- C of E accused of ‘appropriating’ Jewish tradition. In a move that shows ignorance of the origins of Communion, the Church of England has bowed to criticism that its guidance on celebrating the Last Supper at home during the pandemic is too similar to the Jewish Seder. The guidance, in a document entitled ‘Prayer at Home’ did indeed loosely reflect patterns of the Seder, being designed with the idea of “framing the context” of the Last Supper events, with flatbread and similar symbols, and suggesting that younger family members ask questions about the tradition. Some have said that it “taps into centuries of anti-Semitism” inflicted by Christians. But Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner said that “to deny the Jewishness of Jesus and of Christianity may indicate a discomfort with Judaism and not with Christianity.” Read more here and here.
Society & Politics
- Christian TV channel fined for airing ‘conspiracy theories’. Christian satellite TV channel Loveworld has been fined £125,000 after it breached broadcasting rules by presenting “potentially harmful” and unsubstantiated claims about Covid-19. It is the second time in a year the watchdog has ruled against the channel for statements made on air about the virus. The programme, which aired from 1st December 2020, contained claims the pandemic is a “planned” event created by the “deep state” for nefarious purposes and that the vaccine is a “sinister” means of administering “nanochips” to control and harm people. Read more here.
- Court blasts Blackpool Council for discriminating against Christians. The organisers of an evangelistic event in which Franklin Graham preached have won a legal dispute with Blackpool Council. Before the start of the event, adverts which were booked to appear on local buses, saying simply 'Time for Hope', were banned over concerns that Graham would incite hatred upon his visit. Today, a judge ruled that freedom of expression had been blocked. Read more here.
- MP shares her Christian faith in UN speech. In December, the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, invited Christian MP Fiona Bruce to become his Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. In her role, Ms Bruce was recently invited to be the keynote speaker at a United Nations Commission on the Status of Women event. In the deeply open and inspiring speech, Fiona openly talks of her Christian faith, and what her job entails. The full speech can be read here or viewed here.
- Scotland is spending 30% more on public services than England thanks to UK funding deal. The Scottish government is spending 30% more on public services per person than England thanks to its generous funding deal from Westminster. The extraordinary gap has been highlighted in a report by the Institute of Fiscal Studies. It is this surplus funding that many believe allowed Sturgeon to unveil a 4 per cent pay rise for Scotland’s NHS staff last week, which is also regarded as a vote-drawing stunt. The IFS also said the Scottish Government has chosen to use some of its temporary coronavirus funding to pay for permanent spending commitments – raising concerns that this will cause problems when the crisis eases.
Church News
- Less than 50% of Americans have formal church membership for first time in 80 years. While America remains a highly religious nation with 7 in 10 claiming affiliation with some kind of organised religion, for the first time in nearly 80 years, fewer than half of them now say they have formal membership to a church, according to a new Gallup analysis. In 1937, over 70% of Americans had formal church membership. This remained steady for the next 60 years until a steady decline began at the turn of the 21st century. In 2020, formal membership in houses of worship stood at 49%. Conversely, in the last 20 years the share of Americans who do not identify with any religion has grown from 8% in 1998 to 21% in the last three years.
- “It's easier to come out as an alcoholic than a Christian”. This is the verdict of Frank Skinner, one of Britain’s most popular comedians. Although not a well-known fact, Skinner is a practising Catholic who daily reads the Bible. Indeed, his new book, ‘A Comedian’s Prayer Book’, is published this week. In it, Skinner ponders the nature of faith, the fate of his beloved late mother, Doris, and issues such as why TK Maxx sells statues of a smiling, seated Buddha but not crucifixes of a dying Jesus. “When I pray”, Skinner says, “it is the only conversation I have where I utterly drop my guard about every doubt and fear and idiocy and imperfection. If I didn’t pray, I don’t know where I’d find that unwrapping of myself.”
World Events
- French Government rejects term ‘Islamophobia’. The secretary general of CIPDR, a government counter-terror body, made the recommendation on Monday. He said that accusations of Islamophobia have been weaponised “by Islamists with the aim of prohibiting any form of criticism of radical Islam”. The term Islamophobia, it says, “serves to introduce a 'crime of blasphemy', which does not exist in our country”. Meanwhile, France's proposed law to protect the values of the republic would ban home-schooling for Muslims, make formal education obligatory.
- ISIS brags of 'killing Christians' in Mozambique massacre. ISIS has claimed responsibility for a days-long assault on a coastal town near Palma, Mozambique. Scores of people have been killed, including Christians, Mozambique soldiers and “crusaders” (Westerners). A witness said the town and beaches are strewn with bodies “with heads and without”. Hundreds of people were rescued by boat, while hundreds more, including children, have fled on foot. Several thousands have been killed in Mozambique in the past few years, as Islamic militants have engaged in a brutal campaign to establish an Islamist caliphate in Cabo Delgado province. Read more here and here.
Events
- Good Friday Meditation. The Issachar Ministries Sunday community gathering are holding a Good Friday Meditation based on the biblical account of the last week in the life of Jesus culminating in his death as recorded in John's Gospel. There will be no breakout rooms for fellowship and it will be open to others on Zoom from 3.30 on Friday afternoon. Do join us.
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Days of repentance. Following the first ‘God I'm Sorry’ Day of Repentance on 20 March 2021, there are details of a future day of national repentance for division & disunity in the church and the UK on June 19; details here.
Videos of two of the Calls to repentance from 20 March are now available on YouTube: Linda Rose on ‘The Call to Repentance of the Church’; and Clifford Hill and ‘The Call to Repentance of the Nation’
