Church of England voices fears over BBC cutbacks
The Church of England has expressed concern that the BBC's controversial strategic review could lead to less religious programming. In its submission to the BBC Trust on director general Mark Thompson's strategy review, the Church of England said plans to refocus programme output must not mean giving up on content that appeals to smaller audiences, including religious output. The Church of England also had concerns that the BBC's online plans to cut half of the web pages it publishes might affect religious output. The church was ‘particularly concerned’ about online religion and ethics content provided by BBC Regions that it believed was under threat. The church is also concerned with making sure there is ‘appropriate resource’ set aside to ‘ensure high-quality provision of content that reflects and explores religion’. The church, at its general synod in February, reiterated a ‘deep concern’ about the overall reduction in religious broadcasting on British TV.
Pray: for the protection of religious content as the BBC seeks to make changes to the content it provides. (Pr.31:8)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/may/12/bbc-church-of-england
Egypt: Muslims who kill Christians often claim ‘Insanity’
Islamist investigators, judges and psychiatrists are only too willing to go with the pretext of insanity plea of 'insanity' to allow fellow Muslims to ‘get away with murder’ based on the Islamic law - Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one.’ The latest example of the insanity defence was the murder of a Coptic Christian deacon, George Fathi, who was killed last October deliberately and with premeditation, by two fundamentalist brothers who visited George in his flat , then strangled and electrocuted him until his intestines burst out. His father was sitting in a coffee house facing their flat, saw smoke coming out and when he opened the door he found his son dead and disfigured. The killers opened a butane cylinder and made a fire to cause an explosion but this was averted by the father and neighbours, who testified having seen three bearded men enter the flat earlier. On April 24 the presiding judge in the brothers' case stated that the psychiatric assessment confirmed insanity. At the request of the victim's lawyers, the judge said they could refer the defendant to a psychiatric committee.
Pray: for global condemnation to cause a reversal in Egypt’s edicts, for the victims of brutal attacks to be conscious of God’s presence. (1Pe.2:19)
Niger: On the brink of severe food emergency
Niger could have a staggering eight million people starving and around one million children critically malnourished because of repeated drought and irregular rainfall that caused a poor harvest. Reports say many families are abandoning their villages and heading to Niamey city in a desperate search of food. Animals are beginning to die, malnutrition is on the increase and water is increasingly scarce. Many schools are being abandoned and the majority of Niger’s farmers fear they will not have seeds to plant for the next harvest in October. Imported Nigerian food is available but is too expensive for most families. Christian Aid has released £100,000 emergency funds to three partner organisations working in the region to provide food for the most vulnerable women and children, give support to cereal banks and food distribution and set up cash-for-work programmes to enable families to buy cereals and grains in the markets.
Pray: that Christian Aid’s resources would be enlarged, for lives to be saved and livelihoods rebuilt. (1Pe.4:10)
More:http://www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies/current/west-africa-food-crisis/index.aspx
Church of England clergy asked to cut costs as recession takes toll
Clergy in the Church of England are being asked to cut their cloth to suit the economic times and to prepare for mergers and staff cuts that could drastically reduce pastoral care and worship. A report on finances has found that a quarter of all 44 dioceses are running deficits and plundering reserves to pay stipends and pensions. A similar proportion has liquid reserves to last them one month or less. High staffing levels of clegy and laity are highlighted. The Church of England spends £1 billion a year in salaries and pensions for clergy as well as the upkeep of its buildings, an amount roughly matched by donations from parishes. But rising pension costs mean that every year churchgoers are asked to increase donations. The report, commissioned to help churches to improve ‘efficiency and effectiveness’, suggests that finances are so finely balanced in some areas that parishoners will have to dig even deeper or face cuts in provision.
Pray: for savings to be made that do not jeopardise the core work of the church. (Ho.14:9
More: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7123460.ece
