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Barclays and Coutts have announced that they will withdraw their support for Stonewall's Awards event unless the homosexual campaign group drops the 'Bigot of the Year' category. Coutts and Co stated: ‘We have advised Stonewall that we will be withdrawing our support of the awards unless they remove this category.’ Barclays' Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion stated: ‘Barclays does not support that award category either financially or in principle and have informed Stonewall that should they decide to continue with this category Barclays will not support this event in the future.’ However, according to a newspaper report today (Wed), http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/30/stonewall-bigot-award-banks-sponsorship?newsfeed=true Stonewall has indicated that it will not scrap the Award, even if that means losing sponsorship for the event. We give thanks to God for the many taking action by contacting these banks leading to these developments. Meanwhile, we still don't know where PwC and Google, two other big-name supporters of the event, stand on the issue.
Pray: that following the actions by the banks other sponsors will take a stand on this issue. (Pr.12:7)
Metal theft from Baptist churches has risen to record levels this year. By the end of October Baptist Insurance had received 110 claims for theft of metal, already 25 more than it handled in its previous worst year. In 2008 it dealt with nearly 90 claims from the churches it insures. The total cost of the metal theft claims for 2011 stands at more than £160,000, again a record. The theft of metal from churches is linked directly to the price of lead, which rose sharply at the start of 2011. 'We have seen a huge increase in theft of metal,' said Katri Link, Baptist Insurance press officer. ' This year has been the worst year for metal theft, both in terms of number of claims and cost of claims. At the start of the year we saw the price of metal go up - the demand in the market from the Far East is high - and there is a direct correlation.' Churches everywhere have been suffering, although 2008 remains the worst year across all denominations.
Pray: for the protection of church buildings from this kind of crime and increase of police and community awareness. (Dt.5:19)
Websites which fail to stop children accessing pornography will have payments to them blocked by banks and credit card companies as part of a government plan to help clean up the internet. Purveyors of explicit images will be starved of paying customers under the proposals, even if the material itself is not illegal. It is thought to be the first time banks have been asked effectively to police the internet in such a way. A ‘summit’ between financial organisations and the video services regulator will be held next month in an effort to finalise the agreement. The move is intended to address the growing exposure of under-aged children to legal but highly explicit internet pornography, which David Cameron has said is ‘corroding childhood’. Restricting such exposure is a priority for Downing Street. (See Prayer Alert 30-2013)
Pray: that this move will lead to a blocking of this form of pornography. (Col.3:23)
MPs want to block an American TV show, which entices drunken girls on the street to strip off and perform lewd acts in front of the cameras, from coming to the UK. The show, called Girls Gone Wild, is produced by a Californian company that also makes pornographic films. Its producers want to bring a tour bus to Britain. MPs from around the UK have called it ‘exploitative’ and want the Home Office to ban the production company from operating here. A spokesman for the show claims participants have a good time and the show is a ‘fun celebration of freedom and youthful expression’. Ian Mearns, MP for Gateshead, has tabled a motion in Parliament, which concludes ‘this is a form of demeaning, exploitative and casualized prostitution; and urges the Government to examine, as a matter of urgency, how it can protect young women and halt this attempt at sensationalist entertainment.’
Pray: for the Home Office to respond quickly to concerns from many people and to ban this type of activity. (Ro.13:13)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/ban-%e2%80%98girls-gone-wild%e2%80%99-filming-in-uk-say-mps/
A Science teacher who was barred from teaching after expressing his beliefs on sexual ethics in the classroom has lost his case in the High Court. Robert Haye (43) was dismissed from Deptford Green School after he commented that homosexual practice was a ‘sin’ when responding to questions posed by his Year 11 pupils. The Teaching Agency subsequently placed an indefinite bar on Mr Haye from teaching at any school or sixth form - a ban that was later upheld by Education Secretary Michael Gove. In the first case of its kind, the High Court rejected Mr Haye’s appeal against the ban stating that his comments were ‘inappropriate’ and that he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. In delivering the judgment, Mr Justice King said that the school had a policy requiring teachers to present positive information on homosexuality ‘to enable students to challenge derogatory stereotypes and prejudice.’
Pray: for Christian teachers that they will be able to uphold their beliefs in the classroom without prejudice. (2Th.2:13)
A judge has upheld a government decision to ban an advert calling on Christians to report their experience of marginalisation in the work place. Premier Christian Radio and its magazine publications division CCP Ltd had challenged the decision, made by the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and the Radio Advertising Clearance Centre (RACC), on the grounds that it restricted freedom of speech. The RACC claimed the advert had a political objective and broadcasting it would infringe provisions of the 2003 Communications Act that ban political advertising. At the London High Court, Mr Justice Silber upheld the ban and ruled the original RACC decision was both ‘rational and lawful’. Justice Silber said the advert tried ‘to make changes to society’ through its request for information from the public. He also concluded that the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's stance on the issue wasn't 'anti-Christian'. Premier's Chief Executive Peter Kerridge says he's disappointed by the ruling and believes it raises more questions than answers.
Pray: that the planned appeal would lead to a reversed decision. (Is.5:16)
More: http://www.premier.org.uk/news/current/Ban%20on%20Christian%20advert%20upheld.aspx
A secular campaign group is trying to use the courts to ban a North Devon Council from starting its meetings with Christian prayers. Bideford Town Council has had prayers at its meetings since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, but now the National Secular Society (NSS) says the practice infringes on the human rights of non-believers. Mike Judge, head of communications at The Christian Institute, said: ‘It’s a tradition that’s gone on for hundreds of years. This is really a move by aggressive atheism trying to shove Christianity out of public life.’ Reports say Bideford Council won’t be able to afford top lawyers to fight the case. But Mr Judge said: ‘The council shouldn’t back down. It isn’t in breach of human rights law. Parliament has prayers, is Parliament illegal?’ A survey by the Daily Mail of 181 councils in England and Wales found 118 start their meetings with a prayer – of which nearly all were Christian.
Pray: For Bideford Council as they defend their right to start meetings with prayer. (1Ti.2:8)
Conservative MP’s are planning what could be the biggest ever backbench rebellion faced by Prime Minister David Cameron over his stated intention to legislate for full homosexual marriage. At least 100 Conservative backbenchers are thought to strongly oppose homosexual marriage. ‘Feelings are running high,’ one senior party source told the Independent. Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, has announced plans for a ‘consultation’ to be launched in March which is to be followed by a change in the law. David Burrowes MP told the paper that he is ‘cautiously optimistic’ the proposal will be defeated in the Commons because it would ‘fracture’ the institution of marriage. ‘Many colleagues are worried that it would fundamentally affect how marriage between a man and woman has historically been viewed in this country. There are strong doubts that we need to go down this path. It would open up a can of worms and a legal minefield about freedom, religion and equalities legislation.’
Pray: for our government as it considers these changes. Pray that those who already support the recognised form of marriage would stand firm on their beliefs. (1Cor.16:13)
Following the award of damages against Peter and Hazelmary Bulls, (See Prayer Alert 02-2011) who refused to allow a homosexual couple to share a double bed in their guesthouse, another Christian B&B owner is now being taken to court. Michael Black and John Morgan, are claiming that they were discriminated against after being turned away from a B&B in Cookham, Berkshire. They have launched legal proceedings against Susanne Wilkinson, the Christian owner of the B&B. This follows the experience of the Bulls, who have suffered many abusive phone calls from homosexuals following the ruling and have even had fake and damaging reviews of their B&B posted online. The Wilkinsons have also been subjected to abusive phone calls, text messages and emails since the facts of their story emerged in the media. Mr Wilkinson told the police: ‘There must have been 900 emails, and I would say half of them are really abusive and threatening’. Pray: for the Wilkinsons and Bulls at this time of great challenge and distress in their lives. (2Sa.22:7)
The Christian owners of a seaside Bed & Breakfast are being sued for refusing to allow two homosexuals to share a double bed because it would be contrary to their Christian faith. The B&B they own operates a policy which allows only married heterosexual couples to share a double bed. The homosexual couple are claiming that the refusal to allow them to share a bed was a ‘direct discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation’. They are relying on Equality Act regulations and are claiming up to £5,000 in damages against the hotel owners. At Bristol County Court Bernie Quinn, who works at the hotel, hinted that Mr Preddy and Mr Hall's booking was a set-up. He told the court that hours before Mr Preddy had made a telephone booking he spoke to a ‘Mrs Preddy’ regarding a double room. ‘We were very surprised when the two gentlemen turned up the next day’, said Mrs Bull, the owner.
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/sexual-orientation/christian-bb-owners-sued