CHURCHES MUST NOT DODGE MONEY DISCUSSIONS

Evangelical Alliance hosts Money; Let’s Talk seminar to urge and equip Christians to address financial issues head on

Churches are failing their members and communities by avoiding talking openly about money and debt, says the Evangelical Alliance.

The Alliance wants to equip churches to avoid shying away from money taboos and to directly address financial issues, especially during the current financial climate. The Money; Let’s Talk seminar, as part of the Pentecost Festival, will provide a proactive way of taking up this challenge.

Chris Tapp, Director of Credit Action, said: “Money is generally seen as a very private subject and this all too often leads to reluctance on the part of churches in discussing financial matters. However it is an absolutely crucial issue for Christians to tackle especially today when so many in our churches and communities are struggling desperately with money and debt issues.

“Unfortunately pastors and church leaders may feel ill equipped to address the topic and that’s why we want to give practical advice and encouragement to people who can then teach and support others in the area of money management. Money; Let’s Talk is a fabulous opportunity to do this.”

This seminar, hosted by the Evangelical Alliance on Saturday 30 May from 2-5pm at Church.co.uk, will look at how Christians can respond to the economic situation, address financial concerns and will emphasise the vital contribution Christians must make practically in their local area and how to participate in the ongoing conversation.

Through interactive group discussions and expert speakers, Money; Let’s Talk will examine how we talk about money and the vital role that churches must play in fighting insecurity, unemployment and debt. This event aims to enlighten, encourage and equip attendees to teach on and support others in these areas of life

The day’s sessions will be led and informed by Chris Tapp, Director of Credit Action and John Preston, the National Stewardship and Resources Officer for the Church of England.

Money; Let’s Talk is part of the Alliance’s Life Beyond Debt campaign and is free to attend but those interested in participating in the discussion are asked to register at www.eauk.org/lifebeyonddebt. When registering online, attendees are given an opportunity to win two free cinema tickets to see the film Son of Man, showing at 6pm the same day in Leicester Square.

Methodist Church welcomes the Chancellor’s measures to help recession victims

Methodist responds positively to the budget

The Methodist Church has welcomed the Chancellor’s commitment to provide work or training for under 25s who have been jobless for more than a year.

In previous recessions, youth unemployment has posed a major challenge, as have longer term social problems which flow from it.

Mike Seaton, Director of the Children and Youth Team, said: “It is vital to create opportunities that afford young people choice over their long-term prospects as well as fulfilling their personal aspirations.

“We look forward to seeing the detail of how this will be implemented and recognise that this could offer new and exciting opportunities not just for young people but for employers. Faith-based voluntary sector organisations, such as the Methodist Church, have much to offer and we would want to encourage and assist the Government in the development of this initiative.”

With the economy heading for a deeper recession than previously forecast, the Chancellor has today announced a number of measures designed to assist the most vulnerable in our society. As well as measures to help the under 25s, schemes to improve back to work services and Jobcentre Plus have also been welcomed by the Church.

The Get Fair Campaign supported by the Methodist Church highlights the plight of the poorest people who did not see the benefit of the boom years and should be protected as far as possible from the recession years.

Today marked a groundbreaking first Carbon Budget which commits the UK to legally binding caps on greenhouse gas emissions.

Paul Morrison, Methodist Church Policy Adviser, said: “The aim of reducing greenhouse gasses and increasing our renewable energy output must be applauded. We look to the Government to ensure the effectiveness of new schemes to boost renewable energy production and exploit environmentally friendly technologies.

“A recent report from the UK Government’s Sustainable Development Commission – ‘Prosperity Without Growth?’ – asks questions about how we build a sustainable economy that is not based on relentlessly increasing consumption. Christian groups have also been wrestling with questions about how we create an economy that is both respectful to the most vulnerable of God’s people and also to His creation. With both the economy and the environment in turmoil, now is the time to begin working towards a restructuring of the economy. I hope that this budget can be a small step towards this.”

Urgent Call to Rebuild Zimbabwe

NEWS RELEASE

Monday 21st April 2008

Churches concern at Zimbabwe violence

The Methodist and United Reformed Churches have together voiced their concern about increasing levels of violence and political intimidation, linked to the delay in announcing the result of Zimbabwe’s presidential election.

Commenting on the precarious situation, the Revd Dr Stephen Orchard, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church said: ‘The Zimbabwe Election Commission owes it to the long-suffering people of Zimbabwe to announce the presidential result without further delay, to enable people to begin the urgent task of rebuilding their shattered lives and economy. We condemn the campaign of violence and intimidation that has been embarked upon by members of the ruling party, following the announcement of the parliamentary election results. We also believe that people who hold power in any country have a first duty to care for the poor and vulnerable rather than for themselves’.

Reflecting on the escalating humanitarian crisis, the General Secretary of the Methodist Church, the Revd David Deeks, said ‘The impact on the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans has been immense. The people of Zimbabwe appear to have voted for change and the leaders of Southern African states bear a huge responsibility to ensure that the will of the people is respected. If that doesn’t happen, the crisis in Zimbabwe could have an increasingly devastating impact on the entire region’.

The two churches expressed their solidarity and support in prayer and action with their partner churches and agencies in Zimbabwe and pledged to continue working together to achieve peace, justice and prosperity there. They illustrated the plight of Zimbabweans with statistics, including:

INFLATION In 1987 inflation averaged 11.9 percent. It surged to an official record of 100,586 percent in January 2008, but economic experts say the real rate is much higher.

LIFE EXPECTANCY Average life expectancy dropped from 63 years in 1990 to 37.3 years in 2005, according to World Bank and U.N. figures.

UNEMPLOYMENT Estimated at about 80% of the working population.



The Methodist Church has about 295,000 members and 800,000 people are connected with the Church. It has about 5,800 churches in Great Britain, and also maintains links with other Methodist churches totalling a worldwide membership of 70 million. www.methodist.org.uk.

The United Reformed Church comprises one hundred thousand people in 1600 congregations. It has brought together English Presbyterians, English, Welsh and Scottish Congregationalists and members of the Churches of Christ. Worldwide, more than 70 million Christians are members of the Reformed family of churches, the largest Protestant tradition. The name ‘Reformed’ is used because the churches began to emerge with reform movements in the sixteenth century. www.urc.org.uk.

For more information contact:

Stuart Dew
Press Officer
United Reformed Church House
86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT
tel. 020 7916 2020 or 07976 753950
e-mail stuart.dew@urc.org.uk

Anna Drew
Media and Information Assistant
Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR
tel. 020 7467 5191 Fax 020 7467 5229
e-mail drewa@methodistchurch.org.uk

Toby Scott
Media Relations Officer
Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR
tel. 020 7467 5221 Fax 020 7467 5229 Mobile/Out of hours 07881 783 812
e-mail scottt@methodistchurch.org.uk