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Digital church: five lessons from lockdown
As well as providing an opportunity for ill or holidaying members of our congregation to stay connected, we noticed new people joining us. Some were exploring faith, intrigued enough to click on a link and watch a service but possibly not intrigued enough to visit a service in person. We began to…
Mark Pugh
Facing facts and shaping the future
The global pandemic has stopped the world in its tracks. Locking entire nations down, it has relieved people of any sense of control they might have had. Across the UK, the church has responded admirably to the trauma. Loving our neighbours, meeting their needs and taking opportunities to introduce…
Dr David Landrum
Churches frustrated at forced closure
Schools, colleges and universities are asked to remain open but otherwise the restrictions are very similar to when the first lockdown was imposed in March. This means that churches and other places of worship are required to close for public services and are only allowed to reopen for limited…
Danny Webster
Open letter to the UK faith minister
Dear Lord Greenhalgh We would like to thank you for the regular opportunities to meet with you throughout this pandemic. We recognise the importance of public health and the difficult decisions faced by political leaders; however, the Evangelical Alliance is concerned that from Thursday, 5 November…
Gavin Calver
The Five Tier System: Scottish Government November update
It is particularly important to note that as things stand worship gatherings are permitted under every level of the new system, albeit with reduced numbers in level 4. This is a very welcome development and one we have advocated for with the Scottish Government. In addition, there is a travel…
NOW CLOSED: Vulnerable Children and Young People Consultation Guide
The COVID-19 Vulnerable Children and Young People’s Plan is being developed on a cross-department basis, led by the Department of Health and including DfC, DE, DOJ and DfE. The plan is intended to reflect a series of activities that will be, or have been, undertaken across government in…
Prayer changes things
The COVID-19 pandemic has left no life unscathed in the UK. The national health crisis caused by the severity of illness for many has pushed our healthcare system and those who work within it to breaking point. The consequences of the resulting lockdowns are wide-ranging and, for many,…
Jo Frost
Being Human
There is a cacophony of voices telling us who we are, how to live and what will lead to a better life. They tell us stories about what it means to be human: what’s true, what’s real, what’s wrong, what will make you happy, and how to get it. At different times we all ask life's big questions but in…
Councils and faith communities working together during the pandemic
Keeping the Faith seeks to provide comprehensive analysis of how local authorities and faith-based groups and organisations have been working in partnership in the light of the ongoing pandemic. The Faiths and Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London, in partnership with the APPG on…
Jo Evans
Wide-ranging review of wedding ceremonies underway
The consultation notes that the current laws in England and Wales reflect customs and culture from the 18th century, when Anglican weddings were the norm and Jewish and Quaker weddings were the only exceptions. The aim of the consultation is to update wedding laws so that they are consistent with…
Tell the Government how to improve its engagement with faith communities
People of faith from across the England are invited to respond to the review, which is already underway. The Government is particularly keen to hear from those with leadership roles within their faith community and individuals who work in the public sector, whether that is the civil service,…
Danny Webster
Level 4 restrictions: Scottish Government update
It is important to note that in-person church services can continue under level 4 restrictions. There are, however, limitations on attendance and travel to such services; please read on for further detail.
Luther's Example is Still Driving our Faith
In April 2017 I participated in a communion service in the Castle Church, Wittenberg, sitting near to a very significant doorway. It was there that the young monk Martin Luther pinned his famous 95 theses. An initiative that historians may dispute but a story that has had an enormous impact on…
The Reformation and Human Rights
The Reformation has had a foundational impact on much of our understanding of the individual, the Church and the state, and its relevance endures in its legacy – in changing the face of the Christian Church and in lending an ideological base to many of our modern institutions. Reformers held…
Four safe ways to bless older people this Christmas
This Christmas will be unlike any we have seen for generations. Many older people may be unable to spend time with family or friends due to the coronavirus pandemic, others will be mourning the loss of a loved one, and there will be people everywhere feeling lonely, fearful, forgotten, and…
Carl Knightly
