TV's Religious output

Synod motion to criticise TV’s religious output

The Church of England’s governing body is to debate the ‘sensationalist and unduly critical nature’ of TV coverage of religion. Noting that the quantity of religious programming has declined, a lay member’s motion will also lament its quality. Former BBC producer Nigel Holmes will claim at the Synod in February that even the ‘few remaining programmes’ are being marginalised. He says that the BBC’s percentage of religious output has dropped by a third in the last ten years, while ITV’s has reduced to ‘next to nothing’, and broadcasters have ‘a lack of sympathy for, and ignorance of, religion’. The Guardian commented that our ‘sneering’ media as a whole is ‘almost uniquely out-of-touch with the world of religion.’

Sources: The Guardian (18/1, 19/1); Daily Telegraph (18/1); Church Times (22/1)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Service on skates makes a n-ice impression

Attendance at Stuart Cradduck’s church may not have been slipping before, but the congregation certainly was after he put a plastic ice rink inside the building. The vicar of St George’s at Whyke in West Sussex came up with the idea to attract more people to a five-day Christmas tree festival held in the church. The Sun newspaper called Revd Cradduck ‘barmy’ and ‘eccentric’ as well as ‘cool’, but he had the last laugh as 4,500 people came through the doors. Asked why he did it, Revd Cradduck didn’t skate around the issue: ‘I want people to know that church isn’t just a boring thing. We want to show people that it’s a place to celebrate life.’

Source: The Sun (30/11)

Christmas outreach idea snapped up by churches

An evangelistic initiative that invites members of the public to be photographed in a nativity tableau has caught the imagination of a broad spectrum of churches. The idea, first brought to the streets by evangelist Chris Duffett in Chester last Christmas, was taken up nationally this year by the Baptist Union and then endorsed by Churches Together in England. Now at least 40 towns are offering the chance to ‘Get in the Picture’. Afterwards, the photos can be seen and downloaded for free from a website which also tells people about local Christmas services and presents a Christmas message. Churches Together in Peterborough have rented a shop in the city centre where Christmas shoppers can have their photo taken with a real donkey.

Source: Baptist Times (3/12)

EU says churches must employ homosexuals

In perhaps the first test of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Commission has overruled the British government’s decision to allow religious groups to avoid giving jobs to gays. The EU says that UK concessions break a Brussels directive on discrimination. The National Secular Society had complained to the Commission about the opt-outs. Churches will now only be able to turn down homosexual applicants for jobs involving religious activities or practices. One Christian charity responded: ‘If evangelical churches cannot be sure that they can employ practising evangelicals with respect to sexual ethics, how will they be able to continue?’ Gay campaigners are also pushing for legislation to force churches to bless civil partnerships.

Sources: LifeSiteNews (24/11); The Observer (22/11)

Poirot actor fears Christianity is getting a raw deal

David Suchet worries that Christianity is being marginalised in Britain in deference to other religions. The star of the long-running Poirot TV series believes ‘we should embrace all religions and marginalise none. But we seem more concerned with marginalising Christianity, and not offending other faiths.’ His concern crystallised after Government aid was recently withdrawn from a Christian charity that he supports. He says: ‘We are in danger of losing the importance of the Christian faith in our own country.’ Christian Peoples Alliance leader Alan Craig agrees: ‘Christianity is being marginalised by those who rule our society.’ Suchet, who found God after reading the Bible 20 years ago, has been open about his beliefs in several interviews.

Sources: Daily Mail (26/11); Daily Express (26/11)

Government minister sides with faith community

Communities Secretary John Denham aims to give religious groups a greater say in government policy and has rejected calls for faith to be pushed out of the public sphere. In a move that has angered secularists, Mr Denham says he wants Christians, Muslims and others to contribute to policy-making because their views are vital if the UK is to be a ‘progressive society’. He has created a new team of religious advisors to give their suggestions on the economy, parenting, climate change and other subjects. Conceding that in recent years Labour has too often ignored religious opinion, the minister praised faith as ‘a strong and powerful source of honesty, solidarity, generosity – the very values which are essential to politics, to our economy and our society.’

Source: Daily Telegraph (14/11)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Urgent call to prayer for those affected by flooding

Special prayer available online: http://tinyurl.com/yfl2jpp

The President of the Methodist Conference has called for people to pray for all those affected by last night’s severe flooding.

Revd David Gamble is asking churches to pray in their services this Sunday for people affected by the flooding and has written a special prayer for use by churches and individuals across the UK (below).

Revd Richard Teal, Chair of the Cumbria Methodist District, has asked for Christians to pray particularly for the people of Cumbria.

Loving God

We remember in your presence all those who have been affected by the recent flooding:
people whose homes and livelihoods have been devastated;
people who feel they have lost everything and don’t know what to do next;
people who fear for the safety of ones they love.
We remember, too, all those involved in bringing help and support:
those who work in the emergency services, sometimes at risk of their lives;
volunteers, wanting to do whatever they can to help;
and the churches in Cumbria, especially those in the Methodist district.
And we remember the land.
As the elements rage, we remember that you have called us to care for your creation.
In the midst of all the confusion, pain, fear, anger and loss may your Spirit brood over the face of the waters and bring hope.
And may your love be known,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen

Source: Methodist News Service 20/11/2009

Pressure to drop court case against Fiji Church leaders

British Church leaders to meet with Foreign Office

At a court hearing today, a lawyer representing nine Fijian Church leaders appealed for the case against them to be dropped.

The leaders of the Fijian Methodist Church, including the Church’s President, General Secretary, Accountant and Trust Secretary, have pleaded not guilty to charges of breaching Public Emergency Regulations. Their solicitor met today with the Director of Public Prosecutions, opposing counsel and magistrate to argue that there is no case to be answered.

Tomorrow afternoon, Revd David Gamble, President of the British Methodist Conference and Dr Richard Vautrey, Vice President of the Conference, will meet with Meg Munn MP and Chris Bryant MP, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.

David said; “We are very concerned for our sister Church in Fiji. This situation threatens to consume so much of their time, energy and finance. Strict bail conditions have robbed the Church of its leaders and we hope to seek a way forward that will enable the Church to continue to worship and serve its communities.”

The Fijian Church leaders are appealing against their bail conditions, which prohibit them from public speaking, preaching or taking part in church meetings.

The Church represents around a third of Fiji’s population and has challenged Fiji’s military government, which is lead by Commodore Bainimarama. Earlier in the year the Church was forced to cancel its annual Conference and choir festivals.

Hold Fast to Hope for Prisons Week 15-21 November 2009

Churches across Great Britain are being encouraged to hold special services and events to mark Prisons Week from 15-21 November.

The theme for Prisons Week this year is Hold Fast to Hope, encouraging Christians to focus on real stories of hope and redemption from around the world.

Revd David Gamble, President of the Methodist Conference, said; “Prisons week reminds us of the harsh realities of crime and imprisonment, but it also speaks of hope in dark places. This is a time to pray for those in prison and those affected by crime as we seek a better future for all. It's also a time to give thanks for and remember the contribution made by chaplains to the lives of those living and working in prisons.”

The Prisons Week website (www.prisonsweek.org) offers a range of free resources, including prayers, sketches and stories of hope from the UK and further afield.

Revd Alan Ogier, Superintendent Methodist and Free Church Chaplain to the Prison Service, said; “The Christian message is one of real hope for all – not just shallow optimism. This is a solid belief that no one is beyond redemption, that change can and does happen.”

You can listen to an interview with Alan about the reality of prison life online here: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.webradio.


Source: Methodist News Service 09/11/2009

Risky youth initiative ‘part of Methodist DNA’

The Methodist Church’s £7 million initiative to reach unchurched 20- and 30-somethings is part of the ‘pioneering DNA’ of the denomination, its coordinator has claimed. VentureFX leader Revd Ian Bell suggested the project is ‘one of those bold and adventurous schemes that Methodism has from time to time embraced’ and one of which the denomination’s founder, John Wesley, would be proud. Mr Bell invited church circuits and districts to step forward for the scheme, which will initially establish five area projects. The aim is to create innovative worship communities for a generation with postmodern views and no past loyalty to organised religion. ‘It will be scary, but it will not be boring!’ commented Methodist Connexional Team spokesman Revd Dr Howard Mellor.

Source: Methodist Recorder (22/10)

http://www.methodistrecorder.co.uk/

Where is God in all these diasters?

Where is God in all these disasters?
by John Madeley

An earthquake in Indonesia, a tsunami affecting Samoa and Tonga, a
typhoon hitting Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia, devastating
flooding in South India, severe drought in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Hundreds of people dead, tens of thousands displaced. Suffering on a
massive scale. It all happened in a week in late September this year.

What is going on? Where is God in all these disasters? Why doesn’t God
intervene to stop them? These are fair questions. The meaning of
suffering is difficult for us to answer, but what we do know is that
God gives a free will. In that sense God is vulnerable to our choices.
If we chose to exercise that free will in a way that is damaging for
others, and for ourselves, God does not stop us.

God gives us freedom, to choose the right or the wrong path. If we
choose the wrong path, it will grieve God’s heart, but God does not
stop us, does not act like some giant policeman in the sky. God the
Son died on the cross 2000 years because people decided he should die.
They exercised their free will. God did not stop them. The world is
not God’s puppet theatre.

God guides us to use our free will in accordance with his will for us.
But if we ignore it, if we turn away from God, if we abuse natural
resources, then consequences may follow.

We should stop calling disasters “natural disasters”. Severe floods
and droughts, hurricanes. typhoons and cyclones are occurring at twice
the rate of 40 years ago. They are not as natural as they seem, they
are more related to the way we live than they appear. Disasters are
increasingly related to climate change, to emissions of carbon, to the
world’s heavy use of energy. And that includes our use of energy.

A few years ago, Christian Aid published a report entitled “Unnatural
Disasters”. It said that rich nations such as Britain were condemning
poor countries to an "ever increasing number of overwhelming
humanitarian catastrophes".

Climate-related disasters, which kill thousands of people and cost
millions in terms of providing aid to stricken populations, are
manmade and should no longer be termed natural disasters, it said.

But what about earthquakes? 98% of people who die in earthquakes die
not because of the earthquake itself, but because buildings collapse
on them. They are related to poverty. On tsunamis, we know from the
2004 tsunami that here nature's barriers were intact - mangroves
forests along coast lines for example - there was far less damage. New
tourist hotels, shrimp farms etc had caused many to be removed.

Where is God is these disasters? God is with those who suffer. And God
is with us, calling us to be more responsible stewards of the
beautiful wold he created.

What can we do? At the very least we can support the 10/10 Initiative
- cut our emissions of carbon, our use of electricity, gas, oil, by
10% by the end of 2010. Cutting our emissions is vital if our
children, our grandchildren are to have a future. It’s vital if
children women and men in poor countries are to have a present. Where
is God in all this? God is working in us.

Based on a sermon given at Caversham Heights Methodist Church on 4th October.

Fijian Church leaders appear in court

I am sorry to have to bring you very disturbing news from Fiji today. May I ask for your prayers, so that our fellow Christians in Fiji know that they are not alone but are supported by a giant cushion of prayer.

Leaders forbidden to speak, preach or meet together

Nine Methodist Church leaders in Fiji have appeared in court, pleading not guilty to charges of breaching Public Emergency Regulations.

The nine leaders, including the Church’s President, Revd Ame Tugaue, and General Secretary, Revd Tuikilakila Waqairatu, appeared in court yesterday and have been released on bail until a full hearing on September 24.

For the last three weeks the leaders have been forbidden to speak, preach or take part in meetings, making life almost impossible for a church whose spiritual life-blood is based on gathering together. The church’s solicitor is in negotiation with the police and the Fijian Government to relax the conditions for the next bail period.

Last month the Church agreed to comply with the Government’s demands, cancelling this year’s Methodist Conference and negotiations are proceeding with the police concerning an administrative meeting planned for August 31. Currently the Government insists that only ordained ministers (excluding the arrested leaders) should be allowed to attend, but the Church does not want to exclude lay people.

Steve Pearce, World Church Partnership Coordinator for the Methodist Church in Britain, said; “It is clear that the military government is active in the life of the courts. Where police actions contradict court decisions, the courts are reluctant to assert themselves. Negotiation and dialogue are difficult in these circumstances but the Church is clear in its wish to avoid confrontation.”

Speaking to Steve this morning, the Church’s Deputy General Secretary, Revd Tevita Bainavanua, expressed his frustration during a monitored phone call, saying, “We can talk about Jerusalem and Galilee but not Fiji! We are telling our people not to do anything to worsen the situation.”

The Church continues to work and worship despite this situation, which is consuming much time, energy and finance, with the prospect of a long court case ahead. Traditional choir festivals will go ahead as planned, beginning August 22, although no national festivals will take place.

Source: Methodist News Service 13/08/2009

Methodist leader ‘appalled’ at atrocities in Pakistan

Christians urged to pray for Church in Pakistan

Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Britain, has expressed deep concern over violence against Christians in Pakistan.

Over the last week in Pakistan many acts of violence have been committed against Christians, including the burning of 47 homes in the village of Korian and 100 homes in Gojra City. More than 290 families have been made homeless and at least nine people have died in the violence, which has arisen as a result of religious tensions between Christians and Muslims.

Martyn said: “I am appalled at the atrocities that have taken place in recent days in Pakistan. People of all faiths have been deeply troubled by these acts, which represent personal disaster for very many families who have lost relatives, homes and livelihoods. It casts a shadow on all people of faith, both Muslim and Christian, who know that such violence should never be a part of religious life.

“I welcome the care and compassion shown by many Muslims to their Christian neighbours, taking them into their homes for safety and making efforts to rebuild peace in the communities.”

The Methodist Church in Britain has made an initial solidarity grant of £10,000 through Church World Service to provide emergency relief supplies such as food and shelter.

Martyn joined with Revd Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, in calling on the Pakistani government to take action to stem the violence. He said: “These recent riots are a matter of serious concern and it is the responsibility of the State to provide security to all its citizens and to call on all people of faith - especially local and national leaders - to focus their efforts on building peace rather than seeking reasons for further disunity.

“Our message is clear: acts of violence targeted at a religious minority are always wrong. When they do occur they must be investigated diligently and the perpetrators must be brought to justice.”

Martyn also called on Christians to pray for the Church in Pakistan over the coming weeks and commended the following prayer for use in churches and prayer meetings:

Merciful God,
Whose loving heart yearns for peace and justice to flow freely in all communities,
Be with all the people of Korian and Gojra in these difficult times,
May those who have lost relatives and friends be comforted,
Those who have lost their homes be sheltered,
Those who have lost hope find peace.
We pray for faith leaders, both Christian and Muslim,
and for national leaders in Pakistan and in Europe
May they work consistently for peace and keep justice constantly in view.
We pray for ourselves, that we may play our part in expressing
your love for the whole of creation in all we do and say this day. Amen.


Source: Methodist News Service 06/08/2009

Baroness believes it’s time for Christians to get into politics

A former deputy speaker of the House of Lords says now is a good time for Christians to consider a political career. Human rights campaigner Baroness Caroline Cox believes this post-expenses scandal era is ‘an even better time for young Christians to go into politics to make a difference’. Speaking at this year’s Keswick Convention, the Baroness told her Christian audience that the current low reputation of politics is ‘all the more reason to go into it and change it’. But she cautioned against students going straight into politics without having some other work and life experience first: ‘One of the problems with some of our politicians is that they have never done anything else but politics.’

Source: www.christiantoday.com (29/7)
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/now.is.a.good.time.for.christians.to.enter.politics.says.cox/23896.htm

Methodist minister offers spiritual nourishment from the fourth plinth

A Methodist minister will be offering visitors to Trafalgar Square a touch of midweek spirituality as he leads a worship service from the fourth plinth, alongside Nelson’s Column and the imposing facade of the National Gallery.

From 9-10am on Tuesday 28 July, Revd Ken Chalmers, from Castle Cary in Somerset, will offer spiritual reflections and worship to gathering friends, tourists and other visitors to the Square. Visitors will also will hear Bible readings and worship songs and share Holy Communion, administered from the base of the plinth by Revd Martin Turner.

Explaining why he chose to use his hour in this way, Ken said; “Art and symbolism have always been used to express the Christian faith and I want my hour on the plinth to focus on spiritual reflection. Many people have come to Trafalgar square to feed the pigeons, but perhaps we can offer our human visitors a bit of spiritual food for an hour this Tuesday.”

Those who can’t make it to Trafalgar Square needn’t miss out completely – they can join in by visiting www.oneandother.co.uk, to watch the plinth live.

Ken is one of 2,400 people who will appear on the fourth plinth between 6 July and 14October 2009, picked from more than 28,000 applicants for sculptor Anthony Gormley’s One and Other project. Gormley is asking the people of the UK to occupy the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. Every hour, 24 hours a day, for 100 days without a break, a different person will make the plinth their own.

Source: Methodist news Service 24/07/09

Britain’s workaholic Church ‘tired but hungry’

Today, my highlighted news item confirms what most of us have suspected for some time - that fatigue and time pressures are greatly affecting the way people live as christians - but it is very encouraging that so many still offer themselves in Christ's service.


‘It is no longer just prayer that brings the church to its knees, but also tiredness.’ This is the finding of a London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) and Spring Harvest survey conducted recently. The biggest struggles identified by 55 per cent of three thousand respondents were fatigue and time pressures. Home/work balance was an issue for almost half of those surveyed (47 per cent), long hours at work for 45 per cent and parenting a challenge for 33 per cent. The survey also found that the workplace was the biggest challenge for people to live out their Christian faith (43 per cent), followed by the neighbourhood (34 per cent) and home (24 per cent). Despite these pressures, some 57 per cent said they ‘actively’ see themselves as apprentices of Christ and 54 per cent pray intentionally about how God will use them.

Source: Eg (June 09)
http://www.licc.org.uk/uploaded_media/1245862845-eg%2022.pdf

Catholic Leader Receives Symbol of Office

And now for some happier news:-

The new Archbishop of Westminster was one of 34 archbishops to be given a symbol of office by the Pope at St Peter’s Basilica on Monday. Pope Benedict placed the pallium, a band woven from lambs’ wool, over the shoulders of Archbishop Vincent Nichols as a symbol of ‘the office of shepherd’. ‘It reminds us of Christ himself, who as the Good Shepherd, took on his shoulders the lost sheep, humanity, to bring it back home,’ the Pope said. As ‘the bishop of souls’, Jesus watches from God’s point of view, seeing ‘dangers as well as possibilities’, Pope Benedict told the archbishops who had travelled from 20 countries.

Sources: Catholic Herald (3/7); The Universe (5/7)
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/articles/a0000579.shtml

Dazzling and inspirational Methodist Art Collection now online

A masculine Christ, a radiating Abel eyed by a simmering Cain and a floating vision of a dove are just a few of the works of art now online in the Methodist Art Collection: http://www.methodist.org.uk/artcollection.

Art lovers have already been inspired by the Collection, which began in the 1960s following the enthusiasm of Methodists Dr John Gibbs and Revd Douglas Wollen and the help of a charitable fund. It includes more than 40 works by Graham Sutherland, Elisabeth Frink and many other renowned artists from William Roberts’s ‘The Crucifixion’ in the early 1920s to Ghislaine Howard’s 2004 ‘The washing of the Feet’. The modern creative expressions of Christian faith come alive through a range of materials; from oil through to tempera and gouache, acrylic through to aluminium.

Toby Scott, Director of Communications and Campaigns, said: “The touring Collection is often on display, but its online debut makes it available to everyone at any one time. The works challenge the way we think of God, and how we visualise Jesus. Religious art has been at a cornerstone of western art for centuries, but these works of art continue to find new ways to depict the divine. The website is a delight for art lovers and anyone seeking a different way to think about faith.”

Most of the online works are accompanied by commentaries, either from the artists themselves or by art critic Francis Hoyland.

David Webster, Internet Communications Coordinator, said: “This is a great new resource for people, whether Christian or not. Looking at the images in the art collection is an exciting way to reflect on the Christian message. Now they are accessible online this will also make more people aware of the Collection and, hopefully, inspire them to visit the touring exhibition.”

Information on the work and on the artist can be found, together with a relevant Bible passage, in 'The Methodist Church Collection of Modern Christian Art: An Introduction' by Roger Wollen, published in 2000 by the Trustees of the Collection (ISBN 0-9538135-0-9). In full colour, it is obtainable at £3.50 from Methodist Publishing www.methodistpublishing.org.uk.

Source; Methodist News Service 18/06/2009

Dean tells 2,000 nurses that prayer is vital to health

The Dean of Westminster Abbey says spirituality has a key role to play in modern medicine, and Christians shouldn’t feel they have to pray in secret. The leading clergyman criticised the NHS decision to suspend nurse Caroline Petrie for praying for a patient. Speaking in a sermon to almost 2,000 nurses at the annual Florence Nightingale service, the Very Rev John Hall said that believers were increasingly keeping their faith to themselves for ‘fear of offending others.’ Yet this should not be, because prayer is ‘not a sin and should not be regarded as an offence’ and ‘the human spirit and spiritual health is fundamental to healing and wholeness.’ The service was attended by health workers from the NHS, armed forces and private sector.

Source: Daily Telegraph (14/5)

No hugs please, we’re men

Hugging, handholding and discussing feelings are big turn-offs for male churchgoers, a new survey of 400 men reveals. Three-quarters said they wanted worship to challenge them intellectually and spiritually and almost the same proportion chose the sermon as their favourite part of a service. Sixty per cent said they enjoyed singing but preferred ‘proclamational’ hymns to emotionally-based songs. Findings of the research, conducted for Sorted magazine, will be discussed in a seminar on men in church at next week’s Christian Resources Exhibition (12–15 May). The Sandown, Esher event is expected to draw up to 13,000 people from all denominations.

Sources: Daily Telegraph (5/5); Methodist Recorder (7/5)