Bishop calls for justice in tributes to knife and gun crime victims

-
0
Bishop calls for justice in tributes to knife and gun crime victims

Rt Rev Rob Wickham attended an hour of remembrance at St Mary’s Primrose Hill Church on Friday evening for victims of violent crime in Camden.

Most recently, there was a double stabbing on Camden High Street on 12 September. One led to a fatality. 

 

Rev Wickham lit a candle of remembrance and offered support as he reflected on recent tragedies.

“This is a matter for all of London, young and old, rich and poor. The victims, their families and friends do not stand alone at this dark time, but alongside those that believe that faith speaks of hope, the sanctity of human life, and compassionate care and support for those who are hurting,” he said.

“Faith also speaks of justice and speaking truth to power, so I urge truth telling and pray for the work of the police so that those who take life may be brought to Justice.

“We pray too that lives might be turned around for anyone who now carries or uses a knife, that community relationships may be strengthened, and the need for carrying knives eliminated.”

… Read More

—

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

قالب وردپرس

Bishop calls for justice in tributes to knife and gun crime victims in London

-
0
Bishop calls for justice in tributes to knife and gun crime victims in London

Rt Revd Rob Wickham attended an hour of remembrance at St Mary’s Primrose Hill Church on Friday evening for victims of violent crime in Camden, London.#

There was a double stabbing on Camden High Street on 12 September, one which led to a fatality. 

 

Rev Wickham lit a candle of remembrance and offered support as he reflected on recent tragedies.

“This is a matter for all of London, young and old, rich and poor. The victims, their families and friends do not stand alone at this dark time, but alongside those that believe that faith speaks of hope, the sanctity of human life, and compassionate care and support for those who are hurting,” he said.

“Faith also speaks of justice and speaking truth to power, so I urge truth telling and pray for the work of the police so that those who take life may be brought to Justice.

“We pray too that lives might be turned around for anyone who now carries or uses a knife, that community relationships may be strengthened, and the need for carrying knives eliminated.”

… Read More

—

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

قالب وردپرس

‘Peacebuilding is a reflection of who we are in Christ’, church leaders mark International Day of Peace

-
0
‘Peacebuilding is a reflection of who we are in Christ’, church leaders mark International Day of Peace

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), Rt Rev Dr William Henry, joined other church leaders at the 174 Trust in Belfast on Friday to plant a tree to mark International Day of Peace, which has been observed around the world on 21 September, since the United Nations unanimously voted to establish it nearly 40 years ago.

Rev Henry said: “As followers of the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ, peacebuilding is a reflection of who we are in Christ and must be at the heart of Christian discipleship.

 

“Peacebuilding will look different for each and every one of us and it isn’t easy, but Jesus has let us know that there is no commandment greater than to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind’ and to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’.”

The Moderator also reflected on PCI’s Vision for Society Statement that it received at its 2016 General Assembly.

He said: “It is a short and simple statement, not an easy one to read as it states clearly that ‘We confess our failure to live as biblically faithful peacebuilders…’ but it is a powerful one.

“Peacebuilding is an essential part of Christian witness and the statement challenges us to go beyond ourselves, ‘seeking a more reconciled community…working together for the common good’. It challenges and inspires me, as it should challenge and…

… Read More

—

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

قالب وردپرس

Museum of the Bible Hosts First-Ever Biblical Fashion Show

-
0
Museum of the Bible Hosts First-Ever Biblical Fashion Show


Museum of the Bible Hosts First-Ever Biblical Fashion Show


Washington DC’s Museum of the Bible has played host to a one-of-a-kind event — a fashion show inspired by scriptural themes.


The unusual function, which took place on Tuesday night, featured “Biblically inspired couture and design,” according to a press release issued by the museum. However, the centerpiece of the fundraising event was in the form of an “exclusive, one-of-a-kind couture gown by Chiara Boni that will be donated to the Museum of the Bible Collection.”


A silent auction and luncheon were also part of the occasion, which was styled by “Style Bible” author and renowned D.C. fashion guru, Lauren Rothman.


“I think that the Bible impacts fashion because fashion was based in history, and what was old always becomes new again and like any other trend biblically inspired clothing is really something that never goes out of style,” Rothman told CBN News.


Of course, most would admit that the Bible is not the first thing you’d associate with the multi-billion dollar fashion industry.


“When you think of all these designers, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, you really don’t think of them as Bible followers,” event producer Linda Koldenhoven admitted to the outlet. “I don’t want to be judgmental, but look at the creations that they make that are inspired by the Bible.”


Many offered their own personal opinions on the event online — the sentiments, it has to…

… Read More

Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

قالب وردپرس

Pastor of ‘Flying Spaghetti Monster’ Church Prays at Gov’t Meeting, Thanks to Court Ruling

-
0
Pastor of ‘Flying Spaghetti Monster’ Church Prays at Gov’t Meeting, Thanks to Court Ruling


Pastor of ‘Flying Spaghetti Monster’ Church Prays at Gov’t Meeting, Thanks to Court Ruling


Thanks to a court ruling, a representative of the make-believe Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster led prayer at a government meeting in Alaska this week.


The prayer at the government meeting in Homer, Alaska, followed a 2018 decision by an Alaska state court that ruled the previous policy – only permitting individuals from government-approved religious groups – was unconstitutional. The ACLU brought the suit, the Anchorage Daily News reports.


The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly could have abandoned the prayer tradition altogether, but instead adopted a new policy that allows anyone to sign up to pray.


On Tuesday, Barrett Fletcher, a pastor of Pastafarianism – also called the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster – offered a prayer. He wore a colander on his head


“So, I’m called to invoke the power of the true inebriated creator of the universe, the drunken tolerator (sic) of the all lesser and more recent gods, and maintainer of gravity here on earth. May the great Flying Spaghetti Monster rouse himself from his stupor and let his noodly appendages ground each assembly member in their seats,” he said, according to the Associated Press.  


No one stood up for the prayer, and one man turned his back. Other men refused to remove their hats, AP reported.


Pastafarianism was created in 2005 as a way to protest the Kansas…

… Read More

Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

قالب وردپرس

Christians urged to take a stand as millions protest against climate change

-
0
Christians urged to take a stand as millions protest against climate change

Millions of people around the world took to the streets on Friday to demand governments and companies take a stronger lead in cutting global carbon emissions.

Demonstrations took place in around 150 countries ahead of a UN summit in New York next week.

Inspired by 16 year-old activist Greta Thunberg, participants want countries to commit to a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Organisers estimated 300,000 protesters in some of the first rallies held in Australia.

Members of Christian environmental charity A Rocha UK gathered with hundreds of people from Christian and secular groups to protest on Winchester high street.

Speaking to Premier from the demonstrations, A Rocha UK’s head of conservation Andy Lester said he was happy to see the Church getting involved.

“It’s fantastic to see Christians from all churches out here today demonstrating. We’ve got about 500 people, all ages – we’ve got kids as young as five and grandpas and grandmas into their 80s. So, it’s a really good cross section of the town out today.”

He went on to say why they think urgent action is required: “We are short of time, there is no ‘planet B’, there…

… Read More

—

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

قالب وردپرس

Decade of Tears and Blood: 10 Years of Boko Haram Terrorism in Nigeria

-
0
Decade of Tears and Blood: 10 Years of Boko Haram Terrorism in Nigeria


Decade of Tears and Blood: 10 Years of Boko Haram Terrorism in Nigeria


JOS, Nigeria, September 20, 2019 (Morning Star News) – A decade after Boko Haram began a bloody campaign to impose sharia (Islamic law) on all of Nigeria, Christian leaders say some areas are still under the control of the terrorists.


The Rev. Mohammed Abubakar Naga, chairman of the Borno state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), told Morning Star News that the terrorists are still active in the northeastern part of the country where the group originated and has displaced thousands of people, effectively closing many churches.


“Gwoza East, especially the hills, has been taken over by Boko Haram,” Pastor Naga said by phone. “The terrorists still attack Christian communities there. This is even with the presence of personnel of the Nigerian army in the area.”


After beginning a violent campaign to establish an Islamic caliphate in northern Nigeria 10 years ago, Boko Haram has killed an estimated 35,000 civilians, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The agency said 37 aid workers lost their lives in the course of serving those displaced by the attacks.


Two of the many pastors Boko Haram killed in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state include the Rev. Faye Pama Musa, then secretary of the CAN’s Borno state chapter, slain on May 14, 2013 after the terrorists followed him from his church…

… Read More

Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

قالب وردپرس

Nun pitches gender-neutral robot priests to solve problems in Catholic Church

-
0
Nun pitches gender-neutral robot priests to solve problems in Catholic Church

The robot Mindar can recite a pre-programmed sermon but does not have artificial intelligence yet.

Catholic theologian and nun, Sister Ilia Delio, told the Vox website she might be open to having robotic priests because of the sexual abuse crisis in the Church.

She said: “Take the Catholic Church. It’s very male, very patriarchal, and we have this whole sexual abuse crisis. So would I want a robot priest? Maybe!

“A robot can be gender-neutral. It might be able to transcend some of those divides and be able to enhance community in a way that’s more liberating.”

 

 

She joked though that robot priests would be better suited to the Protestant church as “the Catholic notion would say the priest is ontologically changed upon ordination”.

“We have these fixed philosophical ideas and AI challenges those ideas – it challenges Catholicism to move toward a post-human priesthood.”

Premier’s head of digital theology, Rev Dr Pete Philips, who has a PhD in John’s Gospel and lectures about the Bible in the digital age, explained that Christians have to ask themselves whether the priest’s role is replaceable or not, comparing it to the replacing of staff at tills in supermarkets.

He said: “The question is, do we want that to be what a priest does? It strikes me that the ministers in our churches don’t do that kind of thing. It almost takes us back to pre-reformation when Catholic…

… Read More

—

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

قالب وردپرس

Toledo’s Only Abortion Clinic Surrenders License, Halts Surgical Abortions

-
0
Toledo’s Only Abortion Clinic Surrenders License, Halts Surgical Abortions


Toledo’s Only Abortion Clinic Surrenders License, Halts Surgical Abortions


The only abortion clinic in Toledo, Ohio, is no longer offering surgical abortions.


Capital Care of Toledo – formerly Capital Care Network and under new ownership – surrendered its ambulatory surgical facility license effective Sept. 10, according to the Toledo Blade. 


The Ohio Department of Health inspected the facility in June, and the clinic had submitted a plan to correct deficiencies, the newspaper said. But the clinic chose to forego the license.  


“ODH made a follow-up phone call to CCN to clarify some information in the plan of correction at which time staff reported that CCN was under new ownership who did not wish to renew its ASF license and was performing non-surgical [medical] abortions only,” a department spokesman told the Blade. 


Pro-life groups celebrated the news, even though medical abortions still will be offered at the facility. 


“After years of legal trouble with proper licensure and inadequate safeguards, this is a victory for not only the pro-life movement, but for the women of Ohio,” Stephanie Ranade Krider, vice president of Ohio Right to Life said in a statement. “This clinic has acted in a reckless and above the law manner, putting women’s health and safety at risk for years. Two years ago, this same facility perforated a woman’s bowel before shuttling her in an employee’s vehicle to a nearby…

… Read More

Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

قالب وردپرس

Methodist Church announces new evangelism resources

-
0
Methodist Church announces new evangelism resources

The resources, created by its new dedicated team, will focus on four key areas – a new website of online resources and information, starter grants for new outreach projects, a mission-planning guide to encourage church planting and a Church-wide strategy for growth.

These resources seek to build a commitment to evangelism and growth for the future of the Methodist Church, following conversations with those across the Connexion – The Methodist’s church network.

Trey Hall, the Methodist Church’s Director of Evangelism and Growth, said: “We heard the call to reclaim evangelism as a core dimension of our mission and identity as a Church and these resources are a direct response to needs and hopes of the many who have engaged with us over the past year.”

 

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

… Read More

—

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

قالب وردپرس

1...777778779...3,894Page 778 of 3,894