Eight faith ministers in 10 years as Miatta Fahnbulleh resigns
The Faith Minister, Miatta Fahnbulleh, was the first government minister to resign, urging Keir Starmer to quit after Labour suffered heavy losses in the elections last Thursday. She said her constituents in Peckham made it really clear they had lost faith and confidence in the prime minister: “There had been too many mistakes, [such as] the winter fuel payment, disability cuts, that suggested we weren’t clear about our values and our purpose and mission as a government.” Her resignation means there have now been eight faith ministers in ten years. In reverse order: Miatta Fahnbulleh, Lord Kahn, Baroness Scott, Colin Bloom, Lord Greenhalgh, James Younger, Lord Bourne.
UK’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief is first MP to call for Starmer to step down
David Smith MP, the UK’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, was the first MP to resign, calling for Starmer to set a clear timetable for his departure. In an open letter, he said Starmer was a man of integrity, but it was time for him to “pass on the baton”. He said a new Beveridge report for the 21st century was needed to realign social security with modern lives, and a renewed covenant between the government and the people. David Smith is a practising Christian who previously worked at the Bible Society and Tearfund. At close of play yesterday, 92 MPs have called for Starmer to step down. Premier Christian News says the list includes known Christian MPs Anna Dixon (chair of Christians on the Left), Ruth Jones, Sarah Smith, Sarah Owen, Cat Eccles, Cat Smith, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Andy McDonald, Paulette Hamilton, Rachael Maskell, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Alex Ballinger. But in the absence of a proper process to challenge the leader, Starmer clung on, and today the King will open another session of parliament outlining the government’s plans for the future, while the government and its leader are in a fragile state. Starmer is the sixth prime minister in ten years.
URC changes magazine name from Reform to Reformed after consternation over mistaken political links
The national magazine of the United Reformed Church (URC) has changed its name from Reform to Reformed, after 86 per cent of readers asked for a change of name “fed up of people assuming they were reading the magazine of Nigel Farage’s party, Reform UK”. The URC tells the story, quoting a reader in Surrey saying: “‘Much as I enjoy reading Reform, I make sure I hide the magazine when visitors come round, for obvious reasons.” It reports: “Several people bought subscriptions to Reform, thinking it was Nigel Farage’s magazine. They cancelled when they realised it was “some religious thing”, as one of them put it. Editor of Reformed, Stephen Tomkins, said, ‘We’d talked about changing the name for a few years as Reform UK became more prominent. But at first, we took the view, ‘It was our name first!’ Then readers started telling us the name was causing confusion and consternation in local churches. The URC is not attached to any political party and does not want the name of its magazine to suggest that it is. The URC’s General Assembly has taken positions on public issues that are at odds with Reform UK policy, e.g. on migration and asylum, but Reform UK is not the only UK party for whom this is true.” The URC says the title is intended to be recognisable as the same magazine, and to reflect the name of the church.
Reform UK proposes saying the Lord’s Prayer and singing the national anthem at council meetings
Kent County Council is to vote on whether to say the Lord’s Prayer and sing the national anthem at the start of its meetings. A committee has voted in favour, but it has to go to full council on 21 May for final approval. Reform councillor Richard Palmer proposed the idea because “We are a Christian nation” and suggested councillors should be filmed and live streamed saying the prayer and singing the national anthem, in spite of objections from the County Council’s lawyer over privacy of religious belief. Other councillors said the idea was “absolutely bonkers” and “really inappropriate”, but Reform has an overwhelming majority and the proposal went through. BBC report here, Local Government Lawyer report here
Trump to raise case of jailed Catholic publisher Jimmy Lai, at meeting in Beijing
President Donald Trump has said he will raise the case of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon, British citizen and Catholic convert, Jimmy Lai, when he meets Xi Jinping in Beijing this week. Lai, aged 78, is the most prominent of hundreds arrested in Hong Kong under security laws, after criticism of China was published through his paper, Apple Daily. His faith shaped his commitment to democracy and human dignity and is serving a 20-year sentence on charges including collusion with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials. Trump said he would again press for Lai’s release, and he will also highlight the detention of Protestant pastor Jin Mingri, the pastor of Zion Church of Beijing, an independent Chinese church.
Ahmadiyya Muslims hold peace summit this weekend
The National Peace Symposium, a key event of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, will be held this Saturday at the organisation’s headquarters in Tilford, Surrey. 600 international guests including politicians, diplomats, faith and civic leaders are expected to attend the event which is titled “Absolute Global Justice – The Foundation for True Peace.” His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, will address the audience advocating peace and religious harmony in a world where nationalism, self-interest and injustice are fuelling wars.
Churches urged to consider ethical issues when serving food
Many churches are failing to address the ethical implications of food, according to a survey of more than 600 UK churchgoers. Only 12 per cent said their church always considers ethical issues when serving food, despite food playing a central role in church life, from post-service refreshments to community projects such as food banks. Ethical choices such as Fairtrade, locally sourced, organic or plant-based options remain limited. The lead researcher, emeritus professor and trustee of Green Christian, Tim Cooper, urged churches to adopt ethical food policies, arguing that cost and complexity should not excuse inaction. The survey found a relatively high proportion of Roman Catholics rarely or never serve refreshments after services, and Pentecostal churches were most likely to provide snacks and sweets.
