On 9 April bombs at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria and in St George’s Church, Tanta during Palm Sunday services killed at least 45 people and injured over 120. These attacks on the Coptic Christian community have been claimed by Islamic State. At a time when attacks are increasing, Palm Sunday …
Towards a UN-sponsored Nuclear Ban Treaty
Five UK Churches have issued a statement to support and encourage those meeting in New York to negotiate a treaty banning nuclear weapons. They have also expressed their shared disappointment that the UK Government has refused to take part in these talks, despite it’s longstanding international …
Local Election Resource: Explore Faith and Politics 2017
On 4 May many of us will go the ballot box and vote for candidates in local council elections. Over the last four years we have seen two referendums and a General Election, and in the midst of all of this it is easy to disengage from local politics. And yet local democracy remains a vital part …
Easter and Lent Worship Resources
First Sunday in Lent - Tempted in the Desert During Lent we will be producing a set of reflections that are primarily designed to be used by congregations in Sunday services, but will also be of value for personal reflection during this season. They explore how we are called to be ‘beacons of hope’ …
Fracking: A briefing for our Churches
Part of our work involves exploring the issues around fracking, something which is of concern to many people in our churches and communities. We have produced a briefing for our members to help facilitate conversations and thinking about fracking. The briefing argues that a policy that seeks to …
A place to call home?
‘A place to call home?‘ is our latest resource on housing; a set of six bible studies for small group discussion focusing on a range of issues around housing. It is produced by our four churches in collaboration with Housing Justice and Scottish Churches Housing Action. Britain is facing a …
Being peacemakers in a nuclear age
Nuclear weapons have been back in the news again. In the final few days before his inauguration, President Trump appeared first to challenge Russia to an arms race before then using nuclear weapons as bargaining chips in the ongoing debate over sanctions against Russia. In a climate where there is …
‘Incentives’, or walking by on the other side of the road
The Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, has said this country is going to close its scheme helping unaccompanied child refugees because “We don’t want to incentivise [child refugee] journeys to Europe”. The Home Office appears to be arguing that the cause of children fleeing conflict zones such as Syria and …
DWP Benefit Cap Announcement: More Leeches please!
For over 2,000 years medics cut people open or applied leaches to remove blood from people suffering from diseases ranging from cancer to haemorrhoids. With the wrong diagnosis and a dangerous treatment, it is not surprising that the medics didn’t do any good. The practice remained popular because …
Admiral West’s Offer to MPs
MPs are frustrated with the UK Government’s “stupid”[ref]Admiral Lord Alan West in evidence to the Defence Committee, Tuesday 24 January[/ref] secrecy over the failure of the UK’s Trident missile test in June 2016. Admiral Lord West, who previously had responsibility for the …