Prince Andrew resigns from York Minster role amid sex scandal allegations

The charity, which fundraises for conservation and restoration work at York Minster, said in a statement to Premier on Thursday that the Duke of York has resigned as a trustee following a decision to step back from public life.

The statement reads: “The Duke of York has been the Royal Patron of York Minster Fund for 15 years and in this role has been very supportive of our work.

 

“However following his decision to step back from public life, and recognising that the Fund needs an active patron to champion its work, HRH Prince Andrew has decided to resign from this role.

“The trustees of the Fund would like to thank the Duke of York for all his work as Patron over the years.”

This comes after revelations of Prince Andrew’s alleged involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, a financier who died in prison in August as he waited for his trail on sex trafficking charges.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre claims in 2001, at the age of 17, she was trafficked by Epstein and pressured into have sex with Prince Andrew.

In a BBC’s Newsnight programme, the Duke of York denied that he has ever had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Giuffre.

The York Minster Fund resignation isn’t the first charity the prince has left since the allegations were made public.

Last month, he resigned from his roles at the Outward Bound Trust and The University of Huddersfield.

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Trump agrees with statement that he doesn’t know the Bible ‘very well at all’

The comments were made at a Hanukkah reception at the White House on Wednesday as he introduced US evangelical pastor Robert Jeffress to the stage.

Mr Trump said: “Robert Jeffress, I didn’t know him, but I watched him, and I’d watch him on different shows. I said,’ I like that guy. Man, he talks really great about me’, and I like people that talk well about me.

 

“He was saying, ‘He may not be the greatest Christian I’ve ever seen, he may not know the Bible quite as well as the rest of us, in fact he may not know it very well at all, but that guy’s a real leader and he’s going to do a job’. I appreciate that statement. I don’t know if I should have but I did.”

 

The president’s comments were met with laughs from the audience who were there to witness the signing of an executive order to tackle anti-Semitism in US schools and universities.

When Mr Jeffress took the stage for a brief speech he said he believed President Trump “is the most pro-faith president in history”.

He also thanked him for being the kind of president, who when it comes to Israel, is on the “on the right side of history, but most importantly… on the right side of God”.

He added: “That’s why you’re not going to fail and we’re going stand behind you 100 per…

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Six Indicators a Revitalization Must Become a Replant

Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

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Child suffers serious burns at church Christmas event

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called by the London Ambulance Service to Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Croydon on Wednesday.

One adult was also reported to have received burn injuries which are not believed to be serious, police added.

 

The child has been taken to hospital and his next of kin have been informed.

A spokesman from the London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 2.10pm today to reports of an incident on Bingham Road, Croydon.

“We dispatched two ambulance crews, an emergency responder, a medic in a car and an incident response officer to the scene. We also dispatched a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance.

“We treated three people at the scene for burns including a child, a man and a woman.

“We took the child to hospital by air. We also took the man and the woman to hospital by road.”

Enquiries continue.

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Christian Singer Kari Jobe Says Seeing ‘What God’s Doing in Our White House’ Left Her in ‘Tears All Day’

Christian Singer Kari Jobe Says Seeing ‘What God’s Doing in Our White House’ Left Her in ‘Tears All Day’


Dove-award winner Kari Jobe—who joined her worship-leader husband, Cody Carnes, and several dozen other Christians at a Faith Briefing at the White House Dec. 6—said the experience left her in “tears all day,” adding she was touched to “see what God’s doing in our White House.”

After participating in the briefing, the husband-and-wife worship duo shared about their experience in a short video, which was posted to Twitter by the White House.

“The thing that moved me the most is how everyone is so for making sure we’re changing people’s lives and not leaving those that are marginalized and those that have been trafficked,” Jobe said.

“I think those of us that don’t work in the White House, it can look really big and something that we can’t really end, but they are working to end these things. I’ve just been in tears all day. I’m so thankful to be part of this today and see what God’s doing in our White House.”

Her husband agreed, singling out both the worship and praying for Trump.

“I’ve been so encouraged today because there’s so many good things happening out of this house,” Carnes said. “So many good things for the faith community.”

.@karijobe and @codycarnes shared about their visit to the White House with fellow worship leaders! pic.twitter.com/wTQE6EEvVr

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 9,…

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Trump to Sign Executive Order against Anti-Semitism

Trump to Sign Executive Order against Anti-Semitism


As anti-Semitism is on the rise in the US and abroad, President Donald Trump will issue an executive order this week to protect Jews by redefining Judaism as a nationality and not just a religion, according to the New York Times.

With the order, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1963 will now apply to any campus discrimination against Judaism. Religion is not a provision in the Civil Rights Act, so the redefinition of Judaism as a nationality or race paves a way for the government to restrict federal money to educational institutions should they allow discrimination.

Complaints in recent years from Jewish students prompted the order. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions—or B.D.S.—movement on campuses has made several Jewish students feel uncomfortable or attacked.

“I congratulate US President Donald Trump on his intention to sign a presidential order to combat antisemitism on US university and college campuses and to prevent funding from going to those institutions that will not prevent anti-Semitism,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, as reported by CBN.

Several other attempts have been made to pass similar acts, but this executive order made it to Trump’s desk after Senator Harry Reid of Nevada spoke to Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser. Kushner, as the descendant of Holocaust survivors, rallied behind the act and pushed it towards a draft for Trump’s…

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Democrats’ ‘Medicare for All’ Bills Would Legalize Taxpayer-Funded Abortion

Democrats’ ‘Medicare for All’ Bills Would Legalize Taxpayer-Funded Abortion


A pair of Democrat-supported “Medicare for All” bills in Congress would legalize taxpayer-funded abortion and overturn decades of precedent on the issue, according to a new analysis by a pro-life institute.

Two companion bills in Congress – one sponsored by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) and the other by Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) – would establish a national health insurance program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Both bills guarantee “comprehensive reproductive … care.” 

“Reproductive care” is a common pro-choice term that includes abortion.

“Fundamentally, this legislation is intended to normalize abortion as reproductive healthcare that should be covered in any government-funded program no differently from prenatal care,” wrote Mary E. Harned of the Charlotte Lozier Institute in a Dec. 9 analysis. “Unless the terms ‘reproductive health service’ and ‘comprehensive reproductive care’ are defined to exclude abortion, this legislation will ensure that virtually every American has access to taxpayer-funded abortion.”

Jayapal’s bill, H.R. 1384, has 118 co-sponsors, while Sanders’ bill, S. 1129, has 14 co-sponsors. Every co-sponsor is a Democrat. Although Sanders is an Independent, he caucuses with Democrats. 

Neither bill includes the word “abortion,” but both Jayapal and Sanders support federal funding for…

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Melania Trump Volunteers with Toys for Tots

Melania Trump Volunteers with Toys for Tots


First Lady Melania Trump joined forces with Toys for Tots to bless children with toys this holiday season.

Visiting the Marines’ Toys for Tots program at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, DC, Melania handed out toys and bags filled with goodies. She also sat with the children as they created Christmas cards and helped sort the toys.

“Whether it’s a Christmas gift to a child in London, donating school supplies to children in Africa, assembling comfort kits for troops deployed overseas, or showing kindness to a stranger, your actions can forever change the lives of someone in need,” she said in a few short remarks to the group, according to Fox Business.

Her First Lady Initiative, BE BEST, falls in line with Toys for Tots’ mission to help kids in need. According to the White House’s website, “BE BEST will champion the many successful well-being programs that provide children with the tools and skills required for emotional, social, and physical health.”

This year, she decorated the White House with a “Spirit of America” theme and agreed to help Toys for Tots because she sees “much of the spirit of America in the Marines Toys for Tots program.”

Donating her time with the nonprofit has become an annual tradition for the First Lady. In 2017, she volunteered at the warehouse, sorting toys and hosting a craft session for the children. General Rex McMillian, Commander Marine Forces Reserve,…

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‘It’s the Prayer That Still Unites Us Today’: President Trump Shares the Story Behind ‘God Bless America’ Song

‘It’s the Prayer That Still Unites Us Today’: President Trump Shares the Story Behind ‘God Bless America’ Song



President Donald Trump told the story behind “God Bless America” at the Israeli American Council National Summit this week in Hollywood, Florida.


According to Faithwire, Trump introduced the Shalva National Center House Band, the group of musicians with disabilities that would be playing the song.


“In every generation, Jewish American patriots have strengthened, sustained, uplifted, and inspired our nation,” Trump said.  “In a moment, the Shalva Band will conclude this event with a song that we know very well.  Before they do, I want to tell the famous story behind it,” the President noted.


Trump said a young Jewish American soldier was stationed at Camp Upton in New York when he wrote a prayer in the form of a song.


“His name was Irving Berlin — maybe the greatest of them all,” Trump said. “And he held that song close to his heart for more than 20 years. He did not release the song until 1938, as the world learned of Hitler’s evil atrocities against the Jewish people.


“On November 10th of that year, his song broadcast through the radio and into the homes all across the country.  Millions and millions of people were inspired.  It was the first time Americans heard Irving Berlin’s timeless hymn, “God Bless America.’”


Trump said the song became the “prayer of our nation.”


“It’s…

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Church Pays Off $10,000 in Layaway Christmas Gifts – ‘We’re All Blessed to Be a Blessing’

Church Pays Off $10,000 in Layaway Christmas Gifts – ‘We’re All Blessed to Be a Blessing’


An Atlanta church is paying off $10,000 worth of layaway gifts for nearly two dozen families this Christmas season – no strings attached.

“We’ve been called by God to be here, and we want to be a blessing to those in our community,” Kevin Murriel, the senior pastor at Cascade United Methodist Church, told the families during an indoor ceremony at a local Walmart. “… We believe that God is calling us to do [this].”

The gift will impact 23 families who had gifts on layaway at the local Walmart, according to the church’s Facebook post

As Murriel spoke, members of the impacted families applauded. 

“We aren’t asking you for anything,” Murriel said. “All we ask is that at some point in your life, that you will pay it forward – that you will bless someone else. Because we’re all blessed to be a blessing.” 

Walmart officials worked with the church to surprise the families.

“Everyone deserves a good Christmas,” Murriel said.

Laurel Sessions told WSB-TV that the church’s generosity means her grandchildren will receive gifts she could not afford. 

“It help[ed] me to be able to pay a bill that I didn’t have the money [for]. I needed this bill paid and it just came right at the right time,” Sessions said.

The church posted a video of the ceremony on Facebook that was viewed more than 10,000 times and sparked plenty of feedback.

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