Happy New Year – our daily bulletins resume today
Contribution to religious life acknowledged in the New Year Honours list
The New Year’s Honours List, created to reward national achievements, included sportsmen and women, politicians, business leaders and pillars of local communities. The awards to people of faith included:
- Michael Eavis, lifelong Methodist, patron of John Wesley’s New Room in Bristol and creator of Glastonbury festival, Knighted
- The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) for his role in the coronation
- The Dean of Westminster, David Hoyle, MBE, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
- Rev Nicky Gumbel, pioneer of the Alpha Course and formerly of Holy Trinity Brompton, CBE
- Sandra Godley, gospel singer, songwriter, former presenter of Radio CWR religious show, OBE
- Justin Cohen, co-publisher Jewish News, MBE
- Gerald Ronson, philanthropist and founder of the Community Security Trust, Knighted
- Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, senior rabbi at Masorti Judaism, OBE
- Dr Gian Parkash Gopal, founder of the Oxford Hindu Temple and Community Centre Project, MBE
Archbishop’s Christmas and New Year messages on peace and service
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, used his New Year’s message on BBC-1 to urge people to stand with those suffering because of war and to seek to make peace, referencing the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas. He also praised the Armed Forces for embodying service. In his Christmas Day sermon, he repeated the theme saying that in a world beset with violence, the message of Jesus Christ was to challenge a power and wealth obsessed world, and to heed God’s call to seek to serve, not to be served.
Pope’s Christmas and New Year messages for peace
Pope Francis, in his “Urbi et Orbi” blessing on Christmas Day, prayed for world peace and called for every effort to stop violence and help those who are suffering. New Year’s Day isa also the day in the Catholic tradition to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, mother of Jesus, and the world day for peace. The Pope highlighted the central role of women in the history of the church, and then urged world leaders to use Artificial Intelligence to achieve human fraternity and peace.
“Consistent plan” to split the Church of England – from within its ranks
An article published in Via Media on 30 December, charts moves by evangelicals to form an alternative and parallel group within the Church of England, opposed to same sex blessings and conservative in theology, with its own bishops and funding. The author, Nic Tall, member of the Church of England General Synod and secretary of the General Synod gender and sexuality group, said the breakaway organisation had been a “consistent plan” from opponents of change within the CofE since 2016. His detailed history shows the role of Holy Trinity Brompton, The Church Revitalisation Trust and prominent evangelical leaders in the new movements. Evangelicals set up in July last year, the company “AZ Alliance Ltd”, stating its business as “activities of religious organisations” and the article reports its progress in recruiting clergy and congregations. In the robust debate that followed publication, several commentators said the split had been in the making for decades, but was accelerating now with separate funding and oversight announced only two days after the bishops announced the date for prayers of same sex blessings to be used.
Church leader killed in Sheffield car crash
Chris Marriott, an active member and formerly on the staff of Christ Central Church in Sheffield, was killed as a car hit him while he was giving first aid to a woman lying on the street. He was on a post Christmas walk with his family and the news has stunned his Christian community, who said he died as he lived, caring for others. A 23-year-old man has been charged with his murder and five counts of attempted murder. The woman is still in hospital in a serious condition.
Hate crime rise in England since 7 October “shocking and deeply worrying”
The Press Association has compiled figures from police forces showing the rise in hate crime since the Hamas attack on southern Israel on 7 October. Greater Manchester Police recorded 74 antisemitic offences compared with 15 for the same period in 2022; West Yorkshire Police recorded 53, compared with 10; West Midlands Police recorded 22 compared with one; and Merseyside Police recorded 20 compared with four. British Transport Police had one of the largest increases, recording 87 antisemitic offences in the month after October 7, up from eight in the same period in 2022. The rise in Islamophobic attacks was mixed: West Yorkshire 49 up from 29; Greater Manchester 34 in 2023 compared to 43; West Midlands 25 compared to 33. Charities have described the data as shocking and deeply worrying.
Census data shows Sikhs are healthier and better at looking after elderly relatives
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released statistics exploring data from the 2021 Census for those who identify as Sikh in England and Wales. It highlights a variety of trends, including comparative levels of home ownership, employment, educational attainment, health, and marriage. In the Census, 525,865 people identified as Sikh, which is just under 1 per cent of the population and an increase from 430,020 in 2011. There had been an unsuccessful campaign to include an “ethnic” tick box, but the census showed 81 per cent said their religion was Sikh alone and 0.3 per cent — 1,725 — said this was their ethnicity, not their religion. Sikhs are healthier than the wider population, more own their homes, more live in multi-family and multi-generational homes, and more have a degree than the wider population. Read Hardeep Singh’s report here.
No break in conflict in Israel/Gaza or Ukraine
The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said 2023 was a year of enormous suffering, violence, and climate chaos. He urged humanity to stand together in 2024, to find shared solutions and build trust. Missiles continued to be fired from Israel and Gaza and the Israel Defence Force said the war will continue during 2024 with troop deployments adjusted to prepare for prolonged fighting. In Ukraine, co-ordinated Russian attacks at the weekend killed 12 and included a missile strike on the Orthodox Holy Presentation Church in Odessa. Dramatic video footage shows the ceiling collapsing, missing the priest by a matter of inches. Premier Christian News story here
