Church Issues

• Missionary bishop leading Anglican breakaway: Rt Rev Andy Lines, commissioned earlier this year by GAFCON to defend conservative Anglicanism in Britain and Europe, ordained nine new ministers this week as part of a breakaway Anglican movement called Anglican Mission in England. Read more here and here.

World Scene

• Australia legalises same-sex ‘marriage’: Key amendments to protect individual freedom of speech on the matter, and the rights of charities to hold their own views, were struck down. The bill follows a non-binding postal vote in which Australians voted to re-define marriage. Read more here.
  
• Taylor Force Act moves to Senate: The bill, which will cut US aid to the Palestinian Authority as long as it continues to reward terrorists and their families, passed in the House of Representatives and now moves towards its final vote. Read more here.
  
• Victory for Norwegian pro-life doctor: Dr Jachimowicz was sacked in 2015 for refusing to participate in abortion, but the court judgment against her has now been overturned by Norway’s Court of Appeal. Read more here. Freedom of conscience protections used to be in place in Norway for medical professionals but have been eroded.
  
• Schulz pushes for ‘United States of Europe’: Martin Schulz, leader of Germany’s Social Democrat party and Angela Merkel’s best hope for a coalition partner, has called for a “federal Europe” with one constitutional treaty by 2025. Read more here.

Israel & Middle East

• Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem sparks outrage: A diplomatic furore has erupted over the announcement. Calling for a new intifada, Hamas has said that Trump has ‘opened the gates of hell’, although so far protests have been relatively minor. Meanwhile, reportedly at least three other countries are interested in moving their embassies to Jerusalem.
  
• Israel strikes two military bases in Syria: Both were near Damascus. The first, last weekend, was an Iranian base mid-construction, and the second, on Monday, was a Syrian regime base with known links to Hezbollah. Read more here.
  
• Israel growing its global influence: In an historic first, six African heads of parliament are visiting Israel this week following Netanyahu’s efforts to forge links with the continent. Meanwhile, an Israeli Foreign Ministry poll of 54 countries suggests a clear majority (including some Arab nations) are viewing Israel with more favour.

Upcoming Events

• The P Word Conference (Cardiff): 27 January 2018, 10:30am-4pm, Freedom Church, Cardiff. A practical Christian response to pornography for all leaders. In partnership with CARE. For more information and for tickets, visit pwordconference.com.
• Foundations 8 (Cumbria): 3-7 April 2018, Grange-Over-Sands. Called out, standing out. Steve Maltz's annual week-long Hebraic conference. £260 per person. Click here for more information and to book.