The BBC employs more atheists and non-believers than Christians, an internal ‘diversity’ survey has found. The new research has been seized on by critics who accuse the Corporation of bias against Christianity and marginalising the faith in its output. The survey found that just 22.5 per cent of all staff professed to be Christians. BBC veteran Roger Bolton, who until recently presented BBC Radio 4’s religious current affairs programme, Sunday, said: ‘There is an inbuilt but unconscious bias against religion, fuelled by the fact staff are not representative of the public. It is not a conspiracy but it needs a correction.’ Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said the statistics confirmed the belief that the BBC is ‘institutionally incapable of reflecting the society it serves since BBC staff are not representative of the audience they broadcast to’.

Pray: for the BBC and their work, that it may present a better-balanced view of our society including the Christian community. (Ps.11:7)

More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2069649/Christians-minority-biased-BBC.html

The Charity Commission, Britain’s charity watchdog has put the charitable status of the nation’s churches in question after it ruled that a congregation in Devon did not exist for public benefit. Under charity law, churches and other organisations must show that their existence has some form of ‘public benefit.’ But in a letter to the Plymouth Brethren, the Charity Commission explained its refusal to grant charitable status to one of the denomination’s churches in Devon. Head of legal services for the Commission, Kenneth Dibble, stated: ‘This decision makes it clear that there was no presumption that religion generally, or at any more specific level, is for the public benefit, even in the case of Christianity or the Church of England.’ A committee of MPs is currently investigating the Charity Commission. Some of these MPs have expressed concern that the Charity Commission is engaged in a ‘politically correct’ campaign aimed at suppressing Christianity.

Pray: that the investigation into the Charity Commission will over-ruleand the understanding that the role of churches is not of public benefit should be reversed. (Heb.8:3)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/religious-freedom/christianity-not-necessarily-for-public-good-says-charity-commission

Christianity meets high street consumerism in Christmas ad which ChurchAds.net is planning to display in shopping centres. A trendy nativity scene will be used in a poster aimed at reminding Brits that Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas. Christian charity Church-Ads.net launched the poster for its Christmas advertising campaign last week. It shows the nativity scene with ‘trendy twenty-somethings, designer fashion and luxury gifts’, as part of its ‘Christmas starts with Christ’ promotion, which is now in its third year. In the poster, the shepherds are represented by a cycle courier and plasterer. The wise men are shown as three successful entrepreneurs and their gifts are iconic ‘treasures’ of modern culture: a Swarovski crystal perfume bottle, a Fabergé egg and a replica Damien Hirst skull. All are ‘sharply dressed’.

Pray: that this initiative will raise awareness that Christmas is about Christ. (Rom.16:6)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christianity.meets.high.street.consumerism.in.christmas.ad/28607.htm

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has spoken of the ‘enormous contribution Christianity has made’ to Britain. In an Easter message, he said that the season ‘reminds us all to follow our conscience and ask not what we are entitled to, but what we can do for others. It teaches us about charity, compassion, responsibility, and forgiveness. No matter what faiths we follow, these are values which speak to us all,’ Mr Cameron added. His words came ahead of a meeting on Wednesday with senior Christian leaders in Downing Street for an Easter celebration. Wednesday's No 10 meeting included representatives from various denominations and is being touted as an endorsement of Britain's Christian heritage and identity. It is the most explicit outreach to Christian groups by the British Government in recent times. Prior state-led engagement with religion has focused almost exclusively on Muslims and the Islamic faith.

Pray: that those in the public eye would continue to acknowledge our Christian heritage. (Mt.10:32)

More: http://www.ionainstitute.ie/index.php?id=1427

Celestina Mba, 58, from south London was forced to leave her job after refusing to work Sundays. She told Merton Council she was unable to work Sundays before accepting a job but she was later told she would have to work full weekend shifts, so she resigned. Merton Council said it required carers who were ‘available to provide round the clock care over the weekend’. Ms Mba hopes to overturn an employment tribunal ruling which said she was not constructively dismissed. Ahead of the hearing she said, ‘I gave my life to Jesus when I was 19 and that was my commitment and I've lived it. To start changing my faith to line up with what the employer wants is not possible because my faith is who I am and I'm not prepared to compromise on that.’ She told the tribunal she was prepared to work night and Saturday shifts, or to have accepted less pay, to be able to observe Sunday as a day of rest.

Pray: that Ms Mba would be able to explain clearly to the Court of Appeal that an employer has a duty to ‘reasonably accommodate’ the beliefs of a Christian employee. (Gen.2.2)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24609584

Local Christian Danny Stupple announced this week that he is standing in the Eastleigh by-election. He has launched a campaign with a strong emphasis on authentic marriage. In a press release he said: ‘I think a lot of people feel let down, not only by our former local MP but by the whole political system. The complete disregard for proper process in the redefinition of marriage vote is indicative of the contempt for ordinary voters. Something as profound as marriage requires far more care than Mr Cameron or his Government have shown it. Real democracy is about representing the people who vote for you, not toeing the party line and certainly not forcing through legislation without any mandate’. Listen to a BBC local radio interview with Danny http://www.christianconcern.com/media/bbc-radio-solent-interview-with-independent-eastleigh-candidate-dannystupple The Conservative candidate Maria Hutchings is also a strong marriage supporter and strongly pro-life. The people of Eastleigh will go to the ballot box on 28th February.

Pray: for the election result - that it will send a message to the Prime Minister that people care about marriage and are disappointed by the way in which he is attempting to redefine it without any mandate. (Heb.13:4)

More: www.christianconcern.com

A Christian street preacher was arrested in Perth on Wednesday for ‘breach of the peace’. The Reverend Josh Williamson, pastor of Craigie Reformed Baptist Church, is the third Christian street preacher to be arrested in the UK since July. The Christian Legal Centre, which reported his arrest, said the trend pointed to ‘an increasing hostility towards Christianity’. Mr Williamson, who regularly takes to the streets to hand out Christian flyers and engage in open air preaching, was arrested whilst addressing a crowd on one of the main streets in Perth. The arresting police officer told him he was breaking the law by being in ‘breach of the peace’. When asked to explain further, the officer contended that the MP3 recorder Mr Williamson was using was too loud. A second man, who spoke up in defence of Mr Williamson's right to preach was also arrested at the scene. (See Prayer Alert 28-2013, 31-2013, 37-2023)

Pray: that the authorities will issue clear guidance over freedom of speech. (Ps.58:1)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.street.preacher.arrested.in.scotland/34071.htm

A church minister in Scotland has been arrested for the second time in a week while street preaching. The Rev Josh Williamson was arrested last week for ‘breach of the peace’ and again on Saturday in relation to the same charge. Both arrests occurred while he was preaching on Perth High Street. After his arrest on Saturday, he was to be held in custody until Monday but was instead released at 9.30pm on Saturday evening after being held for over five hours in the cells. Mr Williamson said that although he had been released, he was unsure as to whether this was the end of police action against him. ‘It is hard to tell you what is going to happen as we don't know,’ he told ChristianToday.com. ‘At this stage I have been released while the police assess if they will charge me. I just have to wait to see what happens.’ (See also Prayer Alert 39; 37; 31 & 28-2013)

Pray:    for Mr Williamson and other street preachers that they will continue to stand up against pressure from the authorities. (1Cor.9:18)

More:    http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.street.preacher.arrested.again.in.scotland/34157.htm