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David Cameron’s plans to rewrite the definition of marriage would force the disestablishment of the Church of England, it has been warned. Revd George Pitcher’s warning came as he attacked Mr Cameron for considering proposals to make the extended Olympics shop opening hours on Sundays permanent. He criticised the Prime Minister’s ‘contempt for religion in general and the Church of England in particular’. Writing for the Daily Mail, Revd Pitcher accused Mr Cameron of being ‘entirely indifferent to the constitutional implications’ of redefining marriage. He added: ‘The state and its established church would have two entirely different definitions of an institution that lies at the heart of our society. And that’s constitutionally dangerous. ‘Instead of trying to carry the Church with him, Cameron instead tries to marginalise it. With the Queen as that Church’s Supreme Governor and also head of state, he’s obviously looking to disestablishment of the Church of England.’
Pray: for a proper open and shared dialogue blessed by the wisdom that comes from God as these matters are discussed. (Pr.1:7)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/cameron-is-looking-to-disestablish-the-church/
David Cameron has declared that ‘Britain is a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so’, in a speech to mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Mr Cameron told Church of England clergy gathered in Oxford that a return to Christian values could counter the country's ‘moral collapse’ and blamed a ‘passive tolerance’ of immoral behaviour for this summer's riots, Islamic extremism, City excess and Westminster scandals. His words will delight traditionalists in his party and Christian groups that claim believers are increasingly marginalised. He said the King James Bible was as relevant today as at any point in its history. He went on to say ‘We are a Christian country. And we should not be afraid to say so. Let me be clear: I am not in any way saying that to have another faith – or no faith – is somehow wrong but that the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today.’
Pray: for such views to be reflected in Government policy and public life. (Lk.8:21)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/16/cameron-king-james-bible-anniversary
The Church of England has called for the BBC to appoint a Religion Editor to bring ‘greater depth’ to its coverage. A senior correspondent in the position, mirroring similar appointments at the corporation for arts, science and business, would be able to act as a ‘trusted guide’ through stories about religious issues, according to the church. The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, the church's lead spokesman on communications, made the call in the church’s submission to the BBC Trust’s ongoing review of BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 7. ‘There has been at least one public call or the BBC to appoint a Religion Editor to reflect the importance of religious literacy to any proper understanding of today’s world,’ said Mr McCulloch in the submission. ‘We echo that call, which would provide a recognised expert to bring greater co-ordination and depth to the corporation’s religious output across all channels.’ Pray: that the BBC will recognise that such an appointment would be beneficial to its religious coverage. (Isa.41:28)
Young people are being encouraged to apply for one-year placements with a variety of innovative church projects throughout Britain. The opportunities range from working with young people directly affected by drug and alcohol problems to addressing some of the UK's most pressing social issues on a national scale. The One Programme is a paid year out for young people aged 16 to 23 years old. One Programme Participants (known as OPPs) are paid to work 15 hours a week: nine hours in a local church project and six hours for training and other national work. The projects are selected by a panel of young people and key-workers. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to make a difference in their own communities and will be paid a living wage. Hayley Moss, Methodist Youth President, said: “It offers excellent opportunities both for the young people and the projects hosting them.
Pray: for the One Programme and the young people who engage with it. (Tit.3:8)
Baptist churches are 'complacent' about the need for church planting and have been lulled into a false sense of security by relatively healthy attendance figures, according to church planting consultant Stuart Murray-Williams. Mr Murray-Williams says in a web interview for the Incarnate church planting network See: that Baptist churches are the 'least creative' in this area compared with other major denominations. The problem lies not in the number of churches being planted - about one a month from 2005-2009, with a further 37 last year, indicating an increase in activity. But 'the way Baptists tend to plant is that a larger church with spare resources and spare people will plant a daughter church nearby. This is a perfectly good, way of doing it, but it's not strategic. It means we're not planting churches where they're most needed, but where we have the resources to do it.' Pray: that church planting resources would be directed strategically.
Churches are being invited to take part in the first ever day of prayer for toddler groups this June. The day is being organised by 1277, an alliance of Christian denominations and agencies including the Church of England, the Catholic, Methodist and United Reformed Churches, and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. The name of the alliance represents the average number of days between a child’s birth and the start of formal education. There are around 27,000 church-based toddler groups across the UK, many of them run by committed volunteers and amounting to half of the total support and care on offer to the nation’s pre-schoolers and their carers. The day of prayer on 5 June falls within National Family Week. It is being dedicated to those who attend a church toddler group and will also celebrate the valuable work of those who help out.
Pray: for all those who care for, prepare for and work with all our pre-school children. (Lk.15-16)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/call.to.churches.to.pray.for.toddler.groups/28005.htm
Senior church leaders and representatives from the main Christian denominations have called for Yorkshire to be a region of Sanctuary for people escaping persecution and who are seeking protection in the UK. The church leaders have a long record of supporting asylum seekers and refugees in their flight from terror abroad and their plight of destitution in this country. West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council (WYEC) urged all churches in the region to take practical steps to promote a culture of hospitality and to become places of sanctuary and welcome for asylum seekers. The Rev Dr Clive Barrett, Executive Secretary of WYEC, said that 'Welcome and hospitality are at the heart of Christian life. Church leaders encourage everyone, especially local churches, to extend that welcome to people who come to us seeking safety.’ Pray: for the stateless that they might find refuge. (Is.16:3) More:http://www.networkleeds.com/Articles/223427/Network_Leeds/Recent_News/West_Yorkshire_churches.aspx
The Bishop of Down and Dromore is asking Christians to pray following weeks of violence in Belfast over the city council's decision to fly the Union flag on certain days only. Protests have been held over the flag dispute for the last month and the past week has seen an intensification of violence, with rioting causing injury and damage. The Right Rev Harold Miller said the recent unrest had been ‘tragic and difficult’ for Northern Ireland and particularly East Belfast, which falls within the Diocese of Down and Dromore. He said he was ‘deeply concerned’ about the ‘potential trajectory’ of the current situation, in light of the divisions and violence of Northern Ireland's past. ‘Lying behind all of this is the sense in parts of the Loyalist community that they have lost a great deal over the past years, especially in terms of identity, and that has led to a fear of the future being uncertain,’ the bishop said.
Pray: that there would be a breakthrough leading to reconciliation and peace in NI. (2Cor.5:17-19)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/call.for.prayer.for.belfast.after.union.flag.riots/31414.htm
The public policy think tank ResPublica has called for a ‘radical’ overhaul of the Gift Aid system to bring it up to speed with the digital age. It said the system was ‘antiquated’ and ‘bureaucratic’ and that it was ‘an anomaly in this day and age’ that charities are still unable to claim Gift Aid online. A new report warned that charities were losing out on as much as £750 million each year because of the current paper-based system. It claims that the current system places unnecessary burdens on HMRC and individual charities and is so inefficient that the cost to the taxpayer of processing each claim amounts to around £5. The think tank said that the high administrative costs had created a ‘perverse disincentive’ for the Treasury to encourage more people to use Gift Aid on their donations. It wants the current system to be digitised to make it easier for charities to claim Gift Aid. Pray: for more efficient systems to ensure a greater part of donations being effectively used. (2Cor.8:20-21)
Tory MP Nadine Dorries urged the Government to instruct clinics to provide counselling to women who seek terminations. She said such ‘informed consent’ would lead to a reduction in UK abortion figures, currently around 200,000 a year. Opening a short Commons debate, former nurse Ms Dorries said: ‘If any of us were referred to a hospital today for a minor procedure, e.g.an ingrowing toenail operation, the procedure would be explained to us in detail. We would be aware of the level of pain we would experience, told exactly what would happen while we were under the anaesthetic and be given follow-up appointments. A woman who has an abortion has none of that: she is discharged at the end of the day out onto the street and left to come to terms with the roller coaster emotional journey she will still be in the midst of.’ Pray: that very sensitive consideration is given by health professionals to the spiritually vulnerable. (Ps.34:18)