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Former Met chief Lord Ian Blair speaking at the annual lecture of theology think tank Theos warned that violence, infighting and abuse are obscuring much of the good that people of faith are doing today. The former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police warned that people were not always aware of the achievements brought about by religion because of some of the crimes committed by people of faith as well as internal conflicts, for example within his own Anglican Church. Lord Blair, a practising Anglican, went on to say that Islam had been ‘demonised’ by the acts committed by extremists and that to most people, faith appeared ‘irrelevant, clannish, prejudiced, old-fashioned and violent’. He believed religion was still principally a force for good and the acts of charity and love by people of faith should be and remain the glue that permits modern society to exist. Pray: for Lord Blair and other ‘high profile’ Christians to continue to speak out for truth humility and justice in our society. (Ps.45:4) More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/religion.needs.a.new.image.says.former.met.chief/27093.htm
Surveys conducted by Gallup in 2009 revealed that religion plays a greater role in the daily lives of people in poor countries than those in wealthy countries. The number of adults worldwide who say religion is an important part of their day remains high, at 84 per cent. The surveys, which looked at 114 countries, found a strong link between religiosity and a country’s socioeconomic status, with each of the most religious countries having a per-capita GDP of less than $5,000. In the UK, just 27% agreed that religion was important to their daily life, placing it in the bottom 10 alongside Russia (34%), France (30%), Hong Kong and Japan at 24%, Denmark (19%) and Sweden at (17%). There were 10 countries and regions where at least 98% of people said religion was important to their daily life, including Bangladesh, Niger, Yemen, Indonesia, Malawi and Sri Lanka where the figure was 99%. Pray: for the richer nations - that their peoples’ poverty of spirit may be filled with your presence. (Job 3:20)
A Church of England study found church attendance in the UK has fallen by 50% over the past 40 years, and Reverend Canon Dr Jeni Parsons, from Gloucester thought congregations were falling because of huge pressure, ‘Pressure to get money to pay the mortgage or rent, pressure to get their children to football, or simply to work on Sundays.' she said, ‘People's lives are so different that we have to make our church available when they're ready, not when we're ready.’ She added Sunday morning service attendance is low, but ‘very big’ for baptisms, weddings and funerals.
Pray: for God to equip and enable His church to relevantly meet the spiritual and emotional needs of 2011 in the British Isles. (Mt.5:16)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-14395228
A traditionalist Anglican group has voiced regret after an Anglo-Catholic bishop said he would convert to Rome. The Bishop of Fulham, John Broadhurst, has become the fourth Anglican bishop to make the announcement. He intends joining the Roman Catholic Church because of his opposition to the way the Church of England plans to introduce women bishops. Meanwhile, a Kent Anglican congregation has become the first to take up the Pope's offer to convert to Catholicism. The Catholic Group on the CofE's General Synod said it deeply regretted the decision by Bishop Broadhurst. The Catholic Group said it was determined to stay in the Church of England and fight for a better deal for Anglicans who did not want to serve under women bishops. In a surprise announcement yesterday, Dr Rowan Williams said he wanted to establish a new joint group to oversee the conversion process. See: Pray: for unity led by the Holy Spirit so that we can focus on spreading the Gospel message. (Phl.1:27)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11559782
Jubilee Debt Campaign, which works for the cancellation of unpayable and unjust poor country debts, says it wants the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) reformed not abolished. Responding to press reports that the ECGD is ‘under review’ as part of the Government’s ‘bonfire of quangos’, Nick Dearden, director of the UK coalition, commented: ‘We welcome the news that the ECGD is being considered for serious reform. For too long it has underwritten dodgy deals which have harmed human rights and the environment, and created toxic debts in the developing world. But scrapping or privatising the ECGD would leave unanswered questions about whether the state would continue as an underwriter of last resort for UK exports, and how the Government plans to fulfil its manifesto pledge to champion green exports. Privatisation could make the situation even worse if it means public money being spent with no public oversight’. Pray: that the Government will seriously consider reforming the ECGD. (Job.35:2-3)
‘The WPA is a once in a generation moment for the parts of the body of Christ to come together from around the world, to stand together in humility, to worship Him, to seek His face, to hear His voice and to receive the grain, the wine and the oil to take to the ends of the earth. The more I pray and ponder regarding the assembly, the more I see this as a unique
moment in church history. This is not about promotion of ministries. It is not about well known speakers. It is not about networking. There are many other events at which these things can rightly take place. This is a moment in history when representatives of the Body of Christ from around the world to stand in unity, listening, ready to hear the word of the Lord.’ - Ian Cole, Director of the World Prayer Centre, Birmingham.
Pray: for all those gathering in Jakarta, Indonesia on the 14 May to hear from the Lord and be blessed so as to be a blessing. (Ps.86:5)
Redefining marriage so that couples of the same sex can get married could have a ‘massive impact’ on society, the Scottish Government has been warned. The Government, led by the Scottish National Party (SNP), is currently holding a consultation on whether to rewrite the definition of marriage. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Paisley met the SNP’s deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon to discuss the controversial plans last week. John Deighan, the Roman Catholic bishop’s parliamentary officer, described the meeting, saying: ‘The bishop said the Church is against this because it will be fundamentally damaging to society and the government. ‘If you look at the number of civil partnerships taking place it’s tiny, yet this change could have massive impact on the society far beyond those numbers. ‘Marriage is a fundamental human institution based on the socialising of children and that needs to be respected.’
Pray: for governments to listen to the advice about the vital role of marriage in society. (Pr.19:20)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/redefining-marriage-could-have-massive-impact/
The Government is sending mixed messages about whether it will press ahead with plans to redefine marriage. One thing is for sure - they have been rocked by the level of public opposition. Many backbench MPs and one Government minister said redefining marriage was a factor in the parties' poor showing in the local elections. The plans for redefining marriage were not included in the Queen's Speech yesterday. Media reports suggested the Government was putting its plans to redefine marriage on the back burner. Senior politicians made it known privately, and the Chancellor George Osborne strongly hinted to the BBC, that the plans would be put on hold.
Pray: for the voice of reason to be heard as a national campaign against re-defining marriage continues to gain momentum. (Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16668
Churches in north-west London say their plans for a Good Friday procession are being scuppered by the local council’s refusal to grant them permission to march on the roads. The New Testament Church of God, St Andrew’s Church of England, St Mary Magdalen and Willesden Green Baptist Church were granted permission to hold a procession but were told by Brent Council that they would only be allowed to march on the pavements. With hundreds of people from their congregations expected to participate, the churches say that keeping to the pavements is ‘unrealistic’ and likely to disrupt pedestrians. They fear that unless the local council grants permission for the procession to take place on the roads they may be forced to call off the annual celebration out of concern for the health and safety of marchers and pedestrians. In previous years, the churches have held the procession on the roads using their own officers to control the traffic. Pray: for Brent Council to reconsider and to give permission for this event to use the roads. (Job.6:29) More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/red.tape.casting.doubts.over.london.churches.good.friday.procession/27803.htm
Our culture has its foundations in historic Christian values. We must respect them as we negotiate our future, says the Rt Rev James Jones. Rebuilding Britain rests on the six pillars of family, freedom, friendship, faith, fairness and the future of the earth. These are the columns that need strengthening if the edifice of our society is to withstand the winds of change. They have their foundations in the historic Christian values of our society. We are in danger of cutting ourselves adrift. And, as Lord Hailsham once warned, ‘cut flowers never produce seed or fruit’. The Rt Rev Jones, writing in the Telegraph says ‘The failure of public policy on the family is that it has focused mainly on child poverty, when the biggest problem facing children is not economic hardship but emotional deprivation.’ He goes on to outline his ‘Six Pillars’ based on Christian values. Pray: for our nation and its new government that we will, by God’s Grace, seek a future taking heed of Rt Rev Jones suggestions. (Ps.37:37) More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7744426/Rebuilding-Britain-six-pillars-to-strengthen-our-society.html