David Cameron PM

Conservative leader David Cameron has become the UK's new prime minister after the resignation of Gordon Brown.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will be his deputy after they agreed to the UK's first coalition government in 70 years.

Mr Cameron, who at 43 is the youngest PM in nearly 200 years, vowed to set aside party differences and govern "in the national interest".

Mr Clegg said he acknowledged some Lib Dem voters would have doubts about the deal but urged them to "keep faith".

Mr Cameron's party won the most seats in the general election last week, but not enough to secure an overall Commons majority, resulting in a hung Parliament.

Winston Churchill PM

Winston Churchill's First Speech as Prime Minister in 1940: "Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat"

by Ron Kurtus

Winston Churchill became United Kingdom Prime Minister on May 10, 1940, near the beginning of World War II. Three days later, he made his first speech to the House of Commons. In it, he made the oft-quoted statement, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."

This was the first of many inspirational speeches he made during the war.

Hung Parliament

The Conservatives have won the most MPs in the

UK general election but fallen short of a majority,

leading to the first hung parliament since 1974.

National Day of Prayer

(As we in the UK go to the polls our cousins in the USA turn to prayer)

National Day of Prayer 2010

The 59th Annual National Day of Prayer will take place Thursday, May 6, 2010. Millions will unite in prayer at thousands of events from coast to coast. The theme for this year is “Prayer for Such a Time as This” and is based on the verse from Nahum 1:7 which states: “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”

A bit of background and a few facts on the National Day of Prayer might be of interest as we observe this day.

In 1776 the Continental Congress called for prayer, and each step of developing a constitution and a new nation was preceded by prayer. When the Constitutional Convention was at a roadblock in 1787, Benjamin Franklin made a special request for prayer saying, “…I see this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? …I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of heaven and its blessing on our deliberations be held in this Assembly every morning….” (Christian Defense Fund, “One Nation Under God,” 1997, p. 22-24).

Although national days of prayer had long been a part of our history, for many years the U.S. President would declare the observance to be on a day of his choosing. In 1952 President Harry Truman signed a joint resolution of Congress establishing an annual day of prayer. In 1988 President Ronald Reagan and Congress amended the law to designate the first Thursday of every May to be an annual observance. Each year the President signs a proclamation encouraging all Americans to pray, and state governors do so as well. President Obama has made such a proclamation this year calling upon the citizens of our nation to pray for their country.

A volunteer coordinator network organizes local, state and federal observances throughout the nation. Observances begin at sunrise in Maine and continue through the day until sunset in Hawaii. There is unity through a theme, scripture and artwork which is developed by the NDP Task Force, but individuals are free to observe the day in their own prayer style. Shirley Dobson, wife of Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family has been the Task Force chairman since early 1990’s. She has volunteered her time as a citizen along with thousands of volunteers across the nation.

Marginalised?

Photo: Christian Today

The Bishop of Lewes, the Rt Rev Wallace Benn, said the UK needed to get back to its moorings.

CT: Lord Justice Laws ruled last week that it would be “divisive” and “capricious” for the law to protect a moral position on the grounds of religious beliefs. How much did his ruling make sense to you?

WB: It doesn’t seem to me to be a rational judgement and doesn’t seem to understand either that until we change, this nation has an established Church and the constitution defends the Church. I think that religious freedom is a very, very important issue that we lose at great cost and it seems to me that Lord Laws, for reasons of his own and his own agenda, made a ruling that is rationally incomprehensible and actually very serious for the future of the Christian faith.

CT: You said you believe this is a “tricky moment” for Christians in the UK. Is there anything we can be hopeful about?

WB: I think sadly the politicians have adopted and promulgated a kind of multi-faith inclusivism as a sort of political correctness. If you talk to leaders of other faiths they don’t want Christians to lose their rights because they know that if Christians lose their rights in this country, they will lose their rights as well.

What we should have done is while maintaining our commitment as a Christian nation should have offered Christian hospitality to people of other faiths and secured their religious freedom here without actually abandoning the faith that has shaped our nation and made us who we are. Instead we’ve ended up with a politeness to everybody else but a nothingness of our own. So we really need to get back to our moorings as a nation.

CT: Are you concerned about the debate in recent months over whether there should be a completely democratically elected House of Lords. Do you see that as a sign that the secular worldview is becoming increasingly entrenched in the UK?

WB: There are two issues there. The first is whether you want two Houses that are simply democratic Houses that can be packed out by the government of the day or whether you want another chamber where people of merit who have served the nation in one way or another can have a voice as a kind of extra voice or a check on what parliament may do for its own reasons.

I actually think that the House of Lords has an honoured place as a part democratically elected body and I would be very sad to see the bishops removed from the House of Lords. If we were at a secure place where we were again a thoroughly Christian nation I think that would be the time for the bishops to cease to be there but in the meantime they need to stand up for Christian values on behalf of all Christians and should do that - and have been increasingly doing that recently - with a united voice more.

CT: Looking to the election this week, there are many calls from Christian leaders and bodies that Christians should vote but there are also concerns that a new Government is not actually going to bring any real change in terms of a balance of rights for Christians and non-Christians.

WB: I signed the Westminster Declaration and I think it is very important that Christians vote and vote carefully but they need to ask what the local parliamentary candidate will do or has done in terms of their voting record, in upholding Christian moral values and Christian teaching. And therefore we need to think very long and hard. The Christian Institute has issued a briefing for the election which is very helpful.

CT: There was some controversy surrounding the Westminster Declaration and some Christians came out to say they were not signing it.

WB: Well, I wish some Christians would understand what the main thrust of the declaration initiated by Lord Carey was. We simply undermine some of the things we are standing for if other Christians criticise them in public so I wasn’t impressed with Faithworks and its criticism of Westminster 2010. I thought it was ill-timed and misjudged.

CT: Do you think the church is alert to the discrimination that some Christians are experiencing in the public arena?

WB: I do think the church needs to wake up and, much more importantly, Bible-believing Christians need to wake up to what’s happening in the nation. We do need to gain our voice again. A friend of mine said he thought the church in the West generally was suffering from a lack of confidence. I’ve pondered that phrase and I think there’s a great deal of truth in it. You don’t find Christians in Asia, Africa and South America being afraid to use their voices.

I think we are becoming marginalised and too easily silenced when we need to with grace but with courage speak up for Jesus and we do so out of love for the society we are part of. We will do everything to win people for Jesus but we will defend to the death the right of others to exercise a different faith or a different way.

CT: There are Christians who believe that Christians in the UK are being persecuted. Other Christians are against using the word “persecution” to describe the UK context. Would you say it is too strong a word?

WB: Christians often get divided over semantics. One of my dear friends is Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi in Jos, in northern Nigeria, and the killings of Christians there, that is real persecution. But there is in the West a more subtle form of persecution which is psychological, of either indifference or hostility. I prefer the word marginalisation to persecution because in England we are not suffering the way that some of our brothers and sisters are suffering around the world, but we are being dangerously marginalised and we need to wake up to that.

BNP at church

1 in 3 constituencies have a church-based hustings event going on. How many will have BNP representation?

Our local paper had a story last week of a local hustings event which was facing some problems: one candidate wasn't going to attend if the BNP were invited. As a 'hustings' is traditionally all the local candidates, there may well be others who won't attend if the BNP aren't invited. What to do? For churches, there's the added issue of giving the BNP a platform on church premises. Here's some thoughts from the CofE election/BNP guide:

Churches are under no legal obligation to include the BNP in election hustings meetings, or give space to such parties for public meetings, if they consider this ‘association’ could have detrimental affect on their reputation and activities (as charities).

It is open to charities to decline to invite to a public meeting a representative from a political party which advocates policies which are in contravention of the charity’s objects, or whose presence or views are likely to increase the chance of public disorder or of alienating the charity’s supporters. (Charity Commission Guidance, May 2009) (Charity Commission)

If candidates participate in an event that does not include all candidates in a constituency they need to declare this on their election returns. Organiser should be able to provide notional costings for the event which are split between the candidates participating.


…when a husting organiser invites candidates on a selective basis, the [Electoral] Commission considers that the provision of a public platform for those candidates who attend would constitute notional expenditure for the candidate … and also a non-cash donation, if valued at more than £50. (Electoral Commission)

More election hustings resources here and here. Both the Churches Together and CAREhustings guides point out that churches may be in contravention of their charity objects by inviting the BNP, though they point out that the norm is to invite all the candidates. I guess there may also be police advice to consider - if public disorder is likely, then churches may get police advice not to invite the BNP anyway. Mind you, there may then be demonstrations from BNP supporters, so this may cut both ways.

I'd be interested to hear what people are doing in other parts of the country. I know there is another hustings event being planned by some of our local churches, and no doubt they are running into this issue!

(St Aidan to Abbey Manor blog)

Nearer the truth?

A magnificent scoop from my colleague Jonathan Wynne-Jones, who reveals in The Sunday Telegraph that Foreign Office proposals for the Pope’s visit to Britain included suggestions that he should bless a gay marriage, launch papal-branded condoms and open an abortion clinic.

David Miliband has apologised; the Catholic hierarchy is furious, accusing the FO of “disrespecting” the Pope. (Yup, Malcolm McMahon, the bishop in charge of education, used “disrespect” as a verb.) My reaction is to say to the Bishops of England and Wales:

NOW do you finally understand what sort of snide, cheap and ignorant prejudice has flourished under this Government and its civil servants – wall-to-wall secularists for whom the Roman Catholic Church is at best an antiquated irrelevance and at worst a sick joke? And has it occurred to you that this document was probably being drawn up just as your own bureaucrats at Eccleston Square were turning a blind eye to the Magisterium so they could “work with” Ed Balls?

Oh, sure, the Foreign Office says: “This is clearly a foolish document that does not in any way reflect UK Government or Foreign Office policy or views” – and, of course, most of these proposals wouldn’t have seen the light of day.

But reflect the attitudes of Brown’s government and its politically correct employees is precisely what the document does.(Damian Thompson)

Leaders Debate

This General Election has been a first to have American style Leaders Debates on tv and they are having a most interesting effect. Here is what the three said about the pope's visit later this year.

At the Sky debate last night, Michael Jeans asked whether the leaders backed the Pope’s visit to Britain. Their responses are below.

DAVID CAMERON:

I do think it’s welcome that the Pope is coming to Britain and if were your Prime Minister I would want to support that visit and make sure I could do everything in my power to make it a success. There are millions of people in our country who would welcome that, who share the Pope’s Catholic faith and I think we should try and make a success of it but do I agree with everything the Pope says? No. I don’t agree with him about contraception, I don’t agree with him about homosexuality and I think the Catholic church has got some very, very serious work to do to unearth and come to terms with some of the appalling things that have happened and they need to do that but I do think that we should respect people of faith, I think faith is important in our country. I think faith based organisations, whether they are Christian or Jewish or Muslim or Hindu do amazing things in our country, whether it is working in our prisons or providing good schools or actually helping some of those vulnerable people in our country, so a country where faith is welcome, yes. A good visit from the Pope, yes, but does that mean we have to agree with everything he says? No.

NICK CLEGG: My wife – I’m not a man of faith – my wife, Miriam, is Catholic, my children are being brought up in her faith so I have a little bit of an insight into the immense feelings of anguish in the Catholic community here and elsewhere and I think many Catholics themselves feel really extremely torn apart by what’s happened and I think they do want to see the Catholic church express greater openness and repentance. You can’t keep a lid on sin and of course you need to move with the times. I do welcome the Pope’s visit but I hope by the time he does visit there is a greater recognition that there has been terrible, terrible suffering, there has been abusive relationships which have left immeasurable scars on individual people’s lives and we need a process of openness and then healing. You can’t undo the tragedies of the past but you can be open about them so people can start to move on.

GORDON BROWN: I’ve met some of the people who have rightly complained about the abuse that they were subject to when young and it never leaves them, it’s something that is with them always and no matter what you can try to do to help, there is always this problem that they have to face up to every day that they were abused, cruelly abused, by people in whom they placed their faith and trust. So the church has got to deal with these problems and it has got to make sure there is an open and clean confession about what has happened and that we help those people that have been put into difficulty by this abuse. But you know, I welcome the Pope’s visit to Britain and I want him to come to Britain for two reasons. One is the Catholic church is a great part of our society and we should recognise it as such and I hope every British citizen wants to see this visit by the Pope take place and secondly, we must break down the barriers of religion that exist in our world. The faiths must come together and recognise that they have common values and common interests. We all believe that we should be good neighbours to each other, I’m from the Presbyterian religion but I support the visit. I not only support it, I want religious faiths to work more closely together in society.

Election TV Debate

TV Debate – Our view (Hargreaves Lansdown)

The Liberal Democrat’s Nick Clegg was the clear winner of the first live TV debate. The Lib Dems are in a very strong position in these debates – arguably they have nothing to lose since the likelihood of them winning the Election seems remote.

However, the Lib Dems may play an increasing role in policy making with a new Government. Certainly, “I agree with Nick” seemed to be Gordon Brown’s favourite and quite deliberate, quote of the night.

In a hung parliament, we would expect the Lib Dems to have a big say in policy decisions. Would the Lib Dems be able to negotiate substantial changes to the main party’s policies, such as stopping the Trident defence program, the introduction of proportional representation or even appoint the next Chancellor of the Exchequer? I don’t think so – not in the short term anyway.

However, in exchange for their support and parliamentary votes on issues such as spending cuts, health, immigration or crime, we could easily see influence or even implementation of some of their tax policies. So far they are the only party who have explicitly said how they will raise taxes to tackle our £167bn budget deficit.

Year for Change

Prime Minister Gordon Brown was set to announce on Tuesday a May 6 parliamentary election which could bring down the curtain on 13 years of rule by his Labour Party.

Church publishes prayers for voters ahead of the General Election

The Church of England has published prayers to help voters as they consider their options in the forthcoming General Election. The prayers remind voters that they can make a difference, ask that the concerns of all may be heard and seek protection from despair and cynicism.

The prayers, for personal use or during church services, were specially written by the Mission and Public Affairs Division and the Communications Office in association with National Worship Development Officer the Rev Peter Moger. They are published on the web alongside details of relevant debates in the General Synod over the last five years.

1

Loving God,

Thank you for caring about how our country is run, and that we have the right to vote for our politicians and government.

But in the run-up to this general election there are so many policies to understand, and so many different points of view to consider -

Sometimes I wonder whether there's any point in voting, whether anyone cares what I think.

As I choose who I am going to vote for,

help me not to be cynical about politics and politicians,

help me to remember that my vote can make a difference,

and help me vote for those people who will protect the poor and vulnerable, and do all they can to make our nation a place of fairness and peace.

Because you call us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you, our God.

Amen.

2

Heavenly Father

source of all truth and wisdom, who knows and loves the whole creation,

watch over our nation at election time:

that truth may prevail over distortion,

wisdom triumph over recklessness

and the concerns of every person be heard.

Lord Jesus,

who chose the way of the cross in the Garden of Gethsemane,

help us to turn our backs on self interest

and to support policies that sustain the poor, the vulnerable and the frightened people of this world.

Holy Spirit,

who brought understanding among myriad peoples and languages at Pentecost,

give to all your people a passion for peace

and inspire us to work for unity and co-operation throughout the world and in our political life together.

Amen.

3

Lord, we give thanks for the privileges and responsibilities of

living in a democratic society.

Give us wisdom to play our part at election time,

that, through the exercise of each vote,

your Kingdom may come closer.

Protect us from the sins of despair and cynicism,

guard us against the idols of false utopias

and strengthen us to make politics a noble calling

that serves the common good of all.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Church and Politics

New unit plans to join parties

by Bill Bowder

Party conferences are this year being targeted by church groups, keen to get their message across. The Conservative Party meets in Manchester from 5 to 8 October. Man chester diocese will set up a stall “to help shape the political agenda”, said Martin Miller, the diocese’s acting assistant chief executive. Church Action on Poverty said it would be present at the three main confer ences; and, for the first time, the Church of England’s new Parli ament ary Unit will also attend. The presence of the new unit was wel comed by the Methodist Church, and by the official Christian groups within the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat parties. Paul Morrison, a one-time Lib eral Democrat parliamentary can did ate, now policy adviser for the Methodist Church, said that the unit was “very professional”. “Party conferences are a great place to build contacts. If you have a parliamentary office, then it would be madness not to be at the con ferences. “Politicians are open to big ideas from anyone — if they coincide with their intentions and are deliverable. Most politicians came into politics because they wanted to make things better.” The Methodists, along with the Baptist, United Reformed Church, and the Salvation Army, had been repre sented in last week’s TUC confer ence. “People were surprised to see a dog collar there,” Mr Morrison said. “I don’t think there is a conscious effort to be more overt about politics, but as the Churches become more professional and more com petent, so there will be more respect for what they are doing.” The political issues the Churches wanted addressed in common were: “international development, vulner able workers, and poverty in the UK”, Mr Morrison said. Richard Chapman, the head of the parliamentary unit, and a one-time adviser to the Labour Party in Parliament, said that the unit’s purpose was “to further the en gage ment of the Church of England with the political process and the political world. . . Being at conference is a good networking opportunity.” Elizabeth Berridge, director of the Conservative Christian Fellowship said that, to many politicians, “The Churches are not seen as significant in electoral terms. Churchpeople should let them know what is out there, with churches with five services on a Sunday and engage ment in urban life.” The new unit needed to do more than just make “institution-to- insti tution contact”, she said. It needed to encourage wider engage ment. “Churchpeople should get involved with public life. A lot have an engagement with lobbying groups, but they also need to be decision-makers, and encourage people to join political parties.” Zoe Dixon, the new director of the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum, also welcomed the unit’s presence at the conferences: “The more the merrier. We want to get across the message that the Church is not an eccentric fringe.” A spokeswoman for the Christian Socialist Movement said that she had not heard of the Parliamentary Unit.

Disgraceful Comments

Makes me ashamed to claim that I come from Barnsley:

Councillor Tim Cheetham, a Labour councillor in Barnsley, has been watching Catholics venerate the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux on television. “With all those slobbering zealots kissing that glass case, I hope it has some mystical power to prevent swine flu,” he wrote on Twitter this morning.

That’s the authentic voice of 21st-century Labour. As Louise Bagshawe, novelist and Tory prospective candidate, immediately tweeted back: “Nice to describe faithful Catholics venerating a relic as slobbering zealots. Would you use such bigoted language about Muslims?”

Cheetham’s pathetic reply: “As the church has issued new guidlines [sic] about the conduct of ceremonies to protect against spreading disease, it needed saying.”

Bagshawe: “Labour’s anti-Catholicism is breathtaking sometimes.”

Indeed it is. Tony Blair’s relationship with the Catholic Church disguised the ferocious secularism of New Labour, which under Gordon Brown has increasingly focused on Roman Catholicism as an object of ridicule. (The Catholic bishops are slow to wake up to this fact, but one of these days they will have to give up their sentimental attachment to a party that hates them.)

Another tweet from Cheetham: “It’s not Bigotry to highlight the lunacy of dark age mysticism in the modern world.” Really? OK, then let me put you on the spot, councillor.

You say: “I will decry any faith that denies my right to question it in whatever form I wish.” Well, Muslims in Barnsley do object to the slightest criticism of their Prophet (who lived during the dark ages, as it happens) with his child wives and message of violence. But you’re a brave man, it seems. So go on: speak fearlessly and with your trademark withering disdain about the zealots in your own town.

Let the work begin

With a wealth of expectation upon him, and the eyes of the world watching, it is likely 

Mr Obama will begin to implement changes, perhaps as early as Wednesday.

Here are some of the issues to watch during the new president’s first day in

the job:

• IRAQ

During his first day in office, President Obama is widely expected to meet with 

high-ranking military officials to discuss Iraq.

As far back as July, long before he was elected, Mr Obama vowed: “I intend to end 

this war. My first day in office, I will bring the Joint Chiefs of Staff in, and I will give 

them a new mission, and that is to end this war responsibly and deliberately, 

but decisively.”

• GAZA

Another “Day One” promise by Mr Obama was to address the violence in Gaza 

and the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

According to reports, the president will appoint former Senator George Mitchell 

as his Middle East envoy today.

Mr Mitchell has knowledge of brokering peace agreements. As special envoy to 

Northern Ireland he helped usher in the Good Friday Agreement. He received the

 Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999 for his efforts in the province.

• ABORTION

It has been suggested that one of Mr Obama’s first move as president will be to 

overturn the Bush administration’s ban on funding overseas organisations involved 

with abortion programmes. At present, no money can be distributed through the 

US Agency for International Development to charities and NGOs that promote,

 or provide information or advice about termination services.

President Bill Clinton lifted the ban – brought in by President Reagan – when he 

came to power in 1993. President George Bush reinstated it as one of his first acts.

Tomorrow marks the 36th anniversary of the Roe v Wade Supreme Court ruling 

legalising abortion in the US. The date could be used by President Obama to 

reverse the policy yet again.

• GUANTANAMO BAY

President Obama has long called for the closure of the controversial Guantanamo Bay 

base in Cuba. And an announcement on the detention centre is expected by the end of

 the week. It will not, however, signal the immediate end to the base.

Mr Obama has signalled that it could take time to shut the camp down. In an interview 

with ABC he said: “We are going to get it done. But part of the challenge that you have 

is that you have a bunch of folks that have been detained, many of whom may be very 

dangerous, who have not been put on trial or have not gone through some adjudication.”

• ECONOMIC PACKAGE

During his inaugural address, Mr Obama pledged “bold and swift” action on the economy

 “not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation of growth”. Work will now turn

 towards getting Congress to pass his proposed 825 billion US dollar (£594 billion)

 economic-stimulus package.

Sentamu Sermon

Archbishop of York hits out at bankers

Tory leader David Cameron and his wife Samantha walk to the Christmas Service at York Minster

THE Archbishop of York has launched an outspoken attack on greed in the banking system as the economic crisis provided a focus for many of the traditional messages from religious leaders on Christmas Day.

Preaching at York Minster, Dr John Sentamu warned banks against "exploitative lending", urging them not to "enrich themselves at their poor neighbours' expense" as households, businesses and workers battle the current economic turmoil.

Dr Sentamu told worshippers: "If I enrich myself at my poor neighbour's expense when they are in financial straits, I certainly have the wrong attitude on the matter.

"True charity repudiates the idea of personal gain as a result of lending money to make ruthless gain - usury - bringing about permanent disappropriation and enslavement.

"Clearly the way to come closer to God is to be generous and honest towards our fellow human beings."

The Archbishop also urged the country to rediscover the spirit of wartime solidarity in an attempt to see its way through the economic turmoil.

He said: "In the present economic crisis we need to rediscover that spirit of togetherness that helped the British people during the Second World War to stand together in the face of food rationing and the Blitz.
"We had better stand together or we will all hang separately economically."

Tory leader David Cameron, his wife Samantha and their children were at the Minster.

They are staying at the stately home Sutton Park near York which is owned by Sir Reginald Sheffield, Mrs Cameron's father.

An Unholy Alliance

Obama and the Gay Bishop: 'Three Private Meetings'

Today I had the chance to discuss the US election with Bishop Gene Robinson, who is briefly in London for the annual Stonewall awards where he won 'Hero of the Year'.

But he was actually most interesting on his private meetings with President-elect Barack Obama. Bishop Gene said: 'I had the great honour of having three private conversations with him.' These took place in May and June last year and were not initiated by Robinson.

'I was actually sought out by his campaign. He had quite an extraordinary outreach to the religious community. By that I mean all religious communities. And through those contacts I had the opportunity to speak to him. And I must say I don't know if it is an expression here in England or not but he is the genuine article. I think he is exactly who he says he is. And I serve on the church pension fund board at the national level and  I serve with someone who has been his friend since Barack was in college and says what you see is exactly who he has been for as long as I've known him.

'He is impressive, he's smart, he is an amazing listener. For someone who's called on to speak all the time when he asks you a question it is not for show, he is actually wanting to know what you think and listens, or at least gives you that impression. I think we've had eight years of someone who has listened to almost no-one. So the thought of having a president who gathers the best people around him and then listens to what they have to say to him, especially the things he doesn't want to hear I think he will be open to, that is very refreshing. So I'm absolutely delighted about him.

They did not discuss Anglican issues in great depth. 'He certainly indicated his broad and deep support for the full civil rights for gay and lesbian people. 

They discussed what it was like to be 'first' in something - first gay bishop, potentially first black president.

Bishop Gene said: 'One of the things Barack and I did talk about when we were together was just  the experience of being first and the danger of that and we talked about being demonised by one side and, I don't know if the word is angelicised, by the other. Expectations are laid on you both negative and positive and neither are true. And the importance of remaining centred and grounded in the middle of that so that you don't begin to believe either your negative press or your positive press.'

'We did not talk about assassination specifically but we did talk about the physical risks to ploughing new territory. I don't think anyone can have observed life in America in the last century without noting that we tend to be a more violent society than most and that the availability of weapons and the willingness of some people to use them present enormous challenges. At the end of the day you have to decide whether or not you are going to be paralysed by threats and by violent possibilities  or whether you are just move on and do what you feel called to do despite the risks. (Ruth Gledhill)

Earlier Report from CEN last September

The Bishop of New Hampshire has broken with tradition and endorsed a candidate for political office. In a letter published on “LGBT for Obama,” a website that states it serves as the “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community’s online campaign to educate voters on John McCain’s anti-gay policies” Bishop Gene Robinson called on all LGBT voters to “put our differences and disappointments aside, and get behind the one candidate who has our interests at heart.”

On Sept 4 Bishop Robinson wrote LGBT voters were “faced with the most stark choice in recent memory, with ramifications for our community like no other. If nothing else convinces you to vote for Barack Obama, surely the likelihood of the next president appointing one, two, or possibly even three Supreme Court justices should do it.”

While endorsing specific issues and or programmes is not uncommon, lending the support of the episcopal office to a single candidate is uncommon. It also skirts US tax laws, as clergy or church endorsements are prohibited by a 1954 amendment to the Internal Revenue Code. Nonprofit, tax-exempt entities may not “participate in, or intervene in . . . any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.”

Past challenges to the law have so far failed, with the Courts holding that while clergy are free to speak out on religious, moral and political issues they cannot use tax-exempt resources to support or oppose candidates for public office, which includes statements from the pulpit by church officials and other indications of campaign intervention.

In May of 2000, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia unanimously held that the IRS properly revoked the tax exemption of the Church at Pierce Creek, a congregation near Binghamton, N.Y., that bought newspaper ads in 1992 opposing presidential candidate Bill Clinton.

Bishop Robinson said that the election of John McCain would lead to the packing of the US Supreme Court with justices that would rule against the recognition of gay marriages. “With Barack Obama, we have someone who is utterly sympathetic to our full and equal rights as citizens.”

He added that while Senator Obama “won’t say he’s for equal marriage rights” Bishop Robinson knew from his “own private conversations with him that he is totally in our court. I believe him, and I trust him, not to throw us under the bus when the election is over.”

A Call to the Nation

"Help your church to grow" - a 2005 report reprinted in 2008

I was recommended to read this by a flyer, with a personal note attached over the initials JW, which possibly points to Rev Jonathan Willans, Anglican President of 'The Christian Party':

"Knowing your views, I think you will be very encouraged by this. It featured on BBC2 Newsnight and has gone to 17000 churches for discussion. You will find it an invaluable tool at this time of crisis".

I don't know how he came by my name and address - possibly my views from this blog. Anyway maybe others would like to take a look and make comment here.

• Reprinted in 2008
• For all Christians to read and share
• Unique thought provoking document
• Sent to thousands of churches
• Ideas for sermons and church magazines
• Highlights what needs to be done
• Prophetic warnings concerning our nation
• Distributed in partnership with the Christian Party

 

"This report confirms my belief that Christians can no longer sit back. We must mix our prayers with clearly identifiable service in the political arena; being both salt and light.
It is for this purpose that the Christian Party exists."

Revd George Hargreaves, Leader of The Christian Party

"This report is essential reading for those concerned about the growth of their church, giving valuable suggestions and ideas on increasing attendance"

Background to the Church Survey Report

In 2005 the Church Survey Report entitled ‘Help your church grow’ was first published and since then it has been sent to thousands of churches. It reveals why church-going is declining in the UK and Ireland. It highlights the need for Christians of all denominations to stand together and speak with one voice. It is a call to church and nation.

The report is essential reading for those who are concerned about the decline of church- going and the state of Christianity in general in the UK. The results of ‘The Church Survey’ compiled by the Ecumenical Research Committee provides everyone (of whatever denomination) with ideas and suggestions ‘from the grassroots’ on how to reverse this decline and draw people back into the church and properly promote the Christian Faith. Over the past few years moral values have been rejected by many in society and church attendance in mainstream denominations is in freefall. Four out of five churches are either declining or simply static. What is causing this erosion of values? Why are people turning away from the church? More to the point, what can be done about it?

The inter-denominational Ecumenical Research Committee was established under the chairmanship of an Anglican Priest the Revd Jonathan Willans. It examined exactly what people needed from their church and revealed that Christians urgently want the church to take the lead in promoting beliefs and morals and to make a stand against the tide of secularism destroying our nation.

The survey was conducted between September 2003 to September 2004 and provided individuals at ‘the grassroots’ with a unique opportunity to speak for themselves and explain what they needed from their churches, without fear of discrimination or reproach. This document is an indispensable summary and compilation of the main points raised by the 14,000 people who responded. It gives a fascinating insight into what they need churches and their clergy to provide and what they say will make church attendance more helpful and relevant.

It is an invaluable resource for congregations who wish to grow and it is packed with tips and recommendations, all having come from ‘the people in the pews’. This report is ‘the people’s voice’, these are their views and these are the things they believe will strengthen Christianity across the nation.

Why a Christian Party?

Three years ago the results of a nationwide church survey were published. It highlighted the need for Christians to stand up for their beliefs and resist the tide of secularism and immorality that is destroying our country. The report entitled ‘Help your church grow: let the people speak’, revealed that across the UK, people were increasingly alarmed at the moral and spiritual state of the nation and urgently wanted Christian leaders to break their silence, “stand up to be counted” and say “enough is enough.”

The aim of The Christian Party is to do this – with your help. It is a much needed voice for Christian communities across the nation, to ensure that the message of the Bible will be heard and heard where it matters!

Many of those who responded to the survey were in despair at the failure of many ‘mainstream churches’ to provide a robust stand in defence of Christian beliefs and values. The voice of the once mighty church is now a mere whisper. This meant that if the Christian message was to be heard boldly and distinctly another way had to be found – hence The Christian Party.

In the report people commented “with society in its present state church ministers should be playing a leading role in guiding people towards the straight and narrow path…. yet every time a major issue arises, from pornography on TV to the morning after pill, all we hear is silence…. it is little wonder the faithful are losing heart and losing respect for some churches.”

The Christian Party however, will not be silent! Whatever your denomination, whatever your churchmanship, the report clearly shows that the time has come to unite and stand together for the Christian faith and all it represents. God has reserved a faithful remnant in these turbulent times as a light and guide to those who are in darkness and despair. People are lost and confused and do not know where to turn. Now is the time to join together, so that the light of the Gospel may be seen by everyone and the voice of truth be heard by all. Chapter 4 contains chilling prophecies of what will happen if the UK fails to repent and return to the laws of God.

Together The Church Survey Report and The Christian Party call for the church and nation to restore God to his rightful place in our society.

Commenting on The Church Survey Report, the Revd George Hargreaves, Leader of The Christian Party had this to say:

“This report confirms my belief that Christians can no longer sit back. We must mix our prayers with clearly identifiable service in the political arena; being both salt and light. It is for this purpose that The Christian Party exists.”

We sincerely hope and pray that after reading this report, you will be moved to join The Christian Party.

Gordon's there too

I am not sure it was a wise media move for Gordon to visit America at the same time as the Pope.

An awkward coincidence of timing means that Gordon's final visit to President Bush coincides with Pope Benedict XVI’s first to the United States, only the second time a pontiff has ever gone to the White House. Washington residents are already preparing for motorcade gridlock.

With a programme that includes a public Mass in the 40,000-seat National Park baseball stadium, the first nonsporting event in the new park, there seems little doubt which new arrival will be gripping the imagination more.

By contrast, Mr Brown’s agenda for his four-day, three-city trip – the economy and international financial stability, meetings with Wall Street bankers and discussions about the future of Africa – will never compete for the popular affection of the American people, despite recent attempts.

On Wednesday night the Prime Minister unleashed his fixed grin on an unsuspecting TV audience when he appeared on American Idol to pledge £200 million of mosquito nets for Africa, prompting one American newspaper to suggest he was a “parody of himself”.

Grover Norquist, the head of an American think-tank with close connections to the White House, said: “Most Americans are not aware of Mr Brown, and most Republicans in Washington are not aware of any change in the special relationship other than Tony Blair, a pal, has left. There is more buzz about the arrival of the Pope next week.”

Government figures are already nervous about seeing Mr Brown out of the country and appearing with President Bush so close to England’s local elections. Others in the party are more philosophical. “He can’t stop being Prime Minister just because there are local elections on,” one said.

Mr Brown will also use a big speech on Friday at the Kennedy library in Boston to urge the United States to reengage with the world in the way it did after the Second World War.
He will say the world is at a point in history when it needs American “values and leadership”.

Downing Street says that there are no plans for the Presbyterian Mr Brown to meet the Pope.

The most eagerly anticipated part of the trip, however, will be the meetings that Downing Street says have been arranged with the three presidential candidates. After subtly distancing himself from President Bush, Mr Brown will be seeking to reaffirm Britain’s ties to the United States by seeing the Democrat contenders, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, as well as the Republican John McCain, whom he met last month. Downing Street says the meetings will take place behind closed doors and diplomatic conventions mean the Prime Minister will say little about their contents.

When the trip was arranged, no one in Downing Street expected the Democratic nomination still to be open. Mr Brown will have to negotiate his way through the tensions of the Clinton-Obama race without signalling favouritism, despite a longstanding relationship with Mrs Clinton.

But even this has risks. Downing Street could face disenchantment if there are last-minute complications because of the pressures of the campaign on the two Democrat contenders. Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton are expected to go head-to-head in a critical TV debate the night before the Pennsylvania primary on April 22.

Should either pull out of a meeting with the British PM, Mr Brown will once again be reminded that he does not have the pulling power in the United States of either his predecessor or, it seems, the Pope.

Their itineraries
The Prime Minister
Tuesday Arrive in New York
Wednesday UN Security Council meeting with senior business figures. Fly to Washington, British Embassy reception. Sarah Brown at private dinner
Thursday Meet President Bush at White House; press conference. Meetings with Clinton, Obama and McCain. Private dinner at White House
Friday Fly to Boston; speech at Kennedy library Saturday Arrive home

The Pope
Tuesday Arrive at Andrews Air Force Base, greeting by President Bush
Wednesday Join President and First Lady at White House. Private prayer for 350 US bishops Thursday Mass at baseball’s Nationals Park, Washington. Address Catholic University of America
Friday Fly to New York, address United Nations
Saturday Visit World Trade Centre
Sunday Mass at Yankee Stadium. Fly back to Vatican