In Depth:  en staff

This year’s Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly has been described as ‘amazing’ by organisers on X (formerly Twitter). Jonty Rhodes and Jonathan Landry Cruse spoke on Haggai and Malachi.

Aiming to help preachers

The event was held at Maze Presbyterian Church, Lisburn. The website states: ‘The aim of the Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly is to encourage and help preachers to give themselves to the indispensable work of presenting the Lord Jesus Christ to believers and unbelievers, to all ages, and to all kinds of people. We seek to encourage a commitment to expository preaching.’

The Church of England’s lead bishop for the controversial ‘Living in Love and Faith’ (LLF) sexuality discussions – tipped by some as the next Archbishop of Canterbury – says he continues to believe sex is only for heterosexual marriage.

Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester, who is being touted as a possible successor to Justin Welby, answered ‘yes’ when pressed on the point in an interview with en. And he said Church of England evangelicals in the Alliance (the umbrella group of orthodox believers in the denomination) should not yet despair about their wishes for alternative structural provision being met.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has been accused of making ‘significantly erroneous statements’ in relation to the Church of England’s teaching on sex – and also about decisions made as a result of its ‘Living in Love and Faith’ process debating contemporary ethics.

In a strongly-worded article on the widely-read Psephizo theological blog, Andrew Goddard, an ordained CofE minister and also Tutor in Ethics at both Westminster Theological Centre and Ridley Hall, Cambridge, says Justin Welby’s comments in an interview are ‘highly misleading’.

A new Gospel Coalition for the UK and Ireland could help those with ‘broadly Reformed and complementarian convictions’ develop ‘new and dynamic partnerships,’ Affinity’s Graham Nicholls says.

Speaking to en, and in the wake of the most recent meeting of the advisory council of Affinity – an evangelical umbrella group uniting 1,200 evangelical churches and organisations which succeeded the old British Evangelical Council founded by Martyn Lloyd-Jones – Nicholls said no other organisation was quite filling that gap at the moment.

Evangelicals are criticising moves by Church of England bishops which could see orthodox Anglicans involved in episcopal appointments being effectively sidelined.

At a meeting in September, bishops said they would ask February’s General Synod to make a final decision.

Evangelicals in the Church of England are currently in an ‘unsustainable’ position following an ‘unprincipled’ process to liberalise teaching on same-sex relationships, leading evangelical minister Vaughan Roberts is warning.

Speaking to en, Roberts, who is rector of St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford, called on more bishops to engage in face-to-face discussions with leaders of the Alliance, the umbrella group bringing together a spectrum of orthodox Christians in the denomination.

In the June issue of en, we reported that ‘the Lincoln congregation, a Sheffield plant, was also taken out of EPCEW [the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales] by SPC [Sheffield Presbyterian Church]’.

We have been asked to make it clear that in fact all four congregations which left EPCEW had their own distinct Sessions, and all had their own congregational meetings, in which the members voted unanimously not to continue with EPCEW, and thus there was no sense in which LPC was ‘taken out of EPCEW by SPC’. We are happy to run this clarification from SPC.

Evangelicals Now is unveiling a new, expanded state-of-the-art website which will be updated more regularly than currently – and is also announcing changes in its pricing.

The new-look online experience – viewable at the same web address of www.e-n.org.uk – will continue to carry all the usual monthly content, but with the added bonus of numerous new writers and extra pieces.

A survey of 1,562 Christians says believers in the UK feel under attack.

The report, published by campaigning organisation Voice for Justice UK, states: ‘Christians do not feel free to say what they think... A lack of freedom of expression is experienced generally, not just in the workplace.

Of course, other parties are also taking part in this election.

Writing on the website of Christiansinpolitics.org, Stephen Gray says that as a Christian he votes Green for two main reasons: ‘The first reference to government in the Bible is Genesis 1:26, where God says “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Telegraph online reports: ‘The Liberal Democrats have been accused of deselecting a candidate based on his Christian faith in a breach of equality law.’

It states: ‘Members have reported the party to the equalities watchdog over accusations that the party has tolerated a “hostile environment” for people of faith … and “emboldened those who believe Christians should be driven out of public life”.’

Evangelical ministers in the Baptist Union say ‘the seriousness of the situation’ in the denomination is not being fully addressed.

In an open letter to the trustees of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB), leaders representing around 180 evangelical pastors say any future proposals to change same-sex ethics should be ‘determined by all members of the Union, rather than [just] the Council’.

The Church of England’s liberalisation on the issue of sexuality is set to accelerate, a leading evangelical is warning.

In a message posted online late last week, John Dunnett, of the Church of England Evangelical Council, says: ‘Whilst we do not know what … will be brought to General Synod in July, it is clear that two things are going to happen. One, that the so-called ‘standalone services’ for blessings of same-sex relationships will be made possible.

Young Milo Holland (pictured with parents Adam and Jess) was full of zest at this year’s Bible By The Beach weekend in Eastbourne.

He was among 1,400 people who gathered for the popular Bible-teaching event held annually on the south coast.

How has worship music changed over time? A Christian researcher, Asa Childless (pictured), says his research shows the most significant change is that we’re now more centred on ourselves in our singing.

‘The most significant change I noticed … is the rise of individualism,’ he says. ‘This is marked by a drastic increase in the percentage of singular first-person pronouns (me, myself and I) over plural ones (we, our and us). Whilst 67% of Isaac Watts’ first-person pronouns are singular, this steadily rises to 93% by the time we reach Elevation Worship.’ But Asa adds: ‘There is another side to this story. When Stewart Townend (1963–present) was put to the same tests, his results were closer to Watts and Newton than the worship groups in each case. Rather than writing off an entire era, let us sing God-centred praises regardless of when our songs were written.’

Two readers of en were recently very taken by this distinctive cross which is on display in the chapel at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

According to the college website: ‘The cross is made from the timbers of a refugee boat that came ashore at Lampedusa in 2016. The carpenter, Francesco Tuccio, has been using this material to remind the world of the frail boats and many deaths.’

A well-known conservative evangelical minister in the Church of England has resumed ministry in London.

Paul Williams, who was vicar of Christ Church, Fulwood, in Sheffield, resigned after a ‘visitation’ commissioned by two bishops at the invitation of the Church Council and Mr Williams himself (en, October 2021, September 2022).

A leading conservative evangelical minister is moving from the south coast to Bromley.

Mark Redhouse, who is currently vicar of All Souls, Eastbourne, is set to become vicar of Christ Church Bromley, where he succeeds Iain Broomfield.

Scottish Christians are waiting to find out how they will be impacted by Holyrood’s controversial Hate Crime and Public Order Act – as last minute efforts to halt it continued while en went to press.

The new law, scheduled to take effect from 1 April, ‘creates a new crime of stirring up hatred against any of the protected groups covered by the Bill’ – including age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, according to the Scottish Parliament website.

Richard Coekin, the Senior Pastor of Dundonald Church, Wimbledon, says the 1,100-strong congregation has finally severed all links with the Church of England because of its ‘tragic denial of God’s word’.

Speaking to en, Coekin said the CofE’s so-called Prayers of Love and Faith ‘encourage same-sex attracted people down a path which leads away from God and His salvation instead of lovingly warning and supporting them in godliness’. He added: ‘We cannot accept this – or walk with those who do.’

Fred Drummond, the director of the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland, is leaving his role this summer, it has been announced.

Gavin Calver, CEO of EAUK, said: ‘Fred has been instrumental in leading the team in Scotland and has played an invaluable role on the leadership team; providing support for the leadership and wider team, engaging with our members, and inspiring us with his prayerfulness, wisdom and prophetic insight during his 17 and a half years on the staff team.’

As the Church of England gears up for another session of its General Synod (23-27 February), evangelicals are welcoming a robustly orthodox statement from many bishops.

In a document entitled A Theological Vision, seven bishops – on behalf of a much wider group – declare: ‘Marriage is more than a contingent social arrangement. As the joyful, lifelong union of male and female, the two forms of created humanity, marriage is a dynamic sign of the saving union between Christ and the Church through the Spirit, from which our salvation springs.

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has named a panel which will ‘discern those who will be providing… informal alternative spiritual oversight’ for CofE evangelicals.

It includes ex-bishops Julian Henderson, Rod Thomas and Pete Broadbent, plus Brian O’Donoghue of ReNew, John Coles of New Wine, Jane Patterson, Elaine Sutherland and Busola Sodeinde. On its website, ceec.info, National Director John Dunnett said on 7 December: ‘There are clergy and congregations who will now regard themselves as in impaired fellowship with… bishops’ due to November’s same-sex relationships Synod vote. He said the action was ‘necessary to… enable those committed to the Biblical and historical teaching’ to stay in the CofE.

Trustees of popular annual Bible-teaching event Word Alive are racing to secure its future from 2025 onwards after the shock closure of their venue.

Pontins announced their Prestatyn Holiday Park was closing with immediate effect at the end of November. Word Alive has used the site since 2012, and was preparing for 2024.

Young people are ‘open and spiritually curious’ – but it is ‘manifesting’ rather than Christ currently capturing their imagination, new findings show.

Katherine Brown, part of the Evangelical Alliance ‘Being Human’ team, says that the survey – on popular dating app, Tinder – reveals that though many people in their twenties (often labelled ‘Gen Z’ if born after 1997) claim to be atheists, ‘they believe in the power of the universe’.

Evangelical leaders in the Church of England are pledging to do all they can to ‘ensure evangelical life and witness’ can continue in the denomination following a contentious vote on same-sex blessings.

The C of E’s General Synod – its ‘parliament’ with three houses: of bishops, clergy and laity – voted on a complex series of motions and amendments with the result that stand-alone services for the blessing of gay and lesbian couples now look likely to go ahead on a ‘trial’ basis. 

A prominent evangelical leader in the Church of England (C of E) says Justin Welby should resign.

Lee Gatiss, Director of conservative evangelical grouping Church Society, was among about 25 leaders who met with the Archbishop and his staff at Lambeth Palace Library to discuss the direction of the C of E and the situation in relation to same-sex issues. Gatiss said he was asked at the meeting ‘what we thought about some clergy teaching a view which we considered to be a threat to people’s salvation and condemning them to hell’.

Dismay, anger and outrage from across the Church of England evangelical spectrum are greeting fresh proposals by bishops in relation to sexuality.

A majority of the C of E’s House of Bishops says it will commend its divisive ‘Prayers of Love and Faith’ for use with same-sex couples ‘in public worship’ such as Sunday services – while 11 have publicly dissented.

Preaching today is too often ‘like hot food served on a cold plate,’ says a member of the FIEC’s new theology team.

Bill James, Principal of London Seminary, joins Paul Mallard, Sarah Allen, Yannick Christos-Wahab, Jon Gemmell and Martin Salter in the group, which the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches says aims to provide ‘clear resources which will deepen our understanding and equip us to address pastoral needs and respond to contemporary challenges’.

Younger evangelicals in the Church of England have enjoyed the annual Junior Anglican Evangelical Conference (JAEC)

Participant Eleanor Hayden wrote on Facebook: ‘It was, as ever, the best of conferences. Encouraging, challenging, galvanising, meeting old friends and new, united in gospel ministry to our Church of England, come what may (and under no illusions).

Luke Ijaz, Senior Minister at All Souls, Langham Place, has been appointed the new Senior Minister at Emmanuel Church, Wimbledon.

Ijaz was born and raised in London’s West End, and became a Christian while studying in central London. Having studied at Wycliffe Hall Oxford, he was then Assistant Curate at Holy Trinity Church, Wallington and Associate Vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Redhill.

Peter Brunt, who has recently died, was described by The Times as Physician to Queen Elizabeth II in Scotland ‘who played a leading role in developing gastroenterology as a medical discipline in the UK’.

He was also known as a committed Christian. Encouraged by Donald Coggan, the evangelical former Archbishop of Canterbury whom he had met on a visit to Aberdeen, he was ordained and served as a non-stipendiary minister, the newspaper reported. The Scotsman reported that he once looked after the Queen Mother after she swallowed a fishbone – ‘an incident that generated worldwide headlines but which he met with his customary discretion’.

The lack of trainee pastors to replace those who are retiring is an ‘elephant in the room’ which evangelicals are neglecting, a former en editor is warning.

Writing on the London Seminary website, John Benton says: ‘The stark truth is that far fewer men are coming forward to train for the ministry than there are pastors coming up to retirement.

Union Theology has celebrated its student graduations.

President and Professor of Theology, Mike Reeves, wrote on Twitter: ‘The … graduation is always a highlight of my year. Today we said “Well done” to 50 students, but more importantly commissioned them as workers serving in the Lord’s harvest field. Please pray for them!’

A well-known Christian band have given fans a glimpse behind the scenes as they record new all-age music.

Gareth Loh and Dan Adams – known as Awesome Cutlery – have been recording an as-yet-unnamed new album.

Evangelical refugee campaigner Krish Kandiah has spoken out about the placing of asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset.

He tweeted: ‘Imagine you’re forced to flee your home because of war or famine, and the only safe person you know is a relative in the UK. There’s currently no way for you to apply to come here. If you make your way to your family you are called an illegal migrant and will be put on a barge that looks like a prison.’

United Beach Missions (UBM) holds a variety of outreach events every summer.

Among them, is a ‘Smugglers Trail’ in Benllech, Anglesey.

Trustees of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) are progressing their plans for an Extraordinary General Meeting in November.

At that event, member churches will be asked to vote on proposed changes to the organisation’s Doctrinal Basis, its Women in Ministry ethos statement and its CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Constitution.

Radical plans are being developed for orthodox bishops to support evangelical parishes on a non-geographical basis – if the liberal trajectory in the Church of England on sexuality continues.

There would also be a new ‘fellowship’ of bishops, clergy and lay people which may ultimately become ‘an alternative structure.’

Evangelical Scottish Nationalist MSP Kate Forbes says many Christians in politics ‘feel they have to hide their faith or adapt it’ in public life.

The former SNP leadership contender shares her thoughts in a new interview with BBC Religion Editor Aleem Maqbool.

Does your church neglect the psalms? Or has saying or singing them become a bit by rote? If that’s the case, you may need a ‘Psalm Roar’.

About 100 people attended one such event – Psalm Roar 2023 – organised by church minister Tim Vasby-Burnie and held at St George’s Church, Shrewsbury recently.

Well-known Anglican evangelical congregation Trinity Church, Buxton, is celebrating 150 years.

The Buxton Advertiser reported: ‘Thanks to the generosity of… Solicitor, Mr J. W. Taylor, a group of trustees and subscriptions from individuals, land was bought on Hardwick Mount for £330 and the church built for £1,387.’

Eleven new churches have affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) in the first three months of 2023, the organisation says.

Among the 11 is Emmanuel Church Northstowe, which was planted in 2018 to reach a new town near Cambridge where 10,000 homes are planned. The plant was supported by five Cambridge churches, including FIEC, Anglican and Presbyterian. It is led by Josh Montero and has a regular congregation of about 125.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are to nominate Carl Hughes as the next Chair of the Archbishops’ Council Finance Committee.

Hughes is a member of the Church of England Evangelical Council.

Bibles were opened and buns enjoyed at this year’s Bible By The Beach convention in Eastbourne.

Those attending the event enjoyed expositions from Daniel with Alistair Begg – and the hard-working conference team of 180 staff and volunteers fortified their energy with special iced cakes (above right) displaying the conference’s white and blue seagull / Bible logo.

Welsh evangelicals are getting ready to ask passers-by for ‘three words to describe their life’ as they seek to share the gospel at some of the country’s most popular festivals.

Believers are due to be reaching out at the Hay Festival (25–29 May), the Royal Agricultural Show in Builth Wells (24–27 July) and the National Eisteddfod of Wales, Boduan (5–12 August).

Reformed evangelical training college Oak Hill is looking forward to the arrival of a new Principal in the autumn.

James Robson, an experienced leader and theologian, is taking up the role and will be leaving his current post as Ministry Director at Keswick Ministries in September.

Walking in the Word was the theme of this year’s Word Alive Bible convention which was held at Pontins Holiday Park, Prestatyn Sands, North Wales.

Thousands of Christians heard main speaker Paul Mallard, from Widcombe Baptist Church in Bath, and others including Garry Williams, Lix Cox and Steve Midgeley. Worship leaders for the evening celebrations were Olly Knight and Joyful Noise. There were also film nights, comedy, drama, ‘silent disco’, and interactive celebrations especially suitable for people with learning disabilities.

The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) has been marking its centenary (see also en January 2023).

FIEC staff past and present, current and former members of the FIEC Trust Board and Council, FIEC church leaders, and friends of the FIEC were all invited to a special service at Westminster Chapel.

Two major Banner of Truth events have just taken place – the annual Youth Conference and also the UK Ministers’ Conference.

The youth event included sessions on ‘Loving God in the home,’ ‘Loving God in the church’ and ‘Loving God in the world’.

Verwer was born 3 July, 1938. His parents were Eleanor Caddell Verwer and George Verwer Sr., a Dutch immigrant and electrician. They lived in Wyckoff, New Jersey, outside New York.

Verwer ‘was an athlete and boy scout, but spent a lot of time chasing girls and getting into trouble,’ as US magazine Christianity Today reported. This included starting a fire in some woods and breaking into someone’s home.

Opposition to Church of England proposals for same-sex blessing prayers is gaining momentum under the banner ‘Compelled to Resist’.

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) is spearheading a petition called ‘Keeping faith – why we are compelled to resist’ which says current proposals from bishops ‘deny the authority of Scripture’ – whatever their protestations to the contrary.

Christians must recover the lost notion of ‘modesty’, according to a leading pastor and theologian – and not take naked showers with fellow team members after sports like rugby.

Believers ‘need to rediscover the Biblical category of “modesty” – a rather fundamental character of the people of God in the Bible which has lost prominence recently in the West,’ he says.

The ‘Homes for Ukraine Scheme’ which has seen the involvement of many evangelicals is marking its first anniversary.

In a report written by Dr Krish Kandiah (see en interview December 2022) summarising the last 12 months, he writes that the initiative has helped 117,100 people – mostly women and children – find sanctuary in the UK.

Oak Hill spokesmen are remaining tight-lipped about what has been happening at the theological college after the institution’s President, Johnny Juckes, announced his intention to stand down.

en has received confidential information originating from reliable and diverse sources which speak of considerable conflict, with one using highly colourful language relating to warfare.

Julian Hardyman has ended his ministry as pastor of Eden Baptist Church in Cambridge and is heading unexpectedly to Madagascar.

He had become Associate Pastor in 1996 and then Senior Pastor in 2002. To their surprise, Julian and wife Debbie (see photo) discovered the Lord was calling them in a sudden and dramatic way in a single weekend in September 2021 to leave Eden and Cambridge, to serve as missionaries in Northern Madagascar. The church joined in the discernment process and so their pastor and his wife will become Eden Mission Partners and members of evangelical mission organisation SIM.

The head of Brighton City Mission has died. Mike Jourdain was described as someone with ‘great faith, passion and ability’ by Nick McQuaker of the Sussex Gospel Partnership.

Will Cockram, pastor of Cuckfield Baptist Church wrote: ‘Mike was treated for oesophageal cancer three years ago, but around Christmas it reappeared. Whilst given initial confidence from the medics over Christmas that it was treatable, Mike’s health declined very steeply, and the family were given the news that it was very possible that it might not be treatable and that he had months –possibly weeks – to live. He died six days later (17 January) in a hospice, aged 58. He leaves his wife Wendy, his daughter Clio, and a church family that is rejoicing for him, but grieving very deeply. We would covet your prayers.’

A Church of England minister who has a ‘heart for the north of Scotland’ has accepted a call to be minister of Thurso & North Coast Free Church – part of the Free Church of Scotland.

Jerry Taylor has been welcomed into ministry in the FCoS after serving for 15 years in the C of E. ‘We are encouraged that when the Lord calls, He equips, and He will provide,’ he said.

Two hundred women gathered for the sold-out ‘Women for Mission’ (WfM) Conference organised by the Free Church of Scotland which took place at Culloden-Balloch Baptist Church, Inverness.

The first conference of its kind since 2018, ‘it was a real joy to have a wide age range of participants, including babes in arms whose behaviour was exemplary throughout the whole event,’ the FCoS website reports. ‘We were privileged to have as our main speaker Helen Thorne, Director of Training and Resources at Biblical Counselling UK, and author of a number of books.’

England World Cup football star Bukayo Saka says the Bible is a major part of his life.

His Bible was a gift from his dad which is ‘really special’ to him, he said in a video widely shared on Facebook. The Arsenal player, born in 2001, also revealed that he tries to read it every night before he goes to bed.

The new flying bishop for conservative evangelicals in the Church of England, Rob Munro, takes on his role at a critical time.

Dr Munro, who has been Rector of St Mary’s Cheadle, will be a crucial voice in future votes and discussions on sexuality which are at a critical stage. The former Maths and PE teacher, will have a special national ministry to parishes of a complementarian evangelical theology across England.

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has opened up a little about behind-closed-doors conversations it has had with liberals in relation to sexuality.

A CEEC spokesperson reveals: ‘For several years, evangelicals from CEEC and its constituent members have had a multiplicity of conversations with both those who share and do not share our views on human sexuality, some of which have happened as part of the St Hugh’s conversations.

Evangelist Glen Scrivener spoke to a packed student congregation at Durham Cathedral when he preached at the Christian Union carol service.

Eastbourne-based Scrivener, author of recent bestseller, The Air We Breathe, spoke on John 1. Afterwards he reported: ‘What a great night. Many moved by the Word. Roll on February when I’m back for a week of events…’

William Taylor, the Chair of the ReNew Planning Team, has resigned after ten years of serving ReNew, the annual conference for Church of England reformed evangelicals.

Karen Soole, a trustee and member of the planning team, said: ‘I am grateful for William’s faithful service to ReNew over the last ten years. He has led with clarity, helping establish a positive vision for pioneering, establishing and securing healthy Anglican churches. He has listened and led with gentleness, enabling a structure to be put in place which will serve us well in the future so that ReNew is now more than a conference but a supportive network of local churches with a heart for the evangelisation of England.’

Evangelical eyes in the Church of England are on the date of 12 December, which is when the College of Bishops next meets to discuss human sexuality.

The gathering is the latest stage at the end of the process known as ‘Living in Love and Faith’ which has been running for some years. It could see a reassertion of orthodox morality – or a retreat from it.

Bishop Andy Lines, of the Anglican Network in Europe (ANiE) is to be assisted by two new assistant bishops.

Stuart Bell (photo left) who led St Michael’s Aberystwyth, the largest Anglican church in Wales, and Ian Ferguson (right), a minister from Westhill Aberdeen, will serve in the Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE).

Church of England evangelicals have gathered for a major conference in the face of ongoing silence from many evangelical bishops on sexuality and concern about where the Church of England’s ‘Living in Love and Faith’ process is leading.

Hundreds of delegates attended the ReNew event for conservative evangelicals in Leeds with the theme ‘Abide in Me’.

Between 22 September and 30 October 2022 thousands of people and communities are joining together to connect people with questions to local churches across the whole of Ireland.

The map shows the location of events being held under the banner of ‘What’s the Story?’ It follows a survey of almost 1,000 people three years ago around the country to discover what they thought about life, religion and faith.

Independent evangelicals, Vineyard Church members, New Wine Cymru and Anglican evangelicals are coming together to study the Bible in a new initiative.

Prisca – a hub-based movement launched in 2021 – has now expanded to offer a two-year programme bringing together all sorts of preachers, Bible teachers and speakers, to be ‘encouraged, inspired, equipped and developed’.

A pioneer of the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has marked his 101st birthday by taking to the skies again.

Jack Hemmings, who is also a former RAF Squadron Leader, was given the flight as a surprise present.

Biblical thinktank the Jubilee Centre is to cease day-to-day operations and all its team will be made redundant, it has been announced.

However, the organisation will ‘then move to operating in a new online mode’ led by its founder, Dr Michael Schluter, it says.

Evangelicals from across Wales have been gathering in Aberystwyth.

They were meeting for this year’s Aber Conference organised by the Evangelical Movement of Wales (EMW).

A Christian family and church are at the heart of what a national newspaper calls possibly ‘the Ukraine-friendliest town in Britain’.

A reported 1,130 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in East Sussex since March and, within that, Wealden District – which includes places such as Crowborough, Hailsham, Uckfield and East Dean – is close to 600. This is ‘more than anywhere else in the country,’ according to The Guardian.

As many parts of the world came to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games, so the gospel in turn was brought to them.

A variety of missions groups including Birmingham City Mission, Great Lakes Outreach (GLO) and Youth With A Mission (YWAM) brought teams to the area to work alongside local churches.

Christ Church Fulwood, one of the biggest conservative evangelical churches in the country, has admitted that it allowed a ‘culture of secrecy’ to develop after it emerged a senior staff member resigned after an ‘inappropriate relationship’.

Tim Cudmore, Director of Ministry and also Safeguarding Officer at the Anglican church, quit in 2018 after allegations about his behaviour with a ‘young female member’ of the congregation came to light, it has now been revealed. Cudmore is said to have ‘initiated and pressured her into inappropriate physical contact, including touching her over and under clothes’, according to ‘church documents’ shown to the Sheffield Star.

The development of the world’s first synthetic embryos poses important questions for Christians, an evangelical scientist says.

Professor John Bryant was speaking to en after it was announced that Israeli scientists found that stem cells from mice could be made to self-assemble into early ‘embryo-like structures’ with an intestinal tract, the beginnings of a brain, and a beating heart.

Scripture Union Scotland (SUS) has said it will offer ‘full assistance’ to Police Scotland after BBC presenter Nicky Campbell said he was assaulted by an SUS member.

The 61-year-old broadcaster claimed: ‘I was badly beaten up at the Edinburgh Academy by a teacher who was a leading light in the Scripture Union.’

British Methodists should give ‘further theological attention’ to polyamory – a term for having multiple sexual partners simultaneously.

Polygamy should also be given some thought, delegates at the denomination’s recent conference in Telford, were told in a report.

• The Cambridge English Dictionary defines it as: ‘Hate or strong dislike of Jews, or actions that express hate or dislike of Jews.’

• In September 2016, the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, addressing the European Parliament, said: ‘Not liking Jews is not anti-Semitism. We all have people we don’t like. That’s OK; that’s human; it isn’t dangerous. Second, criticising Israel is not anti-Semitism. I was recently talking to some schoolchildren and they asked me: “Is criticising Israel anti-Semitism?” I said “No” and I explained the difference. I asked them: “Do you believe you have a right to criticise the British Government?” They all put up their hands. Then I asked: “Which of you believes that Britain has no right to exist?” No one put up their hand. “Now you know the difference”, I said, and they all did. Anti-Semitism means denying the right of Jews to exist collectively as Jews with the same rights as everyone else. It takes different forms in different ages. In the Middle Ages, Jews were hated because of their religion. In the 19th and early 20th century they were hated because of their race. Today they are hated because of their nation state, the state of Israel. It takes different forms, but it remains the same thing: the view that Jews have no right to exist as free and equal human beings.’ 

Not ‘one word or statement’ from Stephen Sizer produced at a special church hearing ‘has been shown to be anti-Semitic,’ the QC representing him has asserted.

Stephen Hofmeyr QC said that the retired evangelical church minister had ‘repeatedly, unreservedly and very publicly’ said that ‘ anti-Semitism must be repudiated unequivocally.’

The next step in the campaign to change the law that allows babies with Down’s syndrome to be aborted up to birth will take place in July.

The case, brought by well-known campaigner Heidi Crowter and others, will be heard at the Court of Appeal on 13 July.

Peter Lewis, the well-known former pastor of Cornerstone Church Nottingham for 46 years, has died.

In a statement, the church said: ‘Although we grieve alongside Valerie and the rest of the family for his passing from this world, we rejoice that he now stands on a brighter shore, in the Kingdom of God. What marvels and wonders he now beholds, they are beyond our comprehension!’

A controversial retired evangelical minister is facing a new Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM).

Church of England authorities have told en that Stephen Sizer, former vicar of Christ Church Virginia Water, will face the CDM later this year.

Churches are being urged to remember that, for some people, returning to church as the pandemic eases is still a difficult thing.

Carl Knightly, part of the leadership team at London City Mission and an Ambassador for Faith in Later Life, said: ‘Whilst vaccination rates are high and cases far lower than they were, many are still fearful of the implications of catching Covid and becoming unwell.

Well-known evangelical minister Ian Barclay has died.

He served in several churches including St Helen’s Bishopsgate with Dick Lucas. He gave the Bible Readings at the first Spring Harvest and the 21 years after, and was a vice president of the Evangelical Alliance. In retirement he was a chaplain in Cannes.

David Fletcher, a well-known figure for many decades in conservative evangelical circles, has died.

His ministry was appreciated for many years – but more recently he attracted controversy and anger because of his role in the John Smyth abuse scandal (en, passim).

Heidi Crowter goes to court on 8 March to discover if she can appeal a High Court decision in which she lost a challenge to UK abortion law.

Her case had been dismissed by two judges last September. In another development, the third reading of the ground-breaking Down Syndrome Bill has passed in the House of Commons. It is now with the House of Lords.

Hopes are rising for the passing of a world-first Down’s syndrome law in the UK which would significantly boost the lives of people with the condition.

Liam Fox MP’s bill has cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons – and the government has given the initiative a major boost by saying it will support the proposed legislation. If passed it could take effect in the Spring.

Wales is less Christian than England, new figures indicate.

According to data by the Office of National Statistics, just 51% of the population in England and Wales combined now consider themselves to be Christians.

The conservative evangelical Bishop of Maidstone, Rod Thomas, says the pandemic is an opportunity, even though it is ‘wearying’.

Writing as scientists investigate the new Covid variant, Omicron, he draws attention to 2 Timothy 4:1-2 and says: ‘Another variant and with it more uncertainty. The wearying nature of this pandemic is enough to make us all approach ministry with a sense of resignation. However… Paul conveys a sense of commitment and urgency as he reminds Timothy that in view of Christ’s appearing and His kingdom he is to fulfil his ministry “in season and out of season”. Timothy might experience all sorts of uncertainties, but in view of God’s certain plans for history, Paul urges him to seize opportunities for the gospel.

An abuse survivor who is now a bishop says new resources from the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) produced after recent scandals should ‘help churches engage’ with the issue.

Published in the wake of revelations about Jonathan Fletcher and Steve Timmis, the resources include a film, some ‘culture review questions’ and a ‘liturgy of lament’ – all of which can be found on the CEEC website.

The future of organisations like the Titus Trust depends on whether they realise power must be redeemed as well as people, a psychologist who attended the Iwerne Camps has told en.

Dr Simon Walker, a Christian psychologist who works in school mental-health safeguarding, and who was at Iwerne Camps in the 1980s, was speaking after the publication of a report into the Titus Trust by independent charity Thirtyone:eight, which aims to protect vulnerable people from abuse.

The newly-announced appointment of Nicky Gumbel’s successor as vicar of the large flagship charismatic Anglican church Holy Trinity Brompton may impact the future of conservative evangelicals in the CofE.

At 51, Archie Coates (see photo) has been appointed to head up the 4,000-strong congregation in September next year, with Gumbel intending to step down from the post next July.

A former minister in the Church of Wales is planning to set up a new congregation after the denomination liberalised its views on same-sex blessings.

The venture is being spearheaded on the Angle Peninsula, Pembrokeshire, by the Revd Josh Maynard (see photo) and his wife Rachel Maynard, along with others.

Anglican Bishop, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali has left the Church of England and will be ordained into the Catholic priesthood.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has announced that he will join what is known as the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, a group set up by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 for Anglican exiles.

Evangelicals in the Church of England are closely watching how the make-up of the newly-elected General Synod turns out in practice after a crucial vote was completed.

The election for the church’s decision-making body, held every five years, is likely to determine how strongly orthodox the established church remains on issues of sexuality and gender.

Two contestants in the BBC TV programme Strictly Come Dancing have pointed to their Christian faith in various ways as the popular Saturday night series goes on.

Well-known news and sport TV presenter Dan Walker has stuck with keeping Sunday special. The Daily Mirror reported: ‘The BBC Breakfast presenter, 44, will be taking Sundays off for religious reasons due to his devout Christian faith. Dan, who is partnered up with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova, will be using his day off to “gain perspective” on his scores and performances of the night before.’

St Helen’s rugby league player Kevin Naiqama has spoken of his faith in Jesus after his team beat Catalans Dragons to win the Rugby Super League. He scored two tries in the game and was made man of the match.

Speaking immediately afterwards on TV, he said: ‘First and foremost I have to give thanks to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ … I just want to glorify Him in this moment … ’ Naiqama has texts from John 3:16 and Romans 10:9 inked on his chest, as well as a drawing of the Last Supper on his back. He previously told rugby-league.com: ‘I’m a big believer that Jesus died and rose again for us. I’ve got tattoos at different times in my life, they all have a different meaning. Most of them are based on my faith.’ The Super League is still largely defined by rugby league teams from the north of England, but recently has seen a fresh infusion of energy from top French teams such as Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique.

An evangelical theological college has axed the role of Director of Ministerial Training, bringing into doubt the future of its specialist centre for training future evangelists.

Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, said loss of income due to the pandemic necessitated the change – which means theologian evangelist Greg Downes (photo) will lose his job as well as his family home, which went with the role.

More than £2,000 has so far been raised as part of a campaign to provide winter clothing for Afghan refugee children arriving in the UK.

The initiative is organised by Christian group Afghan Welcome – whose director is Krish Kandiah (see photo), and whose supporters include en contributor Graham Miller of the London City Mission, Gavin Calver of the Evangelical Alliance and many others.

A well-known conservative evangelical minister has resigned.

The resignation of Paul Williams, who was vicar of Christ Church, Fulwood, in Sheffield, came after a ‘visitation’ commissioned by two bishops at the invitation of the Church Council and Mr Williams himself.

Warm appreciation has been expressed to former Evangelicals Now editor John Benton, who has stepped down as a columnist after many years with the paper.

Benton was editor of en from 1992 until 2019, but continued a monthly column. He explained the main practical reason for him stepping back was the increasing demands of his new job with the Pastors’ Academy, and involvement with plans for a possible church plant.

A leading conservative evangelical organisation has responded to claims made about it in relation to a Midlands church.

The Anglican evangelical group Church Society (CS) has compiled a 45-page document about the situation at St Peter’s, Stapenhill, of which it is patron. There has been ongoing controversy about events there for some time, with hundreds of social media posts making various detailed and complex allegations.

The latest international report on global climate change is ‘a stark warning of the crisis facing the planet,’ according to an expert who writes for Evangelicals Now.

Simon Marsh (see photo), who has expertise in geography, environmental assessment and regional planning, and who works for the RSPB, was speaking after the release of the news delivered by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of scientists whose findings are endorsed by the world’s governments.

A leading evangelical church in London has responded to claims made as part of a new campaign against non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in Christian contexts.

All Souls Langham Place responded after it was cited in an online article on a new website www.ndafree.org. NDAfree describes itself as ‘a global movement with a vision to see individuals, Christian organisations and local churches free from the misuse of non-disclosure agreements.’

The Protestant Reformation Society has postponed this year’s conference, which was due to host speakers Dr Tim Patrick from Adelaide and recently-retired Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies (pictured).

It is hoped they will be able to come next year when it is anticipated the event will be able to take place.

A Cambridge college omitted two crucial words from a Bible reading when its service was broadcast on the BBC.

Selwyn College’s choral evensong, transmitted on Radio 3 on 30 June, included a Scripture lesson from 1 Corinthians 6.

‘Would Aliens Rock Your Faith?’ is the topic of an online discussion between evangelists Paul Feasay and Glen Scrivener.

In a YouTube conversation – part of the Speak Life outreach ministry – they debate how an upcoming Pentagon report into UFOs might fit with Christian theology. The full video can be seen online. Time magazine predicts the report will not reach any definitive conclusions on whether aliens are visiting earth.

‘There’s a little bear on the loose / He’s a lot of fun,’ were the possibly-debatable sentiments expressed in the song introducing the 1970s TV version of Rupert the Bear.

But one organisation which certainly loves the well-known Daily Express cartoon character is the Bible Society. For it turns out that none other than Rupert is helping the organisation provide Scripture around the world.

en explains the latest developments – and what may come

What has happened?

First, independent Christian safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight published a ‘lessons learnt’ report into disgraced former minister Jonathan Fletcher’s time at Emmanuel Church Wimbledon from 1982 and 2012. Previously it had emerged that Fletcher had engaged in naked massages with men as well as beatings on their bare backsides, among other things.

The Scottish government has voted to amend the word gender to sex in legislation on the collection of forensic evidence, ensuring that a woman can request a natal female to examine her after a rape. 

Initial readings of the amendment went unopposed. Recently the intersectional rights of trans women were suggested as a reason to vote against the amendment, alongside there being a lack of females working in forensics. Refuting the belief that sex and gender are interchangeable terms, Johann Lamont MSP said: ‘If [they are] interchangeable, why resist an amendment which uses a term defined in law? If it doesn’t matter, why fear clarity?’ Lamont said that MSPs, including Humza Yousaf (see page 5), note the 2010 Equality Act defines sex and so the terms don’t share a definition. 

Treat abusers nicely and they won’t hurt you is a message being given to four-year-olds in Scotland.

The Scottish Book Trust (SBT) included Brenda is a Sheep in their pack of books given to every Primary 1 child. In a chilling subversion of ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’, a wolf called ‘Brenda’ dons a woolly jumper (which looks very like a dress) and joins a flock of sheep. The sheep learn lots of new games from Brenda, and ‘think that she is probably the best sheep they have ever met’. After Brenda shows them a recipe for mint sauce, the sheep cook up a feast of meals made from grass. Diverted from eating them, Brenda joins in the sheep party because after all ‘Brenda is a sheep’.

Founded in 1893 as the Foreign Missions Club, the Highbury Centre is a Christian guest house in North London which has given shelter to missionaries, pastors, full-time Christian workers and their families for over 100 years.

Now, in the second English lockdown, unable to open unless people are travelling on essential business, Sue Scalora of the Centre said: ‘The Lord has helped us through the ups and downs, and we’ll try and keep open even though we’re making a loss at the moment serving the Lord’s people.’

Scripture Union England and Wales (SU) has launched a mission framework, Revealing Jesus, based upon research undertaken about how people come to faith. Its aim is to see children and young people find a personal vibrant faith in Jesus.

It’s designed to connect with the 95% of under-18s who have no contact with church in England and Wales. In four steps, – Connect, Explore, Respond, Grow – young people are guided and supported on their faith journey.

On Remembrance Sunday, while most evangelical churches remained closed in England, a few churches took part in a collective act of civil disobedience, opening their doors for public worship.

This followed a letter signed by 1,500 people urging the government not to close places of worship.

Parents need to ‘wake up’ to what their children are being taught in sex education lessons, an ethical think tank is warning.

The Values Foundation (TVF) – which seeks to uphold the ‘centrality of faith and traditional family values in British education’ – was speaking to Evangelicals Now in the same week the government clarified its position on transgender ideology in the classroom.

Thames Valley Police have partnered with an organisation that promotes a myriad of ‘gender’ identities including Lunagender, Tetrisgender and Puzzlegender.

MyUmbrella.org.uk defines each of the 147 genders, alongside pictures of their separate flags. A significant number have no stable expression from day to day. Synchogender is described as a person who believes their gender identity changes on a regular basis throughout the day, every day.

An online poll of more than 150 evangelical churches for en has revealed that many resumed physical services in some form as soon as the government permitted.

However, nearly a third are sticking with online services until September, and 5% say that, for various reasons, they will not be restarting until October or later.

In June, Liz Truss MP confirmed that the government would press ahead with a ban on so-called gay conversion therapy ‘shortly’.

This term encompasses two entirely different categories of ‘therapy’. The first are the obviously abusive practices which people are often forced into by family or organisations. The second are regular ‘talking therapies’ that have been requested by individuals exploring unwanted desires they may have.

It was reported in June that the UK government intends to drop plans for allowing people who claim to be transgender to self-identify as such.

This proposal was first mooted by the government in 2018 (en September 2018). The result of the consultation has never been published*.

In June, Asda sent an email to customers with information on diversity that included links to a book containing an account of a child involved in oral sex with an older person from an organisation which uses slogans linked to paedophiles.

After an outcry on Twitter about the materials produced by Diversity Role Models (DRM), Baroness Nicholson, a prolific tweeter and active member of the House of Lords contacted the CEO of ASDA, Roger Burnley. This resulted in both Asda issuing an apology, and DRM removing some of what it cited as ‘misinterpreted’ materials from the packs, which Asda said was at its request.

Undercover investigations, the granting of an appeal to challenge DIY abortions, and the withdrawal of an amendment to a parliamentary bill, made a busy start to July with regard to abortion laws in the UK.

The Court of Appeal reversed the decision of the High Court to reject a legal challenge against the delivering of pills through the post for DIY abortions.

Sunday 5 July saw a trickle of churches reopen for worship services in England whilst the rest of the UK’s Christians remained unable to gather in person.

In England, different church families came to different conclusions about what the guidance* – not law – allowed. Some decided, after speaking with church members, to select an Autumn start date. Older members of the church family, those who had been formally shielding, and others who have been identified as being more at risk, decided to stay home even if their church has opened. Many families used to having crèche or Sunday School available may not have attended as managing children who had been heavily cooped up for three months, might have proved one challenge too many.

In April, Warwickshire announced it had abandoned the explicit primary curriculum All About Me (AAM) after it was challenged by parents and Christian organisations, and saw its content picked over by the national media.

Cabinet meeting minutes for Warwickshire showed that AAM had undergone an independent review by the Sex Education Forum.* Interestingly, the review was broadly accepting of the curriculum, but noted that some parts introduced concepts at too young an age. Many critics pointed out that AAM hadn’t been formulated by anyone with a teaching qualification. Its author, ‘sex education consultant’ Jonny Hunt, has no background in education but publishes his sex-positive curriculum through his website ‘Going Off The Rails’.

A Welsh community has been left shaken by the tragic death of seven-year-old Samuel Barker. Yet this small community has also been shaken by the incredible faith of his family, who continue to speak of God as they grapple with the immeasurable pain of losing their son.

Samuel was killed by the school bus which had just delivered him to his home in Monmouth. Rushing to the scene of the accident, his mother, Cat Barker, knew he was not alive the moment she got there.

On 17 December the deeply controversial appointment of Stephen Cottrell as Archbishop of York was announced.

Carefully selected quotes from his speech to the press¹ present a picture of an evangelical whose focus is on Christ. ‘What binds us together is … our faith in Jesus Christ. It’s our baptism and belonging to each other which is what really matters.’ However these quotes are removed from their context, and the context provides an entirely different view of the incoming Archbishop.

A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) document from 2009, updated in 2018¹, appears to be the driving force behind the end of effective safeguarding of children. The document teaches masturbation to small children and promotes gender ideology.

The 140-page treatise encourages early exposure to the details of reproduction and self-stimulation. Binary humanity is accepted as an outdated idea.²

Warning, this article contains explicit sexual references.

Warwickshire County Council (WCC) refused to answer questions from en in October about their primary school sex education curriculum, which (according to Warwickshire’s own published advice) could result in safeguarding problems.

Representatives from the Renew steering committee supported the account of John Parker at a meeting on 12 June 2019 regarding his resignation as vicar and school governor (en July). The representatives were part of a meeting of around 30 local clergy at which the Bishop of Chelmsford used language of leaving, and were present at a meeting in which communion was broken.

Bishop Stephen Cottrell disputed Parker’s account in a letter circulated to the clergy by the Bishop’s office in the Diocese of Chelmsford. A statement on GAFCON and the Church Society websites noted the Bishop had ‘carefully worded’ the letter to give the ‘impression that the Bishop had never suggested that Parker should leave the church’ due to his beliefs.

Guidance* updated on 26 June on the government’s Relationships and Sex Education curriculum states that faith perspectives can be taught in all schools.

In the section titled ‘Religion and belief, including teaching in schools with a religious character’ the guidance says: ‘All schools may teach about faith perspectives. In particular, schools with a religious character may teach the distinctive faith perspective on relationships, and balanced debate may take place about issues that are seen as contentious. For example, the school may wish to reflect on faith teachings about certain topics as well as how their faith institutions may support people in matters of relationships and sex.

The NSPCC caused some confusion over the reported appointment of the first LGBT ambassador for Childline. The day after the announcement on 6 June, they were denying Munroe Bergdorf had ever being given such a role. The NSPCC issued a further statement saying they dropped Bergdorf due to statements which had been made which were ‘in breach of their own risk assessments and ... are specific to safeguarding and equality’.

The model who physically transitioned to look female when Bergdorf was in their mid-20s, had expressed delight at being chosen to champion the charity which led more than 6,000 counselling sessions on gender issues in 2018.

The Government is consulting on new plans for a home education register,1 but this isn’t about home education; it is about the right of any parent to teach their child anything.

If this proposal of registering every child becomes law, it opens the door for a less benevolent government to tell parents how and what can be said at home on other matters. As suspicion of faith increases, it would only be a small step to see Bible teaching brought into the Government’s sights.

The Baptist Union has received an application for the post of President in 2020-21, supported by 25 Assembly members, from a self-declared pansexual woman.

The Baptist Union asked people to prayer-fully consider which of two candidates should serve the Union as President. The statement says: ‘The question for discernment is who is the most appropriate candidate for this particular season in our Union’s life’.

In late March, the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, said the legality of the public reading of the Bible should be left to a lawyer or ‘the police’ to decide upon, and was not just a matter of freedom of speech.

The worrying words (which miss the fact that the police enforce the law and don’t make the law) were spoken in the London Assembly building during a question time. The Mayor was quizzed by Christian Assembly member David Kurten following the de-arrest of street preacher Oluwole Llesanmi (reported in April’s en).

A BBC Panorama programme, available on iPlayer, demonstrated that the lack of research behind drugs being given to pre-pubescent children with gender identity issues is compromising their care.

Further to that, Dr Biggs, an Oxford professor, claims that research has been suppressed that disagrees with the current zeitgeist. The Tavistock Centre’s Gender Identity Clinic in London has had doctors leaving the service due to the unscientific approach to medicating people. Research on sheep has shown that brains are damaged when drugs are administered that interfere with normal processes that the developing brain goes through during puberty. More concerning is Dr Biggs’ accusation that results of a 2015 report to the Tavistock Centre, showing negative outcomes to drug use, were suppressed. The full results of the trial remain unpublished. Girls had an increase in self harm when using puberty suppressants, and parents noted that there was a significant increase in behavioural and emotional problems. The research showed no positive impact on the experience of gender dysphoria. Some parents and children are keen to quickly take drugs that stop puberty, and then have opposite-sex hormones in order to ‘transition’.

At the end of February, the general public began expressing concern about government legislation on Relationships and Sex Education, due to be rolled out informally from September.

In Parliament and on TV interviews, Hinds did concede that there are ‘understandable and legitimate areas of contention’ in the RSE curriculum. On Good Morning Britain on 25 February1 he said: ‘Nobody is suggesting that there should be these difficult conversations [about LGBT relationships] at [age 5].’ Hinds’ concern for age appropriateness of teaching is connected to the age at which topics are covered, but the kind of material used to teach the subject is also worrying. Much of the commercial material used in classrooms is graphic and, in some cases, pornographic.

On 19 February, the High Court heard the case brought against a university which refused to do research into people who are de-transitioning after sex change operations.

James Caspian, a psychotherapist supportive of transitioning, wanted to investigate why so many people, mostly young women, have reversal operations. Bath Spa University cited concerns over ‘engaging in politically incorrect research’ as its reason for turning down his proposal which they had previously agreed to fund.

After a consultation in 2018¹ which raised the prospect of government oversight of Sunday schools, the government published the results, a response and an action plan on its Integrated Communities Strategy on 9 February.

The consultation asked questions around out-of-school settings and education, which would include both church youth work and home education.

On 22 January, the Council of Europe1 called on the UK to examine the way sharia councils are operating in the UK.

Resolution 2253 2 said: ‘The Assembly is concerned about the “judicial” activities of “sharia councils” in the United Kingdom. Although they are not considered part of the British legal system, sharia councils attempt to provide a form of alternative dispute resolution, whereby members of the Muslim community, sometimes voluntarily, often under considerable social pressure, accept their religious jurisdiction mainly in marital and Islamic divorce issues, but also in matters relating to inheritance and Islamic commercial contracts. The Assembly is concerned that the rulings of the sharia councils clearly discriminate against women in divorce and inheritance cases.’

The Government issued a call for evidence on extremism and responses to it, in a consultation1 due to close on 31 January.

The independent Commission for Countering Extremism aims to ‘improve understanding of extremism and its impact on individuals, communities and wider society’.

An organisation was launched in October, which supports people who provide standard counselling services to those who want to seek changes to their unwanted relational and sexual behaviours.

The IFTCC, the International Federation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice, supports people’s freedom to choose how they live their lives using standard counselling and psychotherapeutic approaches. At its launch, academics, paediatricians, psychologists and therapists eloquently and warmly explained the need for access to therapy for individuals who would be labelled ‘LGBT’. Case studies were shared, from years of experience, showing how lives had been transformed by ongoing care and support to address unwanted feelings. Therapists talked in terms of people addressing emotional wounds, and as part of that journey exploring these deep feelings, people felt a decrease in their attraction towards the opposite sex. Sometimes, their attractions and behaviours were transformed so they were able to say they were attracted to the opposite sex, or could live as their birth sex.

The unanimous decision by the five justices of the Supreme Court on 10 October was greeted as a victory for free speech.

They ruled that Ashers, the Belfast bakery, was not obliged to make a cake emblazoned with the message ‘support gay marriage’. If anyone needed clarification that this case was about a message and not about discriminating against a person, Daniel McArthur of Ashers ended his statement outside the court saying Mr Lee ‘will always be welcome in one of our shops’.

The government opened a consultation¹ in July (closing on 7 November) on Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education, seeking views on the draft regulations and statutory guidance to schools.

This is already part of the curriculum in most schools as PHSE, but is due to become compulsory. Many parents, including Christians, are abdicating their responsibility to teach sex and relationships to their own children. Aware of this, the government has taken the chance to construct a curriculum which includes some helpful elements, but also some unhelpful teaching about sex and family life.

The government opened a consultation in July, closing on 19 October, on changes to the Gender Recognition Act, which seeks to allow people to self-identify as transgender without having to make any formal declaration.

Many groups including Christians, feminists and lesbians, are greatly concerned about the dramatic effect upon society the legal changes would bring. They believe that women’s rights achieved over many decades will be rolled back. Women who have tried to meet together to discuss the impact of trans issues have experienced violence and found venues in which to meet almost impossible to come by (en July 2018).

Another government consultation closing in early July, this time on home education, is about the general freedom of a parent to make choices about their children.

Parents home-educate not solely due for religious reasons: many have been forced out of school by poor provision for a child with specific behavioural or learning needs. Many families in the UK experience this, and few in government are willing to engage with the problems surrounding the lack of funding and support in the state system.

The UK government produced a Green Paper on 14 March setting out proposals for its Integrated Communities Strategy (England), with the public consultation process ending on 5 June.¹

The equality oath as proposed by the Casey Review of 2016 has been dropped with no mention of it in the Green Paper.

In a speech to church school leaders on 1 February, Amanda Spielman, Chief Inspector for Schools, talked of ‘muscular liberalism’ being used to curb religious extremism in schools and ‘under the radar’ settings.

Quoting one of the ‘British values’, she noted that in some Islamic ‘schools’ books had been found where wife beating was encouraged. This appeared in a discourse on ‘segments of particular faiths’ outside ‘mainstream Anglican practice in school’ which unfairly would include many Christian organisations and churches.

Sexting, pornography, STIs, gender reassignment, same sex relationships, abortion, online grooming.

The government is asking the nation to give its views on what should be taught in sex education classes to all children in schools in England in a Call for Evidence, ending on 12 February.

On 27 October, the High Court ruled against Felix Ngole, a social work student, who was in court for a judicial review of his expulsion from his university course after he expressed his biblical beliefs about marriage during a Facebook discussion.

Reading through the court documents, it becomes clear however, that Ngole was not categorically expelled due to what he said. The situation is more complex. The judge was called to decide whether the university had, in essence, treated him fairly.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) published new guidance for pharmacy professionals on 22 June.

It provides a kind of ‘reasonable accommodation’, something that many Christian pharmacists feared would be dispensed with despite the consultation process earlier in the year.

Reach out. Build up. Send out.

A mission statement of ‘sharing the life-giving story of God with London and the world’ could seem overambitious to say the least, but with the use of a vast building in central London surrounded by people from all around the world, this Euston Church statement is wonderfully appropriate.

The thorny issue of sex education was brought under the spotlight again on 8 March as the Commons passed plans for relationships education in primary schools, and sex and relationships education (SRE) in secondary schools.

The government amendments to the Children and Social Work Bill, will make it compulsory that secondary schools teach SRE, which will be rebranded RSE to show the emphasis being placed on relationships. As it stands, the biological aspect of sex is compulsory to teach. But schools are not required to teach about consent, the illegalities around sexting, exploitation around pornography, the addictive nature of pornography, facts around infection rates for sex outside of marriage, or any moral issues surrounding sex.

Exploring the new Downs Syndrome (DS) antenatal testing, the actress Sally Philips (she of Miranda fame – ‘Bear with, bear with’) presented a programme on BBC2 on 5 October which was both uplifting and heart-breaking.

Nine out of ten people terminate their pregnancy upon being given a confirmation of DS during screening programmes at around 15 weeks of pregnancy. This rate has risen by 40% in the last ten years. Sally explored the new NIPT/cfDNA tests and the ethics surrounding them, noting that at 99% accuracy, it may even result in the population of people with DS being wiped out.

14 June in London, saw the start of a ten date UK concert tour by that most entertaining and gifted song writer and performer, Colin Buchanan.

With bursts of streamers pouring over the crowd, aged a few weeks old to ‘grandpa’s age’, Colin’s set was filled with exuberance and biblical truths from start to confetti-showered end. Although a cliché, there are no words to describe the joy this Dublin-born Australian communicates in his songs about Jesus, the Bible and the greatness of the creator God. Colin somehow manages, while performing, to move the focus away from himself and the bucketload of character he has, to clearly point to Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

A group of 80 gathered for the first service of Grace Community Church Edenbridge on 26 September.

Lots of encouragement was given to the group of Christians who are helping plant the church from surrounding New Frontiers (NF) churches, part of the Regions Beyond group within the wider network of NF churches. People have moved into the area to become part of the community and have started running a Saturday club for children which had, at the launch of the church, already seen some new friendships formed through the Laser Light club meeting in the local Leisure Centre.

A teacher, stabbed by a 14-year-old pupil, gave praise to God for his survival and forgave his attacker in the mid-summer.

Vincent Uzomah spoke powerfully outside Bradford Crown Court after the unnamed boy was sentenced to six years in custody and a further five years on licence. Uzomah was stabbed in the stomach at Dixons Kings Academy on 11 June.

The size and scale of the migrant crisis in Europe has reached enormous proportions. As compassionate human beings, it is impossible to ignore the tragic reports of lorries filled with decomposing bodies and heartbreaking scenes of drowned children washed up on European shores.

Yet the desperation which drives these families to embark on these perilous journeys still seems to be disregarded by many in the UK.

During the first weekend of October a group of Christian technologists will be coming together for 48 hours to use their skills and talents to build new technology to advance the gospel.

‘Code for the Kingdom’ events have been run in the US for several years, but this is the first in the UK.

A partnership of St Peter’s Barge, the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and several Christian networks within Canary Wharf, held a week-long event entitled a Festival of Thought, in late February.

Events took place during lunchtimes and early evenings hosted by groups of Christians who work in various companies based in Canary Wharf (Wharfites) and by St Peter’s Barge. The Barge is known as London’s floating church where regular lunchtime meetings are held for Wharfites, as well as being the base for church meetings on Sundays. The Festival of Thought was the biggest event the Barge had been involved in.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan confirmed on 27 February that she will close a Christian school in Durham

This was despite hearing numerous petitions from parents, pupils and teachers.

After their church building was compulsory purchased, one might think that the church family, moving into a new building, might just take a few years to settle.

But this has not been the case at Enfield Evangelical Free Church (EEFC) in the north of London.

Ofsted has been described as being ‘at war’ with the Government regarding the evaluation of ‘British values’ as further school reports in the North East of England in mid-January saw a top school placed into Special Measures and another told to close.

Grindon Hall, a Christian school in Sunderland with some of the best exam results in its area, was given the worst possible grading by Ofsted in a report blasted as ‘defying logic’. The report stated that its performance is inadequate and a draft version of it also included a paragraph attacking the school’s Christian ethos. This paragraph was removed by Ofsted in the report it eventually released.

After 40 years of beach mission work at Lyme Regis, United Beach Mission (UBM) are happy that in the Spring of this year they were granted a further three years to run the children’s summer club after a challenge by a local councillor, over the past two years, put the work under threat.

Councillor Mark Gage, who in his profile on the Lyme Regis Town Council website puts a priority area for development as ‘youth facilities’, expressed concerns about UBM’s work with children on the beach. In the local paper, Tim Howlett, UBM’s executive officer, was clear that families are made aware of the Christian nature of the work of UBM and its aim to share the good news of Jesus, encouraging families to be involved and that no children are encouraged to attend without the permission of their parents.

On March 8, around 60 women from Grace Baptist Association churches gathered in Guildford to think about being clothed with compassion and so be equipped to care.

With compelling honesty, Ann Benton shared that she thought she was a kind person until she became faced with a difficult caring situation. The wry smiles in the room showed that most people echoed that in their own situation as carers.

A new campaign group was launched in late November to address the problems around the new anti-social behaviour Bill currently progressing through Parliament, and the introduction of the ‘IPNA’.

Called ‘Injunctions Preventing Nuisance or Annoyance’, IPNAs are designed to replace two sanctions. Firstly, ASBOs (Anti-Social Behaviour Orders), orders which for some young recipients had become a badge. Secondly, a less well known but similar order for dealing with anti-social tenants.

At the Church of England’s General Synod in November, it was revealed that homosexual lobby group Stonewall will play an active role in delivering anti-bullying education in CofE schools.

Ofsted’s 2012 report No Place for Bullying found most bullying in schools was based upon appearance, and only a small percentage on perceived sexual orientation. Stonewall has already been delivering training in many schools prior to this announcement.

A 50-year celebration was held at the Grange Baptist Church (GBC), Letchworth, on May 18, with generations of people who had been blessed by God’s work through the church family in Hertfordshire in attendance.

A memory wall and video photo montage spanned the entire 50 years from ‘blueprints’ for the building through to the present day, passing through the many groups, events and services that the church family have been involved in over the years.