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In the News

  • Telegraph: Church liberals' anger over 'traditionalist dominated' bishops' gay marriage panel
    September 18th, 2016

    Supporters of a change in the Church of England’s stance on sexuality have voiced dismay after a new panel of bishops to help “discern” its future course on issues such as same-sex marriage was chosen seemingly dominated traditionalists.

    The 10-strong “Bishop’s Reflection Group” appointed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York includes a string of prominent evangelicals and some seen as staunch conservatives but no-one who has openly advocated a change in teaching or practice on the issue.

    Liberals voiced anger while opponents of any change also privately hailed the make-up of the group, set up after a four-day gathering of all the bishops last week, as better than they expected from their point of view.

    Read more. 

  • GAFCON UK: GAFCON UK Statement following the appointment of a 'Bishops' Reflection Group' on homosexuality
    September 18th, 2016

    GAFCON UK is puzzled as to why the Church of England needs a 'Bishops' Reflection Group' on homosexuality.  Resolution 1.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference is clear, and the Bible is universally clear.  We stand with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are same-sex attracted, and faithfully living according to God's revealed plan for human flourishing.  As pastors, teachers, friends, and neighbours we can have no other response.  The Church of England needs to have the courage of its foundational convictions, return to them, and move on to its mission of calling the nation to turn to Christ as the only Saviour and Lord.

    18 September 2016

    [See original Statement from the Church of England following the September meeting of the College of Bishops, here].

    Read more.

  • BBC: Church homosexuality talks 'to remain private'
    September 18th, 2016

    A homosexuality debate by Church of England bishops will remain private to allow views to "deepen and flourish", the new Bishop of Oxford has said.

    The College of Bishops met in Oxford earlier this week to discuss attitudes towards sexuality.

    The Right Reverend Dr Steven Croft told BBC Oxford talks were "constructive" and would continue through the autumn.

    Read more.

  • BBC: Tim Farron's religious convictions leave some Lib Dems fretting
    September 18th, 2016

    It has never been more politically fashionable, or mainstream, to be socially liberal - particularly around the subject of homosexuality.

    So little wonder the new leader of the only party in Parliament with the word "liberal" in its title, who also happens to be a Christian, faces a few questions about how his politics and faith interact.

    Appearing on Channel 4 News, Tim Farron was asked three times if he believes homosexual sex is a sin.

    Read more.

  • BBC: 'I'm a non-binary 10-year-old'
    September 18th, 2016

    Leo is 10 years old. For most of his life he's lived as a girl, but this summer he began to speak openly about his sense that this didn't feel quite right. With research help for his parents, he's decided he is non-binary - in his case, both masculine and feminine - though for the moment he dresses as a boy and has taken a male name. This is Leo's story in his own words.

    I'm not a boy.

    I thought I was a boy, because I'm not entirely a girl. We tried that for a bit, and I thought: "No, this is not right."

    Read more.

  • Christian Post: Chile Moves to Legalize Abortion Despite 100,000 Pro-Life Christian Opposition
    September 18th, 2016

    Chile's Senate Health Commission voted in favor of legalizing abortion on Tuesday, moving one step closer to lifting the total ban on the practice, despite opposition from a majority of citizens including 100,000 Christians who marched in a pro-life rally ahead of the vote.

    Latin American network teleSUR reported that three out of five senators voted to approve a bill that decriminalizes abortion in the cases of rape, when the mother's life is at risk during a medical emergency, or if the baby is said to have "serious defects."

    Read more.

  • GAFCON: The Power of Laity by Peter Jensen
    September 18th, 2016

    It’s odd. Sometimes you would think that the Church is the business of the clergy only, and the laity count for little or nothing.

    Of course, earlier generations even used language (‘going into the Church’ when they meant entering the ministry) which betrayed such a way of thinking. As well, the services of decades ago were entirely conducted by the clergy with little or no lay participation, at least in my part of the world.

    Read more.

  • PinkNews: The Pride pedestrian lights might be here to stay
    September 18th, 2016

    Remember the pedestrian lights that got a LGBT makeover for Pride? They may be set to stay.

    The LGBT signs that took over the traditional green man design were put in place at 50 different pedestrian crossings, in and around the Trafalgar Square and Nelson's column area of London.

    Read more.

  • Guardian: Bishop campaigns to highlight issue of body image among children
    September 18th, 2016

    Rachel Treweek, the bishop of Gloucester, has said she is highlighting the issue of body image among children to challenge perceptions that physical appearance determines self-worth.

    On Monday, Treweek – the first female bishop to sit in the House of Lords – will visit All Saints Academy in Cheltenham to talk to a group of 13- to 16-year-olds in the first of a series of school visits in her constituency to discuss the issue.

    Read more.

  • BBC: Belgium minor first to be granted euthanasia
    September 17th, 2016

    A terminally ill 17-year-old has become the first minor to be helped to die in Belgium since age restrictions on euthanasia requests were removed two years ago, officials say.

    The head of the federal euthanasia commission said the teenager was "suffering unbearable physical pain".

    Belgium is the only country that allows minors of any age to choose euthanasia.

    Read more.