From http://www.secularism.org.uk
The High Court today ruled that "The saying of prayers as part of the formal meeting of a Council is not lawful under s111 of the Local Government Act 1972, and there is no statutory power permitting the practice to continue". The judgement follows a Judicial Review initiated by the National Secular Society.
London, 8 February (ENInews) British Anglicans have called upon the United Kingdom government to support those in Nigeria seeking to protect religious minorities of all faiths and enable them to practice their religion without fear.
By Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd Nick Baines on his blog
My Brother's Keeper
According to the commentariat the General Synod of the Church of England is obsessing about women bishops today. The twitter sphere is buzzing with it. A bit disappointing, then, that the day begins with a ‘debate’ about the plight of Christians in Nigeria. Or… about time we got some proportion into the significance of what preoccupies us (the Synod as well as the commentators)?
The new Bishop of Durham reported from a recent visit to Nigeria on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He described the situation of the church in northern Nigeria as “systematically, deliberately and progressively being eliminated”. He explored political, economic and religious developments there and reminded us of the complexity of such realities. The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke of “the threatened disintegration of a society under pressure from Boko Haram, one of the most extreme organisations in the world”.
The importance of this debate this morning is that it exemplifies again the vital nature of the Anglican Communion. The Archbishop of York expressed the essential solidarity within the community – emphasising, as did others, that this is not just about us defending other Christians, but defending all people and minorities in Nigeria – by stating that whatever happens to ‘them’ happens to ‘us’. Hence, our prayers, support, advocacy and encouragement to politicians to use their weight in addressing this disastrous situation.
Several speakers in the debate related stories of how diocesan link relationships demonstrate their real value at times like this. Real people meet real people… on the ground… unalloyed by spin or selective reporting.
This is the heart of the Anglican Communion beating strongly: not about issues, but about fellowship in Christ, rooted in a common humanity under God, unafraid to speak truth to power.
Now back to women bishops…
As Patron of the Benefice, the Bishop of Birmingham is delighted to announce the appointment of the Revd Dr Joshva Raja as Vicar. This appointment has the goodwill of the parish representatives.
How to serve your community’s needs without reinventing the wheel in every parish: that is the challenge posed by a new project to be launched by the Archbishop of York at this week’s General Synod.
A prayer written at The Queen’s Direction by the Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee has been released. It will be used in the Jubilee Thanksgiving Service in St Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday, June 5th. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have commended it for use throughout the Church of England and other Churches are also welcome to use it.
Student protests and the debate around Higher Education funding have prompted this year’s Education Sunday theme – learning and serving – which issues a strong challenge about responsibility to others.
Residents of the Occupy London camp outside St Paul’s Cathedral are challenging church and society to consider their stance on global economics.
Ministers should not overrule tradition on the issue of same-sex marriages, the Archbishop of York has said.
The Archbishop of York, The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, will today preach at a service at the Webster Memorial Church in Kingston, to mark the beginning of Jamaica’s celebration of 50 years of independence.
Nestlé and Fairtrade Foundation invite farmers to York to celebrate two years of Fairtrade certified Four-Finger KIT KAT. Farmers and Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation UK meet with Archbishop of York’s Young Leaders at Manor School on the 26th January.
Thirty-nine parishes discovered last month that 2012 would be a good year for them when they were offered grants by the Church Buildings Council and The Wolfson Foundation to support essential repair works to their church buildings. The works range from major re-roofing projects through essential repairs to towers and parapets to improvements to drainage and rainwater disposal. Funding these works can be a difficult task for small parishes, particularly in rural areas with tiny communities.
London, 18 January (ENInews). Britain's High Court on 18 January ordered anti-corporate protesters evicted from a camp they have occupied for three months outside London's iconic St. Paul's Cathedral.
Too many criminals are sent to prison and punishing them in public instead could be more effective, the Anglican bishop for prisons has said.
The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, said it was simply not enough to lock up criminals, adding that community payback schemes could act as a deterrent for others and help to reduce reoffending.
Parishes throughout England can apply for a £10,000 prize for the best developed proposal for commissioning a new work of art for their church.
A groundbreaking course from Church Mission Society – in partnership with the Oxford Ministry Course at Ripon College Cuddesdon – has received official approval as a training pathway for Ordained Pioneer Ministry in the Church of England.
Women bishops central to General Synod agenda that includes debates on assisted dying, health care, House of Lords reform, and Eucharistic prayers for use when children are present.
The General Synod will meet at Church House from 2.15 pm on Monday 6 February until late-afternoon Thursday 9 February.
Christ’s unconditional love is illustrated through a mix of popular television programmes, films and Christian songs, activities, times of sharing, and prayer and scripture, in a new five-session course for Lent 2012. Called Experiencing God’s Love, it is compiled by the Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Revd Steven Croft, and published by Church House Publishing.
From the Church of England
The importance of local radio to the community, both in times of crisis or seasonal emergencies, and on a daily basis, must not be ignored warns the Church of England in a submission to the consultation on the BBC Delivering Quality First Review, which closed this week.
By Derek Williams, About My Area
Anglican Churches in Northamptonshire have for the first time joined together to fund a series of radio advertisements on Heart FM, and a poster campaign linked to them, to encourage people in the area to attend a Christmas service in a local church.
