The protesters included Anglicans, Buddhists, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Sufis and Quakers. They gathered to pray against what they believe is a promotion of violence.

The Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair is setting up this week and will bring over 1600 exhibitors together with military delegations from around the world. The guest list for DSEI includes military delegations from 67 countries.

Other counties include Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Philippines, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Turkey and Bahrain which have been criticised for human rights abuses.

According to Rev Matt Harbage, who’s also taking part in the protest, all delegations have been invited by the UK Government.

Hundreds of Quakers continue to blockade the arms fair, and sing songs of peace #StopDSEI pic.twitter.com/VpeWhkQnv8

— Quakers in Britain (@BritishQuakers) September 3, 2019

A spokesperson for the No Faith in War campaign said: “The major world faiths share in common a deep sense of the value of peace in the world: a peace which is achieved not by the use of weapons or threats of violence but by dialogue, respect for the dignity and human rights of all and just social structures.”

The protesters have received the support of the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who said in a statement: “The way much of the arms trade currently…

Democratic MP Päivi Räsänen criticised the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland’s (ELCF) participation in the Helsinki LGBT Pride events on social media in June.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is a national Protestant denomination with nearly 3.8 million members.

Räsänen shared a photo of Romans 1:24-27 from the New Testament on Facebook, that describes same sex relationships as ‘shameful’.

In her post she challenged the decision by the Lutheran Church to support the LGBT event saying: “How can the church’s doctrinal foundation, the Bible, be compatible with the lifting up of shame and sin as a subject of pride?”

An investigation has now been launched against Räsänen by Finnish Police on suspected incitement against sexual and gender minorities.

The politician’s conservative views on abortion, euthanasia and marriage have sparked controversy in the past when she expressed her traditional views in a TV debate on marriage in 2010.

Tens of thousands of Christians are thought to have left the ELCF, of which Räsänen is a member, as a result of her participation in the on-screen debate.

Two other MP’s, Social Democrat Hussein Al-Taee and Finns Party politician Juha Mäenpää are also standing under pre-trial investigation for suspected incitement due to comments deemed racist.

On 13th August, Räsänen tweeted, “I am not concerned on my part,…

10 Downing Street announced this morning that the Queen has approved the nomination of the suffragan Bishop of Lewes in the Diocese of Chichester, Richard Jackson for the diocesan role at Hereford.

He will replace Rt Rev Richard Frith, who is retiring on 30th November and will be the 106th Bishop of Hereford.

Bishop Richard, 58, has spent his entire ministry in the Diocese of Chichester, serving at All Saints in Lindfield and Holy Trinity in Rudgwick and becoming Bishop of Lewes in 2014.

Bishop Richard said: “I am immensely humbled to have been chosen to become the next Bishop of Hereford. This beautiful diocese is in my DNA. I’ve traced my family tree and if I took a journey visiting churches from Leominster to the Welsh Border, I would be able to see the graves of my ancestors dating back to the 13th Century.

“After 25 years serving in the Diocese of Chichester it will be very hard to leave such a beautiful place and the family of Christians I know and love well. Chichester Diocese is at an exciting phase in its life with great potential for future growth in knowing, loving and following Jesus.”

Bishop Richard is a keen evangelist and has been funding for a sky dive to raise money for the Church Urban Fund and local church loneliness project Together In Sussex

The Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, said of his departure: “Bishop Richard was ordained in this…

Church of England vicars and rectors are getting older according to new figures from the Church of England.

Fewer than one in seven vicars, just over 1,000 were aged under 40 and the average age of a newly trained and ordained paid priest reached 40 for the first time last year, up from 38.8 in 2017.

Unpaid clergy in the Church are likely to be older still, with those taking up their roles after retiring from careers to take up ‘non-stipendiary ministers’, the average age they are ordained is 62.

Nearly one third of C of E clergy are retired priests with permission to officiate.

Mandy Ford, of the C of E’s Ministry Division, said: “As clergy retire, the Church faces the challenge of continually renewing ministry. I am thankful for the hard work and prayers of the parishes and dioceses in helping us to increase the numbers of people coming forward for ordained ministry.”

The Church of England seeks to fulfil a key target of a 50 percent increase in the number of candidates for ordination as part of its programme of Renewal and Reform.

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