It suggests that the average cost of a funeral in Scotland is £3,537.

Research by Royal London revealed that the average cost of a burial is £3,993 and £3,081 for a cremation.

Charges vary in different parts of Scotland.

Rev Bryan Kerr, the Church of Scotland’s representative on the Scottish Working Group on Funeral Poverty, said: “We are concerned with the findings of this report which states that funeral poverty in the UK has increased by 12 percent with the average cost of a funeral in Scotland standing at £3,537.

“This is having a disproportionate impact on low income families – no one should be plunged into debt in order to bury or cremate a loved one. It can create huge stress and adversely affect one’s ability to grieve and move forward.

“The Church welcomes the imminent introduction of the Scottish Funeral Expense Assistance which will provide help towards burial and cremation costs for individuals on lower incomes.”

The report states that approximately 40 percent more people will be eligible for this payment than were for the Department of Work and Pensions funeral payment.

Rev Kerr said: “Whilst this is good news, people on low incomes will still have a significant shortfall to address. We continue to call on the Scottish Government to ensure that all families have the ability to say goodbye to their loved one without being burdened with debt.

The…

Fatemeh Bakhteri was initially handed a one-year sentence in September 2018 for “propaganda against the regime” together with a two year ban on social activities involving more than two people.

At the same ruling fellow Christian, Saheb Fadaie was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment and two years’ exile in Hamedan – in the north west of Iran for “action against national security through collusion and gathering.”

At an appeal hearing on 15th January the pair were pressured by presiding judges Hassan Babaei and Mashallah Ahmadzadeh to renounce their faith.

After the pair refused to do so an appeal court ruled to uphold the sentences in a decision announced in May.

According to religious freedom charity Middle Eastern Concern (MEC), Fatemeh presented herself to officials at Evin Prison in Tehran to begin her sentence on 31st August.

MEC are encouraging Christians to join them in praying for Fatemeh.

Friends of Fatemeh report that she was not afraid as she went to prison on Saturday, but request prayer for her that the Lord would strengthen and encourage herself and her family, fellow Christian Saheb and all other Christian prisoners serving sentences in Evin Prison. Fatemeh also asked that Christians pray for the Iranian authorities to cease religious persecution and respect the law of freedom of religion.

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McKrae Game lead Hope for Wholeness – a Christian organisation that counsels homosexuals seeking to change their sexual orientation – for 20 years before being fired from the organisation in 2017.

In June this year Game came out as gay and publicly severed ties with the ministry.

In an interview with the South Carolina newspaper Post and Courier last week, Game condemned the practice saying: “I believe ex-gay ministry is a lie. Conversion therapy is not just a lie, it’s very harmful,”
“It’s false advertising,” he added.

According to a 2018 study by UCLA’s Williams Institute, nearly 700,000 LGBTQ+ people have undergone conversion therapy treatments or counselling across the U.S.

Game took to social media last week to express his regret for his previous work and ask for forgiveness from the gay community.

His Facebook post said: “20yrs in exgay ministry, I WAS WRONG! Please forgive me!

He went on to say that telling people “they were going to Hell if they didn’t stop [practising homosexuality]” was amongst his “worst wrongful acts.”

Premier has contacted Hope for Wholeness for comment.

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In a now viral video filmed at Boone’s Camp Event Hall in Booneville, Mississippi posted by the groom’s sister, LaKambria Welch, the supposed owner of the venue said we “don’t do gay weddings or mixed race because of our Christian race, I mean our Christian belief”.

Twitter do your thing. Can’t even get married in my hometown. Welcome to the Bible Belt! pic.twitter.com/6wc6DREpm8

— Khyla Shumpert (@Khyla1013) August 31, 2019

In the video posted on Saturday, Welch begins to ask the woman, “Well, we’re Christians as well so, what in the Bible tells you that?” but the woman interrupts her, saying, “Well, I just don’t want to argue my faith.

“We just don’t participate, we just choose not to,” she said.

On Monday Boone’s Camp Event Hall apologised on Facebook before taking the page offline.

In the post the owner said growing up in Mississippi she was taught that people are supposed to stay “with your own race” but that after speaking with her pastor and researching the Bible she realised that her views were in fact unbiblical.

“I began to think about the history of my learning this and where it came from. I was unable to recall instances where the Bible was used giving a verse that would support my decision,” she said.

“I have for many years stood firm on my Christian faith not knowing that biracial relationships were NEVER mentioned in the Bible!”

She added:…

Michael Feeney was spotted outside Rochester Cathedral in Kent with his dog. Visiting chaplain Margaret Moore went over to him, and as reported by The Sun, he then “grabbed her lightly by the throat.” 

67-year-old Feeney, from Rochester, returned an hour later, smelling of alcohol and launched a foul mouthed rant inside the cathedral in front of dozens children. 

Medway magistrates heard Feeney then confronted verger Joseph Miller and “tried to strike him.” 

When police arrived to arrest him, he told them: “I was in the cathedral and they were playing mini golf. That’s just not right.” 

Visitor numbers have doubled since the temporary nine-hole golf course was installed in the nave.  

Yesterday, Feeney’s lawyer, Ghulam Humayun said his client told him: “This is a place of worship and they are turning it into a leisure centre.” 

Feeney apologized, saying “I am extremely sorry. It’s a one-off thing. I try to be a nice person to everybody and I am sorry about that.” 

He admitted engaging in indecent behaviour in a church and common assault. 

Feeney was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £21 victim surcharge.  

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The federal government said it continues the negotiations with Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP), a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, about Leah’s release.

The statement said: “Lines of communications remain open with the kidnappers, ISWAP, to secure the release of Leah Sharibu. Contrary to false reports, she is alive – [we have been] given assurances by our security agencies – and the government is committed to her safe return, as well as all other hostages to their families.”

Leah was abducted along with over 100 of her classmates from the Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe state, on 19th February 2018.

While the others were released within a month, Leah, the only Christian in the group, remains in captivity as she was ordered, but refused, to give up her faith.

In October 2018, ISWAP announced that it will keep Leah as a slave for life.

UK Christian charity Open Doors, which supports persecuted Christians, said it’s shameful Leah still hasn’t been rescued, but the update brings some hope.

Dr Matthew Rees, Head of Advocacy at Open Doors UK and Ireland, said: “Leah Sharibu was kidnapped because she is a girl and held captive because she is a Christian. She embodies the incredibly vulnerable position of Christian women in northern Nigeria.

“It is outrageous that Leah remains in captivity, abused as a PR tool and…