Articles

1 Dec 2008

In the News

Points-based system for migrants takes effect amidst ongoing immigration debate
The new points-based system for migration into the UK came into effect on Thursday 27 November. In the past couple of weeks there has been much debate in the public square about how to deal with migration. Immigration Minister Phil Woolas, who has recently called for caps on immigration, has now criticised the “asylum industry” for supposedly offering illegal services to asylum seekers
Read 'Points-based system for migrants takes effect amidst ongoing immigration debate'

28 Nov 2008

Archbishop of York advises on neighbourliness and mercy at the Alliance's eighth Temple Address
Britain can climb out of recession by abandoning greed and instead investing in Christian values of neighbourliness and mercy, according to the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. Speaking to an audience of over 200 at the Alliance’s Temple Address on Nov 27 he said that the country had been ‘poisoned’ by ‘material excess’ and ‘through a lack of a shared big picture’. Discussing the topic of “The road to recovery: neighbourliness and mercy, community and service” the Archbishop said greed had destroyed society. ‘While we have all benefited from the economic progress of past decades, the consequences of rampant consumerism and individualism – both economic and social – have been to eradicate the glue that coheres community together.
Read 'Archbishop of York advises on neighbourliness and mercy at the Alliance's eighth Temple Address'

27 Nov 2008

Does God believe in climate change?
Churches must lobby Gordon Brown to prioritise tackling climate change, regardless of the credit crunch. This is the view of the former chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change, Sir John Houghton.
Addressing an Alliance and Tearfund-sponsored event in Cardiff on Tuesday, he said, 'Climate change is a very big problem and anything we can do about it by lobbying on this issue is vital. The moral imperative is enormous,' he added.
Sir John was the keynote speaker at the event at Calvary Baptist Church in Cardiff. He warned that if left unchecked climate change could see a rise of as much as 6 degrees in average world temperatures leading to millions of environmental refugees as floods and droughts increase, as well as the loss of millions of species.
Read 'Does God believe in climate change?'

25 Nov 2008

In the News

Government announces VAT cut in pre-budget report
The Pre-Budget Report announced by Alistair Darling Monday comes amidst continued concern about the state of the economy. Over the past few weeks the Government have been preparing the ground for this statement by calling for greater public borrowing to finance a stimulus package. The headline change is a reduction in the rate of VAT from 17.5% to 15%.
Read 'Government announces VAT cut in pre-budget report'

24 Nov 2008

Treasures Hidden in the Fields: Surviving the Financial Crisis
Are we wedded to a culture of debt that threatens to ruin the way of life we have become accustomed to? Is there a real danger that this house of Credit Cards is posed to collapse around us? 'In Debt We Trust' is an independent film that exposes the way that spending money we do not have has become so essential to our existence. Filmed before the current impact of the Credit Crunch was apparent, the film is a timely warning to our culture of the dangers of living off a debt fuelled economy.

Based on current figures, 121 homes will be repossessed today, 298 people will be declared insolvent, and over the past three months 1,522 people lost their jobs each day. The scale of the crisis in our financial and economic system is becoming apparent and this is not a small problem. It is not just confined to the bankers who have lost their jobs. And while the impact may be initially felt in the middle-classes, it will undoubtedly spread further.
Read 'Treasures Hidden in the Fields: Surviving the Financial Crisis'

18 Nov 2008

Prayer for peace and reconciliation in Congo
Tens of thousands of Congolese are suffering deprivation, hunger, thirst and disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In response to the humanitarian crisis facing the DRC, UK Congolese-led Churches, Global Day of Prayer, Premier Radio, Peace Alliance and Tearfund are calling on Christians to pray for peace and reconciliation in this war-torn area.

Pastor Jean Bosco, a Rwandan native and founder of Bridge to East Africa, says more than sixty percent of the population in Congo lives on less than a dollar a day.

He says: “Life in Congo is so tough. We need to pray for the people of Congo, for the government and for God’s direction on where to go from here.”
Read 'Prayer for peace and reconciliation in Congo'

17 Nov 2008

Pole to Pole: Exploring Polish mission in the UK
More than two million Poles have left their country since it joined the European Union in May 2004, of whom at least half have gone to Britain and Ireland, according to EU data.

The Evangelical Alliance UK, European Christian Mission, Fellowship of Churches of Christ in the UK and Global Connections are currently consulting with the Polish Evangelical Alliance and English churches and agencies involved with Polish migrants.

These organisations are hosting an event open to all who are involved in mission and ministry amongst Polish people. Information will be provided on any resources, training and literature currently available and the group will aim to raise awareness on Polish missionaries in the UK in order to facilitate the bridging of any gaps in provision. 
Read 'Pole to Pole: Exploring Polish mission in the UK'

17 Nov 2008

In the News

Baby P case in Haringey dominates news and causes public outrage
The death of Baby P has dominated the news in the past week and shocked the nation with its tale of familial abuse and failed social care and bureaucracy. Baby P died in August 2007 after months of abuse at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend, as well as one of her lodgers. Public outrage over the case has grown as more details of the story are emerging.
Read 'Baby P case in Haringey dominates news and causes public outrage'

12 Nov 2008

Event encourages Christians to take a stand against injustice
We’ve all heard stories of human trafficking. But what have we done to fight against this injustice, against this modern day form of slavery occurring in every country around the world—even in the UK?
On November 8, Hope for Justice presented an event called The Stand at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham to provoke the Church to STAND UP against the injustice of human trafficking and slavery. At the heart of their vision, Hope for Justice aims to inspire a generation of Christians that will be known for living out the gospel through justice and righteousness.
Read 'Event encourages Christians to take a stand against injustice'

10 Nov 2008

Praying for the persecuted Church
Over 200 million Christians around the world suffer persecution in varying forms—a Christian child kidnapped and forced into Islam; a Chinese Christian worshipping in an underground church for fear of his government; an Iraqi Christian forced to flee his country because of death threats imposed on his family. Believing that prayer can bring about change and restoration, Christians across denominations rallied behind those who suffer for their faith and took part in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November 9. With a primary focus on intercessory prayer and citizen action on behalf of persecuted communities of the Christian faith, IDOP also encouraged prayer for the nations that promote persecution and for those who ignore it. According to Open Doors, churches in over 130 countries participated in this global day of prayer. The movement began in 1996 through the efforts of the World Evangelical Fellowship in cooperation with a number of faith-based organisations. 
Read 'Praying for the persecuted Church'

6 Nov 2008

Shalom in the media
George Eliot considered that the growing good in the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts, the day-to-day commitments that build wellbeing in the community. I happen to live in a city that is truly filled with such 'unhistoric acts.' The family who offers hospitality to the destitute asylum seeker; the artisan who facilitates creative workshops for the refugee community, enabling arts to give expression to emotions and themes that are universal; the team that facilitates refugees to write and publicly present a Refugee Charter; the young British activists who camp ten days in Westminster in order to draw attention to the plight of the destitute asylum seekers. Following in Jesus' footsteps is a colourful collection of social entrepreneurs, a bunch of disciples who are motivated by their faith and who aim to be good neighbours.
Read 'Shalom in the media'

5 Nov 2008

In the News

Obama wins in historic election
Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States on 20 January 2009. At the end of nearly 2 years of campaigning costing over $1 billion Obama comfortably defeated Republican candidate John McCain. With Obama clocking up victories in the vital swing states of Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania, McCain was left with an insurmountable task as the results rolled in from across the country.
Read 'Obama wins in historic election'

31 Oct 2008

WEA General Assembly renews vision for global evangelism
We live in a world battling religious liberty, HIV and Aids, poverty, peace-keeping and financial crises. On October 30, 128 national Evangelical Alliance leaders committed to tackling these pressing global issues with the release of six major resolutions. After meeting once every seven years, the World Evangelical Alliance convened its General Assembly in Pattaya, Thailand with a renewed vision and five-year plan, including practical training and networking strategies, to help national alliances achieve their shared vision. Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director of the WEA, said the vision is to see the global church joined together in every community effectively living out and proclaiming the good news of Jesus.
Read 'WEA General Assembly renews vision for global evangelism'

24 Oct 2008

Embracing a Holistic Gospel: Being the people of God in light of a world in need
A worldwide commission of evangelical theologians has declared that Christians must not separate social action and evangelism, despite the tragic murder of Gayle Williams.

Dr Justin Thacker, Head of Theology at the Alliance, presented the Biblical, historical and ethical implications of a holistic gospel to the World Evangelical Alliance Theological Commission in Bangkok, Thailand on October 24.

Dr Thacker said the key to integrating evangelism and social action is not about ensuring we have a healthy mix of both in our churches or our lives, but it’s about responding holistically to the whole of the person before us.
Read 'Embracing a Holistic Gospel: Being the people of God in light of a world in need'

23 Oct 2008

In the News

Atheist bus campaign set to run in London
In a move to counter religious advertisements on public transportation, the British Humanist Association and comedy writer Ariane Sherine are running a campaign that will see bendy buses in London carrying the slogan: “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

While Sherine kick-started the campaign in June with an article written for the Guardian Comment is Free, it has only recently received enough support to continue. Professor Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion, helped revive the campaign by offering to match donations made to the BHA by up to £5,500.
Read 'Atheist bus campaign set to run in London'

21 Oct 2008

Violence against Christians in Orissa continues
In the Orissa state of India there has been an upsurge in violence by Hindus towards Christians. The assassination of a Hindu leader was blamed on Christians, despite strong evidence suggesting that it was in fact the work of Maoist guerrillas. In the ensuing violence 60 people have lost their lives, 4000 houses destroyed and over 50,000 have been left homeless.
Read 'Violence against Christians in Orissa continues'

20 Oct 2008

Black History Month provides way for churches to engage with other cultures
Black History Month has been celebrated across the UK every October for over 30 years. The aim of the month is to give special recognition to the contribution of those of African descent to the larger narrative of the country’s history, and to highlight the achievements of the black community. It is also meant to recognise the broader multi-cultural perspective of history.

The month-long event was formally established by the London Strategic Policy Unit as part of the African Jubilee year in 1987. In schools, there is often a special segment of the curriculum dedicated to studying black history during the month of October. Local councils and libraries will have special events and resources devoted to the theme.
Read 'Black History Month provides way for churches to engage with other cultures'

20 Oct 2008

Micah Sunday witnesses the Church standing up against extreme poverty
Uniting against injustice, the global Church raised its voice on Micah Sunday, calling governments to keep their promises to the poor. On October 19, thousands of churches in the UK and worldwide used imaginative worship, sermons and prayers to offer practical ways for Christians to engage with issues of poverty and social justice. From a prayer rally in Kenya, to food distributed in Burundi and medicine and clothes delivered to Abidjan Village in the Ivory Coast, churches around the world organized practical aid as part of their response to global poverty. Participants also focused on the theme of climate change, calling on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to secure a global deal that helps poor communities adapt to the effects of climate change. Thirty-one Micah campaigns worldwide took part in Micah Sunday. 
Read 'Micah Sunday witnesses the Church standing up against extreme poverty'

20 Oct 2008

In the News

Government debates extension of abortion to Northern Ireland
An amendment tabled to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, if called and passed, could see the 1967 Abortion Act extended to Northern Ireland.  In 1967, when the Act was originally passed, Northern Ireland had its own parliament and although Direct Rule was established in the early 1970s, successive Conservative and Labour governments have not attempted to extend the law there. However, while events are continuing to move quickly, the Government have indicated they may introduce a motion that prevents any amendments relating to the 1967 Abortion Act due to its controversial nature.
Read 'Government debates extension of abortion to Northern Ireland'

14 Oct 2008

Christ-centred leadership and mission-centred churches
With Christ’s vision at the heart of both new expressions of Church and authentic leadership, Mike Frost’s Future of the Church tour and the Alliance Wales New Generation Leaders initiative paralleled this last week in their bold call to evangelicals to make a difference in the 21st century.

Throughout Rev Mike Frost’s mini-tour across the UK, a broad cross-section of evangelicals and emerging leaders heard how the Church’s life has been predominantly organised around worship, with Frost, professor of evangelism at Morling College Sydney, Australia, challenging the Church to organise its life around mission.
Read 'Christ-centred leadership and mission-centred churches'

13 Oct 2008

In the News

Bailout and Bank Nationalisation
Following last week's major bank sector bailout, Gordon Brown announced that three major banks will be receiving £37 billion as part of the overall rescue plan. In an unprecedented move, the Treasury is bailing out RBOS, Lloyds TSB and HBOS, although Brown emphasised that the Government will not be a “permanent investor” in UK banks. European and Asian markets rallied slightly on Monday in light of the news.
Read 'Bailout and Bank Nationalisation'

9 Oct 2008

In the News

Bailout?
In an effort to save UK banks that are bordering on collapse, Gordon Brown has announced a plan for the government to spend £50 billion on stakes in large banks as a part of a £500 billion bailout package for the banking sector. This will partially nationalise the banking sector and create a burden of around £2,000 per taxpayer.
Read 'Bailout?'

2 Oct 2008

The New Conspirators
God is conspiring, through a new generation, to re-imagine and create new expressions of discipleship, community and mission to make a difference in our rapidly changing world. During a two day conference in Manchester, Tom Sine challenged the church in particular to be critically aware of how culture is influencing our understanding of ‘the good life and a better future’. Sine also challenged the Evangelical Alliance council earlier this month on how to be relevant leaders in today's culture. 
Read 'The New Conspirators'

1 Oct 2008

In the News

Black History Month celebrated in the UK in October
Black History Month has been celebrated across the UK every October for over 30 years. The aim of the month is to give special recognition to the contribution of those of African descent to the larger narrative of the country’s history, and to highlight the achievements of the black community. It is also meant to recognise the broader multi-cultural perspective of history.
Read 'Black History Month celebrated in the UK in October'

29 Sep 2008

Ten Blogging Commandments
I am a year old as a blogger, and the more I blog the more I realise there are some amazing opportunities to connect with people, to pick up techie tips, to get the inside scoop on what’s happening, to find treasure buried deep in the web and lots more. But when I found myself blogging on our rainy family holiday in Dorset this year, I realised something..
Read 'Ten Blogging Commandments'

26 Sep 2008

In the News

Conservative Party gathers in Birmingham for Annual Conference
The 2008 Conservative Party Conference gets underway on Sunday 28 September in Birmingham. While the Conservatives are in a strong position in the polls, they will try to avoid celebrating prematurely or giving off the impression that they have already won the next election.
Read 'Conservative Party gathers in Birmingham for Annual Conference'

18 Sep 2008

Joel leaves the Alliance
As the Evangelical Alliance Council gathered for the second time in 2008 they said goodbye to Joel Edwards, after more than a decade of valued service as General Director. At this significant point in the leadership of the Alliance, it was fitting that the theme of the conference was Christian leadership.
Read 'Joel leaves the Alliance'

18 Sep 2008

The Credit Crunch
For the last year grim news about the economic state of the country has abounded. The attention has become frenzied over the last few weeks with the nationalisation of the two US mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the collapse of Lehman Brothers investment bank. While we have been repeatedly told that the economy is heading towards turbulent times, for many they are only beginning to feel the impact.
Read 'The Credit Crunch'

18 Sep 2008

In the News

Labour Party meets in Manchester for Annual Conference
Amid talk of a rebellion, the Labour Party Conference began in Manchester on Saturday 20 September. The last couple of weeks have seen several junior members of Gordon Brown’s Government resign and join with other backbench MPs in calling for a leadership election. So far no senior figure has joined the rebellion and Gordon Brown has been able to shrug off the challenge and declare that it is business as usual.
Read 'Labour Party meets in Manchester for Annual Conference'

15 Sep 2008

Godblogs
The Evangelical Alliance is hosting a gathering for Christian bloggers on 23 September 2008. The event will give Christian bloggers an opportunity to network face-to-face and to think through a godly approach to blogging. A code of conduct for godly blogging will be developed as a result of the event, to help Christians communicate in cyberspace in a Christ-like way. 
Read 'Godblogs'

11 Sep 2008

In the News

The 'Big Bang'
There has been much coverage this week of the experiments taking place that will investigate the earliest moments of creation. On Wednesday, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) on the French-Swiss border successfully fired a stream of particles all the way round its 17 mile circumference.
Read 'The 'Big Bang''

9 Sep 2008

In the News

Sarah Palin and the American evangelical vote
The recent appointment of Alaskan governor Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate in the American presidential elections has caused a stir in the international press. Palin is an evangelical and may appeal to evangelical voters who have been uncertain about McCain.
Read 'Sarah Palin and the American evangelical vote'

8 Sep 2008

Not On Our Watch event highlights Christian work on social justice issues
A wide cross-section of Christian leaders joined the Evangelical Alliance on 5 September to watch a special preview of the new Miramax film The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas at Disney Studios in Hammersmith. The event, entitled "Not On Our Watch", was a chance for Alliance member and partner organisations to highlight their work on social justice issues, and for emerging leaders to learn about them in the context of one of Europe’s most shameful abuses of human rights.
Read 'Not On Our Watch event highlights Christian work on social justice issues'

8 Sep 2008

Forum for Change Seminar links Christians across sectors
The Forum for Change ‘5 x 5 seminar’ on 6 September brought together a colourful gathering of young business people, media producers, art gallery directors, teachers, actors, singer/ songwriters and young politicians who have one thing in common: they aim to influence society with the hope and values of the gospel through their work. Being a disciple in Arts, Media, Business, Education and Politics knows many challenges as well as exciting opportunities to promote God’s standards, bring the presence of Jesus and change society for the good.
Read 'Forum for Change Seminar links Christians across sectors'

1 Sep 2008

In the News

Credit Crunch Crisis
Grim economic news is becoming all too familiar, with talk of a recession looming on the horizon. Unemployment could reach 2 million by Christmas, a member of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee has warned.
Read 'Credit Crunch Crisis'

26 Aug 2008

In the News

Olympic handover to London
It’s an exciting time for London as the Olympic flag has now been officially handed over from Beijing in preparation for the 2012 summer games – and there have been special celebrations for Alliance member organisation The Salvation Army, which will host the 2012 mountain biking event at one of its Essex sites. Christians in the UK are caught up in the enthusiasm and are anticipating opportunities for outreach when the world comes to London in four years.
Read 'Olympic handover to London'

26 Aug 2008

Joel Edwards brings Agenda for Change message to Greenbelt
What are evangelicals for in 2008? Around 2,500 festival-goers were keen to find out as they flocked to Joel Edwards’ talk on the issue at Greenbelt. Joel’s answer – and his challenge for the crowd – was that today’s evangelicals need to go back to their roots and act strategically to present Christ credibly as good news to society.
Read 'Joel Edwards brings Agenda for Change message to Greenbelt'

21 Aug 2008

In the News

Eric Liddell's legacy and looking ahead to London 2012
As the Olympic flame is handed over to London’s mayor, Chinese Christians are keenly devouring a biography of a British Olympian who moved to China as a missionary following his athletic career. The book, published by Evangelical Press and entitled “Running the Race”, tells the story of Eric Liddell, who was the last British man to win gold in the Olympic 400m men’s final in 1924.
Read 'Eric Liddell's legacy and looking ahead to London 2012'

18 Aug 2008

In the News

McCain and Obama speak at Saddleback Church Civil Forum
The power of the evangelical vote in the U.S. was made clear last weekend as American presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama made their first joint campaign appearance at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church in California on 16 August. The televised event was part of the Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion and saw the candidates speak candidly about their faith and how they would go about leading the U.S.
Read 'McCain and Obama speak at Saddleback Church Civil Forum'

12 Aug 2008

In the News

China, the Olympics and human rights
China’s human rights record has been under the spotlight in the run-up to and during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. While the media have been describing this Olympics as China’s big moment to impress the world with the creativity and magnanimity of its people, there have also been reports that persecution of minority groups, including Christians, has actually increased in the months before the Games. 
Read 'China, the Olympics and human rights'

5 Aug 2008

Krish Kandiah addresses young people at 2008 New Wine Conference
How do we make sure our ambitions in life match God’s plans for the future?That was the question Krish Kandiah asked 1,200 14-18 year olds at this year’s New Wine conference. Kandiah said: “It was a great privilege to take part in the 'Thirst' youth programme this year."
Read 'Krish Kandiah addresses young people at 2008 New Wine Conference'

30 Jul 2008

Local Evangelical Fellowship Leaders Day
On the 22nd of July the Evangelical Alliance held a day for Local Evangelical Fellowship leaders from around the UK. The event was held at Whitefield House and there were twelve LEF leaders in attendance as well as several staff members from the Alliance. General Director Joel Edwards and Churches in Mission Executive Director Krish Kandiah addressed the attendees, talking about the importance of the local church and the initiatives that the Alliance is working on in conjunction with LEFs. 
Read 'Local Evangelical Fellowship Leaders Day'

28 Jul 2008

In the News

Media rehash Archbishop story
In the aftermath of the Lambeth Conference, eight-year-old correspondence between Archbishop Rowan Williams and a Christian psychiatrist has surfaced, revealing the Archbishop’s then thoughts on homosexual relationships. These letters have come to the light after the Archbishop, at the close of Lambeth, re-stated the Anglican Communion’s position that homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture.
Read 'Media rehash Archbishop story'

25 Jul 2008

Keep the promise - Halve poverty by 2015
Thursday's London march, organised by Micah Challenge and The Lambeth Conference, was described by Gordon Brown as "one of the greatest public demonstrations of faith that this great city has ever seen." 650 Anglican bishops, their spouses and prominent faith leaders walked in unity to send a message that the opportunity this world has to end extreme poverty should be grasped. The marchers asked world leaders to stand by the promises they had made to the world's poorest and recommit to seeing the Millennium Development Goals achieved by 2015
Read 'Keep the promise - Halve poverty by 2015'

22 Jul 2008

Who is my neighbour?
As knife crime becomes a heightened national concern, Churches Together in England have published a timely report. It recommends ways in which the Government, churches and the police service can work together more effectively to reduce gang-related crime linked to drugs, guns and knives.
Read 'Who is my neighbour?'