Spurgeon’s College closes down with immediate effect
The Board of Trustees of Spurgeon’s College, which has trained Baptist ministers for 169 years, has announced its closure with immediate effect. In a statement, it says Spurgeon’s has faced significant financial challenges for several years, “driven by declining student numbers and an increasingly complex and difficult financial landscape”. It explains that a partnership with a charitable foundation which funded the college, was pulled without warning on 21 July and, as a result, “the College can no longer sustain its financial operations and has been left with no choice but to enter the insolvency process immediately”. It said the decision was made with “deep sadness and great regret” and acknowledges it will be a profoundly shock to many, promising: “Our immediate priority is to protect the interests of our students and staff as far as possible during this deeply challenging time.” The Office for Students has advised that Manchester and Liverpool Hope Universities will validate courses for existing students. There are five other colleges in Britain which train Baptist ministers, in Manchester, Oxford, Bristol, Cardiff and Paisley.
Jesuit schools in Derbyshire close due to financial pressures
Mount St Mary’s College and Barlborough Hall Jesuit schools in Spinkhill, Derbyshire, have announced they are closing because of financial pressure, bringing to an end a 200 year history. In a statement, the chair of governors said the decision was made “with profound sadness and a heavy heart” and they understand the shock and distress this news will cause. The schools have been supported by the Jesuits in Britain, gifting the school land, buildings and investments, and providing over £3 million in loans. But “the level of debt and lack of a realistic path to financial viability mean we have no alternative but to proceed into Administration”. The Daily Mail reports that Mount St Mary’s headmaster, Jack Murphy, said the impact of VAT on fees and the removal of business rates relief had hit it hard, like many other private schools.
Holy See: ‘Two-State Solution only viable path for Israel and Palestine’
The Vatican’s representative at the United Nations has joined calls for a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine. He was speaking during a three-day conference with UN member states debating how to establish peace. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio and permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, said the Vatican unequivocally condemns the terrorist attack of 7 October but also emphasised that self-defence must be contained within the “traditional limits of necessity and proportionality.” He said the Holy See is very concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the scores of children killed and homes, hospitals, places of worship destroyed, and he called for a ceasefire. He said the two-state solution “is the only viable and equitable path toward a just and lasting peace”. The Vatican “remains committed to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and it continues to back their legitimate aspirations to live in freedom, security, and dignity within an independent and sovereign State.”
Methodist leaders call on government to recognise Palestine State ‘without delay’
The president of the Methodist conference, Rev Richard Andrew, and the vice president, Matthew Forsyth, have issued a statement saying they are “appalled and horrified” by the situation in Gaza and the images of emaciated children. They said there is a moral duty to act on the warnings from aid agencies of mass starvation and malnutrition. “We welcome the pause in military activity, but this is not enough. Red lines in international law have been crossed by the Israeli Government and they and Hamas must provide explicit acceptance of the right to peace, security and prosperity for all Israelis and Palestinians.. The time is now right for the Government to take decisive action to recognise the state of Palestine, its right to self-determination, and to ensure safety for all its citizens across the West Bank and we urge them to do this without delay.” Statement is here
Tearfund partners: People are dying in front of us in Gaza
Tearfund reports that its partners in Gaza are seeing people starving to death while the supplies that could save them are piled up within walking distance. It says “This is a man-made crisis: for months, aid has been piled up on the border, with only a fraction now being allowed through, nowhere near enough to meet the desperate needs of two million people. Withholding food, water and medical supplies is a cruel and blatant breach of international humanitarian law, and countries which don’t act to prevent it are complicit”. Tearfund’s regional director, Safa Hijazeen, said: “As Christians, how can we not be horrified by seeing God’s children starve to death? We cannot just watch and do nothing.” Health authorities in Gaza said more than 1,000 people had been killed while trying to secure food at sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Israel denies this and says it is a lie. The US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, will visit Gaza today to inspect food distribution sites, in order tosecure a plan to deliver more food and to hear people in Gaza tell them at first-hand what is happening.
Man, 76, arrested after children fall ill at Christian camp
A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison after children fell ill at a Christian summer camp in Stathern, Leicestershire. They were staying at Stathern Lodge, owned by the Braithwaite Gospel Trust, which hires out the premises as a hostel. Eight children were taken to hospital as a precaution but have been discharged. Leicester Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over its response. It was first contacted on Sunday but did not attend the scene until Monday. Police say the man was detained on Monday evening in a nearby pub.
St John Henry Newman set to become newest Doctor of the Church
Pope Leo XIV will officially declare Saint John Henry Newman, the most recently canonised saint from England and Wales, as the 38th “Doctor of the Church”, a title given to theologians whose influence remains. He was an Anglican vicar in the 19th century, one of the leaders of The Oxford Movement, which wanted to see a return of Catholicism within the church. In 1845, he converted to Roman Catholicism and in 1879 became a Cardinal. In 2019 he was canonised as a saint. Among his books, he wrote about the importance of conscience, the development of doctrine, and the relationship between faith and reason.
Vatican City establishes solar farm to become self-sufficient in energy
Italy has agreed to a Vatican plan to turn a 1,000-acre field north of Rome into a solar farm to make Vatican City self-sufficient, generate enough electricity to meet its needs and turn Vatican City into the world’s first carbon-neutral state. The Associated Press reports that the proposal was controversial and the agreement stipulates that the development of the Santa Maria Galeria site will preserve the agricultural use of the land and minimize the environmental impact. Excess electricity generated by the farm will go to the local community.
Southern Baptist ethics president resigns after four tumultuous years
Brent Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, has resigned after four tumultuous years and divisions over public policy positions. He held conservative views on same sex marriage and abortion, but clashed with Baptists who wanted to jail women for having abortions. According to Bob Smietana at the Religion News Service: “He and the agency supported immigration reform rather than mass deportations .. he also supported refugee resettlement — which also put him and the ERLC at odds with the MAGA movement”. Last year there was an attempt to abolish the Commision, and there was a mistaken public announcement that he had been fired, later rescinded. Bob Smietana reports: “In 2021, Leatherwood was criticized for not being in line with President Donald Trump’s MAGA agenda. Critics also say the agency has been out of touch with local churches and has become too liberal on issues such as immigration. Those critics had called for Leatherwood’s resignation”. RNS story here
App offers Islamic resources for Muslim children this summer
Muslim Kids TV is providing an Islamic alternative for children aged 2 – 12 during the summer Holidays. It is offering 15,000 resources including Islamic and educational content; Islamic videos, games, colouring pages and eBooks; stories of the Prophets and key Muslim figures in history; and Quranic lessons. There is even a Quran recitation buddy to help young learners practice their tajweed and build confidence in reading. Away from faith, it also offers arts and crafts, and problem-solving games. The website explains that it aims to draw children away from harmful and negative social media “by spreading the superpowers of kindness, inclusiveness, and hope through quality content”. Islam Channel story here
Muhammad and Olivia top baby names for 2024
Muhammad was the most popular name for baby boys in 2024, with Noah and Oliver coming in second and third. Olivia and Amelia held the top two spots for girls’ names for a third year in a row, and Lily was third. The list is compiled by the Office for National Statistics using birth registration data. New entries to the top 100 names for girls include Eloise, Nora, Myla, Rosa, Athena, Sara and Zoe. New entries for boys include Austin, Nathan, Vinnie and Yahya. 5,721 boys were named Muhammad a further 1,760 were named Mohammed, and 986 were named Mohammad. 2,761 baby girls in England and Wales were named Olivia.
