Day 27: War in the Middle East
More than 400 people, including foreign nationals, have been allowed to leave Gaza. BBC daily war headlines here
Bishops hope for Middle East ceasefire “in the long term”
Church of England bishops have described the situation in Gaza as a humanitarian catastrophe, and they are calling for immediate humanitarian pauses and “hope for a ceasefire in the longer term”. In a statement issued after their residential meeting, they call for hostages to be released and safe areas for humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. They condemn the “terrorist actions of Hamas on 7th October”, confirm Israel’s right to self-defence, and appeal to all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law. They are also “gravely concerned” at reports of Palestinians killed in the West Bank. Amid heightened tensions in the UK, the bishops say inter-community groups should maintain the closest possible contact, and the church should galvanise and support “those who are modelling something different and seeking the way of peace”.
US national strategy against Islamophobia
The White House is launching a national strategy to counter Islamophobia which has spiked since the war broke out. It says the strategy will ensure that “every American has the freedom to live their lives in safety and without fear for how they pray, what they believe, and who they are”. The Associated Press quotes a Muslim community leader in Chicago saying that the initiative would be “dead on arrival” with the Muslim community until the President condemned calls for the eradication of Palestinians from Gaza and apologised for saying he had “no confidence” in Hamas’ death counts from Israeli strikes.
Pope will attend Cop28 after warning the world is collapsing through climate change
Pope Francis will travel to Dubai for the COP28 climate change conference in December, soon after warning that the church’s response to the crisis has been inadequate. In “Laudate Deum”, a sequel to his encyclical on climate change, he said the world “is collapsing and may be nearing breaking point”. Climate change was “one of the principal challenges facing society and the global community” whose effects were borne by the most vulnerable. He announced his trip to Dubai during an interview with the Italian station RAI and when asked about the health risk as he is almost 87 years old, he said “Still alive, you know.”
Senior pastors at Vineyard Church resign
Neil and Janet Young, senior pastors at the Causeway Coast Vineyard church in Northern Ireland have resigned as they no longer support an ongoing investigation into allegations including spiritual abuse and narcissistic behaviour against Alan Scott, who was a senior pastor at the church for 20 years. In a statement, the church said the couple no longer fully support a statement of apology issued on 2 July which said the church acknowledged that wrong and hurtful conduct had occurred and apologised to all those who were hurt, harmed, mistreated or in any way negatively impacted. Vineyard was started in 1987, influenced by US evangelist John Wimber. It has 100 churches in the UK and 2,500 churches on six continents.
US Speaker Mike Johnson labelled “Christo-fascist”
The new US House Speaker, Mike Johnson, a devout Baptist with conservative views, has been labelled a Christian nationalist, a fundamentalist and a “Christo fascist” who seeks to impose his religion on others like the Taliban. As an attorney, he represented Christian organisations against abortion and same sex relationships and since his election he has said that the Bible is his worldview. Replying to the criticism, he told Fox News that comparison with the Taleban was disgusting and absurd and everyone who believes in a Judeo-Christian worldview should be “terribly offended by that”. He was not trying to establish Christianity as the national religion: “If you truly believe in the Bible’s commands .. it’s impossible to be a hateful person because the greatest command in the Bible is that you love God with everything you have, and you love your neighbour as yourself”. He reflected: “What really hurts me is that it really is a statement about everyone who believes in this, that the country was built upon – our Judaeo-Christian foundation is the heritage of our country”.
Bishops call for allowing same sex clergy to marry “without delay”
The Church Times reports that 44 bishops have issued a statement saying they hope that pastoral guidance allowing priests to be in same-sex marriages will be issued “without delay”. They were reacting to a decision by House of Bishops which voted to delay the guidance on this for further work. But the statement says a swift end is needed to end the uncertainty. The statement also says they also want to secure authorisation of services of blessing as soon as possible. They “long for the day when LGBTQIA+ people will know themselves to be unquestionably included in the life and all ministries of our Church”. Church Times story with list of signatories here
20 years since Gene Robinson became the first LGBT bishop in the Anglican Communion
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the consecration of Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church of the USA and in the global Anglican communion. In an interview with the Episcopal News Service, the bishop, now aged 76, said the Episcopal Church had been brave and courageous in 2003, as his consecration led to congregations leaving the Episcopal Church and outrage in the global Anglican communion, resulting in the breakaway GAFCON organisation. He told ENS he received his first death threat on the day of his election and “fairly regularly after that”. But now there are five gay and lesbian active bishops in the Episcopal church in the USA, which he calls “my best legacy”, because their opportunity to be elected was connected to him and he was proud to be among those who created an inclusive church. Bishop Gene is “bishop in residence” at St Thomas’ Washington DC and occasionally preaches and celebrates at Washington National Cathedral.
UK Rickshaw runners prepare to cross India in a sponsored charity journey
108 people form the UK are planning to take part in the Sewa UK Rickshaw Run 23 team, where teams of three will travel in rickshaws across India, to raise funds for a dental clinic in Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh. Sewa UK is part of an international charity started in India in 1989 with universal humanitarian values. The event takes place from 29 December 2023 – 15 January 2024 and organisers hope to raise £500,000 through sponsorship fundraising via social media. One of the participants explains that they hope to establish a “state of the art dental unit” to support people in the surrounding 500 villages.
