The Archbishop of Canterbury ran up the white flag on gay marriage this week and almost no one noticed. The Most Rev Justin Welby told the Evangelical Alliance – an umbrella group for born-again Christians – that “we should be really, really repentant” for having supported homophobia in the past. That call for repentance made the headlines – but it wasn’t the real story.
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in our asking; have compassion on our weakness, and give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Churches to focus on water justice during Creation Time; Bishop visits College; Connor team’s visit to Yei, South Sudan, on video; Chloe (8) goes the extra mile for the fight against poverty; RCB Library Lantern Slide Mystery Solved by BBC coverage
Elaine Storkey steps down as Tearfund President; American Anglicans increasing aid to Syrian refugees as airstrikes near; Church of Nigeria to launch TV channel; Bible 'most entertaining book' says recovering alcoholic
The Archbishop of Canterbury opened the new headquarters of the Evangelical Alliance today, and made some interesting remarks while he was there as these reports show.
In his latest book, Overcoming Violence: Dismantling an Irish History and Theology – An Alternative Vision (Columba, 2012), Rev Dr Johnston McMaster offers a challenge to everyone living on this island:
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in our asking; have compassion on our weakness, and give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Celtic Spirit and literature course; New Chaplain for Kingston College; Bishop’s school visit; Renowned US cleric launches book in County Clare; First Derry Presbyterian Church and The Blue Coat School Visitor Centre
Syria - Archbishops past and present urge; Quakers call on MPs to reject plan to bomb ; Free Churches urge caution
Justin Welby says the vast majority of under-35s equate his stance on same-sex marriage to racism and other forms of injustice
Gracious God, whose only desire it is that men and women will come from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south and will sit down together at the feast of your Kingdom; have mercy on those of Abrahamic faith, whether they are Jews, Christians or Muslims, and grant that they may behold in you the one God and Father of all, and see in each other only those created in your own image and likeness; and that thus beholding and seeing they may turn aside from all evil and violence and, with one mind, undertake that ministry of reconciliation which you have committed to them; for to you belongs all honour, all glory and praise, now and for ever. Amen Norman Wallwork
Bishop launches the ‘plant for Him’ appeal to raise 1£ million; Whitechurch Seminar to Commemorate the Lock Out; Interfaith Forum Highlights Need to Raise Awareness of Religious Diversity; Events
WCC condemns chemical weapons use in Syria; Syria: what lies behind the clamour for military strikes?; Child refugees reach 'one million'
Martin Luther King Jr's 'I have a dream' speech can still inspire change in the world half a century on, reflects the Archbishop of York in an article in the Yorkshire Post.
O God, whose son Jesus Christ our Lord showed the world His majesty and His humility, keep us ever focused on you so that when we are tempted to show our own majesty we are instead stirred to demonstrate our humility; so that the glory of He whom we represent can be shown in all the world. Amen
What Rwanda can teach us about reconciliation; Battle to save Cregagh Presbyterian Church; A welcoming inner city church ‘without walls’; Jennymount Methodist Church - A place in the community working for all; New Places of worship in warehouses
Permanent home found for Sisters who left Anglican community; Methodist Church celebrates ethnic inclusion; Episcopal Church House of Bishops to gather in Nashville
Having abandoned their first, draconian, attempt to control regulate Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests, Sinn Féin and the DUP may now face a wider variety of emboldened dissenting voices in seeking compromise on the issue. Pete Baker on Slugger O’Toole blog follows up on Alex Kane.
Almighty God, you search us and know us: may we rely on you in strength and rest on you in weakness, now and in all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Christians are all part of one church: Archbishop Clarke; Meet the RSCM Director; Maynooth History Conference; Jim Cantwell - Pioneer Irish church communicator; Derry and Raphoe Youth Five-a-side Football will save lives in Nigeria
Society is "losing the plot" as it becomes more secular and less trusting, the UK's outgoing Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks has said.
For 15 years Canon Andrew White has led Iraq’s only Anglican church, in an increasingly menacing period for Christians across the Middle East. Multiple attacks by Islamists on St George’s has prompted the Iraqi government to set up three checkpoints to protect the church.
We need saints without cassocks, without veils - we need saints with jeans and tennis shoes...
Almighty God, you called your Church to witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: help us so to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Common Worship
Religious leaders in peace appeal; A haven of refuge for young and old; St Columb's Cathedral - Biography and Mexican Wave; Education And Ethos - Focus Of Anglo Nordic Baltic Theological Conference; Events
Shamed Ballycastle-born Cardinal ‘blocked sex abuse audit’; Meet the Woman Who Will Lead US Evangelical Lutherans; World churches leader back interfaith Egypt peace plea
In a few weeks’ time Richard Haass will fly in to chair a talks process covering ‘contentious’ issues like flags, parades, protests, symbols, emblems and dealing with the past. He hopes to be able to present a set of recommendations supported by all of the parties before the end of the year - writes Alex Kane in The Newsletter.
God of all creation you call all peoples of the earth into your kingdom. Grant that we, with young and old of all nations, may boldly confess Jesus Christ as Lord; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and praise, now and for ever. Amen. Methodist Worship
Bishop Ken Clarke is host at Down & Dromore's Bible Week; Raphoe institution; Rathfarnham’s New Intern Deacon; Archbishop Martin denies reports of a move to The Vatican
The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued a dramatic warning that the worldwide Anglican church is tottering on the brink of complete disintegration amid bitter disputes between liberals and traditionalists.
