Twitter users invited to help choose the new Archbishop
Having wrestled with the best way to choose a new leader, the Church of England has decided to use the social networking site Twitter. It will also seek the views of people of all faiths and none, from the Chief Rabbi to Professor Richard Dawkins. For the first time in history, the long and usually private process will begin with a widespread public consultation, to be finished by the end of May. The Crown Nominations Commission, which must present the Prime Minister with two possible successors to Dr Rowan Williams, will also ask for contributions from ‘senior figures in other faiths, the secular world and the life of the nation’. A spokesman for the Church of England said the invitation would be made through the Church press but also through other media including the social networking site Twitter, where the CofE already posts news in nuggets of 140 characters or less. (See Praise story above)
Pray: for our nation to engage and respond to the debate in the early phase of finding a new Archbishop of Canterbury. (Lk.24:15)
Boost for Church of England schools and churches
A wave of new faith-based schools could lead to the building of new churches in the United Kingdom for the first time in more than half a century. Churches are planned for new towns and expanding housing developments, set to burgeon as planning laws are relaxed, according to Britain’s Daily Express newspaper. The newspaper reports that the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, confirmed that areas around his own diocese will be part of the expansion plans. After the publication of a new report, The Church School of the Future, Church of England schools are set to enjoy a renaissance as hundreds are converted into Academies, the newspaper said. Rt Rev Pritchard, who is chairman of the Church's Board of Education, said: ‘It is around new communities that we see our one area of new expansion in terms of building new schools. Around my diocese in Oxford, for example, there is a vast number of new houses’.
Pray: for the opportunities that arise for building churches in new communities. (1Chr.29:16)
MP’s try to overturn ban on claiming God can heal
Last month the Advertising Standards Authority told a group of Christians in Bath that they could not continue to make any claims in their advertising which state or imply that, by receiving their prayer, people could be healed. The group, called ‘Healing On The Streets Bath’, were specifically banned from using their leaflets which stated: ‘Need healing? God can heal today! We believe that God loves you and can heal you from any sickness.’ Atheist Hayley Stevens took offence at the group’s adverts, complaining to the ASA that the claims by the Christians could 'not be substantiated'. Her complaint was upheld and the ASA ordered the group to stop stating on their website or in literature that God can heal. Now three Christian MPs, Gary Streeter (Con), Gavin Shuker (Lab) and Tim Farron (Lib Dem) have written to the ASA asking them to produce ‘indisputable scientific evidence’ that prayer does not work, otherwise they will raise the issue in Parliament. (See Prayer Alert 06-2012)
Pray: that the work of HOTS will continue unhindered and that the ASA will reverse it’s decision. (Jn.16:33)
British Military in Afghanistan
On Sunday, 25 March, a member of the Afghan National Army opened fire at the entrance gate to the British headquarters in Lashkar Gar city, killing the two British service personnel and injuring a third. On Tuesday, 27 March, 11 suicide jackets were seized inside the Ministry of Defence in Kabul and 18 people arrested including some Afghan National Army soldiers. This puts incredible pressure on our personnel, in areas which should be ‘safe’. Our servicemen work closely with Afghan police and troops but these attacks serve to make our personnel more fearful.
Pray: that God will protect our service personnel and help them remain vigilant at all times. That He will guide them through the long hours on duty and that wherever they are, they can rest in the knowledge that the Lord is covering them. (Ps.91)
