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In the News

  • Anglican Mainsteam: Bishop of Chelmsford calls for 'prayers of thanksgiving' for same sex relationships by Andrew Symes
    March 12th, 2017

    In his Presidential Address to Diocesan Synod on Saturday 11 March 2017, Bishop Stephen Cotterell has given one of the clearest indications yet of the next stage of major change in the Church of England's approach to sexual ethics.

    Referring to the Archbishops' call for "a radical new Christian inclusion", he says:

    LGBTI+ people are welcome in the churches of the Chelmsford diocese… we want to listen to them and work with them so as to find appropriate ways of expressing their love – for it is not good for human beings to be alone – in permanent, faithful, stable relationships…there is no reason why prayers of thanksgiving for these relationships – perhaps a Eucharist – cannot be offered.

    Earlier he justifies his call for this change by referring to the "missiological damage" caused by the Church's teaching on sex, and also that we need to "look again" at the Scriptures, "for what we know now is not what was known then".

    Read more.

  • Premier: Christians urged to take action ahead of abortion debate
    March 12th, 2017

    Christians are being told to lobby their MPs ahead of a parliamentary debate on abortion.

    Labour's Diana Johnson is bringing about a ten minute rule bill to decriminalise abortion on Monday.

    She says current legislation, which contains criminal sanctions for both women and doctors if they do not meet certain requirements, is way out of date.

    Campaign group Christian Concern has described her bill as "shocking" and says the number of abortions taking place in the UK will increase.

    Read more. 

  • Christian Institute: Conscience rights hit by proposed pharmacy rules, Institute warns
    March 12th, 2017

    Conscience protections for pharmacists would be diluted by draft proposals, The Christian Institute has warned.

    Currently, pharmacists who do not wish to sell abortifacients, such as the morning after pill, may refer customers to another pharmacist.

    But new draft General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) standards weaken that right of referral and state that pharmacists must ensure that "person-centred care is not compromised because of personal values and beliefs".

    Read more. 

  • Guardian: Schools to trial happiness lessons for eight-year-olds
    March 12th, 2017

    Eight-year-old children will be given lessons on happiness and teenagers will be instructed on combating anxiety and suicidal thoughts under government projects due to be trialled.

    The Department for Education (DfE) is inviting bidders for multimillion-pound contracts to offer mental health training in more than 200 schools.

    Typical mindfulness lessons will reportedly encourage children to think of disturbing thoughts as "buses" that will move away, and they will be given questionnaires on bullying and friends.

    Read more.

  • Gatestone Institute: A Month of Islam and Multiculturalism in Britain: February 2017
    March 12th, 2017

    February 1. Jim Walker, a 71-year-old volunteer at Carnforth Station, was banned from the premises after someone complained about an alleged racist comment. Walker, who, for more than a decade, has been winding a famous clock at the station, was overheard discussing a newspaper article about young migrants entering Britain from the French port of Calais. 

    Read more. 

  • Times (£): Eight-year-olds to get lessons in happiness
    March 12th, 2017

    Pupils as young as eight are to receive mindfulness, relaxation and deep breathing lessons in a government trial to promote wellbeing and happiness — while teenagers will test classes designed to help them fight anxiety.

    Experts are also drawing up proposals under which parents and inspectors could judge schools in terms of wellbeing.

    Ministers face a childhood mental health crisis and the Department for Education (DfE) said improving children’s wellbeing was “a priority”.

    Read more.

  • Telegraph: Imams to be told to preach in English at mosques
    March 12th, 2017

    Imams are to be encouraged to deliver their sermons in English under measures being prepared to rid Britain of hate preaching.

    The Telegraph has been told that the counter-extremism taskforce is working on the plans amid concern that preaching in foreign languages enforces divisions between Islam and mainstream British society and can foster radicalisation.

    Ministers have been inspired by some Middle Eastern countries that have begun urging that sermons be published in English online. A senior Government source said: "If imams are speaking in another language it makes it far harder to know if radicalisation is taking place."

    Read more.

  • Archbishop Cranmer: Philip North crisis: 'Good Disagreement' has become 'bad bullying' by Gavin Ashenden
    March 11th, 2017

    When the house that has been painstakingly constructed on the sand falls flat, there is nothing to rejoice over. Discernment works better when unclouded by the sin of taking and giving offence.

    Bishop Philip North’s election to the Diocese of Sheffield was a litmus test. It was a great achievement for the Church of England. It left me in a state of puzzlement asking myself quietly and periodically, ‘perhaps I have been wrong?’

    Read more. 

  • Global Christian News: Bullying and broken vows as Bishop is forced out
    March 11th, 2017

    In July 2014, the General Synod of the Church of England after years of discussion since 1992 passed legislation that both allowed for the consecration of women as bishops, and made promises that traditionalists would continue to have an honoured place in the Church.

    Those promises were contained in ‘five principles’ of mutual recognition. The promise was that those who "on grounds of theological conviction are unable to receive the ministry of women bishops or priests, will continue to be within the spectrum of teaching and tradition of the Anglican Communion, the Church of England remains committed to enabling them to flourish within its life and structures; and pastoral and sacramental provision for the minority within the Church of England will be made without specifying a limit of time and in a way that maintains the highest degree of communion and contribute to mutual flourishing across the Church of England."

    Read more. 

  • Mail: Bishop raises fears for religious TV as BBC farms out Songs of Praise
    March 11th, 2017

    The BBC is to stop making Songs of Praise in a change that has been described as a 'nail in the coffin' of the country's 'religious literacy'.

    The broadcaster has made the Sunday worship programme for 55 years, but will farm it out to commercial producers from summer.

    Religious figures said the move would put the BBC's coverage of religious festivals at risk and raised fears that Songs of Praise will lose its Christian focus in favour of other faiths.

    Read more.