The Association of Christian Financial Advisers (ACFA) has come out in support of calls for a mandatory code of conduct for the banking industry. The ACFA said it wants to see ethics put back at the centre of banking and a return to the founding Quaker principles of ‘honesty, integrity and plain dealing’. Arwyn Bailey, of the ACFA, welcomed the accountability shown in Mr Diamond's resignation. ‘In falling on his sword and resigning Bob Diamond has done the honourable and probably inevitable thing. The pressure must have been intolerable, for both him and his family,’ he said. Barclays chairman Marcus Agius, who announced his resignation one day before, will now become full-time chairman and oversee the process to appoint Mr Diamond's successor. ‘Without question Mr Diamond is the man who carries the can, but given such pressure for him to resign, who would be willing to step into his shoes?’

Pray: for much higher standards of moral integrity in international banking and commerce. (De.8:18)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.back.call.for.banking.code.of.conduct/30187.htm

Five Christians have been arrested for successfully blockading the Custom House entrance in London at an arms fair supplying weapons to repressive regimes. For over forty minutes the group, associated with the activist organisation Christianity Uncut and supported by a range of other NGOs including Christian CND, sat and lay down at the entrance of the Defence and Security Exhibition International (DSEi), which is backed by the UK government and has as its guests a range of dictators and autocrats, including the armers of President Assad in Syria. The protesters recited the Lord's Prayer, and one of the people arrested also announced the 23rd Psalm boldly while being dragged away by police. Superglue was used to secure the gate by the anti-arms activists. The first two people arrested included a trainee Methodist minister and the third was Quaker activist Chris Wood. Two others were removed. All were driven away to be charged.

Pray: for those protesting in this controversial area and give the authorities discernment and wisdom. (Is.2:4)

More: http://christianityuncut.wordpress.com/news/

Christians are ‘evil’ if they resist the redefinition of marriage to allow for same-sex marriage, the Head of Research and Development at Tesco.com has said. The company has already faced criticism for dumping its support for the Cancer Research ‘Race for Life’ and sponsoring London’s gay pride festival. The ‘evil Christians’ comment was made by Nick Lansley, Head of Research and Development for the Tesco website. He wrote: ‘I’m also campaigning against evil Christians (that’s not all Christians, just bad ones) who think that gay people should not lead happy lives and get married to their same-sex partners.’ Director of The Christian Institute, Colin Hart, said: ‘I won’t be shopping at Tesco this Christmas, and I am repeatedly hearing from other Christians who have already come to the same conclusion. ‘Mr Lansley is entitled to his opinions, and Christians are entitled to choose not to shop at Tesco.

Pray: for a more balanced view by Tesco to respect and not alienate the Christian community. (Dt.13:3-4)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christians-are-evil-for-backing-marriage-says-tesco-rd-boss/

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