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The Church of England has launched a fierce attack on the government, describing limited resources devoted to training religious education teachers as a scandal that is affecting "an essential part" of every child's studies. In an outburst that reflects the church's deepening unease at the government's perceived lack of support for the teaching of RE, it singled out the education secretary, Michael Gove, for implicit criticism, calling on him to work with religious leaders to improve the level of teaching in what is a core subject in the national curriculum. The criticism comes as a damning Ofsted report, published today, finds that more than half of all schools have been failing pupils in their religious education, a subject that the watchdog claims is increasingly important "in an ever more globalised and multicultural 21st century" because of the way it promotes respect and empathy.
Pray: for a positive response to the Ofsted report to make a significant improvement in Religious Education in schools and to recognise its importance in modern society. (Pr.4:13)
More: http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/oct/05/church-attacks-gove-religious-education-schools
The Bishop of Sheffield has told the Church of England the next five years must see a deeper and more sustained engagement with its current primary goals of contributing to the common good, growing the Church, and re-imagining ministry. The goals were the subject of a report, Challenges for the Quinquennium, considered by the Church of England General Synod meeting in York last Saturday. Bishop Steven Croft told Synod members the Church of England needed a "more outward focus" that implied action as well as reflection. He welcomed the rise in the number of younger vocations to ordained ministry. However, he said there needed to be more diverse vocations and more from different ethnic backgrounds. The bishop admitted the area of growing the Church and of making disciples was the "most challenging" out of the three goals. "We urgently need to deepen that conversation about the challenge of passing on the Christian faith in our own Church."
Pray: for the Church as it looks ahead that it will be inspired and led by God. (Ro.8:28)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.of.england.has.20.years.to.reassert.its.position.as.national.church/33103.htm
The Rev Ian Galloway, the Convenor of the Church of Scotland's Church and Society Council, said it was ‘repugnant’ that children were being used as sex slaves in Scotland. His comments follow the publication of a report from the Scottish Commissioner for Children and Young People. The report says that at least 80 children may have been trafficked into Scotland for sexual or other exploitation without anyone being convicted for the crimes. Some of the victims have come from thousands of miles away, trafficked from the likes of China, Vietnam or the Democratic Republic of Congo. Writing in his Blog, the Rev Ian Galloway said: ‘The fact that dozens of children are being used as sex slaves in our cities, towns and neighbourhoods is utterly repugnant. This should be a call to action for everyone in Scotland. How can we let this happen?’ Pray: that the report and Convenor’s comment will be noted by the authorities and lead to positive action. (Mk.7:21-22)
Over 200 church leaders from a range of Welsh churches met recently in Newtown to collaborate on evangelising the nation. The gathering was hosted by Waleswide, a network of evangelical churches which works with leaders to see churches established especially where there is no evangelical church presence, and where churches need to be strengthened in their effectiveness. David Ollerton, Chairman of Waleswide said: 'The people who gathered all had a common cause to see Jesus honoured in Wales and for churches to reflect Him. The greatest challenge facing church leaders in Wales is to develop intentional Gospel communities, new churches, or within alreadyexisting ones, that are more interested in reaching out to people with few or no Christian links instead of maintaining existing structures.’ A poll of over 260 Welsh church leaders found that during the first decade of this millennium 5,728 people became Christians in their churches.
Pray: for God to empower His church in Wales (and throughout the UK) so that more people will hear and receive the Gospel message. (Ac.16:5)
The pastor of one of the largest churches in Britain has challenged Ken Livingstone over his claim that he will make London a ‘beacon of Islam’. Colin Dye, the senior pastor of Kensington Temple church, has written a letter to London mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone following his controversial comments on Islam last month. In a speech at the North London Central Mosque, Mr Livingstone told the audience that he was determined to ‘educate the mass of Londoners’ about Islam. ‘I want to spend the next four years making sure that every non-muslim in London knows and understands its words and message. That will help to cement our city as a beacon that demonstrates the meaning of the words of the Prophet’, he said. Running for mayor for the fourth time, Mr Livingstone spoke to assembled Muslims at the controversial mosque and described Mohammed’s words in his last sermon as ‘an agenda for all humanity.’ (See Prayer Alert 12-2012)
Pray: that Colin Dye’s letter will challenge Mr Livingstone’s ideas and remind him of our Christian roots. Mt.15:13)
A church in Aberdeen was blocked from holding a Sunday service in a hotel function room because of the church’s beliefs about sex and marriage. The Gilcomston Church has recently broken away from the Church of Scotland in opposition to the ordination of gay clergy. They had booked a function room at the Copthorne Hotel in Aberdeen to hold their first Sunday service as an independent church on 10 March. Hotel management broke off the agreement after it received complaints because of the church’s beliefs. Rev Smart said: ‘So much for the tolerant society. We were just going to have a church service.’ The Gilcomston Church has now come to an amicableagreement to lease its old church building, until they can find a permanent venue so it no longer needs to hire a hotel function room.
Pray: that secular political correctness will not stop Christians from worshipping in differing ways. (Jn.17:23)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/church-hounded-from-hotel-over-its-traditional-beliefs/
Church and other faith leaders came together this week for a vigil to mark the close of '100 Days of Peace' in London.
The 12-hour vigil was held at St Martin in the Fields church and was attended by the Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, and the Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols. It also marked the start of the Olympic Truce 50 days before the start of the Games in London. The tradition of a truce before the Olympics goes back thousands of years to Ancient Greece when it guaranteed the safe passage of competitors and visitors to the competition. The vigil was organised by Westminster Justice and Peace, with St Martin in the Fields and the London Church Leaders' Group. Faith groups were invited to pray over 100 days for peace in the capital, and to build a peace legacy for London after the Olympic Truce ends on 28 October.
Pray: for the Olympic Truce to be respected by all and that it will have a lasting legacy beyond the 100 days. (Ecc.3:8)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/church.holds.vigil.for.olympic.truce/30076.htm
CSAN, the social action arm of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, has come out in opposition to the Prime Minister's plans to introduce more cuts to child and housing benefits. David Cameron announced on Monday that housing benefit would no longer be available for under-25s, while child benefit payments would be limited to families with no more than three children. CSAN said it was ‘extremely concerned’ by the proposals and their impact on families already affected by a cap on the size of their homes and an overall benefit cap. ‘Child benefit exists to provide for the basic needs of children; imposing limitations on the basis of family size will inevitably deprive children from larger families of essential support,’ it said. A spokesperson for Depaul UK, the largest national youth homelessness charity added: ‘80,000 young people become homeless every year. The majority of these become homeless because of family breakdown.’
Pray: that the authorities would consider the needs of all children and families and not cap benefits just to save money. (1Pet.5:2)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.hits.out.at.proposed.welfare.cuts/30146.htm
The Church of Scotland has launched a radical new regeneration programme to boost some of the poorest parts of the country. The Chance to Thrive project will work with eight communities on development initiatives over the next five years. The Church says the onus of the project will be on the hopes of the people, rather than buildings. It wants to support local people in bringing about long-term change through their own ideas rather than ‘having ideas imposed from outside’. Communities will be supported by a panel of volunteers with relevant experience as entrepreneurs, community workers, business planners, artists and architects. It is hoped that the projects will lead to the development of major new and sustainable church-based community facilities. ‘Over the last decade the Church of Scotland has doubled its commitment to Scotland’s poorest neighbourhoods.’
Pray: that this move by the Church of Scotland would lead to long-term change to some of the neediest people. (Dt.15:11)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.helping.scotlands.poorest.communities.thrive/28806.htm
Sentamu may not be welcomed or applauded for it, but the Archbishop of York said on Tuesday that the Church of England must continue to shape the debate on Britain’s moral order and proclaim the good news to the nation. In his presidential address to the General Synod in London, Dr Sentamu said the ‘urgent conviction’ of the Church’s calling to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God must underpin its work. He admitted that there was a ‘pressing need’ to equip the Church ‘confidently to discharge that calling’ in the face of the economic uncertainty, high levels of unemployment, the widening gap between rich and poor. The Archbishop spoke of the need to ‘assert the value and importance of the contribution of trust in God to our national life. We must actively continue to seek to influence the terms of the national debate on key issues affecting our society,’ he said. Pray: that the Church would claim the moral ground and proclaim the good news. (Pr.2)