Archbishop Barry Morgan's Christmas message challenges modern 'fundamentalisms' and attempts to diffuse or displace the Christian character and content of the festive season.
Read about it here
Earlier in December British Member of Parliament Mark Pritchard, also spoke out about what he calls 'Christianophobia', raising debate about the Christian character of the foundations of British society.
Read about this here
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Spiritual Capital - Lambeth style
The Archbishop of Canterbury hosts an interfaith gathering at Lambeth Palace, to launch 'Inter-faith Week', an initiative of the Interfaith trust aiming to highlight the contributions made by faith communities to benefit society as a whole.
A statement of common commitment was signed by religious leaders present to continue building good inter religious relations and to contribute to the common good from different religious perspectives. This builds on the precedent of the Millennium Act of Commitment, a shared act of reflection and commitment by the Faith Communities of the United Kingdom, in the year 2000.
A statement of common commitment was signed by religious leaders present to continue building good inter religious relations and to contribute to the common good from different religious perspectives. This builds on the precedent of the Millennium Act of Commitment, a shared act of reflection and commitment by the Faith Communities of the United Kingdom, in the year 2000.
Read about the event and see the statement here
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
BBC convenes faith forum on climate change
In the run up to the Copenhagen Climate Change summit in December, BBC Wales is running a series of broadcasts on the environment - calling it their 'Green Season'. One of these features a live audience edition of the popular panel discussion series 'All things Considered', hosted by the Revd Roy Jenkins.
The broadcast, was recorded on November 3rd before an invited audience. It presented, Hindu Jewish, Muslim and Christian experts offering from the faith perspective views on climate change and related issues. It went out on 8th November, and can be accessed here
The broadcast, was recorded on November 3rd before an invited audience. It presented, Hindu Jewish, Muslim and Christian experts offering from the faith perspective views on climate change and related issues. It went out on 8th November, and can be accessed here
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Vatican opens doors to dissidents
This week the Pope has announced a scheme whereby Anglicans disaffected by the changes in their church may be received into communion with Rome and retain some aspects of their old identity and liturgical life. This is intended as a pastoral response to a situation in which may of conservative catholic persuasion within Anglicanism feel they are no longer at home in their own place. The details are far from clear, and the announcement has been made in a way that suggests that British Catholics and Anglicans were taken by suprise. Their commitment to ecumenical dialogue witness and action in the face of this news was re-affirmed.
Whilst this news has little bearing upon the participation of faith communities in the life of civil society, it does convey the impression that Christians have difficulties in relationships that could weaken the credibility of their common witness, especially as a key issue facing and dividing churches is the role of women in the ministerial leadership of the church - a matter which many in civil leadership find deeply distrubing in this egalitarian age.
Whilst this news has little bearing upon the participation of faith communities in the life of civil society, it does convey the impression that Christians have difficulties in relationships that could weaken the credibility of their common witness, especially as a key issue facing and dividing churches is the role of women in the ministerial leadership of the church - a matter which many in civil leadership find deeply distrubing in this egalitarian age.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Street Carers' pilot training evening
In the year since the first conversations of Cardiff's street care volunteers, a nine strong group of representatives of the 200+ in volunteer teams has begun to meet bi monthly, and has organised a pilot training evening, which took place tonight.
Seventy people took part. The representative group hopes all volunteers, both well established and newcomers, will eventually undergo this shared induction and registration programme, aimed to equip them to serve better the city's homeless people, and bring them recognition as partners with social services in meeting the needs of all who suffer.
Street Care volunteer groups are drawn for the most part from church groups in the city and even neighbouring boroughs. They are organised in an all year round seven day a week rota called the 'Paradise Run' that has been developed by Cardiff's unique 'Rainbow of Hope' homeless charity over the past decade.
Seventy people took part. The representative group hopes all volunteers, both well established and newcomers, will eventually undergo this shared induction and registration programme, aimed to equip them to serve better the city's homeless people, and bring them recognition as partners with social services in meeting the needs of all who suffer.
Street Care volunteer groups are drawn for the most part from church groups in the city and even neighbouring boroughs. They are organised in an all year round seven day a week rota called the 'Paradise Run' that has been developed by Cardiff's unique 'Rainbow of Hope' homeless charity over the past decade.
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Faith Groups and Climate Change in Cardiff
A conference today at City Hall organised by Christian Aid, with City Churches Together and support from the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, looked at the likley impact of climate change on life in Wales in General and Cardiff in particular. It also brought to a pitifully small assembly of thirty people present, witnesses to the impact of climate change from rising waters in Bangladesh and drought in northern Kenya.
An outline of Cardiff City's developing carbon lite strategy was presented, and questions raised about the social and economic impact that could be expected in the long run, when sustainability of faith community buildings, due to rising energy costs and carbon footprint restrictions begin to bite hard.
An evening session heard an environmental scientist's concern about unforeseen consequences for the biosphere of climate changes, and continued earlier reflection and discussion on what it would take to motive faith communities to address these issues more seriously. A strong lead is being given by many in civil society today, few are religious leaders, or else their voices are no longer taken seriously. Are faith communities any longer in a position to offer a lead on matters of this gravity, considered perhaps to be beyond its competence? Is this an era in which faith groups need to learn the humility to follow where others lead?
A report on this conference is to be found on the Cardiff Climate Concern website
An outline of Cardiff City's developing carbon lite strategy was presented, and questions raised about the social and economic impact that could be expected in the long run, when sustainability of faith community buildings, due to rising energy costs and carbon footprint restrictions begin to bite hard.
An evening session heard an environmental scientist's concern about unforeseen consequences for the biosphere of climate changes, and continued earlier reflection and discussion on what it would take to motive faith communities to address these issues more seriously. A strong lead is being given by many in civil society today, few are religious leaders, or else their voices are no longer taken seriously. Are faith communities any longer in a position to offer a lead on matters of this gravity, considered perhaps to be beyond its competence? Is this an era in which faith groups need to learn the humility to follow where others lead?
A report on this conference is to be found on the Cardiff Climate Concern website
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