News Round Up Report
Proposes Forum of Muslims and Christians Co-operation
between Muslims and Christians in The
initiative was set up in 2001 and has involved visits by
a small group of Christians and Muslims to several
different places in They
heard everywhere that the fundamental challenge to be
faced is that of living together harmoniously in our
increasingly plural society. The current context presents
both a timely opportunity and a pressing imperative for
Christians and Muslims to rise to such a challenge, and
in so doing to make a joint contribution to the common
good. Statistic
of the month Fewer
people will marry! The
latest figures from the Government Actuary's Department
indicate that the proportion of the population who will
be married will decrease from the current 55% to 45% by
2021. One
reason is that cohabitation is becoming increasingly
popular, with 3 million people expected to be cohabiting
in 2021. The highest percentage then will be among those
aged 30-49, of whom more than fifth, 21%, will be
cohabiting. Another
reason is that many more people are preferring to live
alone. Single people will be about a quarter of the
population, many of whom will be single parents, mostly
lone mothers. It is
therefore important that the church finds ways of
welcoming those who cohabit or who are single parents
into their friendship and community. Larger
churches may find this easier as they are more likely to
have several people in this life-stage who could bond
together in fellowship. By Dr
Peter Brierley Executive Director, Christian Research Church
leaders call for mutual respect Church
leaders across the The
Rev Joel Edwards, General Director of Evangelical
Alliance said: "The BBC's programme highlighting the
evil of the BNP was a shocking wake up call for British
society. ...the BNP has demonstrated that at its
core it is anti-peace, anti-community, anti-police and
anti-Britain." He
also said: "For us as Christians, who believe that
people are made in the image of God in all our diversity
and are due for mutual respect, we have a responsibility
to pray and act together against this evil presence in
society. The Christian church across Archbishop
delivers major environment lecture The
Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has
championed far-reaching new environmental initiatives in
order to avert a global ecological crisis. In his
first major intervention on the environment since
becoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Williams warned
that damage being inflicted on the planet was "making
the human future more and more precarious." And he
encouraged the British government to take the lead in the
international arena in promoting new approaches. In a
lecture entitled "Changing the myths we live by",
delivered before an invited audience at Lambeth Palace,
Dr Williams drew deeply on Christian theology to argue
that human justice and flourishing were both dependent on
an understanding of creation as an act of self-giving by
God - a gift to be shared with joy, not exploited and
manipulated for short term and selfish motives. "No
response to the world that is not aware of this is either
truthful or sustainable," he said. Dr
Williams appealed for "a new level of public
seriousness about environmental issues", and urged
the British government to take the lead. He also
challenged churches to build on positive local
developments, for example by undertaking an "ecological
audit." Pregnancy
crisis centres help new clients after 3D scans Pregnancy
crisis counsellors are standing by to help more women -
following the recent media coverage of a revolutionary
new 3D scanning technique that showed a 12-week-old
foetus 'walking' in the womb. CARE
Centres Network have already started advising new clients
since the stunning images of the unborn child making
'stepping' movements - and 'jumping off the womb like a
trampoline' - appeared in TV and newspaper reports. "For
some women, seeing these scans will bring home the
reality of the choice they felt they had to make,"
said Joanna Thompson, head of CCN, who represent 160
pregnancy advice centres across "Those
women will now need support from someone trained in post-abortion
recovery," she added. Part of the Christian social
concern charity CARE, CCN has been providing this kind of
help for nearly 20 years. "Now
that the new scanning technology has once again brought
the abortion issue into the spotlight, we will be ready
to receive anyone who needs advice, information and
support at this difficult time. "The
images have already caused some health professionals to
raise doubts about current abortion law, which allows
termination up to 24 weeks.”Behind every decision to
abort is a woman in crisis," said Thompson. "She
walks a difficult path and needs support to make her own
informed decision. CCN will continue to offer that in the
light of these images." Their national helpline CARE
confidential 0800 028 2228 was deluged with calls
recently after Channel 4's controversial documentary 'My
Foetus'. It provides counselling, help and advice to
anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy or concerned after
an abortion. For
more information contact Head of CARE Centres Network,
Joanna Thompson, on 01256 477300 or check the CCN website
www.pregnancy.org.uk Pavement
pastors on patrol - 'Street Pastors' programme launched
in This
summer Street Pastors took to some of The
scheme was pioneered by Pastor Les Isaac of the Ascension
Trust, and is supported by Greater Manchester Police,
with funding from various bodies including Manchester
City Council. Pastor
Isaac says, "This is what I call the urban trinity.
We have to work with the local authorities and with the
police. We're in this for the long haul. Street Pastors
bring hope, hope that life can be different, hope for
education and training, hope for employment. The most
important thing is to address self-esteem. There has
always got to be hope." Chief
Supt Neil Wain from Greater Manchester Police said,
"Street Pastors can, I believe, make a substantial
and useful contribution to the policing of crime and
gangs in some of our more deprived communities. Such
assistance and outreach to those caught up in that
lifestyle has been effective in other areas in bringing
informal social control and potentially offering a route
out to those who want to stop participating." Street
Pastors will work at weekends from Street
Pastors is set up by local churches with support from
CARISMA and the Ascension Trust. For more
information see www.carisma.me.uk Smacking
amendment will cause confusion The
Evangelical Alliance has welcomed the House of Lords
rejection of an absolute ban on smacking. But it
remains "disappointed" at the decision to
accept Lord Lester's compromise amendment to the Children
Bill. The Don
Horrocks for the Evangelical Alliance commented, "This
would criminalise good parents and intrude into family
life. It is regrettable that the law seems incapable of
making a distinction between smacking and negative,
emotive categories such as 'assault', 'battery' and
'beating'. While many parents choose not to use physical
discipline in the home, nevertheless we continue to
believe that the option of employing moderate smacking
within a loving family environment can benefit the
development and growth of children. Parents - not the
State - are best placed to make such decisions." CTVC
launches 'Videoschool' for churches and charities CTVC,
a mainstream Christian TV production company that makes
programmes for BBC, ITV and Channel 4, has recently
hosted a course in which professional cameramen and
directors offered training to individuals from churches
and charities. Nick
Stuart, who heads up the course, explains: "Churches
and charities are increasingly using home-made videos in
worship, teaching and campaigning. Videoschool can
help people use domestic camera equipment to produce
really high quality videos. We can help them
develop skills in shooting, editing and script
development. We can also advise on what sort of kit
to buy, and how to avoid the pitfalls." The
weekend course is based around the production of a short
video and was highly practical. The course will be
repeated in the Autumn, when there will also be a weekend
devoted to editing skills. For
more information: Jean Gurteen on 020 8955 8980 or
email training@hillside-studios.co.uk. Every
four minutes in the The
Children's Society works with children most in need of
support - those who are at risk on the streets, disabled,
in trouble with the law or refugees. It provides
practical help and advice as well as research and
campaigning back-up. Now
Children's Society is appealing for YOUR help. It
says: "We
urgently need YOUR help to speak out for these children.
We need you to give talks and raise awareness locally of
the difficulties they face. Join our dedicated team of
volunteers, and you will have the opportunity to meet new
people, learn new skills and know that your commitment
will make a real difference to children's lives. We ask
for just a few hours a week and will fully support you
with relevant information and training." If you
think you might help, please call the Supporter Action
Line on 0845 300 1128 to find out "how your time
could bring hope, love and understanding to the
vulnerable children we work with." |