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May lockdown update: Scotland moves to level 2
From Monday, all areas of mainland Scotland, with the exception of Moray and Glasgow due to their high COVID-19 rate, will move to the second level of the Scottish Government’s Five-Tier system. Glasgow and Moray will remain in the third level of restrictions whilst several Scottish islands will…
What was in the Queen’s speech?
This year’s speech operated slightly differently because of social distancing, so only a few MPs and Lords were able to attend the speech in person. The speech covered various items including the NHS, policing, infrastructure, education and housing. There are a number of items that are particularly…
Job Creation Project: a conversation with Joëlle Warren MBE
Joëlle Warren MBE founded recruitment firm Warren Partners in 1999, and runs her business with an ethos based on Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” Joëlle is a founding partner of Warren Partners, a leading UK executive search firm which supports and…
Jo Evans
Why our elected representatives need connection
It wasn’t that I was one of the few in Great Britain that missed out on the great tapestry of different polls, nor was it utter indifference to the impact my cross would make. I knew the elections were taking place (in my case, being London based, for Mayor of London and the London Assembly), and I…
Danny Webster
UK competition to help churches support those facing unemployment
As part of our job creation project, we want to signpost to organisations and initiatives that are also championing Christian action in the unemployment crisis. Last week, Cinnamon Network UK, together with The Mercers’ Company, launched their annual incubator competition. The competition seeks to…
Jo Evans
Indoor dining is back, but what about the hungry?
Since the pandemic hit the UK in March 2020, the community spirit in our towns, cities and villages was noticeably present. Did you sense it where you live? While people grabbed hold of their daily dose of exercise, suddenly eyes were opened to the needs of the community and complete strangers…
Hugh McNeill
Job Creation Project: The church transforming lives by creating jobs
Paul has a background of music, design and video, and for a long time was self-employed as well as working for a church. In 2009, he was asked to help with the project. He ended up creating the business plan and becoming project manager. Six years into the project, Paul also became senior pastor. I…
Jo Evans
New plans to allow assisted dying must be strongly opposed
This week parliament is being asked to consider the issue again as Baroness Meacher, who also serves as chair of campaign group Dignity in Dying, formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, brings a private members’ bill in the House of Lords. The Sunday Times wrote in its editorial last weekend…
Danny Webster
NOW CLOSED: What the proposed Protect Duty might mean for churches
This is a laudable aim, and we support the Government in attempting to provide safety and security for the public; however, some of the proposals within the Protect Duty may not only fail to achieve this aim but may have a detrimental impact on churches. The proposals follow a campaign for…
Jesus, the compassionate job creator
The coronavirus crisis has forced many into unemployment, or long-term furlough, and as a result many more of us have greater awareness and sympathy with people who are unemployed – but sympathy often doesn’t lead to any practical action. As followers of Jesus Christ – people who have been saved…
Andy Palmer
Wounded leadership series: Rest
Church and Christian leaders have shared with me that the pandemic has made them realise just how fast they were moving and how many things they were involved in. Coronavirus stripped away much of the activism and exposed their own spiritual poverty. Could it be that many of the plates you have…
The living room
One of the positive aspects of the digital revolution in general and with social media in particular is its capacity to create and maintain relationships, especially allowing us to keep contact with others over vast distances. Younger generations are the most connected in history. But quantity of…
The dining room
If the conversation that we have in the kitchen is about style of teaching, this one is about substance. This is a conversation about difficult conversations, and it takes place in the dining room. Families talk about life and discuss the big issues around the table. A number of different…
The garden
There are hopeful signs that significant numbers of young adults will become Christians in the coming years. But what will be the common pathways to faith? How can we make the most of the opportunities that we have to communicate the good news to this generation and invite them to follow Jesus?…
Welcome to 7 Conversations
I remember reading the Evangelical Alliance’s 2009 resource The Missing Generation with a heavy heart. It found that between 1985 and 2005 the numbers of those in their 20s attending church on a Sunday more than halved. At the time I was part of that age group and grieved for my own…
Phil Knox
