Girl Guides consider dropping 'God' from Promise
11 Jan 2013Girlguiding UK are consulting the public on whether the Girlguiding Promise should be changed to ‘make it more meaningful to girls and women.’ The consultation follows a similar move from the Scout Association, (See Prayer Alert 49-2012) which is also consulting the public on possible changes to the Scout Promise. Girls make the Promise when they join the Guides, which includes the vows to ‘love my God’ and ‘serve the Queen and my country.’ It will be the first major reform under the Guides’ recently appointed chief executive Julie Bentley. Some alternatives put forward to replace the reference to God in the Promise are ‘to search for the spiritual value in my life’ and ‘serve the highest truth and love faithfully at all times.’ The potential changes follow two cases of families who wanted their children to become Guides but objected to the oath.
Pray: that pressure from a small atheist minority will not cause the movement to revise its founding principles. (1Cor.3:10)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/social/girl-guides-consider-dropping-god-from-promise
Gift Aid warning to charities
02 May 2013Charities are being urged to ensure they are clued up about changes to claiming Gift Aid. A new system went live on Monday replacing paper claims forms with an online service requiring charities to connect their databases directly to HMRC's computers or make claims by uploading data via standard HMRC spreadsheets. Charities have until September to update their systems but Stewardship and NCVO are concerned that awareness of the changes is low among the estimated 100,000 charities claiming Gift Aid. They fear many charities have underestimated the challenges involved in making the adjustment. While charities are being advised to review the HMRC guidance with urgency, the organisations are also asking HMRC to take further steps to make sure charities are aware of the changes and able to meet the September deadline.
Pray: for wisdom and understanding as they adjust to the new regulations. (Pr.2:6)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/gift.aid.warning.to.charities/32222.htm
Generation ex-christian
17 Jan 2011Research and surveys show that many atheists, agnostics, and spiritual-seekers are former Christians. There was no research-based book that explained in depth why people were leaving, until Generation Ex-Christian. This recently released book by Drew Dyck, editorial manager of the ministry team at Christianity Today International, breaks down ‘leavers’ into six categories: postmodern leavers, recoilers, modern leavers, neo-pagans, rebels, and drifters. These categories were formed after Dyck interviewed nearly 100 people while researching the book. ‘I’m not a sociologist or statistician, but I knew as a journalist I could bring something to this issue by introducing people to some of the faces and the stories behind the statistics’, Dyck said, ‘and by providing profiles of these, what I call ‘leavers’, these 20-somethings and early-30s that have walked away from the faith’. He continued ‘then provide some kind of tips on how to engage them in meaningful conversations about God that will ultimately lead them back’.
Pray: that this work will assist the success of the mission of God's church. (Rev. 2:7)
Andrea Minichiello Williams spoke to the General Synod today (6 Feb), challenging the Church of England to take a stand for traditional marriage before it is too late. Urging the Presidents of the Synod (the two Archbishops) to authorise an Emergency Debate, Andrea Williams, member of the General Synod and CEO of Christian Concern, called on the Church to resist David Cameron’s attempt to introduce same-sex marriage, noting that such a concept is contrary to both the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. ‘If the national Church were to stand for marriage as traditionally defined then our Prime Minister would be defeated even before he began. Is it not the job of the established Church to hold Government to account and not to let her stray from biblical precepts which are good not just for individuals but for communities and nations?’
Pray: that the challenge laid down by Andrea will be taken seriously by the Church. (Mt.19:1-6)
The Crown Prosecution Service has been accused of “double standards” over abortion laws as it brought criminal charges against a string of pro-life protesters yet refused to prosecute doctors over illegal practices. One outspoken peer accused the CPS of operating a policy “worthy of Alice in Wonderland” and subverting the will of Parliament by deciding against bringing charges for “public interest” reasons, despite there being enough evidence to do so. There were growing calls for a judicial review of the decision, supported by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, not to charge two doctors exposed in an undercover Daily Telegraph investigation agreeing to arrange abortions because the babies were female. In contrast the CPS has taken several recent cases of Pro Life Christians to trial for their anti-abortion activities. Lord Alton said: “Holding different people accountable to different standards should not be the basis on which the CPS operates.”
Pray: for clear guidance to be given to the CPS on how they handle such cases to ensure parity and fairness within the legal system. (Pr.18:5)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10292249/Gender-abortions-CPS-accused-of-double-standards-after-putting-pro-life-campaigners-on-trial.html
GDOP London links up with Micah Challenge
08 Oct 2010
Global Day of Prayer London (GDOP) is partnering with Micah Challenge’s 10-10-10 campaign as part of their 500 days of prayer initiative. They are encouraging churches across the UK to pray for the marginalised in their local areas and the world’s poor this October. As churches throughout the UK are getting behind this initiative, GDOP’s London Convenor, Jonathan Oloyede, wants to continue to build this momentum of prayer by providing more and more resources to keep mobilising Christians towards 24-hour intercession. GDOP London is now producing a monthly podcast with regular interviews and features with key Christian leaders. Their October podcast has a special focus on praying for the world’s poor. Oloyede also presents a monthly video blog to keep Christians inspired and updated on the 500 days of prayer movement and there are a number of prayer resources on the GDOP London website. Pray: that all Christians remember and pray for the world’s poor that their plight is lessened by God's strong intervention. (Dt. 15:7)
Maria Miller, the newly appointed Minister for Women and Equalities, has voiced her support for controversial plans to rewrite the definition of marriage. Mrs Miller was put in overall charge of the Government’s same-sex marriage plans by last week’s cabinet reshuffle. Gay campaigners expressed concern, fearing that she wouldn’t be supportive enough of same-sex marriage. But Mrs Miller, who was also appointed as the Culture Secretary, revealed her support for the controversial change yesterday. Speaking to the Sunday Times Mrs Miller said marriage needs to be redefined to make sure it ‘remains as a relevant and vibrant institution’. She added: ‘Look, I think everybody should be married. It’s something which creates strength in our society and whether it is two men, two women or a man and a woman it is something which is a way for us to strengthen our society further.’ Nearly 600,000 people, including a number of politicians, have signed a petition opposing any change to the current law. It is being run by the Coalition for Marriage.
Pray: for Maria Miller that she will be guided by the Holy Spirit into God’s definition of marriage and not be pressured to rewrite the definition. (Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/gay-marriage-new-equalities-minister-backs-redefinition/
Worshippers in London on Sunday added their signatures to new petitions against David Cameron’s plans while one charity launched an online campaign to encourage Catholics to lobby their MPs. Last week more than 1,000 priests – a quarter of all Catholic clergy in England and Wales – signed a letter to The Daily Telegraph arguing that the change could open the door to new discrimination against Christians. These moves signal the start of a string of new ‘grassroots’ protests organised independently of the Church hierarchy in the run-up to the publication of the Government’s Equal marriage Bill, due at the end of this month. Meanwhile evangelical Christians from Britain travelled to Paris to observe a mass protest by Christians and Muslims against President Francois Hollande’s plans for same-sex marriage in France. Organisers said that 800,000 people converged around the Eiffel Tower for a demonstration attended by Jean-Francois Cope, the leader of the centre-right UMP party.
Pray: for the success of these protests and that the petitions will have the desired effect. (1Cor.12:2)