Church of England prepares for war
The Church of England is prepariing for war, at a time of rising concern about the “threat of a very serious conflict involving the UK”. The Bishop to the Armed Forces, Hugh Nelson, told a press conference that the challenges must be taken seriously, as the church did not want to be in a state of unpreparedness before a crisis, as had happened with the Covid pandemic. In a report to the church’s governing body, the General Synod, he said that while a conflict directly involving the UK is not an immediate risk, the level of global peacefulness continues to decline, with many of the leading factors that precede major conflicts higher than they have been since the end of WW2. The report says resources for churches will be published this summer including background on Christian thinking about war; materials for working in schools on issues of peace, war and conflict; resources for liturgy and prayer; and practical suggestions for making churches hospitable and welcoming to Armed Forces personnel and their families. There are nearly 200 Church of England chaplains serving in the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force and the synod will vote on changes to make it easier for them to serve in different places at short notice. The General Synod meeting in York in early July, will also include an address by Brigadier Jaish Mahan, Deputy Commander Reserves, 1st (UK) Division, who will brief members on the global context and the challenges faced by the UK, as well as sharing his experience as a Christian serving in the military.
Clergy pay and redress for abuse survivors on synod agenda
The agenda for the general synod meeting in York also includes a debate on the Church of England’s recently announced £1.6 billion three-year national spending plans and a request for Synod to approve proposals to increase clergy pensions. Legislation to set up the redress scheme for victims and survivors of church-related abuse will be discussed, and time will be given to considering church growth and outreach. The synod papers can be found here
New York’s Muslim mayoral candidate faces Islamophobic abuse
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim man has become the first Muslim Democrat nominee for New York mayor in a shock election result, coming ten points ahead of Andrew Cuomo, the former governor. Mamdani, a member of the New York State Assembly, was born in Kampala, Uganda and moved to New York with his family aged seven. He has described Trump’s ICE raids as “fascist”, has been an outspoken critic of Israel and said “globalise the Intifada” was a symbolic call for Palestinian human rights, which led to accusations of antisemitism. ITN reports that he has already received Islamophobic abuse online, with Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posting an AI-generated image of the Statue of Liberty draped in a burqa. The Guardian says he has received death threats and been called a “Hamas terrorist sympathizer” and “jihadist terrorist”, along with calls for his deportation.
Dalai Lama expected to address his succession by 6 July
The Telegraph reports on the widespread speculation that the Dalai Lama will choose his 90th birthday on 6 July, to address the succession of the role as leader of Tibetan Buddhism. He is the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, a role that stretches back 800 years, and was chosen when he was aged two and enthroned at the age of five. Since 1959, he has lived in exile in the town of Dharamsala, northern India, following the Chinese invasion of Tibet. In 2011, the Dalai Lama said: “When I am about ninety, I will consult the high lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Tibetan public… and re‑evaluate whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue or not.” He also said he would leave clear written instructions if the lineage were to persist. Morning Chronicle report quoting his translator is here
Goldsmiths launches antisemitism action plan after critical report
Goldsmiths, part of the University of London is launching an antisemitism action plan after an independent report found a culture of antisemitism on campus. Examples included graffiti featuring swastikas and the phrase “Gas the Jews”, staff in tears in a hostile environment, a Jewish student feeling pressure to move out after a mezuzah, a parchment affixed to a doorpost, was removed and desecrated, and another student being abused after their kitchen utensils were used to cook pork. Goldsmiths accepted the inquiry’s findings without reservation and committed itself to implementing all 17 recommendations. It has appointed Professor Adam Dinham to lead a “two-year antisemitism action plan”, including tracking antisemitism, expanding chaplaincy work, training students and staff, and ensuring robust policies to prevent and intervene in future cases. Vice chancellor, Professor Frances Corner, endorsed the findings and said she was “sorry that our community and culture fell short of the behaviours we expect”.
Pope Leo pledges commitment to participation in church decisions
Pope Leo XIV has pledged his commitment to the spirit of “synodality”, greater consultation within the church. Meeting leaders of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, he said Pope Francis’ legacy was that “synodality is a style, an attitude that helps us to be Church by promoting authentic experiences of participation and communion”. The bishops are “the body entrusted with gathering these fruits and engaging in forward-looking reflection.”
Continuing legal issues for ‘The Chosen’ blockbuster film series
Dallas Jenkins, the man behind “The Chosen”, the hugely successful online film series about the life of Jesus, has issued a statement saying that its link with Angel Studios, a Christian media and film distribution company, is severed. This follows a private arbitration over alleged contract violations, which ruled in The Chosen’s favour. The CEO of Angel Studios, a Utah based media company, said it will appeal. A total of £100 million was raised by crowd funding to produce the first episodes of The Chosen and it has since been viewed by 280 million people and grossed $280 million. The Chosen season five can now be seen on Amazon Prime and The Chosen app.
Elim Pentecostal church criticises abortion and assisted dying votes
The Elim Pentecostal Church, which has 500 churches in Britian including some with thousands of members, has issued a statement denouncing the recent Commons votes decriminalising abortion and supporting assisted dying. The Rev Malcolm J. Duncan, chair of the church’s Public Theology, Pastoral Ethics and Justice Taskforce, said they “reject the individualism of our legislators’ decisions and the way in which we are moving from the foundation of human dignity in all persons toward a place where one person’s dignity is more important than another’s”. The statement says the church believes in the dignity of human life, the dying and the disabled, and “society is fragmenting because we are losing the cohesive story of human dignity”. The church is asking MPs to refuse to legalise assisted dying.
