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Hospital chaplains play an ‘important’ role in the NHS, and the Government values their work, a Conservative Peer has said. Speaking in the House of Lords, Earl Howe said the Government is committed to giving patients and staff in the NHS access to ‘spiritual care’. Chaplains came under fierce attack from secularists last year who launched a campaign to remove their funding. Earl Howe said the chaplains ‘play an important part in providing high-quality spiritual care services to patients and staff, and we are committed to ensuring that patients and staff in the NHS have access to the spiritual care that they want, whatever faith they may have’. The Bishop of Chichester, the Rt Revd John Hind, had earlier pointed out that ‘a chaplain often serves more patients directly each week than any other single healthcare professional working in a hospital’. Pray: for hospital chaplains and that their valuable services will be secure in the future. (Jas.5:15) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/govt-affirms-importance-of-nhs-chaplains-work/
The Government's NHS reform bill could increase the dangers facing vulnerable children, according to a survey of the risk assessments produced by primary care trusts in response to the legislation. The analysis of the risk assessments drawn up by the 54 PCTs, the organisations that manage and pay for patient care in England, found children in danger of being physically abused could suffer because of problems and weaknesses caused by the restructuring. They claim child protection procedures are threatened by issues such as fragmentation between new organisations that are being created in the shake-up, making it hard for staff to swap information about sensitive or complicated cases where there is suspicion of neglect or abuse by relatives or carers. The danger is classified as a 'possible' risk which, if it occurred, would have 'catastrophic' consequences. Any such failings may mean that the NHS organisations concerned were in breach of their legal duties to protect at-risk children.
Pray: for a review of this matter and that, at the very least, proper safeguards are put in place to protect vulnerable children. (Ps.12:5)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/04/nhs-health-bill-child-protection-risks
A new NHS campaign is being launched today asking the church to increase the number of blood and organ donors in the UK. The Fleshandblood campaign is sponsored by Give.net and has the support of the Church of England, The Salvation Army, Methodist Church, United Reformed Church, Baptist Union, Hope and the Evangelical Alliance. Christians will be encouraged to donate blood regularly as part of their personal giving within churches. Lorna Williamson, Medical Director of NHS Blood and Transplant says, “All major faith groups support donation in the spirit of giving and we’re excited to explore this in more detail by working with the Christian church. "By raising awareness amongst its members and community about the daily need for blood transfusions and organ transplants across the NHS, we hope to banish myths, educate people and encourage blood and organ donation.
Pray: that this new campaign will encourage those who are willing, to respond positively to the call to donate. (Ac.20:35)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/nhs.campaign.asks.christians.to.give.blood/31532.htm
This week saw the publication of English Heritage’s first national survey of England's places of worship. This documents the state of 14,500 church buildings from Gothic Anglican confections to nonconformist chapels and Quaker meeting houses. The survey found that fewer than half are in fair or good condition, while ten per cent are at risk of dereliction. While heritage campaigners understandably lament the demise of beautiful, historic buildings, an emerging form of religious life beyond buildings tells a rather different story. This is a tale of change and transformation - one which necessarily involves a degree of pain and loss - out of which church communities are forging a different relationship to the bricks and mortar which traditionally lies at the heart of Christianity in Britain. Examples are offered in the survey of new models of worship, many letting go of the idea that the physical place in which 'church' takes place is somehow uniquely sacrosanct, to be reserved for religious purposes only. Pray: that God’s voice is heard where two or three come together. (Mt.18:20) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/jun/30/religion-church-buildings-change-decay
This will be followed up by an Ofcom investigation. (See Prayer Alert 41-2011) The site is being launched by David Cameron as part of his drive to end the sexualisation of children in Britain. It was one of several recommendations to come out of a government review led by Mothers’ Union chief executive, Reg Bailey, which concluded that today’s children are being surrounded by a ‘wallpaper’ of sexual imagery that is robbing them of their childhood. Other measures being introduced by Mr Cameron include a ban on sexually explicit advertising near schools and under-15s being ‘brand ambassadors’ for certain products.
Pray: that,as this new website is launched that it will lead to many successful challenges to media excesses. (Pro.4:5)
A new website from the Methodist Church is offering resources for children, young people, parents and youth workers. www.childrenandyouth.org.uk has age-appropriate sections offering stories, ideas and advice for children and young people themselves as well as specialist sections for youth and children’s workers. ‘This isn’t just another website about working with young people,’ said Penny Fuller, Children and Youth Development Officer for the Methodist Church. ‘It’s a hub of resources for the whole Church as we join children and young people on their journey of faith. It’s a place where children and young people can find advice and support as they live out their discipleship in the classroom, on the playground and in the high street.’ The website also has a special section dedicated to parents, with guidance and information for parenting children of all ages on topics ranging from bereavement to relationships. Pray: that this web site will be well used and will provide additional support to all its visitors. (Tit.2:7) More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=498
The newly inaugurated Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, Dr Daleep Mukraji, called on the Methodist people to "speak out, take sides," and "stand up for justice" in his inaugural address to the Methodist Conference last Saturday. Urging Methodists to become "agents of change", Dr Mukarji said that the UK had not seen higher levels of poverty and inequality since World War Two. One out of five people in the UK live in relative poverty including around 3.5 million children who are more likely to live in a low income household than the population as a whole. "Working with others, people of faith or no faith, we need to work for justice, inclusion and development that benefits the poor and marginalised here in the UK and across the world," he said. "This requires that we be prepared for the education, organisation and equipping of our members so that we build the necessary energy and commitment to see changes in our society."
Pray: for us all to become agents for change and to work to overcome poverty. (1Jn.3:17)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/18618
Two Christian charities have launched a new service to help pastors and senior church leaders struggling with debt. While it is hard enough for the average Joe to ask for help in personal finance matters, Christians Against Poverty (CAP) and Stewardship said it could be near impossible for the leaders of churches who are expected to set an example to their flock. It said many church leaders ended up suffering in silence because of personal finance problems. Now CAP and Stewardship have joined forces to launch a specialised service aimed at church leaders. The service is free, non-judgemental and completely confidential telephone service for senior church leaders to find a way forward. CAP's Chief Executive Matt Barlow explained: ‘We know there is a problem, they are often paid very little or their pay can fluctuate. Often there are unfair expectations placed upon our church leaders and admitting any vulnerability can be so hard.
Pray: for this initiative and for better support for all church leaders. (Heb.13:16-17)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/new.service.for.pastors.in.debt/29202.htm
Lord Falconer will have another go at legalising assisted suicide – despite being soundly defeated last time. He says he will introduce a Bill to the House of Lords in the summer, but peers rejected a similar effort in 2009. The Care Not Killing group, which opposes assisted suicide, believes the Lords will reject this latest attempt. Currently, assisted suicide is a crime in the UK but some terminally ill patients travel to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland and are helped to commit suicide. Under Lord Falconer’s new proposal, relatives of terminally ill people could legally help with travel to the clinic or with a drug overdose at home. Peter Saunders, campaign director of the Care Not Killing group, said a new bid to change the law had been expected. He said he believed the Lords would reject the attempt.
Pray: that this further attempt to legislate in favour of assisted suicide would not succeed. (Pr.14:27)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/peer-in-new-push-to-legalise-assisted-suicide/
David Cameron has announced new plans to automatically block access to online pornography after warning that explicit images available on internet websites are ‘corroding childhood.’ In a major speech Mr Cameron said that internet users who wish to access pornography will be required to ‘opt-in’ under the new regime, unless they choose to have the filters removed. Harmful online content will be blocked automatically for all new customers, whereas existing users will be contacted by their internet providers and presented ‘with an unavoidable decision about whether or not to install family friendly content filters’. The UK’s biggest internet service providers have all agreed to offer the filters, which would apply to both home and public Wi-Fi networks ‘wherever children are likely to be present,’ including railway stations and cafés.
Pray: for any measures put in place to protect our children to be robust and effective. (Col.3:23)