The Trump/Kim summit due to take place in Singapore on Tuesday 12 June is a meeting of historic significance. There has never been a face-to-face meeting between a sitting US President and a leader of the North Korea (DPRK). If all goes well, we might see a plan for the de-escalation of …
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Addressing climate change need not cost the earth
A church minister once commented that he always made sure he went to meetings of the church Finance Committee, “as that is where the most important spiritual decisions get made.” What we choose to do with our money – and other precious resources such as our time and energy – is a good indicator …
Response to the Government’s announcement on gambling machines
The Government’s announcement on gambling machines – a response from the Baptist Union, the Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church The Government’s decision significantly to reduce the stakes for Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) from a maximum of …
Asylum Applications and Christian Belief
A briefing for ministers called to give evidence in support of asylum applications. This briefing was originally published in May 2017 but has been updated in May 2018 in order to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information Many people seek asylum in the UK on the grounds that they fear …
Pulling the plug on the Iran deal
The complete collapse of the Iran deal would be disastrous[1] but could the Trump administration still score a foreign policy success with Iran? Donald Trump takes personal credit for Kim Jong-Un’s recent decision to halt missile and nuclear warhead testing. He was backed by most of the …
Power posing: cause for concern?
Rachel Allison explores the latest trend of political power posing and asks what it means that our politicians think they must be superheroes… There has been a lot of talk about ‘power-posing’ this week. The new Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, decided to power pose outside the Home Office for …
Good Ruddance to the hostile environment?
Home Secretary Amber Rudd is the Cabinet’s latest casualty. Helen Byrne hopes she takes her Department’s ‘hostile environment’ policy with her: Amber Rudd has resigned, her position untenable following the Windrush Scandal. The final straw was a leaked document which undermined her claim, made to …
Minimum Unit Pricing Live in Scotland
As of 1st May 2018 Scotland has introduced minimum unit pricing (MUP), a policy which targets harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption. This fact-sheet gives an overview of why minimum unit pricing is necessary and encourages individuals and churches to push for England to follow suit. …
The Asylum and Refugee Community
A story sent by Rev John Howard-Norman of Wesley Hall Methodist Church, Blackburn: As the nations of Europe struggle to make an adequate response to the needs of the hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing war, violence and oppression, Christians, cannot simply remain bystanders to this …
Shooting the messenger: DWP’s response to news that Universal Credit is driving Foodbank use
Foodbank use is up 13% across the UK but in areas with Universal Credit (UC) the rise is a horrendous 52%. This figure is incredibly important. It is solid nationwide evidence confirming what churches and projects have been saying for some time – that many families are in trouble because of UC. …