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The Archbishop of York is inviting 120 young adults from across the north of England to Cranmer Hall for a residential conference on the 19th-20th September. It is hoped that all present will be encouraged and equipped by worshipping and praying together, sharing vision, skills, imagination, and energy - and by having the opportunity to hear some key speakers and take part in relevant and engaging seminars. Archbishop Sentamu will speak at the event on the subject of: ‘Is the Church really up for this?' There will also be contributions from Gavin Calver (National Director YFC) and Bishop Justin Welby (Bishop of Durham). The organisers pray that the Holy Spirit will use the event to direct those attending and equip them to share Christ wherever they are across the north of England. Attendance, accommodation, and food at the conference is free to those invited. If you would like to be invited please email Malcolm Macnaughton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Pray: for a growing number of young people to take up the Gospel message and seek discipleship. (Php.2:3-4)
More: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/articles.php/2591/discipleship-in-the-north-of-england
An alliance of nine UK churches has expressed disappointment at the failure of nuclear weapons states to agree deadlines for actions on nuclear disarmament. While the churches welcomed progress made on discussions on the Middle East and a declaration by the UK on number of warheads, they were highly critical of the refusal of the nuclear powers to agree timeframes for future discussions at the end-May conference in New York. Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading, said, ‘Nuclear weapons are a legacy of the cold war era and have little relevance to the threats that we face today’. There is a growing recognition that having one set of rules for some nations, and a different set of rules for others is unsustainable. The nine churches' campaign, entitled Now is the Time, calls on the British Government to make a commitment to achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, creating a safer future for all. Pray: that world governments will work positively to remove all nuclear weapons in the near future. (Mi.4:3) More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=443
Christian Aid has expressed its disappointment after the Queen’s Speech failed to make mention of legislation on aid spending. The Government has pledged to raise the aid budget to 0.7 per cent of gross national income from 2013, but Christian Aid’s chief political adviser, Sol Oyuela, is concerned by the delay to legislating on the commitment. ‘We welcome the Government’s commitment to raising the aid budget to 0.7 per cent from 2013, but we are very disappointed that it has yet to live up to its pledge to legislate on this,’ she said. All three parties promised to make the 0.7 per cent aid commitment a legal obligation in their manifestos at the last election. It was also mentioned in the Coalition Agreement between the Tories and the Lib Dems.
Pray: that our government would keep its pledges and remember those who are needy. (Pr.14:21)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/disappointment.after.queens.speech.neglects.aid/29844.htm
Disabled and sick people, including actor and comedian Francesca Martinez, have launched a petition calling for an end to what they call the 'War on Welfare' (WOW) being waged by their own Government. The campaigners want an independent, cumulative impact assessment of the Coalition's controversial Welfare Reform Act, which has attracted massive opposition from charities, experts, peers, community groups, disability organisations, churches and civic groups. The activists include people with learning and mental health difficulties, their families and carers. ‘The welfare budget, and particularly benefits going to sick and disabled people, has been heavily and unfairly targeted for cuts,’ says War on Welfare. Spearheaded by actress and comedian Francesca Martinez the WOW petition aims to get 100,000 signatures to end this War On Welfare by the Government. A remarkable 2,000 people had signed the petition on the Government's own e-democracy website within a little over four hours of its launch.
Pray: that this initiative will result in an end to this war on welfare for the needy. (Ps.9:18)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17654
Shadow health minister Dianne Abbott has called for a purge of sexualised imagery from public spaces in the UK. "I think it has reached a point where we need to detox our High Streets, and make Britain a family-friendly country again," she told the Mumsnet website. She also blamed a "disturbing" trend for online bullying of young women on a "crisis in masculinity". Ms Abbott plans to make a speech on the issue. "I think we need to clear our public spaces of worst elements of unrestrained markets - including addressing music videos that blare out at us, and our children. The online bullying including problems around 'sexting' and 'slut-shaming'; the huge billboards that have very sexualised images of women that loom over our public spaces, and the sexualised figures of women in films that are now commonplace. For me the key, is putting parents back in control, and also putting open-minded family values back in our public spaces."
Pray: for significant progress to be made on this issue with a cross-party response in Parliament. (Gal.5:19)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21878027
Shadow Health Minister Diane Abbott has called for a purge of sexualised imagery from public spaces in the UK. ‘I think it has reached a point where we need to detox our High Streets, and make Britain a family friendly country again,’ she told the Mumsnet website. She also blamed a ‘disturbing’ trend for online bullying of young women on a ‘crisis in masculinity’. Ms Abbott plans to make a speech on the issue. ‘I think we need to clear our public spaces of the worst elements of unrestrained markets - including addressing music videos that blare out at us and our children. The online bullying including problems around 'sexting' and 'slut-shaming'; the huge billboards that have very sexualised images of women that loom over our public spaces and the sexualised figures of women in films that are now commonplace. For me the key is putting parents back in control and also putting open-minded family values back in our public spaces’ Ms Abbot says.
Pray: for significant progress to be made on this issue with a cross-party response in Parliament. (Gal.5:19)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21878027
The Department for International Development (DFID) yesterday announced a major new document setting out its relationship with faith groups. The 'Faith Partnership Principles' were launched by Secretary of State, Andrew Mitchell, at the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth Palace. The document has been produced by DFID to build greater common understanding, mutual respect and cooperation in overcoming poverty. Writing in the foreword, Mr Mitchell acknowledged that faith was making an important contribution to development. ‘Faith groups are doing excellent work in providing not only humanitarian relief, but delivering health, education and other services in some of the most troubled parts of the world,’ he said. ‘I look forward to the closer partnership with people of faith who play a unique role in fighting poverty.’
Pray: that there would be a growth in common understanding, respect and cooperation between faith groups in overcoming poverty. (3Jn.1:8)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/dfid.launches.faith.collaboration.document/30152.htm
The Archbishop of Canterbury admitted today that it will be ‘desperately difficult’ to keep the Church of England unified in light of its schismatic vote on women bishops. In a heartfelt appeal for unity after a particularly fraught week Dr Rowan Williams called on Anglicans to push ahead with the consecration of women bishops despite the fact that a minority of traditionalists, conservative evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics have threatened to leave the church over the issue. The beleaguered church leader suffered an ignominious defeat on Saturday evening when the General Synod rejected his personal appeal for a series of safeguards that would have provided a separate class of male-only bishops to administer to those who remain vehemently opposed to female leadership in the Church. Father David Houlding summed up the feeling of many conservative clergy members who will feel compelled to leave the Church if the ordination of women bishops goes ahead. 'There are just scraps left of the table and we are beginning to starve,' he said, his voice cracking. 'The door is being slammed in my face.' Pray: for unity in the Anglican Church as it seeks to resolve this key issue. (Jn.17:23)
On Sunday Fr Dermott Harkin of at St Brigid's Church, Londonderry used Mass to attack republican gunmen believed to be responsible for shooting one of his parishioners. The victim, a convicted sex offender, was beaten and then shot in the legs. Fr Harkin said the attack was ‘not to be tolerated, and doesn't reflect the feelings of the vast majority of people in this area. He said that no-one has the right to take the law into their own hands, that all violence is wrong that all forms of abuse and cruelty meted out to any human being is against God's law and an insult to a good and decent community of people. The priest said he got a very positive reaction from his parishioners. Pray: that people would continue to move away from vigilante type activity and for peace to reign in North and South Ireland. (Ps.133:1) More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11755636
A public sector employee in Manchester has been demoted after he posted comments on his private facebook page questioning the idea of homosexual ‘marriages’ taking place on religious premises. Adrian Smith, an employee of tax-payer
funded Trafford Housing Trust, posted a comment in response to a BBC news headline about civil partnerships taking place on religious premises, saying that this was an ‘equality too far.' The comment, written outside of working hours, appeared on his private page and could only be seen by Mr Smith’s friends. A work colleague posted a comment in reply, asking if Mr Smith disagreed with the government’s proposal. He responded, saying: ‘No, not really. I don’t understand why people who have no faith and don’t believe in Christ would want to get hitched in church. The Bible is quite specific that marriage is for men and women.'
Pray: for Christians everywhere that they would continue to speak out boldly for our Christian beliefs. (Ac.4:29)