Faith leaders on the front line offer Liz Truss a “to do” list
Faith leaders have listed their top priorities for Liz Truss and the new government, and they are united in a demand to deal with poverty. At a Religion Media Centre online briefing, they told stories of the utter deprivation they had found on the front line. Pastor Mick Fleming, from Church on the Street in Burnley, found a woman with her children on the street and helped them; and he provided an electric wheelchair for a disabled man also living on the street. The Rev Joanne Thorns, from North East Churches Acting Together, said there were no conversations with ministers or MPs; people in the north felt they were a forgotten part of the country. Daniel Singleton, national executive officer with Faith Action, urged the government to realise that faith groups were always there at the grassroots and said if the Conservatives wanted to keep the red wall seats, they would have to do something. . The panel offered the new Prime Minister a to do list including: work with faith groups not just in a crisis; listen to people on the front line because poverty is getting worse; give money to local initiatives not large; and listen to the women grassroots organisers. View the briefing here
Faith minister Paul Scully launches report on faith and government partnership
The minister of state for local government, faith and communities, Paul Scully, will address a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Faith in Society today (Wednesday), at the launch of a report “Keeping the Faith”. It looks at the extent to which Covid-19 has changed the nature of the partnership between faith groups and local authorities, after they worked closely together in communities. Paul Scully, MP for Sutton and Cheam, was appointed faith minister in July at the last re-shuffle.
Quakers urge Lis Truss to focus on climate justice, peace and truth in public life
Quakers in Britain have written to the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, urging the new government to end the UK’s dependency on fossil fuels, impose higher taxes on the oil and gas sector and ease costs for UK households. Long term pathways to peace and reconciliation should be pursued, including the UK taking part in negotiations towards nuclear disarmament. And Liz Truss should take steps to foster truth and integrity in public life to create the trust essential to peace and democracy.
CofE’s “Living in Love and Faith” sexuality consultation publishes reports
The Church of England project “Living in Love and Faith”, which has facilitated open discussions on human sexuality, is entering its closing phase. The CofE is divided over same sex marriage and this process was designed to increase mutual understanding and avoid division. A report on the discussion Listening with Love and Faith has been published with a more detailed technical report and a reflective essay entitled, Friendship and the Body of Christ. More than 6,000 people took part and the report says (p 111): “Across the 65 churches who had engaged with the course, those who explicitly stated they were in favour of change to the Church’s current teaching and those who were not in favour of change were almost equal in number” .
German President takes tough line on Russian Orthodox church
The war in Ukraine has figured highly at the 11th general assembly of the World Council of Churches in Germany, an event that happens only once every eight years. The WCC rejected a proposal to ban the Russian Orthodox church in June because of its support for the war in Ukraine. But in an address at the start of the Assembly, the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the Russian Orthodox leadership had “joined in the crimes of the war against Ukraine” and was leading the church down a dangerous path.
Ukraine church applies to be full member of the World Council of Churches
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine has applied to become a full member of the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches. Archbishop Yevstratiy raised the issue at the general assembly saying the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union had tried to erase the uniqueness of Ukrainian people over the past 300 years. His Orthodox Times interview is here
WCC President from Taunton
The WCC General Assembly agenda includes issues affecting Christianity in all countries, such as indigenous peoples, the church in Korea and Africa. The WCC has eight presidents, one of whom is the Rev. Dr Susan Durber of the United Reformed Church in Taunton.
Teacher with Christian beliefs jailed for contempt in transgender case
A school teacher in Ireland has been jailed for contempt of court in a case which began with his refusal to address a transgender student as “they”. Enoch Burke refused to obey a direction to “call a boy a girl” saying that his Christian beliefs and the school’s own ethos prevented him doing so. Disciplinary proceedings began and he was subject to a court order preventing him from attending school or teaching. But he attended the school and was jailed for contempt. The Irish Times reports here that he will appear in court again today, with an opportunity to purge his contempt and be released.
Jehovah’s Witnesses go back to door knocking in America
The Associated Press reports that Jehovah’s Witnesses have restarted their door-to-door ministry in the USA after pausing during the Covid pandemic. The group is well known for sharing literature and talking to people about faith on the doorstep. AP says Jehovah’s Witnesses compensated by writing letters and making phone calls, but it quotes a spokesperson saying this lacked a personal touch. Door to door evangelism “is an expression of our God’s impartiality,” he said.
