Viewing all items in Resource Category: News
Latest stories from around the national churches
- The General Synod has backed a series of measures to promote biodiversity on C of E land, from churchyards as havens of wildlife and plants, to the stewardship of agricultural and forestry land. Members of the Synod welcomed progress already made by the Church Commissioners, the National Church Institutions, dioceses, parishes, cathedrals, and schools to...General Synod backs action to tackle biodiversity crisis
- The General Synod has heard that more work needs to be done for the full inclusion of Global Majority Heritage (GMH) people in the Church of England. Synod members commended the outcomes in From Lament to Action, the report from the Archbishops’ Racial Justice Taskforce. It sets out a series of recommendations for the Church...General Synod backs call for ‘crucial resources’ to remain available for racial justice work
- General Synod has asked for legislative proposals to allow lay officers found guilty of bullying to be disqualified from holding office. The motion was brought by the Ven Mark Ireland, Archdeacon of Blackburn. It wanted to address an imbalance of accountability in relationships, where lay volunteers currently face no significant consequences if found to have...General Synod backs legislation to prevent bullying by lay officers
- General Synod has affirmed the place of work as a key component in “human flourishing,” in an era when Artificial Intelligence is driving a “new fast moving industrial revolution”. The debate heard that work has been a vital “God-given” element of human life since the Garden of Eden. But it is currently being transformed by...Synod affirms work as key to ‘human dignity and purpose’ in the face of AI revolution
- The C of E needs many more leaders from working class backgrounds and deprived communities, the General Synod was told. The Synod also re-committed the C of E to setting up a church on every significant social housing estate. Members also backed moves to double the number of young active Christians on housing estates. It...General Synod calls for redoubling of efforts to create new churches on estates
- Firm proposals for a settlement to enable the C of E to move forward together amid deep differences on questions of sexuality and marriage will be developed over the next few months, General Synod has heard. The Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow – the lead bishop for the ‘Living in Love and Faith’ process –...Living in Love and Faith: ‘the work goes on’ Bishop Martyn tells General Synod
- Support for Russian priest who prays for peace Dramatic decline of religion on TV Worldwide persecution of Christians on the increase CAP responds to Ofgem’s call for input on standing charges Church of England welcomes Listed Places of Worship funding Ministry Experience Scheme ‘key’ to C of E goal of reaching more young people Church...News (all stories) for March 2024
- Thousands of Russian Orthodox Christians have been urging Patriarch Kirill of Moscow to reinstate a very popular priest in the capital, the Revd Alexei Uminsky, who has refused to recite an official prayer for Russia’s victory over Ukraine. An open letter, which attracted more than 11,000 signatures, including the heads of local charities, says: “The...Support for Russian priest who prays for peace
- There is less television being devoted to religion and ethics than there used to be. A lot less. The latest statistics from Ofcom, the industry regulator reveal a dramatic reduction in television programmes about ‘religion and ethics’ broadcast by the public-service broadcasting networks (PSBs): BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Comparing 2022 with 2011,...Dramatic decline of religion on TV
- More than 365 million Christians worldwide now face persecution and discrimination for their faith. Entire Christian communities face extinction in some parts of the world. Those in sub-Saharan Africa are especially at risk, because of increasingly authoritarian regimes and violence. So warns the latest global study of persecution. The World Watch List 2024 is compiled...Worldwide persecution of Christians on the increase
- CAP (Christians Against Poverty) has written a letter responding to Ofgem’s call for input on standing charges. For people on prepayment meters especially, standing charges can be problematic. Over summer, when people may not be using their gas for heating yet, they are still required to pay a daily standing charge. This can mean that...CAP responds to Ofgem’s call for input on standing charges
- Church of England Cathedrals and churches were among nearly 5,000 religious buildings to recently receive a share of up to £42 million in Government funding aimed at helping with the conservation of listed places of worship. The Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme gives grants covering the VAT on repairs to listed buildings used...Church of England welcomes Listed Places of Worship funding