Anglicans on both sides of the debate about sexuality within the church are unhappy with plans for the Lambeth Conference in 2020, with some, including the Bishop of Liverpool, Rt Rev Paul Bayes, saying their partners will not come, in protest at same-sex bishops not being allowed to bring their partners. 

Current Church of England doctrine states that clergy cannot conduct a same-sex wedding and the rules on whether clergy can marry a same-sex partner varies in different countries, with the Episcopal Church in the US allowing same-sex marriage since 2015, but in England only civil partnerships are allowed, on the assumption that they remain celibate, and marriage is not. 

Aside from the issue of gay partners attending, there are complaints that clergy in same-sex partnerships are being allowed to attend themselves. 

GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference), a group of Anglicans who say they ‘work to guard and proclaim the unchanging, transforming Gospel through biblically faithful preaching and teaching’, are the main voice of this concern. 

In June 2018, their members gathered in Jerusalem and called on the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev Justin Welby, “not to invite bishops of those Provinces which have endorsed by word or deed sexual practices which are in contradiction to the teaching of Scripture and Resolution I.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference,…

Israel Folou, who signed a four-year deal with the Waratahs in Sydney in March, could have his contract with Rugby Australia ended because he posted a picture on instagram saying that homosexuals, among others, would face hell unless they repented to Jesus. 

The Australian rugby player also listed atheists, drunks, idolaters, adulterers, liars and fornicators, calling on people to repent, saying ‘Only Jesus saves!’ 

Folou’s comments sparked controversy and threats from Rugby Australia about his continuation as a national star as he had had warnings about similar comments already. 

The code of conduct hearing, which Folou requested, was held at Rugby Australia’s headquarters in Sydney and evidence was provided by Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. 

The hearing was only meant to last one day, with Sunday reserved incase it dragged on. 

After 15 hours, no conclusion was made about his future, with Waratahs player Andrew Hore also called for evidence on Sunday. 

They will now reconvene on Tuesday. 

Folou’s solicitors are arguing that he was quoting a Bible passage and that the comments weren’t his direct words. They also say there is no social media clause in his contract. 

The Wallabies coach said he was unlikely to be selected to play again and Rugby Australia believe he has breached player code of conduct and social media…

Establishments with pastoral staff on campus showed improvements in the atmosphere and a sense of community.

The report, which was put together by Coventry, Durham and Canterbury Christ Church Universities and the Church of England is recommending universities increase their funding for chaplains.

374 chaplains were questioned about their work, relationship with university and the impact of their chaplaincy.

One of the report’s co-authors, Dr Kristin Aune, Professor of Sociology of Religion at Coventry University, said: “Our research has found that chaplains are doing a great job supporting students pastorally and responding to an increasingly multi-faith environment.

“One of our 15 recommendations is that universities increase their funding for chaplaincy to continue this vital service.”

Data collected in 2017 showed each university has, on average, ten chaplains. Two thirds are Christian.

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As he arrived in the Balkan nation for a two-day visit, Francis “respectfully suggested” that Bulgarians recognise that migrants are fleeing war, conflict or dire poverty “to find new opportunities in life or simply a safe refuge”.

“To all Bulgarians, who are familiar with the drama of emigration, I respectfully suggest that you not close your eyes, your hearts or your hands, in accordance with your best tradition, to those who knock at your door,” he told government officials at the presidential palace in Sofia, the capital.

Bulgaria’s centre-right, pro-Brussels coalition government includes three nationalist, anti-migrant parties.

The government has called for the European Union to close borders to migrants and has sealed off its own border to Turkey with a barbed-wire fence.

But the country is also losing its own population at a faster clip than any other nation, according to the UN.

Its current population of seven million is expected to dwindle to 5.4 million by 2050 and to 3.9 million by the end of the century.

The Argentine pope has made the plight of migrants and refugees a hallmark of his papacy, urging governments to build bridges, not walls, and to do what they can to welcome and integrate refugees.

His visit falls just three weeks before European Parliament elections across the EU’s 28 nations in which nationalist, anti-migrant parties are expected to make…

The Islamic month of fasting began on Monday and runs until the fourth of June.

Christian charity Interserve is calling on believers to pray for the protection of the Muslim community and that they would come to know Jesus.

In a statement, it said: “When reading stories in the news, like that of the tragic shootings at the Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, it is very easy to feel numb and hopeless.

“Sadly since that dark day on 15 March there has been a rise in Anti Muslim hate Crimes in the UK.

“Inaction is clearly not the answer; a response is needed, a raising up of prayer. If we do not pray then prejudice will gain power, fear will fester and relationships built across divides will die.”

The charity is encouraging Christians to download a prayer guide which over a million people around the world are expected to use across 37 languages.

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