UCB Broadcast May 2006
Hello and welcome to the Parliamentary prayer update, my name is Gareth Wallace and I work in Westminster for the Evangelical Alliance Public Affairs Department.
Assisted Dying
Lord Joffe’s Assisted Dying Bill had its Second Reading on Friday 12 May. The day started with the Care Not Killing Alliance presenting the petition to 10 Downing Street. Evangelical Alliance staff protested, with the Care Not Killing alliance and several hundred members of the public outside the House of Lords, as the Bill was being debated.
The House of Lords voted by 148 to 100 for Lord Carlisle’s amendment to delay the Bill for six months which effectively kills it, as the current parliamentary session will almost certainly end by then.
Although it would appear that the prospect of legalised killing has receded for now, it will almost certainly return in the near future and concerned Christians must remain watchful.
The Care Not Killing Alliance continues to need our support. View photos of the day.
Give thanks that the Bill has been defeated for now.
Pray that Care NOT Killing will be strengthened with more supporters for any future campaigns
Christians in Politics
Christians in Politics is a joint initiative of the Christian Socialist Movement, the Conservative Christian Fellowship and the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum.
It aims to encourage Christian political participation and involvement at every level. Each year CiP organises a national politics Sunday. The Evangelical Alliance are supporters of Christians in Politics and sit on their Steering Group.
Christians in Politics have just launched a resource pack for churches, enabling them to run their own 'politics Sunday' at any time during the year.
The politics Sunday resources are an excellent introduction to Christian inspired political action. CiP will post out copies of the pack to interested churches and individuals free of charge.
The pack consists of a 3 minute DVD, Resource Paper, as well as literature from the 3 main party Christian Fellowships and CARE.
It is suitable for use in churches, small groups and youth groups. Requests for the pack can be made by emailing your postal address to mail@christiansinpolitics.fsnet.co.uk
Please pray for the work of CIP.
Pray that Christians will get more involved in politics.
Whitehall Christians in Parliament, the Whitehall Network and 24-7 Prayer invite you to join in with an exciting week of prayer for Parliament from Tuesday 13 June to Tuesday 20 June. An unprecedented number of prayer gatherings (large and small) will take place across the Parliamentary estate and Whitehall departments. Other activities will include daily prayer-walking and evening prayer and worship events in local churches. Churches nationwide and globally will be praying through-the-night.
For more information about the 24-7 prayer week for Parliament & Whitehall and how you and your church can get involved please visit the Christians in Parliament website or e-mail parliamentandwhitehall@24-7prayer.com
The Evangelical Alliance Public Affairs team will be attending events over the Parliamentary Prayer week.
Please pray for God’s favour over the Prayer week, pray for a larger than ever turnout of MP’s, Peers and Staff at the events.
Pray for a real sense of unity amongst Christians in Westminster.
Gambling
The Gambling Commission, the new regulatory body for the Gambling industry, is consulting widely about the implementation of the new Gambling Act, which comes fully into force in September 2007.
The Evangelical Alliance has been at the forefront of this consultation process, submitting written evidence and attending Gambling Commission meetings.
Some of the Evangelical Alliance’s suggestions regarding strengthened local community accountability have been largely accepted as part of the Gambling Commission’s ‘Guidance to Licensing Authorities’ document.
These include extending the limit on those who can voice concern about a casino development from those simply living nearby, to covering the market catchment area of the casino.
It also includes the suggestion that licensing authorities should consult about proposed casino developments with Faith groups, primary care trusts and those who deal with problem gamblers.
It will be important for every local church to stress to its local authority that they should be included in the consultation list within the council’s licensing policy.
Download the Evangelical Alliance guidance for churches responding to local casino applications, ‘Help, there is a casino coming’.
Please pray for the Evangelical Alliance and the other Faith groups as they respond to the Gambling Commission’s consultations, pray that vulnerable groups will receive more protection from the potential negative effects of Gambling.
Further Prayer and Action
For further insights on these and other issues The Evangelical Alliance Public Affairs department produces a monthly parliamentary magazine,PQ, and a monthly ‘Prayer and Campaigns’ action and prayer sheet. If you have any questions please e-mail the public affairs team at pub-aff@eauk.org
Thank you.
