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The following are extracts from the Statement. “We are dismayed that the place of our Saviour’s birth is once again wracked by violence, death and destruction. “We grieve that innocent children have been disproportionately affected by this conflict. “Of the 1,300 people killed in the abhorrent terrorist attacks of Hamas on 7th October, 33 were...

A selection of readings and prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples can be used in Church of England services, following recent approval by the House of Bishops. The final texts of Prayers of Love and Faith, commended for use in regular public worship or private prayer, can be used in...

Bishops and other faith leaders have joined forces with the Bishop of London to call on the Government to make a change in the leave-to-remain status situation for asylum seekers. They say they want practice to match policy, for there to be better communication with asylum seekers, and for the timeframe to be extended. While...

The Archbishop of Canterbury used his recent House of Lords debate on families and households to urge the Government to scrap the two-child benefit cap. The two-child benefit cap means that parents can only get child tax credit or universal credit for their first two children. The cap is for the third child and subsequent...

The recent anti-conversion laws in India have led to the arrests of hundreds of Christians, according to church sources. UK-based Release International, which raises the voice of persecuted Christians worldwide, warns: “The persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in India increases dramatically with each passing month.” Twelve of India’s 28 states have now passed...

Editor:  With Christmas coming, there are very few News stories around now that will be relevant for your January magazines. But we can at least offer you the following! Responding to the Israel – Gaza War Bishop introduces Bill to allow humanitarian visas for those seeking asylum Synod backs trial of special services asking for...

Editor:  The crisis in Israel and Gaza continues. So once again this month, we are offering you a list of some Christian UK agencies who are working in either Israel or Gaza, and who have launched Appeals for help. We hope that this gives you a way of encouraging your readers to respond with compassion...

A Church of England Bishop is proposing legislation to provide a safe and legal route to the UK for those seeking asylum, as part of attempts to crack down on illegal people smuggling across the Channel in small boats. The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, has published a Private Members’ Bill...

Special services of prayer and dedication asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples will soon be introduced in the Church of England on a trial basis, following a vote at the last General Synod. Synod voted in favour of a motion containing an amendment tabled by the Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, to bring forward...

The Church of Scotland recently joined campaigners to urge the First Minister to keep his promise, and to provide significant additional investment to tackle child poverty. More than 150 organisations across Scotland signed an Open Letter that called on Humza Yousaf to “do the right thing” and increase the Scottish Child Payment to at least...

People who have a religious faith are generally happier and more resilient than atheists and other non-religious people. That is the finding of a new study, Keep the Faith: Mental health in the UK, which has been recently published by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL). The think tank was set...

A Bible printed in 1620, one of the very first to be produced in Welsh, has been discovered by chance in a vestry cupboard in St Martin and St Enfail’s Church in Merthyr, near Carmarthen. Mari James, Library Development Officer at St David’s Cathedral, described the 400-year-old Bible as “quite a treasure” and “a precious...