Support and prayer after crash; Evangelical Alliance responds to Steve Chalke; Media review
Support and prayer after crash
St Anne and All Saints South Lambeth Church has opened its church hall to those affected by the helicopter crash in Vauxhall.
Pastoral support has been given to those who witnessed the crash, and practical support, including cups of coffee, offered to the emergency crews and journalists at the scene.
The C of E posted these prayers –
Prayers for those Caught up in Tragedy and Disaster
O Lord our God,
Source of all goodness and love,
accept the fervent prayers of your people;
in the multitude of your mercies look with compassion
upon all who turn to you for help;
for you are gracious, O lover of souls,
and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Lord of all compassion We pray for all of those caught up in the midst of tragedy or disaster. For those who have lost life and those working to save life. For those who are worried for people they love . For those who will see their loved ones no longer . Lord Have Mercy. For those in need of the peace that passes all understanding . For all who turn to you in the midst of turmoil . For those who cry out to you in fear and in love . Lord Have Mercy. For those in confusion and those in despair. For those whose tears are yet to dry. For those in need of your unending love .Lord Have Mercy . Amen.
Evangelical Alliance responds to Steve Chalke
Christian Today – The general director of the Evangelical Alliance, Steve Clifford, believes Steve Chalke is wrong to conclude that the Bible endorses same-sex relationships. (See yesterday’s feature on CNI)
Steve Chalke is a friend of mine. We go back many years. I am convinced that when the history of the Church in the UK is written, Steve’s contribution over the last 25 years will be recognised as profoundly significant. So with this as a backdrop I am writing my response to Steve’s article in Christianity magazine. While I understand and respect Steve’s pastoral motivations, I believe the conclusions he has come to on same-sex relationships are wrong.
It is with both sadness and disappointment that I reflect on how Steve has not only distanced himself from the vast majority of the evangelical community here in the UK, but indeed from the Church across the world and 2,000 years of biblical interpretation.
Steve has raised issues which touch on deep areas of human identity. At a Soul Survivor seminar last summer, a Baptist minister who lives with same-sex attraction introduced his talk to a marquee full of young people by indicating that he would love to find a theology in the Bible which would support a sexually-active gay life. But, he said: “I’ve come to the conclusion that it is not there and I don’t want to live in rebellion to the one that I love.”
MEDIA REVIEW
News reports and comment on Tuesday’s ruling from European Court of Human Rights on four separate cases (Christians) of right to manifest religious beliefs at work
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/faith/article3658075.ece
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/jan/15/landmark-victory-ba-cross-work
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9802067/Christian-wins-right-to-wear-cross-at-work.html
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/19001e8a-5efb-11e2-8250-00144feab49a.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/christian-woman-wins-landmark-religious-discrimination-caseover-wearing-cross-at-work-but-echr-rules-rights-of-three-other-christians-were-not-violated-8451747.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262628/Nadia-Eweida-Christian-British-Airways-employee-wins-landmark-case-ECHR-finds-suffered-discrimination-silver-cross.htm
l http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/371070/Christian-wins-the-right-to-wear-crucifix-at-work
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article4745117.ece
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/293195/British-Airways-worker-wins-right-to-wear-cross-at-work/
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/british-airways-employee-wins-landmark-legal-fight-over-right-to-wear-cross-at-work-8451855.html?origin=internalSearch
Comment
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/thunderer/article3658717.ece
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100198311/christians-need-to-find-some-old-time-zeal/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/9803272/A-new-intolerance-is-nudging-faith-aside.
html http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2013/jan/15/christian-gay-rights-strasbourg http:
//www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/15/religious-freedom-strasbourg http:
//www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/15/ba-christian-case-judged-rightly
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2263064/Judges-respect-crucifix-paper-thin.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/editorial-strasbourg-performs-a-double-service-for-us-8452966.html
Report that “Lord Williams takes his seat in the House of Lords as a Life Peer”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-21033783
Reports that Churches could be sued for not conducting same-sex marriages
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9801889/Churches-could-be-sued-for-refusing-to-agree-to-gay-marriages.html
Reports that Evangelist pastor Steve Chalke has declared his support for “monogamous same-sex Marriage”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/prominent-evangelical-pastor-reverend-steve-chalke-declares-support-for-monogamous-same-sex-relationships-8452572.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9801678/Church-teaching-on-homosexuality-is-like-justifying-slavery-says-evangelical-leader.html