UCB Broadcast January 2009

The Charities Commission

The Charity Commission has published its final guidelines for religious charities. The Evangelical Alliance has been working with the Commission for many years while it has been drawing up these guidelines, and has had serious concerns about the impact they may have on churches and other Christian organisations.

All charities have to act for the public benefit and we feared that this would involve having to provide evidence for the benefit provided. The guidelines that were released before Christmas do not place this bureaucratic burden on churches. While they will have to state in their annual report that they are providing a public benefit this is perhaps the best possible outcome and the result of a long term engagement with the commission.

Thank God for this successful engagement and that we will continue to have a productive relationship in the future.

Please pray for churches across the country as they implement these regulations, and continue to provide the benefit to the public that they always have.

Gambling

The Government have proposed new limits on the prizes and stakes for many fruit machines, and other non-casino based gambling games. Previously they had suggested that they would be a small increase in the limits, in line with the cautious approach that was agreed in the 2005 Gambling Act.

The announcement last week, that they intended to double both the stakes and the prizes seems to reject this principle and accept the demands of the gambling industry. Their case is that in the difficult current economic climate they are struggling and need this increase in order to maintain a healthy set of accounts.

The Evangelical Alliance is deeply concerned that this move would be at the expense of some of the most vulnerable in society, propping up the bank balance of the industry by digging into the pockets of the poorest. Along with other Christian groups the alliance met with Government officials to express these concerns and insist that any changes were backed by research showing they would not increase problem gambling.

Please pray for the alliance and other Christian groups as they continue to engage with the government over gambling regulation.

Please pray that as the final regulations are published in the forthcoming weeks they will take into account the arguments put forward and not increase the likelihood that people will become addicted to gambling.

Gaza & Israel

Over the past few week the economy has drifted away from the headlines and been replaced by the escalating conflict in the middle-east. Israel began air raids on Gaza in retaliation for Hamas's failure to stop militants launching rocket attacks on southern Israel and a refusal to extend the ceasefire agreement.

Nearly every day since then we have heard of children and adults dying in bombardments on the Gaza strip. Israeli troops continue to fire into populated Palestinian territory to try to reduce Hamas’ military capacity

As the conflict intensifies so does difference of opinion on the right and wrongs of each side. Regardless of these differences please pray that a lasting peace can be found, and for wisdom for all those engaged in trying to bring about a peaceful resolution.

New General Director

The Evangelical Alliance has appointed Steve Clifford as its new General Director. He will succeed Joel Edwards who stepped down last year to become the International Director of Micah Challenge and Steve will take up his post in April.

Steve has been at the forefront of many initiatives to encourage the church to more effectively engage in its mission. Most recently he has chaired the leadership team for Hope08 and is the chair of Soul Survivor. He is part of a Pioneer church in west London and has also been involved in its national leadership.

Having spent many years on the Alliance’s board he will bring a fresh energy and passion to the evangelical community.

Please pray for Steve Clifford as he prepares to take up his post, there will be many exciting, and sometimes challenging, times ahead and pray that God will continue to be with him