649/Christians-minority-biased-BBC.html
Christianity not necessarily for public good
16 Nov 2012The Charity Commission, Britain’s charity watchdog has put the charitable status of the nation’s churches in question after it ruled that a congregation in Devon did not exist for public benefit. Under charity law, churches and other organisations must show that their existence has some form of ‘public benefit.’ But in a letter to the Plymouth Brethren, the Charity Commission explained its refusal to grant charitable status to one of the denomination’s churches in Devon. Head of legal services for the Commission, Kenneth Dibble, stated: ‘This decision makes it clear that there was no presumption that religion generally, or at any more specific level, is for the public benefit, even in the case of Christianity or the Church of England.’ A committee of MPs is currently investigating the Charity Commission. Some of these MPs have expressed concern that the Charity Commission is engaged in a ‘politically correct’ campaign aimed at suppressing Christianity.
Pray: that the investigation into the Charity Commission will over-ruleand the understanding that the role of churches is not of public benefit should be reversed. (Heb.8:3)