Campaign Against Antisemitism says resignations show BBC impartiality ‘is a sham’
One hour after the unprecedented double resignation of the BBC’s director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness, following a series of controversies and a leaked internal BBC memo in The Telegraph, the Campaign Against Antisemitism called for an “independent inquiry into BBC bias”. A statement said: “The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness should be seen as an admission through gritted teeth that the much vaunted impartiality of the BBC has been a sham.” Outgoing CEO of News Deborah Turness said: “In public life leaders need to be fully accountable, and that is why I am stepping down. While mistakes have been made, I want to be absolutely clear recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.” Telegraph story here, Prospect comment here. BBC coverage here
Archbishop of York’s visit to the West Bank cut short by Israeli police
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, had to cut short a visit to a family in the south Hebron hills, on the West Bank, on Saturday, after Israeli police ordered the Church of England delegation to leave the area. They were in the village of Susya, in the occupied West Bank, meeting a family injured in an attack on their land by Israeli settlers. Church Times reporter, Francis Martin, who is covering the visit to the West Bank and east Jerusalem, says Israeli settlers had earlier blocked the road preventing the delegation from leaving an area where they met campaigners against the demolition of homes. The road was cleared when police were called. The Archbishop said the delegation is showing solidarity with people whose homes are under threat, but police and “a kind of local militia” were following them. They had been able to meet the brother of a man killed by a settler, and a woman injured in an settler attack on her home – who baked him bread. Full report in the Church Times here
British Muslim Trust reports ‘alarming spike’ in attacks on mosques
The British Muslim Trust has compiled data which shows that between July and October, 25 mosques across Britain were targeted in 27 attacks, described as “an alarming sudden spike in attacks on Mosques and the use of religious and national symbols to intimidate British Muslims”. The report named “A Summer of Division”, says more than 40 per cent of incidents featured British or English flags and Christian nationalist symbols or slogans “Christ is king” and “Jesus is king”. The incidents include a mosque set alight in Sussex, an air gun fired through windows of a mosque in Merseyside, a paving slab through a mosque window in Manchester, and a window smashed with a metal pole in Glasgow. It says there was a step change in violent attacks after August: “While some framed this summer’s Raise the Colours campaign and the Unite the Kingdom Rally as a call for national unity, this briefing confirms that the two coincided with incidents where the flag itself became a tool of ethno-nationalist intimidation. For many Muslims, these were not random acts but signals that their belonging in British society was being challenged because of their faith.” Report is here
Christians for a Welcoming Britain stand against Christian nationalism
A grassroots Christian campaign has been set up called Christians for a Welcoming Britain, whose supporters from all over the country appeal for migrant justice, and support refugees and asylum seekers. They have been present at counter protests outside asylum hotels and they share opposition to the way Christian symbols are used by nationalists to justify their cause. Last Friday, they held a prayer walk around Hyde Park, stopping at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates with a large red cross of woven red poppies and roses, reclaiming the St George’s flag and remembering those who died. During the prayer walk, attendees also reflected on the impact of growing inequality in the UK. The group has won written support from several church leaders including the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who shared a statement speaking out against Christian nationalism and in support of refugees: “It is more than time to challenge the story that every migrant approaching our shores is an unfriendly alien with unintelligible and hostile values. It is essential for us to see, not enemy invaders, but vulnerable people like us, committed to finding safety for themselves and those they love.”
Muslim think tank on ‘teetotal Britain’ recommends more alcohol-free spaces
The Muslim think tank Equi, has produced a report calling for alcohol free spaces and a national shift in how Britain approaches socialising, wellbeing and public health. The report makes clear that Muslims abstain from alcohol and says they “provide a model of prevention that benefits wider society”, calculating that this saves the government £1.62 billion each year. The report: A Teetotal Britain? Learning from Faith Communities, says faith-led organisations can act as trusted public health partners, supporting the NHS in prevention and early intervention, citing statistics suggesting alcohol harm costs the UK an estimated £40 billion a year, including £5.89 billion to the NHS. Examples are given of how alcohol-free spaces help regenerate local high streets and provide safer, more inclusive nightlife options. The report is here
Nottingham University removes single honours Theology degree
The University of Nottingham has announced that the Theology and Religious Studies single-honours degree, alongside Music, Modern Languages, Nursing and Microbiology, are to be removed. Joint honours courses in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics and Philosophy and Theology will remain, but the decision is a further blow to the study of Theology in Britain, with only 20 universities now offering single honours courses. At one time, Nottingham had three theological colleges feeding into it, which have closed. The university’s current Theology students have launched a petition to persuade the university to reverse its decision, with a final ruling expected on 25 November. Initiated by student Arabella Moore-Smith, it says that Theology is a subject of vital importance to the world and its study is “absolutely central” to the understanding of culture and moral awareness”. The petition is here
Justin Welby preaches in the USA
The Times reports that the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has given sermons at services in Georgia, in the USA, on All Souls Day – 2 November. Kaya Burgess reports that Welby was in America to “undertake reconciliation and mediation work on global crises” and was invited by the Bishop of Atlanta, Rob Wright, to preach at Emory University and then Holy Trinity in Decatur, Georgia, where he said of Canterbury Cathedral: “The archbishops, of course, [they] quite rightly put their memorials on the floor so they can be trodden on forever more, a feeling they will have become familiar with during their ministry.” The report suggests Dr Welby now lives in the Diocese of Southwark and is not yet applied for permission to officiate in the Church of England, after he resigned a year ago over his handling of abuse allegations against the abuser, John Smyth. The Times report is here
Choir director at Sandringham royal church resigns
Dr Claire Stewart, the music director of St Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham where the royal family attend services, including on Christmas Day, has resigned over a reported row over the Rector’s attempts to reform the choir. A review is said to have found that the choir was dedicated but had a limited repertoire and needed to aspire to higher standards. There are reports that parishioners were upset and some children have been withdrawn, with one rehearsal cancelled. But the Diocese of Norwich says there is a full schedule of services planned at Sandringham this Christmas, including the choir. Dr Stewart, who held the role of 12 years, was on sick leave during the year and confirmed she had left, but said it would be inappropriate to comment further.
Burnley street pastor told John 3:16 could be ‘hate speech’
Pastor Mick Fleming, who ministers to people living on the streets in Burnley and lives in a campervan, said a police officer told him that the Bible verse John 3:16, stuck on the back of his van, could be seen as hate speech. Telling the story on his YouTube channel, he said an officer approached him in a petrol station in Burnley to offer “friendly advice”, warning that if someone complained, police would be obliged to investigate. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life”. Pastor Mick said he was shocked and asked followers whether they believed the verse could be considered offensive. “I’m not going to change it,” he said. “For me it’s an integral message of how real change is possible.” Pastor Mick came to national attention during Covid, when he was interviewed in a BBC film about his work giving food to vulnerable people during the Covid lockdowns. Daily Mail story here
