This will be followed up by an Ofcom investigation. (See Prayer Alert 41-2011) The site is being launched by David Cameron as part of his drive to end the sexualisation of children in Britain. It was one of several recommendations to come out of a government review led by Mothers’ Union chief executive, Reg Bailey, which concluded that today’s children are being surrounded by a ‘wallpaper’ of sexual imagery that is robbing them of their childhood. Other measures being introduced by Mr Cameron include a ban on sexually explicit advertising near schools and under-15s being ‘brand ambassadors’ for certain products.

Pray: that,as this new website is launched that it will lead to many successful challenges to media excesses. (Pro.4:5)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/new.website.for.parents.to.report.inappropriate.tv.programmes/28747.htm

A new website from the Methodist Church is offering resources for children, young people, parents and youth workers. www.childrenandyouth.org.uk has age-appropriate sections offering stories, ideas and advice for children and young people themselves as well as specialist sections for youth and children’s workers. ‘This isn’t just another website about working with young people,’ said Penny Fuller, Children and Youth Development Officer for the Methodist Church. ‘It’s a hub of resources for the whole Church as we join children and young people on their journey of faith. It’s a place where children and young people can find advice and support as they live out their discipleship in the classroom, on the playground and in the high street.’ The website also has a special section dedicated to parents, with guidance and information for parenting children of all ages on topics ranging from bereavement to relationships.

Pray: that this web site will be well used and will provide additional support to all its visitors. (Tit.2:7)

More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=498

The newly inaugurated Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, Dr Daleep Mukraji, called on the Methodist people to "speak out, take sides," and "stand up for justice" in his inaugural address to the Methodist Conference last Saturday. Urging Methodists to become "agents of change", Dr Mukarji said that the UK had not seen higher levels of poverty and inequality since World War Two. One out of five people in the UK live in relative poverty including around 3.5 million children who are more likely to live in a low income household than the population as a whole. "Working with others, people of faith or no faith, we need to work for justice, inclusion and development that benefits the poor and marginalised here in the UK and across the world," he said. "This requires that we be prepared for the education, organisation and equipping of our members so that we build the necessary energy and commitment to see changes in our society."

Pray: for us all to become agents for change and to work to overcome poverty. (1Jn.3:17)

More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/18618

Two Christian charities have launched a new service to help pastors and senior church leaders struggling with debt. While it is hard enough for the average Joe to ask for help in personal finance matters, Christians Against Poverty (CAP) and Stewardship said it could be near impossible for the leaders of churches who are expected to set an example to their flock. It said many church leaders ended up suffering in silence because of personal finance problems. Now CAP and Stewardship have joined forces to launch a specialised service aimed at church leaders. The service is free, non-judgemental and completely confidential telephone service for senior church leaders to find a way forward. CAP's Chief Executive Matt Barlow explained: ‘We know there is a problem, they are often paid very little or their pay can fluctuate. Often there are unfair expectations placed upon our church leaders and admitting any vulnerability can be so hard.

Pray: for this initiative and for better support for all church leaders. (Heb.13:16-17)

 More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/new.service.for.pastors.in.debt/29202.htm

Lord Falconer will have another go at legalising assisted suicide – despite being soundly defeated last time. He says he will introduce a Bill to the House of Lords in the summer, but peers rejected a similar effort in 2009. The Care Not Killing group, which opposes assisted suicide, believes the Lords will reject this latest attempt. Currently, assisted suicide is a crime in the UK but some terminally ill patients travel to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland and are helped to commit suicide. Under Lord Falconer’s new proposal, relatives of terminally ill people could legally help with travel to the clinic or with a drug overdose at home. Peter Saunders, campaign director of the Care Not Killing group, said a new bid to change the law had been expected. He said he believed the Lords would reject the attempt.

Pray: that this further attempt to legislate in favour of assisted suicide would not succeed. (Pr.14:27)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/peer-in-new-push-to-legalise-assisted-suicide/

David Cameron has announced new plans to automatically block access to online pornography after warning that explicit images available on internet websites are ‘corroding childhood.’ In a major speech Mr Cameron said that internet users who wish to access pornography will be required to ‘opt-in’ under the new regime, unless they choose to have the filters removed. Harmful online content will be blocked automatically for all new customers, whereas existing users will be contacted by their internet providers and presented ‘with an unavoidable decision about whether or not to install family friendly content filters’. The UK’s biggest internet service providers have all agreed to offer the filters, which would apply to both home and public Wi-Fi networks ‘wherever children are likely to be present,’ including railway stations and cafés.

Pray: for any measures put in place to protect our children to be robust and effective. (Col.3:23)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/social/new-plans-to-block-online-pornography-automatically

Christian Concern have launched a petition over last week’s judgment in the case of Owen and Eunice Johns which provoked huge national interest and wide scale media coverage. The Judgment highlighted once again the difficulties that Christians can encounter when attempting to participate in some parts of public life without compromising their beliefs. On Monday this week, the Johns, along with Christian Concern, have launched a major new petition, calling on the Prime Minister to respect Christian conscience and take urgent action to address the problems created by equalities legislation. You can read and sign the petition here. http://christianconcern.com/equalities-and-conscience

Pray: that this petition would receive wide support and lead to a change in the equality legislation. (2Th.2:13)

More: http://www.theway.co.uk/feature.php?id=8392&this=Christian_Concern_launch_new_petition_over_equalities_legislation

Christian prayers have been dropped from the beginning of council meetings by the new mayor of Bridport in Dorset. David Rickard has decided to replace the prayers at full meetings of Bridport Town Council with a ‘short time of quiet, private contemplation’. He announced the move at his mayor-making ceremony but the decision has proved highly controversial. Councillor Sandra Brown, a former mayor, warned that many members of the council were against the decision. She said: ‘I feel very strongly about it and there are several of us on the council who are quite dismayed by it. Sadly though I don’t think there are enough of us to make him change his mind’. David Tett, another former mayor and independent councillor, said: ‘I am a traditionalist. I am disappointed to see the prayers thrown out of the window like that. It is totally uncalled for.’

Pray: that those who support prayer would receive backing to see this ruling reversed. (Ps.20:2)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/new-mayor-bans-christian-prayers-at-council-meetings/

The Methodist Church has formally changed its learning structure to offer more training from locally placed staff across 11 regions. The Discipleship and Ministries Learning Network will work through two institutions, Cliff College and the Queen's Foundation in Birmingham, as well as from homes or regional offices. The changes will result in more staff being based regionally than before. Jude Levermore, head of Discipleship and Ministries, believes the changes hold enormous potential for the Church's growth. "This is a response to the challenge of being a 'Discipleship Movement shaped for Mission'. To be a vital, growing church, we need to be a learning church," said Levermore. "By having more Connexional Team members in the regions, we can combine the strengths of being a Connexional church with the strength of local mission. Being closer to where people are allows the Church to get the best out of what is already happening and what will be developed. The potential is huge."

Pray: for this 'new era' in the Methodist church and that it will bring the Gospel to even more people. (Eph.4:11-12)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/new.era.of.learning.for.methodist.church/33833.htm

HCJB Global and Feba UK have joined forces to equip Christians with new media skills and resources that will help them reach non-Christians more effectively. They hope other Christian organisations will join the OneSheep consortium and pool their know-how and experience towards researching and developing new ways of communicating the Gospel through social media. Part of the research will look at how young people are consuming and communicating via social media. Projects that impact un-reached and limited-access people groups will be prioritised, the organisations say. Social media content to emerge from the consortium will be published on a dedicated website, www.onesheep.org The organisations will also work together on providing mentoring and training on the use of new media and how it can be used to link online and offline ministry. ‘Working together is far more effective than working alone,’ said Wayne Pederson, president of HCJB Global.

Pray: that this new initiative will lead to a unity of like minded organisations. (Jn.17:22)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/new.consortium.to.equip.christians.in.social.media/28842.htm