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Sometimes we wait the best part of a lifetime for God to lead us into a particular calling and sometimes He grabs the reins and puts everything into top gear. Justine Welby (soon to be Archbishop of Canterbury) began studying theology in 1989 after working 11 years for a French oil company. He has been a bishop for less than a year. His rise has been rapid and remarkable. He has the benefit of understanding commerce, and Mammon. He oversaw the parliamentary inquiry into banking standards and the Libor fixing scandal – earning respect from political circles. Things will change rapidly for him in his next position, no longer focusing his energies on a diocese and parliamentary enquiries. His future has become much more diverse and challenging.
Pray: for God to inspire and use Justin Welby's background to unite the Church of England on women bishops, gay marriage and the international Anglican communion. (Is.41:13,14)
More: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10033178.Justin_Welby__The_oil_man_called_by_God/
Ofcom has clamped down on scantily clad singers and dancers appearing on TV before the 9pm watershed, in its new guidance for broadcasters. It comes amid much concern about the sexualisation of children, and follows a furore over sexually provocative dances on last year’s X Factor final. The move also comes as the BBC has reportedly cut some overtly sexualised dance moves from its Strictly Come Dancing show. In relation to music videos broadcast before the watershed, Ofcom gives guidance on issues including sexual images, clothing and dancing. The group, which has a statutory duty to protect young people, also cautioned broadcasters to take ‘particular care’ with ‘family shows’ – programmes that attract a significant child audience despite not being made for children. An editorial in The Observer backed the new guidance, saying it ‘is not prudery to believe that there is an adult duty to try to manage information on behalf of the children in one’s care’.
Pray: for all media leaders to recognise their responsibility and duty to protect children and young people from such sexualisation. (Pr.4:5)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/ofcom-issues-warning-over-risque-pre-watershed-tv/
An international report exposes Britain’s moral failure on family values. The study found we have the worst record on teenage pregnancy in Europe with more children living in one-parent families than any other European country. More of our single mothers are unemployed and on benefit than anywhere else on the continent, largely because we hand out so much in benefits. Britain’s rates for divorce and out-of-wedlock births are among the highest in the Western world, and our mothers are among the oldest, putting their health and that of their baby at risk. Critics said the UK is paying the price for its promotion of sex education to ever younger children and that, since the permissive society of the 1960s, so few value the institution of marriage. The OECD’s gloomy report is the first to highlight Britain’s poor record. Pray: that your church’s voice is strong in persuading the nation that the family unit is the cornerstone of society. (Ps.119:130) More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1297268/Britain-European-capital-broken-homes.html?ITO=1490
The number of 18 to 35-year-olds contacting the UK's leading gambling advice service has risen for a third consecutive year. GamCare's figures show more than 60% of their calls in the past 12 months were from that age group. It says smartphone and online betting are playing a big part in the rise of young people developing gambling problems. In total, 8,813 people contacted GamCare for help over the last year. That's a rise of 8.1% compared to the overall number getting in touch in 2011. Although the total number of callers stayed the same for 2012, there has been a rise each year in the 18 to 35-year-old category. Adam Brown, 24, from Long Eaton in Derbyshire, says he first gambled when he was 19 starting with occasional visits to a betting shop. Adam says using his smartphone to gamble was ‘disastrous’ and it became an addiction.
Pray: against the spread of gambling amongst the young and that the use of smartphones may be controlled. (Tit.2:12)
The number of lone parents is rising by a rate of more than 20,000 a year with ‘devastating’ consequences for children and adults alike, warns the Centre for Social Justice. In a report, the CSJ says the number of lone parents will pass two million by the time of the next election. The increase is not being fuelled by divorce but by the surge in cohabitation. Since 1996, the number of people cohabiting has doubled to nearly six million but cohabiting parents are three times more likely than married couples to separate by the time a child is five. The number of lone parents increased by almost a quarter between 1996 and 2012. Britain has one of the highest rates of family breakdown in the developed world, with a quarter of families with dependent children being headed by a lone parent. Around a million children are growing up without any contact with their father.
Pray: or less family breakdowns. And for lone parents and their children to establish sound relationships compensating for any loss of stability and family breakdown. (Ps.79:6)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/number.of.lone.parents.rising.by.20000.a.year/32814.htm
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the number of civil ceremonies dropped by almost a fifth to just 7,169 in the UK in 2008, compared with 8,728 in 2007. The latest figure is a drop of more than a half since 16,106 ceremonies in 2006, the first full year after the law was changed. The number of true wedding ceremonies is at a record low as more and more couples cohabit and it seems the civil ceremonies are proving less popular than their supporters had hoped. When Government officials drew up the new laws for civil partnership they estimated that five per cent of the population was gay or lesbian and predicted that 62,000 gay couples would register in the first five years of ceremonies. The ONS published the number of ‘divorces’ for the first time. There were 180 dissolutions last year. Pray: for the church’s sacrament of marriage to remain as the bedrock of true committed relationships. (Ac.14:22) More: http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/relationships/article6738671.ece
A new publicity campaign by the NSPCC aims to help prevent sexual abuse of children by encouraging people to report their concerns. The recent allegations against Jimmy Savile and others have exposed many tragic cases of sexual abuse against the young, says Peter Watt, director of the NSPCC. 'We are concerned that, as many of his victims were abused in the 1970s and 80s, child sex abuse could be seen as more a problem of the past. Furthermore, we are worried from the findings of the case that people don't know where to turn to for help in reporting child abuse, or hesitate to report abuse until they feel 100 per cent certain it has taken place. That's why we're launching a new ad campaign encouraging people to contact the NSPCC if they are concerned about a child. Our advert aims to remind people that child abuse remains a widespread problem and children are still abused today.
Pray: for all measures that will help to make child abuse a thing of the past. (Mk.9:42)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17615
Christian Concern says thank you for your continuing support of ‘Not Ashamed’ (See Prayer Alert 3910). With just a few days to go until the 1st December launch, momentum is growing. Signatures on the declaration continue to grow – please continue to spread the word at church and elsewhere. Why not send a quick email to all the Christians in your address book? We’re keen to hear of how you are planning to mark ‘Not Ashamed’ day in your local area. Some churches are thinking of placing an advert in the local paper, others of writing a letter to the editor highlighting the reason for Not Ashamed; others are intending to deliver a copy of the declaration to their local MP or mayor. Please send us your ideas so that we can share them to http://www.notashamed.org.uk/. Pray: that this initiative will grow and develop national prominence. (Ps.25:20) More: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2010/11/21/not-ashamed-3/#more-38779
A Norwich pastor is under investigation for using "homophobic" language after sending an email expressing his disapproval of the city's gay pride event, held in June this year. Dr Alan Clifford sent the message to the organisers of Norwich Pride, which subsequently reported his comments to the police as a "hate incident". The police has now referred his case to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether or not to act on the complaints made against him. Writing in the Spectator, academic and theologian Adrian Hilton said: "Dr Clifford may exercise his freedom of speech – especially in regard to religious liberty and preaching the Word of God – even if this might cause offence. I find myself now feeling not much less than contempt for those gays who persecute and prosecute elderly hotel owners and B&B proprietors, or call in the police when they receive ‘Good News for Gays’ in their inbox. It is deeply and profoundly intolerant."
Pray: for Dr Clifford and that the CPS will recognise his freedom of speech. (2Ti.2:24-26)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/religious-freedom/norwich-pastor-under-investigation-for-homophobic-language
Around 1,500 protesters held a peace rally at Belfast City Hall on Sunday in reaction to Northern Ireland’s 40th night of violence. The protest took place hours after 29 police officers were injured during the latest sectarian clashes in east Belfast. Loyalist anger has built over several weeks following restrictions on the use of the union (or British) flags at official buildings. Police say paramilitary groups are behind some of the violence. The organisers of Sunday’s peace rally said protesters were speaking for ‘the silent majority’.‘What you’ve seen on TV over the last weeks has nothing to do with what we want for this country or for our children,’ said one man. ‘We don’t want to go back in time and the peace march was a really positive atmosphere of everybody coming together just to make that statement,’ said another protester. (See also 02-2013)
Pray: that these protests will bring a breakthrough leading to a sensible resolution to this situation. (Ps.120:6)
More: http://www.euronews.com/2013/01/13/northern-ireland-peace-rally-against-latest-violence/