Methodism - It's Effect on Gilbert and Sullivan

The Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, Mrs. Ruby Beech, in writing a post entitled 'Methodism - It's effect on Gilbert and Sullivan' on http://methodist-presandvp.blogspot.com talks about the way in which Methodism is alluded to and portrayed in the media and asks the question 'What makes the writers have their particular view of Methodism?'

Ruby has had no comments yet but I would think that an interesting discussion could come from this question posed by our Vice-President and I shall be watching to see if this happens.

URGENT NEED FOR MISSION PIONEERS

Britain is facing a desperate shortage of mission-minded ministers willing to ‘get their hands dirty’ in the country’s most deprived areas. The Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) Mission Network says churches in pioneer settings are closing because of a lack of ‘risk takers’ willing to ‘break new ground’. BUGB mission department head Revd Ian Bunce said the lack of ministers willing to consider community-based work rather than traditional preaching and pastoral roles is a ‘hugely significant’ issue. Revd John Bayes, a minister and mission enabler in the East Midlands, said that in some situations a community outreach worker rather than a pastorally trained minister might be more fitted to the need.

Source: Baptist Times (27/9)

I am not in a position to speak authoritatively about the Methodist Church in this respect though I have a feeling that this may also apply to many of our itinerant Ministers. However, I have known a few who have specifically asked to be stationed in mission situations and our Deacons always put themselves wholly in the hands of the Church to be sent wherever the need is greatest.

This Baptist report comes in the same week that the President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd Dr. Martyn Atkins, writes an article in the Methodist Recorder with the title 'Doting on Deacons'. He writes, "Deacons also challenge me in relation to their continuing deep commitment to itinerancy. (I haven't moved house in 11 years now!) Of course, most ministers are itinerant , but my personal experience is that deacons I know place 'going wherever the Church sends me' at the very centre of their ministry, regarding it as a signal aspect of obedience to God, through the decision of the Church. I admire them greatly for that.

"This means that deacons are being increasingly used by the Church not simply as 'stop-gap' measures when ministers can't be found, but more properly as those who go where they are needed most: planting churches, supporting projects, ministering to marginalised and disadvantaged groupings in our societies and churches. In this sense they are hugely important in missional terms.

"Lastly, I find their focus on servant ministry very moving and highly attractive. In our cultural context when hierarchies are increasingly suspect and even despised by some, when superiority and elitism are so often so unattractive, real live servants of the servant - Jesus Christ - are vital to healthy Christian witness and service."

Locally, at our recent Circuit Meeting we rejoiced that we have as many as four young men candidating for the Methodist Ministry - one on Foundation Training, two on EDEV (Extending Discipleship and Exploring Vocation) Training, and one Candidating this connexional year, having finished Foundation Training several years ago. In the years since completing Foundation Training, this young man has devoted his life as a Lay Worker and Evangelist to the reclamation of young people who have fallen foul of the Law, giving himself wholly to them and their needs (often at great cost to himself). He has struggled over these years with a call to the Ministry and the conflicting need of the young men he serves to have a firm and continuing friend to whom they can turn and on whom they can rely. This would not be possible if he became an itinerant minister, so he has resolved this dilemma by candidating as a Non-Stipendiary Minister. Many of us are praying that in this way his valuable, costly ministry may continue, changing lives in the process.

World Milk Shortage

Today I want to link two things that have been part of my week this week. I have been working on the October Prayer Guidelines to be issued today for the 300 Methodists in the churches in the Northern Section of the Circuit, and I included a prayer for farmers and all in agriculture affected by floods and the foot and mouth and blue tongue outbreaks. I have also posted about the assistance being given to farmers by a Christian Network.

Then I received the following letter from my milkman, which takes effect from today -

Dear Customer,

In order to ensure a continued supply of fresh British milk to your
doorstep and secure supplies of milk for our milkman, Dairy Crest has had
to increase the price it pays to its farmers by a total of 3.85 pence per
pint. This has been unavoidable and as a consequence the price of your
milk will increase by 4 pence per pint from Sunday 30th September.

The main reason for this increase is a world shortage of milk, which is
affecting the price of all milk and dairy products. This comes at a time
when the British dairy industry is also experiencing significant changes.
The soaring cost of animal feed and poor weather over the summer has led
to lower amounts of milk being produced and some real difficulties for many
of our farmers.

Many of our customers appreciate the role of our milkmen in the local
communities in which they serve and how hard they work to provide you with
the best possible service. At this time of a world shortage of milk we
hope that you will understand our reasons for this price increase and
continue to support your milkman.

With two large supermarkets and a small Tesco (at the local petrol station) just ten minutes walk down the road, where milk is sold much cheaper, there is the temptation to stop the doorstep service and use the supermarkets, as many have already done. Yet the doorstep service is vital for some people, despite the price, and it would appear that the supermarkets do not pay the farmers a fair price for their milk. Add to that the prayers that we will be offering for our farmers, and Christians feel that loyalty to the milkmen and the dairy industry is essential if we are to be sincere in our prayers. So this means a tightening will have to be made somewhere else in the household budget .

CHURCHES URGE LEADERSHIP AGAINST ‘UNEQUAL’ TRADE

Planned European Union economic agreements with developing nations could ‘undermine recent progress towards making poverty history’, senior denominational and development agency leaders believe. Saying they were ‘compelled’ to act by ‘a Biblical understanding of justice’, the group used The Times letters page to urge the Government to lead a change in EU thinking on economic partnership agreements (EPAs). Launched five years ago, the EPAs have failed to be ‘development-friendly’, the group says. Instead, they are forcing ‘free-trade agreements between very unequal partners’, the letter says. The group, which includes the UK leaders of the Methodist, United Reformed and Baptist Union churches, urges the Government to find alternatives to forcing developing countries to open their markets prematurely.

Source: The Times (27/9)

Survival! - a taste of overseas mission

This morning's post brought an invitation to our youth group to experience a taste of overseas missions by going to a Survival day at the Wycliffe Centre near High Wycombe from 10am to 4pm on 20th October.

The young people can expect -
The shock of eating an ethnic meal in a foreign way.
The need to be sensitive to the culture they are in.
Common problems/issues that face teams that go on mission trips.

There will be many interactive activities, where they'll see -
Who can be involved in Mission work NOW.
What about vision 2025 and Bible translation.
What jobs there are to do.
How to get involved now.

and all through the medium of CHOCOLATE!

They will also see what the Bible says abou mision and re-enact some real life stories of missionaries.

All this (for this first Survival event) is at only £5 (which includes lunch) for each young person and there is a free place to a youth leader for every 7 young people that are booked up. It sounds to be a very exciting day out so, if you or your youth group want to book up, you will have to hurry to make your booking by the closing date of 28th September by telephoning 01494 682345 or emailing wynet_uk@wycliffe.org . I certainly wish I were young again!

But if you are just reading this on 28th September, I'm fairly sure that they will fit your young people in if it's at all possible. It's worth a try!

Monday, 1st October

This morning's post brought the good news that there is still plenty of time to book for this exciting event yet, as you can see -

Hi there Olive thanks for you email! Sorry the dates are wrong on a few copies of the booking form were posted with the incorrect dates on and i am so sorry you received one of those. The booking dead line isn't for a couple of weeks yet, so please do pass it on to the youth leader and rally some troops!! The event has actually been advertised in the latest words fro life edition that came out in July, you may have seen it, if not i can send you a copy for your reference and use!

If there are other groups in the area i would love to get in touch with them too, please feel free top circulate the information anywhere you would like. IT is also on our website, www.wynetuk.org.

Thanks again for your email, we will do our best to get the info out there quicker in the future!

Keep On the Road.
Tim Robinson
Next Generation UK Coordinator

So if there are any young people or youth leaders reading this, there is still time to book your place. It will be well worth while.

ECG, A Heart for the Nations

I have booked my place at the new event being planned for next Easter in Llandudno called "ECG A Heart for the Nations" and I was told that bookings are rolling in at present. ECG stands for 'equipping, calling, going'. The last "Easter People" was held this last Easter and many people were protesting that they would miss the in-depth Bible study that has been one of the main characteristics of "Easter People".

So this quite separate new event called "ECG, A Heart for the Nations" (which in other respects will not be the same as "Easter People") will include similar in-depth Bible studies. The ECG event is planned ‘to envision, equip and enable radical mission and discipleship'. It will take place on 25th to 30th March 2008 at the new Llandudno Conference Centre. There will be special weekend arrangements (28th - 30th, running from Friday night until Sunday)for those who cannot book for the whole session because they will have different half-terms – if this applies to you, email info@ecgevent.org.uk .

This event is being organised by MET (Methodist Evangelicals Together), Youth for Christ and NXT Ministries. It will be for all ages but it will include sessions of special interest to people in the 20-40 age range. Speakers will include the President of Conference, the Revd Dr. Martyn Atkins. It is worth noting that family tickets are only available until 31st December and that ‘Early Bird’ (pay in full) bookings will have £10 off before 30th September.

Bookings will still be taken right up until the event. There will be provision for all ages and there will be a need for volunteeers to act as stewards, etc. I have volunteered as a steward because I feel that at my age I can best serve such events by stewarding - health permitting, of course. Booking costs are: Adult £75, Children £35, Youth & students £55 (with Kibbutz £70), Family £180 (2 Adults and up to 3 children, but family bookings are only available up to 31 December). Early Bird Bookings (Pay in full before 30 September) £10 off and before 31 December £5 off - but these discounts do not apply to family tickets. Bookings may be made by secure online credit or debit card booking. I am looking forward to the new brochure that is now in preparation and will soon be available.

CHURCH CREATES ISLAND IN SECOND LIFE

The Churches Advertising Network (CAN) has created an island in the virtual world of Second Life and is inviting online seekers to come ashore and ‘Have a second go at life’. Second Life consultant Andrew Down has built the island as a version of first-century Palestine and furnished it with the St Pixels church, cafes, pubs and pools for meditating by. CAN member Simon Jenkins said that Second Life users generally ‘tend to be a bit hostile to organised religion’. So they deliberately incorporated some fun elements to the island, such as the Everlasting Arms pub, the We Three Kings of Orient Arbucks coffee bar and the Zacchaeus bonsai shop. The island will be linked to CAN’s ‘real life’ advertising campaign this Christmas inviting people to take ‘a second chance at life’.

Source: The Times (21/9)

Online Bible Study Highlights

This week's Online Bible Study theme on http://methodist.org.uk/bible is Oppression and Injustice and today's Bible notes by this week's author, Alison Parker, starts us off today after her notes on Luke 16: 1-13 with the following questions to ponder:-

How does money affect your relationships?

If Jesus was making these points to the religious leaders and powerful men of the day, who might these comments be aimed at today?

Is there a link with power, wealth and a temptation to take one’s eyes off God?

Today's Bible study and questions occur on the same morning as a discussion on the BBC's Today programme between John Humphries and one of the Controllers of the BBC about the impending cuts in BBC programmes because of shortage of money. It is clear that money affects my relationship with the BBC if it changes the quality and content of future programmes and we will all be eager to see what decisions are made in the meeting about to be held. There have, to date, been too many programmes that rely on the winning of money to gain an audience, often replacing more educational programmes. We were told that whatever decisions are made, they will endeavour to include something of interest to all sections of the community.

Going back to the Online Bible Study, I can recommend a daily visit as a good start to each day, giving plenty to think about throughout the day and perhaps stimulating us to add comments at the end of the day. I do hope that this new service will grow into a vital online fellowship, not only within the Methodist connexion but with many other followers of Jesus. Thank you to all the authors and to those responsible for setting it up.

CHRISTIAN AGENCY SUPPORTS FOOT AND MOUTH FARMERS

A network of Christians from the UK farming community are offering emergency advice and help to farmers plunged into crisis following foot and mouth culling. Farm Crisis Network (FCN) is working with local churches and clergy to support Surrey farmers affected by restrictions on movement and livestock losses. FCN is running a national phone line staffed by volunteers. It has also helped some farmers obtain licences to move their animals and found financial support for some through the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution. Deputy coordinator Helen Bagwell is also writing to supporters, asking churches to pray for farmers as harvest approaches.
Source: Baptist Times (20/9)

With this morning's news that an animal on a farm (near Ipswich, I think) has been found to have 'blue tongue' disease - which would require similar restrictions to those required for foot-and-mouth disease - the help of Farm Crisi Network and the prayers of the churches will be needed all the more. The 'blue tongue' outbreak is caused by mosquitoes and this would seem to link it with the recent report of a huge increase in midges and mosquitoes here due to the unusual weather this summer.

ARCHBISHOP IN MAKE-OR-BREAK MEETING FOR ANGLICANS

The Archbishop of Canterbury is in the midst of last-ditch efforts to pull the 77 million-strong Anglican Communion back from the biggest split in its history. Dr Rowan Williams is taking two days in New Orleans to persuade the American House of Bishops to give three guarantees on issues related to homosexuality. The US leaders are being asked not to permit the election of any more openly gay bishops; not to authorise blessing services for same-sex couples; and to make arrangements for more conservative congregations to receive separate oversight from like-minded bishops. The Americans have so far been reluctant to make big concessions while a number of African provinces have begun consecrating conservative bishops to serve disaffected US congregations. A decision is expected on Monday.
Sources: The Guardian (20/9); Daily Telegraph (20/9); The Times (21/9)

Oldest blogger?

On my recent return to regular blogging I was pleased to find a comment from http://octogenarian.blogspot.com/ who thought he was the only octogenarian blogger. Then the other night I was listening to an interview on the World Service with 'the oldest known blogger, 107 year old Olive from Australia'! The next morning - not knowing about this interview - my daughter in Vietnam emailed me to say that she had been amused to notice a website called http://allaboutolive.com.au/ (this one under the title 'The Life of Riley'), so in my mind I linked the two and was curious to read about my Aussie namesake. However, the website is not a normal blog but a conversation with Olive and, if you read it, you will find that she has a laugh at the time when she faked being a blogger and fooled the two journalists who came to see her. You can hear her saying, "I was sitting at the 'oojah-thing' (here she is prompted, 'the computer' ) 'and they said 'You play it real well.' So I laughed and said I've never played it in my life! I don't know a thing about it." Well, she may not be a real blogger, not even doing the typing, but she's a remarkable character and one worth celebrating.

Bumper Apple Crop?

The Reading Evening Post reported on 18/9 as follows:-

"Gala Day for Apple Growers

The English apple crop is more than 10 per cent bigger than last year because of the summer rain, growers said today.

English varieties are hitting stores this week, around seven days earlier than last year. Producers have reported record crops of English Gala and English Braeburn apples.

But shoppers are confused about which apples are domestically produced and which are imported, according to English Apples and Pears Ltd. Research found that around 40 per cent of people did not know when the English apple season begins. And 76 per cent think Granny Smith's are English, when they come from France and Australia."

The shoppers aren't the only ones who are confused, though my confusion is quite different! Since I live in Reading, you'd think that my apple trees would be subject to the same weather and climate - and yet I have to report a strange difference in my apple trees this year! My Worcester Pearmain tree is in line with the other English apple growers and has a bumper crop this year, with apples very much bigger than ever before. My Lord Lambourne tree has cropped much the same as usual but, for the first time in 59 years two of my apple trees (the Cox's Orange Pippin and the Beauty of Bath) had not a single bud of blossom on either of them and therefore, of course, have no apples at all. Both these trees are very healthy and are producing prolific growth. My theory is that we had a heatwave in April when the blossom would have been formed but I would be glad to hear of any other possible explanation - fewer bees last year perhaps? So can anyone solve this mystery for me?

Jesus Stills the Storm

When the days of turmoil are ended
And we all join hands together
Follow the golden path before us
Where we will remain forever.

He will control the violent force
Of evil, pain and despair
What a glorious blessing
As He meets each of us up there.


Walk humbly with your God
Drift not into a love of sinful things
Jesus will still the turbulent storms
Glory and salvation, He brings.

Make no excuses or falter
For He walks daily with you
Give your life to Jesus
He will bless you through and through.


There are many rooms in our Father's house
Where he awaits you and me
He will raise the dead and heal the sick
The glory of Heaven we shall see.

As he stills the storm in our life
Let us kneel and pray
That God enter into our hearts
And stay with us each day.


© 2006 Ginny Bryant
Journey Of Love

Reproduced by permission

Churches call for full ban on cluster bombs

On the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Mine Ban Treaty the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church and the Baptist Union of Great Britain call on the UK Government to end their use of cluster bombs by UK forces. The churches are also asking the Foreign Secretary David Miliband to actively support an international treaty to ban such weapons.

Cluster bombs are air or ground launched devices that scatter smaller bombs (or submunitions) over a large area. The submunitions that fail to explode pose a unique threat to civilians. These unexploded bombs effectively create minefields and maim and kill children or adults who disturb them later on. In the two months after the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, three or four civilians were killed, on average, every day by unexploded cluster bombs. On average, a child died each day as a result of these weapons.

Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, the Revd Dr Stephen Orchard, says; “Cluster bombs kill and maim civilians indiscriminately and go on killing long after the fighting has stopped. The coming year provides us with a unique opportunity to strengthen international humanitarian law and to provide improved protection for civilians during and after conflict.”

Earlier this year, the Government committed to the Oslo Process – a new international process to agree a treaty on cluster bombs – and has withdrawn two types of cluster bombs from its stockpiles.

But the Revd David Deeks, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, says there is still much more to be done; “Important progress has been made, but that’s no reason to stop now. The UK still retains other types of cluster bomb, which are just as inhumane and leave behind a deadly legacy. It’s time for the Government to act on the promises made earlier this year and show that it means business.”

The Churches have also published campaign information online at www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/clustermunitions with advice on how people can take action, from emailing the Foreign Secretary or writing to their MP to getting others to take action.

Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, says; “This resource is a great starting point for anyone interested in getting these terrible weapons banned for good. Everyone can do something to make a difference, whether they have just two minutes of time to spare, or twenty minutes.”

Source: http://www.methodistchurch.org.uk/news

Online Bible Study for Daily Life

A Word in Time, the online Bible study for daily life

As daily life gets more and more hectic, many find it difficult to make time for the spiritual side of life. Now they can simply log on to http://methodist.org.uk/bible from wherever they happen to be to access A Word in Time, the Methodist Church’s new online daily Bible study.

Launching Sunday September 2 as part of the new-look Methodist website, A Word in Time will feature a daily Bible reading, background on the text, reflections and questions to ponder from that week’s contributor. It follows the readings in the Methodist Prayer Handbook, All things in Christ, bringing the 40,000 readers of the handbook together with online disciples in their search for daily spirituality. Sundays will be extra special, with a blog attached to the commentary, enabling users to post their own comments and thoughts on the featured passage.

Alison Pollard, Web Writer, says; “the Bible is a central part of our faith, but with our hectic 21st century lifestyles, it’s often easy to neglect this essential part of our Christianity. With this exciting new online feature, we are trying to encourage the reader to apply the Bible to their own life and the social and political context in which they live.”

Each week, a different writer will offer their thoughts and reflections on a different passage of the Bible, with fifty-two contributors in total, from a wide range of social and academic backgrounds.

Source: http://methodist.org.uk/NewsIndex

SAD NEWS AND HAPPY DAYS

Yesterday's sad news that a family with seven children aged 3 -11 were in an accident in Lincolnshire (when their Land Rover went off the road into the River Witham, killing a three year old child and putting four other children and their parents into hospital in a critical condition) held my special attention and sympathy because it brought back vivid memories of similar, so happy, trips out in my youth. But first, let me pause to offer up prayers for all those in this tragic family who are fighting for their lives in hospital and for the remaining children and their relatives.

My parents also had seven children and as time went on we became a Family Concert Party, which meant that we would all pile into the car to reach the church or hall where we would entertain that evening - and such fun those trips were! But those were the days when the roads were so free of cars and there was no need for seat belts! Those journeys with our mischievous Dad were always exciting and made up for the hard graft of rehearsing! I remember singing our opening chorus on practice nights like this - 'A happ(sob)y fami(sob)ly we (sob)Ha! Ha!' and so on - but not on the night! We were happy on the night. Remembering those days for the book that is being written about our family genealogy, prompts me to let you share one of the poems that I enjoyed reciting at those times :-

A Musical At Home

A little party in the house -
The first to come is Mr. grouse.
And he has hardly settled down
When they announce Sir Fractious Frown;
And, just as talk is getting slack,
My Lord and Lady Answer Back.
This is a pleasure. I am proud.
Step in: you'll find we're quite a crowd!
And Mrs. Contradict, I see,
Is just behind you: [Door bell rings] Pardon me!
Another ring! Ah, Lady Snap,
Permit me to remove your wrap.
How good of you to come so far
And bring the Grumbles in your car!

Now, bless my soul, I know that face!
And yet - of course, it's Miss Grimace.
These fashions alter people so!
Come in and take your hat off. No?
And who's this trotting up the stair?
Litle Miss Quarrel, I declare!
So musical, so quick, so merry,
and clever with her fingers - very!
Ah, Mr. Bump, good afternoon!
I thought we might expect you soon.

[Knock]

Another knock. Dear Major Punch,
Most kind of you to rush your lunch.
Let me present Miss Whack. You've met her?
Old friends, you say? So much the better!
Lord Biff - allow me - Canon Batt.
At school together? Fancy that!
The world is really very small.
Excuse me - someone in the hall.

Aha, the gallant Captain Kick!
Late? Not at all. You're in th nick.
And you, Miss Shindy, come along:
We're counting on you for a song.
And now I think we're nearly done -
All here and happy - but for one.
Ah, Mrs. Tears, How do you do?
So glad you've brought your music too!
What dreadful weather! Do come in.
And now we might as well begin.

Taming the Tiger

Tonight, all our normal church services were cancelled, to give us the opportunity to meet together in the huge auditorium at Rivermead Leisure Centre to hear the celebrated Tony Anthony speak and give his testimony of 'Taming the Tiger'. This title, of his book as well as his talk, is a reference to his Chinese grandfather's training in Kung Fu. Tony is half Chinese and half Italian but was born in England. At the age of 4 he was sent to China to be reared by his grandparents because his father had become ill with multiple sclerosis, and he described his extremely severe training as a Buddhist and in Kung Fu, which by tradition had to be taught to each generation. Then (I think at the age of 8), he was brought back to his parents and to school in England, where other problems awaited him. He could only speak Chinese and was bullied at school, until one day he hit back and then it was he who became the school bully. He continued with Kung Fu, winning prestigious awards across the world but becoming a harder, tougher person all the time.

He went into his life at this time in great detail, with humillity and much regret, so that we who listened should understand how low he had sunk, until it ended with his imprisonment in Italy. There his reputation as a thug grew even more until one day a note was pushed under his door saying that the writer was a missionary living there and he would like to visit him. Tony reacted violently because he didn't want a Bible-bashing Christian preaching at him, but he knew that if you had visitors you could also get coca colas, etc., and so he agreed to meet Mike and got a coca cola! Their meeting lasted 45 minutes, during which he was never once asked about his crimes and he was not preached at, because Mike said 'I only want to be your mate.' Those visits went on every Thursday for 45 minutes each time for two years, until one day his visitor read him John 8 verses 34-36. Those words, that Jesus could set him free, struck deep into his heart and so Tony became a Christian, along with 9 others in that prison who were visited by Mike.

There isn't time here to tell his whole story, which ended with his marriage in England (marred by a hit and run accident, which he lied about because he thought he'd only hit a deer, and which put him in hospital again), God's grace following him in the prison and resulting in 30 prisoners becoming Christians, and the birth of his two young sons. 'So now I can't keep quiet about Jesus', he declared and challenged all those present to rethink their lives, to turn away from sinful ways and surrender to Jesus, putting Jesus at the centre of their lives - and, having made that decision, to come forward as a public declaration of their new faith. A large crowd of mainly young people came forward to be prayed for and given a pack of helpful leaflets to ensure that they would continue in their new-found faith.

As a young Lay Worker friend of mine texted me when she got home, 'He was awesome, wasn't he? Such an honest man!' So if you who read this get the chance to hear Tony Anthony or to read his book, 'Taming the Tiger', you will be well rewarded - and I hope you will do so if the opportunity arises.

YOGA ROW: HINDU COUNCIL SPARKS LEGAL THREAT

Lawyers for the Hindu Council UK are exploring whether two Taunton churches who refused to allow a children’s yoga group to meet on their premises have acted contrary to the Religion and Belief Section of the 2006 Equality Act. The Revd Tim Jones, vicar of St James’ Church, and the Revd Simon Farrar of Silver Street Baptist Church, turned down the group’s request to use church rooms for the classes. ‘Any alternative philosophies or beliefs are offering a sham,’ Mr Jones said. But now the HCUK claims the priests’ decision may be illegal – and is also considering whether to ask the Commission for Equality and Human Rights to investigate whether their comments amount to ‘instructing or causing discrimination’.

Sources: Christian Today (4/9), Church of England Newspaper (6/9), Baptist Times (6/9)

PRAYERS TO BANISH THE BLUES

A new collection of prayers has been added to www.cofe.anglican.org, designed to lift the spirits of people returning to work after the summer holidays. They include writings from Charles Wesley and the thoughts of a curate from Catford on the stresses of finding a seat on the train or getting stuck in a tunnel.

Source: The Daily Telegraph (4/9)