CofE continues work on same-sex blessings and gay clergy marriage
The Church of England’s “Living in Love and Faith” programme on sexuality, relationships, marriage and gender identity, may have been brought to a close, but the unresolved issues remain on the table. The CofE has announced that the Bishop of Sodor and Man, Tricia Hillas, will chair the new Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Working Group, on legal questions around special services involving Prayers of Love and Faith. It will explore the approval process for bespoke services under canon law, as well as what legislation would be needed to license or ordain same-sex married clergy. The Bishop of Winchester, Philip Mounstephen, will chair a Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Pastoral Consultative Group, offering pastoral advice and guidance on individual cases. The LLF programme led to the introduction of public prayers of blessing, dedication, and thanksgiving for use with same-sex couples within existing services.
British Medical Association concern over NHS adoption of antisemitism definition
The British Medical Association (BMA) has voted to express grave concern over the NHS’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, without proper consultation. A motion put forward at the BMA conference in Brighton argues that the adoption might have a chilling effect on legitimate political speech and professional expression of ethical concerns about Israel’s actions in Palestine. In October 2025, the then Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, requested that NHS England and all health bodies adopt the IHRA definition to ensure consistency and enforce a zero-tolerance policy against racism in healthcare. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition states: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities”. It cites eleven examples of antisemitism, including holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the State of Israel. Jewish Chronicle report here.
Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church founded by Sun Myung Moon
The Supreme Court in Japan has upheld lower court rulings ordering the dissolution of the Unification Church, founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon in Seoul, South Korea. The dissolution order was made in March 2025, following the assassination of the former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the previous year. His killer, Tetsuya Yamagami, believed that Abe had links to the church which he blamed for bankrupting his mother after persuading her to donate millions of pounds from the family fortune. The courts have dismissed several appeals by the church and liquidation procedures are now underway. Meanwhile, the current leader of the church, Hak Ja Han, the widow of the founder, is held in detention in south Korea on charges of bribery and political corruption, over gifts given to the former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee, which she denies. A press conference will be held in Brussels next week by academics who believe the dissolution leaves profound concerns about the future of religious freedom in Japan.
CofE appoints new director of faith and public life
Dr Linsay Cunningham, currently director of strategy and partnerships at the NHS Humber Health Partnership, has been appointed as the Church of England’s new Director of Faith and Public Life. Her doctorate was in contemporary Chinese perspectives on global politics and her CV includes time as a Labour councillor in York. In her new role, she will lead a team responsible for the national-level engagement of the Church of England with public policy, ethics and political life, relations with other churches and faith communities, and theological support for the Church’s concerns.
Oxford Christian apologist warns that AI can be ‘exploited by the devil‘
The emeritus professor of mathematics at Oxford University and devout Christian, John Lennox, has called for greater regulation of Artificial Intelligence, arguing in his latest book that AI is a risky technology that can be exploited by “bad actors” – and these include the devil. In “God, AI and the End of History”, he warns that artificial intelligence could increase the threat of authoritarianism and totalitarianism, and undermine human freedom if left unregulated. In an interview with Peter Stanford, published in The Telegraph, the 82-year-old, known for energetic debates with atheist Richard Dawkins, also warns that AI is being turned into a god created by humans and worshipped, the opposite of the Christian message. Read the review here.
Catholic missionaries report new humanitarian crisis in DRC
Catholic missionaries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are reporting another humanitarian crisis after militant attacks left dozens of villages abandoned. They have contacted the charity Aid to the Church in Need, saying that villagers have fled with nothing, and have travelled distances of some 80 miles, to find refuge in cities. Father Claudino Gomes said villagers have abandoned their farms: “The fields, the bean and peanut plantations, which were ready to be harvested and sown with rice, have been abandoned. All the cattle was lost, houses set ablaze. It’s all gone. The ghost of hunger is already visible.” One missionary in a city where refugees have fled, says there are difficulties finding enough food. Another reports that families in cities are opening their doors to groups of between 10 and 20 people. Story is here .
