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The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that last summer’s riots may return unless the government and civil society do more to reach out to young people. Writing in the Guardian, Dr Rowan Williams attributed the unrest in part to ‘massive economic hopelessness’ and a lack of opportunities for young people. He said that many of the rioters were people who had ‘got used to being pushed to the margins and told they are dispensable’. ‘Too many feel they have nothing to lose because they are told practically from birth that they have no serious career opportunities’ he said. While the Archbishop acknowledged the selfishness of the rioters’ actions, he said that demonising destructive young people would not help to address the problem. Instead, he went on to suggest that greater consideration be given to the impact on young people in debates over spending cuts, adding that the idea of cutting provision to youth services was ‘manifestly indefensible’.
Pray: that the Government will face up to its responsibilities and challenges in reaching the young. (Dt.30:11)
More than 20,000 people have signed a petition expressing support for millions of believers around the world who are denied the right to practice their faith. The Right to Believe petition has been launched by Oxfordshire based Open Doors, which supports persecuted Christians worldwide. It opposes efforts by an Islamic organisation to win the right for governments to choose which religious views are permissible in their country. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is again introducing the Defamation of Religions Resolution in the United Nations this year. Open Doors believes the terms of the resolution impose substantial limits on the freedom of individuals to express their religious beliefs. It would also criminalise defamation of a particular religion, Islam in particular. The organisation said that persecuted Christians were looking to believers in countries with religious liberty to ‘walk with them on our knees in prayer and on our feet in action’. Pray: for opposition to be so strong that this resolution will be defeated in the UN. (Tit.2:8) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/thousands.sign.right.to.believe.petition/26551.htm
Lord Justice Laws today refused permission to Gary McFarlane to have his case heard before the Court of Appeal. Mr McFarlane, a relationships counsellor from Bristol, sacked by the Relate Relationship organisation after he refused to provide sexual counselling to homosexual couples because of his Christian beliefs, asked that his case be heard by different judges to those who ruled against Lillian Ladele in December 2009. Church leaders have been deeply concerned by the ruling by Lord Neuberger, the Master of the Rolls, on behalf of the Court of Appeal, in the case of Lillian Ladele - a registrar who refused to conduct civil partnerships ceremonies because they were against her Christian beliefs - and have argued that the Court of Appeal’s decision effectively means that the right to express a strong Christian faith must take second place to the rights of homosexuals under Labour's equality laws. (See also Prayer Alert 1610)
Pray: that despite this refusal ways will be found to reverse this decision. (Ps.7:6)
More than one national election is taking place this year. A campaign is launched today to encourage ‘people with a very big heart’ to stand for election to the General Synod of the Church of England. Containing 378 lay and clergy members, and passing measures that have the same effect within Anglicanism as those of Parliament, the General Synod continues to play an essential role in the life of the country as well as the Church. It will be dissolved at the end of the July 2010 group of sessions in York. A new Synod will be elected for a five-year term in September/October, and inaugurated in November. Under the slogan 'Be Part of the Big Picture', new resources include a five-minute DVD filmed at General Synod in February 2010, featuring contributions from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Business Committee chair Preb Kay Garlick, outgoing members of the Houses of Laity and Clergy, and national journalists.
Pray: for Anglicans throughout the country to prayerfully consider God’s calling to stand for the General Synod. (1Sa.3:10b)
The Archbishop of Canterbury accepted ‘with regret’ the resignation of Church of England bishops planning to convert to Roman Catholicism in protest over the ordination of women bishops and joining a network that will allow them to retain some Anglican traditions. The move involves three serving bishops, who minister to parishes opposed to female clergy, and two retired bishops. The serving bishops are the bishop of Ebbsfleet, Andrew Burnham, the bishop of Richborough, Keith Newton and the bishop of Fulham, John Broadhurst. They will be joined by the former bishop of Richborough, Edwin Barnes, and a former Australian bishop, David Silk. All wanted more accommodation from the Anglican Church for opponents of women clergy. Groups within the Church of England have been campaigning for female clerics to become bishops without any concessions that would undermine their authority. Traditionalists and conservative evangelicals oppose the historic change, claiming the concept of women bishops runs contrary to doctrine. Pray: that these issues will not hinder the spreading of the Gospel message. (Phl.1:27) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/08/archbishop-canterbury-accepts-bishops-resignation
There are half a million children in the UK who are unhappy with their lives, according to The Good Childhood Report 2012 published last Thursday. Launched by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, it warns that a generation of children will be ‘lost’ unless a radical new approach is taken to childhood in Britain. Compiled by the Children’s Society the report is based on interviews with more than 30,000 children aged eight to 16. It says nine per cent of children have ‘low wellbeing’ – a percentage that equates to 500,000 children and the figure increases as children get older. The family has the biggest influence on levels of happiness, with children more likely to feel happy if there is harmony in the home and if they have an experience of loving relationships between family members. Children who felt listened to and involved in making decisions within the family also had a ‘significantly’ higher level of wellbeing.
Pray: for children who are in ‘unstable’ home lives and pray for more government policy to include the recognition of stable marriages as the basis of family life. (Ps.68:6a)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/report.says.half.a.million.children.in.britain.are.unhappy/29163.htm
Hundreds of activists across the UK are signing up to a new Jubilee for Justice call for countries afflicted by debt. In addition, more than 200 faith leaders have so far shown their support by signing a letter, which will be delivered to the Prime Minister, David Cameron, later in this Jubilee year. The Jubilee for Justice petition calls for cancellation of the unjust debts of the most indebted nations, but also for just and progressive taxation instead of excessive borrowing and an end to the harmful lending which puts countries into debt. Through the continued work of the Jubilee Debt Campaign (JDC) some $125 billion (£80 billion) of debt has been cancelled across 33 countries, resulting in improved spending on schools, health and social care. However, campaigners say that due to the immense suffering still being inflicted on impoverished people around the world, more action still needs to be taken.
Pray: for the rich countries of the world, even in times of economic downturn, not to forget the even greater impact on many countries in huge debt and that their leaders will respond to the call for jubilee. (Lev.25:54)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16994
The Church of England has accused the last Labour government of being ‘religiously illiterate’ and treating believers as ‘sub-rational’ elements that must be contained. Left-wing politicians fostered a culture of suspicion towards all faith groups in the aftermath of the 2005 and 2001 attacks by Islamic extremists in London and the US, according to a Church report. 'While senior Conservatives have a more positive view of the role of religion in public life, many Liberal Democrats remain deeply sceptical', the report from the Church’s Mission and Public Affairs department said. The criticism came as the Church of England outlined plans to run community cohesion projects to improve relations between different faiths. It is now bidding for £5 million as part of its response to David Cameron’s vision of the ‘Big Society’. The Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, has promised that the days of the state trying to ‘suppress’ Christianity and other faiths are ‘over’. Pray: for politicians of all parties that they will appreciate and recognise the positive role of faith communities in the U.K. (2Ch.30:12)
The early findings into a study on perceptions of religious equality in Britain has identified ‘substantial reporting of unfair treatment on the basis of religion’. The team is surveying religious organisations in England and Wales and has so far carried out interviews with individuals in Cardiff, Blackburn, Newham and Norwich. Recent legal cases will also be reviewed by the team. Preliminary findings are being presented at a series of 'knowledge exchange workshops' taking place in Derby, Oxford, Cardiff, Manchester and London between now and November. The University of Manchester, which is taking part in the research project, said in a press release that the project's initial findings had identified ‘substantial reporting of unfair treatment on the basis of religion or belief continuing across key areas of people’s lives’. New examples of unfair treatment are being reported by Christians, it said, with evidence pointing to an increase in issues relating to Sunday working.
Pray: that the results of this survey and others showing that Christians are being sidelined will lead to an acceptance of the truth. (2Co.12:10)
The number of religious hate crimes in Scotland has risen by nearly 10% in a year, according to new figures. The Crown Office report came as First Minister Alex Salmond warned the ‘parasite of sectarianism’ would not be tolerated in Scotland. Last year's figure is the highest since 2006-7. Meanwhile, the number of charges of race crime fell by almost 4% to 4,165 in 2010/2011. More than nine out of 10 of the cases in 2010-11 led to court proceedings. Speaking at Holyrood following his re-election as first minister, Mr Salmond said modern Scotland was ‘built on equality’. Solicitor General Frank Mulholland QC said there was no place in modern Scotland for crimes motivated by race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity. He said: ‘The high prosecution rate demonstrates that offending motivated by prejudice will not be tolerated, and that perpetrators will be dealt with robustly by Scotland's prosecutors'. Pray: for a growing tolerance and neighbourliness to allow people of different creeds, denominations and beliefs to live harmoniously together. (Lev.19:18)