Rapid read overview with links
Bishop of Carlisle: Older and disabled people need more support
C of E Media – The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Revd James Newcome, is giving his support to a petition, set up by the charity Age UK, calling on the Government to reform the care system for older and disabled people so that everyone gets the care they need to live with respect and dignity. In an article published on the Church of England website, he supports the charity’s aim to collect 100,000 signatures and encourages churchgoers to sign the petition as a Lenten discipline alongside reassessing their Christian duty to attend to the “spiritual and physical needs of the elderly known to us”. A coalition of charities that all have day-to-day contact with those in need of care will be holding a mass lobby of parliament at Westminster on 6th March to demonstrate public support for care reform. In the article, the Bishop writes: “Many of the older people in society need help in their day-to-day lives but receive no formal support. The social care system was set up to help ensure that no-one who couldn’t cope alone was left to struggle. But years of underfunding of the social care system has, Age UK believes, left a system that is in crisis despite the best efforts of those who work with older people and, as a result, the whole system fails many of those who need it.”
C of E Group on human sexuality invites submissions
C of E Media – The group chaired by Sir Joseph Pilling to advise the House of Bishops on the Church of England’s approach to human sexuality has invited submissions. The House of Bishops announced on 1 July, 2011, that it intended to draw together material from the listening process undertaken within the Church of England over recent years in the light of the 1998 Lambeth Conference resolution. It also committed itself to offering proposals on how the continuing discussion within the Church of England about these matters might best be shaped in the light of the listening process. The task of Sir Joseph’s group, announced last month, is to help the House discharge its commitment to produce a consultation document.
More at – http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/02/group-on-human-sexuality-invites-submissions.aspx
Modern art installation depicts Christ’s pain
Christian Today – A modern art installation of Jesus on the cross made out of 3,000 coat hangers has gone on display at Southwark Cathedral.The striking work is by Turner Prize nominated artist David Mach and is entitled Die Harder.
In contrast to the mournful expressions normally depicted in Christ on the cross statues or art works, Mach portrays Jesus’s face contorted as he screams out in agony.
More at – http://www.christiantoday.com/article/modern.art.installation.depicts.christs.pain/29373.htm
Campaign to save churches from metal theft
Christian Today – With metal theft from churches at crisis point, a national campaign is being launched today to save thousands from further damage by criminals. As part of the Hands Off Our Church Roofs campaign, Ecclesiastical aims to see sophisticated electronic alarm systems installed on the roofs of Anglican churches across the country. An average of seven churches a day are being targeted for the lead in their roofs by criminals who see them as easy pickings. Ecclesiastical, which insures 96% of the country’s Anglican churches, is investing £500,000 of its own money to install roof alarms free of charge on some of the most badly affected churches.
More at – http://www.christiantoday.com/article/campaign.to.save.churches.from.metal.theft/29372.htm
Cost-price drink plan criticised
BBC – A ban on the sale of below-cost alcohol will have a “limited impact” on overall alcohol pricing, research suggests.
More at – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-17131232
Housing benefit cuts will hit disabled and ‘drive thousands into poverty’
Ekklesia – Government plans to cut the housing benefit of social tenants with spare rooms will drive “thousands into poverty”, the National Housing Federation has warned.
More at – http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16314
Thirty years of witness against nuclear weapons
Ekklesia – More than 100 Christian peace campaigners began Lent by holding their 30th annual prayer vigil outside the MoD on February 22
More at – http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16312
Children’s worker loses case over Sunday shifts
Christian Today – The Christian Legal Centre (CLC) has expressed its disappointment after a children’s worker lost her case against employers who would not give her Sunday off in accordance with her faith. Celestina Mba was forced to resign in 2010 after Brightwell Children’s Home in Morden, where she had worked for three years, told her she would have to work Sundays. Ms Mba’s faith had initially been accommodated but the home later changed its policy and rejected her offer to work nights and Saturdays, and even to accept less pay.
More at – http://www.christiantoday.com/article/childrens.worker.loses.case.over.sunday.shifts/29376.htm
Christians must make their views about marriage known
Christian Today Opinion – Local churches around the UK have a spiritual and moral responsibility to support the new Coalition for Marriage launched this week. This campaign is a theological litmus test for the UK Church. Churches that refuse to support C4M demonstrate that they have abandoned the authority of the Bible. C4M, which is backed by the Christian Institute, CARE, Christian Concern, the Evangelical Alliance, and the Family Education Trust, is gathering signatures for a petition against Mr Cameron’s bid to redefine marriage.
More at – http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.must.make.their.views.about.marriage.known/29374.htm