Rising repair bills, and dwindling heritage grants are threatening many listed churches and chapels, across Wales. The gap between community donations and the total bill used to be narrowed by grants from bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and Welsh heritage agency Cadw, as well as with support from bespoke funds such as the Listed Places of Worship scheme. But in recent years these funds have become more difficult to obtain or their terms made more restrictive.

Pray: that congregations in Wales will be able to find innovative ways of keeping their places of worship. (Mt.16:18)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12547195

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams is lending his support to a new church coalition working to end sexual violence against women. The Silent No More coalition consists of the Anglican Communion, Lambeth Palace, Tearfund, Christian Aid and Restored. Its formation coincides with the launch of the Silent No More report documenting the role of the church in response to sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Liberia. The report was launched Monday at Lambeth Palace, as the coalition’s first step towards addressing the silence, pain and stigma faced by survivors of sexual violence. Speaking at the launch, Dr Williams said: ‘It is of the first importance that churches and all communities of faith continue to hold before the world’s eyes the absolute priority for justice and dignity for all’.

Pray: that this initiative and others in the Silent No More campaign will raise awareness and achieve lasting results. (Ps.11:5)

More: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2011/03/23/church-must-speak-out-against-sexual-violence-in-africa/

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has announced the start of 16 new debt counselling centres to help some of the poorest people across the UK. The counselling centres are being set up in local churches, where volunteers have been trained to restore hope and help people find a way out of their debts. The expansion reflects the scale of the need, with the total number of CAP debt counselling centres now standing at 160 across the UK. In addition to the new centres, four existing centres have taken on extra debt coaches to cope with the demand for the service. Many of the charity’s clients are in financial difficulty because of job loss, pay cuts or illness, but the charity is expecting the numbers to rise in the tough economic climate. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) predicted yesterday that household disposable income would fall by 2pc this year.

Pray: that as the work of CAP expands, many more will be helped and set free from debt. (1Sam.22:2a)

More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churchbased.debt.counselling.grows.as.households.feel.squeeze.on.income/27817.htm

The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that the Anglican Church is moving towards the ‘edge of a precipice’ amid disputes between liberals and traditionalists. Justin Welby said the church was in danger of abandoning its core beliefs while also falling into a ‘ravine of intolerance’ in the way its deals with divisive issues such as gay marriage and female bishops. Speaking during a visit to Mexico, he likened the behaviour of the Church to a ‘drunk man’ staggering close to the edge of a cliff and drew parallels between the crisis afflicting the 77-million-strong Anglican community and the atmosphere in the Civil War. ‘I sometimes worry that as Anglicans we are drifting back in that direction. Not consciously, of course, but in an unconscious way that is more dangerous,’ he said. ‘It is a dangerous place, a narrow path we walk as Anglicans at present.’

Pray: for the church as it seeks direction and less confusion. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide our leaders with clarity and true vision. (Ps.48:14)

More: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/church-like-drunken-man-nearing-a-precipice-1-5978385

The Church of England has voted to tackle claims of a ‘pale, male and stale’ leadership with a new campaign to recruit more ethnic minority people. Members of the General Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of positive action to recruit ethnic minority clergy into the church's leadership. The move came after a report by the Venerable Daniel Kajumba, Archdeacon of Reigate, showed only 1.1% of bishops, archdeacons and cathedral dean's posts are filled by ethnic minorities. The four ethnic minority clergy in these roles are Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, the Rt Rev David Hamid, Suffragan Bishop of Europe, The Very Rev Rogers Govender, Dean of Manchester Cathedral, and himself in his post as Archdeacon of Reigate, he said. 'This was in spite of congregations of up to 90% ethnic minorities in inner cities, he added, 'and a growing proportion of ethnic minority worshippers in rural and suburban areas'.

Pray: that the Lord will raise up church leaders to reflect and represent all groups in the church congregations. (Heb.5:1)

More: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/church-votes-to-recruit-minorities-2312024.html

The Diocese of London is set to establish the first new church presence in a new community in London for 40 years. It has entered into a partnership with Lee Valley Estates for a new facility at the heart of the Hale Village regeneration project in Tottenham that will include use as a church. This is the first time that the Church of England in London has entered into a long-term relationship with a developer to put urgently needed community facilities, including a place of worship, in the heart of a major regeneration area. Under the terms of the agreement, the Diocese of London will take out a 250 year lease on the facility. The £14million development secured planning permission in July this year and will include a community centre, nursery, café, residential accommodation. It will also be able to hold community events and religious ceremonies like weddings and baptisms.

Pray: for regeneration in Tottenham and especially for spiritual renewal too. (Ac.2:47)

More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/church.secures.place.in.regeneration.project/31365.htm

The Church is in danger of being driven out of public education by Government reforms and a generation of teachers ignorant of even the basic tenets of Christianity, a senior cleric has warned. A rush to introduce new academies and changes to the curriculum could threaten the very ‘survival’ of the church schools system unless urgent action is taken, according to the head of the Church of England’s Board of Education. The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, also warned that a tide of secularisation had undermined the standard of teaching of the Christian faith. Even in schools run by the church itself many teachers now lack a ‘default understanding’ of Christianity, he said. The warnings are contained in a hard hitting report about the state of faith schools and religious education to be debated by the Church of England’s General Synod next month.

Pray: that the Church would take up the challenge to bring faith back to the centre of church school life – see also previous story. (Dt.4:9)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8587613/Church-schools-under-threat-warns-Bishop-of-Oxford.html

Church schools must robustly assert their Christian ethos in the face of challenges and attacks from secularists, a Church of England report has warned. Launched at Lambeth Palace on Friday, The Church School of the Future report says that the challenge facing all Church schools is to maintain their distinctive character in an increasingly fragmented education system and increasingly secular society. 'Church schools must be responsive to parents and the communities they serve while celebrating their distinctive Christian ethos,' the report states. 'More than ever, as economic pressures drive a utilitarian approach to education, children in Church schools should experience Christianity as part of their moral and spiritual development, reflected throughout the curriculum. We believe that the opportunities afforded by such significant changes should be grasped confidently.' The report is based on evidence from clergy, school leaders, politicians and other stakeholders in education.

Pray: for our Church schools to be places where the Gospel message is lived out in a clear and relevant way. (Pr.4:4)

More: http://global.christianpost.com/news/church-schools-must-assert-christian-ethos-amid-secularist-attacks-72040/

The Church of England may withdraw the millions it has invested in internet companies unless they take action to curb internet pornography. Senior officials are conducting a wide-ranging review of the Church’s holdings in Internet Service Providers (ISPs), which are worth tens of millions. A Church spokesman said that its Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG) was considering new guidelines on pornography, which address the ease in which hardcore sexual images can be viewed through modern media. The review, which is expected to be concluded in the coming months, will recommend how part of the Church’s £5.3 billion portfolio should be invested in relation to Internet companies. The Church refuses to invest in firms that fuel problems against which Christians campaign. According to Church documents, the criteria for investing in media companies is that they have a ‘positive influence on society by educating, entertaining and uplifting individual experience’.

Pray: for the Church, through the EIAG, to bring its influence to combat the evil that pervades electronic media. (Ps.34:16)

More: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/