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Marriage is an honourable institution and Church of England clergy should do all they can to protect it from redefinition, the chairman of Reform has warned. The Westminster Government is planning to launch a consultation in March on how, not if, to redefine marriage. But Revd Rod Thomas has urged clergy to do all they can ‘in the coming months to prepare our people well to respond to this consultation and make our voices heard.’ He warned that redefining marriage to allow same-sex marriage would fundamentally undermine the institution. Writing in the Church of England newspaper he said: ‘Iit would undermine the stability of society. If marriage is no longer one of the ‘givens’, then it simply becomes a matter of prevailing opinion. ‘If the present Government can alter its definition, then how do we know it might not change again in the future? It becomes something that is malleable rather than being rock solid.’
Pray: for the clergy as they prepare to lead the Church in its response to this challenge. (Pr.2:8)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/c-of-e-clergy-must-do-all-they-can-to-protect-marriage/
The British Humanist Association is gearing up for a major advertising campaign calling upon cultural Christians to tick ‘no religion’ in the forthcoming census. BHA will be running posters on buses and trains telling the non-religious: ‘If you’re not religious then for God’s sake say so.’ The 2001 census was the first to ask British people ‘What is your religion?’, although answering was voluntary. Seventy-two per cent of the population in England answered the question by identifying themselves as Christians. This year, the census in England and Wales will ask: ‘What is your religion?’, while in Scotland it will say: ‘What religion, religious denomination or body do you belong to?’ In a bid to address concerns over accuracy, the Office for National Statistics has introduced a small change to the tick options, replacing ‘none’ with ‘no religion’. The census takes place this year on March 27. Pray: for the Government as these statistics are likely to change the way the Government thinks and pray that it makes wise decisions. (Jas.1:26-27) census/27569.htm
Church Action on Poverty has voiced concern over the impact of George Osborne’s Budget one day after a respected think tank warned that financial cutbacks were hitting the poor hardest. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the Budget had been ‘clearly regressive’ and was hitting low earners more than those in the upper income brackets. Niall Cooper, CAP’s Coordinator, said ‘the IFS’s report had confirmed the group’s worst fears that the Budget was hitting those already struggling to get by and least in the position to cope with cuts to income, welfare and services. They are people who are already just keeping their heads above water and struggling to keep up with their debt repayments and living costs. Even a five per cent loss of income may not sound like very much but it is enough to tip some people over the edge. The cuts are creating huge hardship.’ he said. Pray: that the government will seriously consider the needs of the most vulnerable in our society. More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/budget.creating.huge.hardship.church.group.warns/26584.htm
Buckingham Palace is being consulted over proposals to change a historic Parliamentary chapel into a multi-denominational room so that it can be used to conduct same sex marriages. MP Chris Bryant proposed that St Mary Undercroft in Westminster be turned into a ‘multi-faith’ space to allow some minority groups to perform same sex weddings in Parliament. The move would require the Church of England to break its ties with the Anglican chapel through legislation brought forward by Parliament or the Church’s General Synod. The demand has the support of John Bercow, the Speaker, putting him in opposition to the Archbishop of Canterbury who is being kept informed of the row by parliamentary officials. The Queen’s private secretary Sir Christopher Geidt is being consulted over the plans which are strongly backed by Equalities Minister. Permission from the Queen will be needed for the plans to go ahead due to her role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
Pray: the Queen will not be asked to take any action that would go against her coronation oath to maintain in the Church of England, the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government by law established in England. (ITim.2:1-4)
The Church of England is advertising Back to Church Sunday 2010, September 26, on the radio stations Classic FM and Heart FM, to deliver a message of welcome into the homes of 1.3 million people. The adverts will support 400,000 personal invitations that members of over 4,000 churches will send to their friends, when the friend-inviting-a-friend initiative enters its seventh successive year of allowing people to rediscover and explore churchgoing with a very warm welcome. The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr John Inge, whose diocese is one of those investing in the advertising, said: ‘We’ve chosen these two stations as they get to places we can’t and talk to some of those we’ve lost touch with via the unique relationship people have with radio. Some three million people said they would go back to church if invited - and the adverts are helping us give the people we’re missing that warm invitation.’ Pray: for those who receive or hear this invitation that they will be greatly encouraged to return to church. (Isa.44:22)
Many people are unaware that a number of everyday phrases come from the King James Version of the Bible, instead attributing them to pop stars, politicians or Shakespeare. In a poll for the Bible Society less than a fifth of people correctly said the phrase ‘The writing on the wall’ comes from the KJV. Over 10 per cent thought ‘a drop in the bucket’ came from Tony Blair, and 14 per cent attributed it to Shakespeare. In fact Isaiah 40:15 is where it originates. Luke Walton, from the Bible Society, said: ‘It’s clear that people’s knowledge of the Bible is limited and they just don’t realise how significant and wide-ranging its influence has been.’ He added: ‘Making a connection with the text helps us both to appreciate its role in our own culture, history and politics, and that it can enrich our lives personally. The Bible remains the world’s best seller and we can’t afford to exclude it from public life.’
Pray: for a wider recognition of the importance of the Bible in the life of our nation. (Mk.12:24)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/brits-clueless-that-common-phrases-come-from-the-bible
The commercialization of wombs is increasing day by day in our society. Commercial surrogacy is illegal in Britain but many Britons are paying Indians to become surrogate mothers for them. This growing trend in India not only disregards the social systems in the country but also raises many ethical questions. The birth to surrogate mothers in India last year is likely to be 2,000. Experts agree that the prime single source of the majority of these births is from Britons. There are almost 1,000 unregulated clinics in India, most of them specializing in helping Britons to become parents. Indian surrogate industry has been utilized widely by Britons who don’t wish to bear and deliver children. Only around 100 births are recorded in Britain while almost 1,000 births are recorded through surrogate mothers in India for British couples. Surrogacy Centre India reported, ‘Gay people are desperate to have a family.’ The investigation conducted by last week’s Sunday Telegraph highlights a rapidly growing business.
Pray: that the ‘wombs-to-rent’ culture and all its medical hazards among third world countries would be carefully regulated. (Job 5:16)
More: http://www.indolink.com/displayArticleS.php?id=052812110304
The British Youth Parliament has rejected campaigning for same-sex marriage, after it came bottom in a vote of priorities for 2013. The issue received just 22 votes, whereas the most popular campaign, a curriculum to prepare young people for real life, got 154 votes. Each year, 11 to 18-year-olds from each part of the UK debate priorities for the coming year in a special session in the House of Commons. George Poole, an 18-year-old openly homosexual MYP (Member of the Youth Parliament) for Cornwall, said that whilst same-sex marriage is an issue “close to home” for him, he needed to “think of the young people who won’t benefit from this policy”. And Jack Lewis, a 15-year-old MYP for Richmond-Upon-Thames, said there are more important issues to be campaigning about, such as youth unemployment. Many have argued that the Government is prioritising same-sex marriage when issues such as the economy are more pressing.
Pray: for the government to note the result of this vote along with the views of so many groups calling for current proposals to be dropped. (Pr.16:9)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/british-youth-parliament-rejects-campaigning-for-gay-marriage/
More and more soldiers are returning from Afghanistan suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Many are not coping and are drinking heavily, in some cases leading to violence and wife-beating. Many have suicidal thoughts. This
is becoming a big problem and is affecting Christian families as well as non-Christians. Marriages are suffering and the children are distressed and need protection from witnessing the ugliness of the situation. Combat Stress, the veterans’ mental health charity, said that based on the MoD figures it would mean that 51,000 veterans were likely to show symptoms of mental health problems because of their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is a need for the government to recognise this problem and bring in compulsory post operation counselling for all soldiers.
Pray: that the Lord will heal memories and restore these service men and women. Please pray for the families and the healing of relationships. (Jer.8:15)
According to available published official figures from the Defence Analytical Services Agency the UK has 173,020 regular trained and serving personnel in the Armed Forces. The total number of personnel serving on permanent postings abroad is approximately 23,570. At this Christmas season we are asked to remember the men and women away from their family and
homes. Their work doesn’t finish on Christmas Eve and their routine will continue as normal, even on Christmas Day. Please pray for a peaceful and quiet time for those deployed - for opportunities to attend Church and to be able to reflect on Christ this Christmas and for good communications home to loved ones. Pray also for the Military Chaplains who provide spiritual leadership, moral guidance and pastoral support irrespective of religion or belief, in order to meet their needs, over the Christmas season.
Pray: for those service families celebrating Christmas alone and for children missing their deployed mum or dad. (Lk.2:14)
More: http://www.militarychristians.org.uk/