Although the College passed four of its five tests for registration, it did not meet its financial sustainability test.

The decision by the OfS, the independent regulator of higher education in England, means some students will no longer be able to access any kind of student loan from the Student Loans Company and students still eligible for loans will not be able to access the full amount.

Spurgeon’s College said in a statement that it “fundamentally disagrees with this financial assessment and believes it has been made on seriously flawed assumptions.”

It added: “It is important to note that no question has been raised regarding the high quality of the College’s educational offer. Despite the OfS decision, Spurgeon’s College will remain open and will continue with its core mission to train men and women for Christian ministry.

“The OfS decision won’t stop this vital work, but it is a significant blow to the College and its students, and we believe it is contrary to Government policies encouraging diversification of the higher education market.

“We are fully committed to doing everything we can to minimise any impact for students arising from this decision. The College is a charity with a robust balance sheet, funds in the bank and plans for the future.”
The College is considering taking legal action over the matter.

It has also called on the Minister for…

On Sunday, BBC’s Songs of Praise broadcast a same-sex wedding for the first time at a United Reformed Church (URC) in Glasgow.

Jamie and Ian McDowell-Wallace are both members of the United Reformed Church, where gay marriage was legalised three years ago. Their wedding ceremony took place at Rutherglen URC.

Some criticised the decision of the Christian programme, with Graham Nicholls from the evangelical network of churches Affinity, saying “I’m sad that that is being represented as potentially biblical Christianity, because I think it’s not” (full interview in link). 

However, Rev David Pickering, moderator in the United Reformed Church Synod in Scotland and also member of Rutherglen URC and a personal friend of the couple, told Premier: “The church was thrilled and excited, especially for Jamie, who’s one of the grooms and he’s a faithful and much loved church member there.

“This might seem an old story for us in the URC Synod of Scotland, for I’m aware that at least 20 or more services of equal or same sex marriages have been conducted by our ministers over the last three years since this was permitted.

“But to have it broadcast on BBC Songs of Praise was really special because it’s a programme which has such a good public awareness and for us it was a witness of a celebration of marriage, that’s the most important, but in this instance of a marriage between…

The unlikely pair linked up after 680 undocumented immigrants were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Mississippi earlier this month in what was the largest single-state immigration raid in US history.

Dawn McCall, the dancer, and Rev Adam Ericksen from Clackamas United Church of Christ discussed the “Our Kids Charity Campaign” in a Facebook video using the hashtag #SinnersandSaints.

McCall, also known as Blu Dawn said: “As an atheist, I know it seems super weird that strippers would do anything with the church for any reason, however, this is Portland and we keep it weird.”

Rev Ericksen said in response to McCall: “And I think it’s awesome.”

The pair said they were “pretty devastated” by children being separated from their parents so they decided to link up and start the campaign.

They are raising money by selling t-shirts and postcards with designs created by McCalls former colleague.

All of the proceeds from sales will go to Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance.

In addition to the campaign, Rev Ericksen has encouraged his congregation to donate while McCall will host charity events with other sex industry workers.

The pastor recently preached a sermon entitled “Strippers Will Lead Us Into the Kingdom: Fighting for Our Kids in Mississippi.”

The caption under the video of the sermon said:…