YWCA ditches ‘Christian’ from its name
The YWCA England and Wales, one of the country’s best-known charities, set up in 1855 to help young women going to London for the first time, has renamed itself as ‘Platform 51’ claiming that its original name ‘no longer stands for who we are or what we do’. YWCA managers say that the name was chosen to reflect the fact that 51 per cent of people are female and that they can use the charity as a platform ‘to have their say’ and ‘to move to the next stage of their lives’. YWCA’s chairman is a homosexual ‘rights’ activist and former equality quango manager. Officials at the World YWCA headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, told the media that none of the 124 branches in other countries will follow Platform 51's move. ‘We see our name as an opportunity for promoting Christian values and principles,’ a World YWCA official said.
Pray: that despite its name change the organisation’s Christian heritage will shine through its work. (Ro.3:28)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/social/ywca-removes-link-to-christian-roots
Women in crisis
A report produced by Platform 51 (see previous item), entitled ‘Women like me: supporting wellbeing in girls and women’, warned there is evidence that women’s mental health is getting worse. ‘Policy makers need to act now to address this crisis in women’s mental health. In summary it states that ’Generations of women are in crisis due to relationship breakdown, bereavement or debt, and one in three has taken anti-depressants. More than 15 million women have suffered mental health problems of some kind, and are twice as likely as men to be depressed’. The group called on ministers to review the ‘over-reliance’ on anti-depressant drugs to treat mild and moderate mental health problems and to make counselling and psychotherapy more easily available to women.
Pray: for the recognition of problems in the care given to women’s mental health. (Ps.69:19)
Anger over Channel 4’s new show
A graphic Channel 4 show which will provide sexually explicit advice to teens has been branded ‘pornographic’ by the UK’s leading media campaign group. The controversial show, entitled The Joy of Teen Sex, is due to be broadcast later this month amid news reports of teenage girls being lured into sex slavery, and a Government investigation into the sexualisation of childhood. Vivienne Pattison, director of MediaWatch UK, said: ‘This programme crosses the line into prurience, with graphic scenes of sex that can only be described as pornographic. Also, if you make a programme with the words ‘teen sex’ in the title, you are surely asking for trouble. A teenager who enters that into a search engine will surely yield rather different results on top of the advice programme they were looking for’. The programme centres around visitors to a walk-in sex clinic.
Pray: that the broadcasting channels 'programme planners’ standards are raised by insights into the grace of God. (Ro.5:20)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/the-joy-of-teen-sex-anger-over-channel-4s-new-show/
Petition to support B & B owners
Mr David Skinner is to present a petition to the Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, in support of Peter and Hazelmary Bull who run a Christian bed and breakfast business in in their home in Cornwall. They are facing a civil court claim for £5,000 and possibly the closure of their business because they refused a double bed to two gay men. It is alleged that Mr and Mrs Bull have contravened the Sexual Orientation Regulations (2007). It must be noted, however, that the Bulls have a policy that denies anyone a double bed who is not married, whether gay or straight. As will be seen, this issue is much greater than someone losing their B&B and possibly their home. Whether we are 'religious' or not the Bulls represent all of us who see that our freedom is being stolen through groups who are determined to re-engineer society. Please sign the petition here.
Pray: that this petition will be well supported and will be favourably received by Mr Cameron. (Dt.16:20)
