God be with you til we meet again (and help us know what to do when we can!)

Jun 30, 2020 by

God be with you til we meet again (and help us know what to do when we can!)

by Stephen Kneale: Now it has been announced that churches are allowed to reopen for services from 4th July, although not all the guidance has been made clear and we are still awaiting written guidelines [they are now here – ed], the headline is that churches may meet subject to social distancing measures. For some, that announcement sparked a mad panic. For others, well thought through plans were able to be actioned. For others, the question was moot as they have taken the decision not...

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Faith leaders have a moral duty to be better prepared for the next pandemic

Jun 28, 2020 by

Faith leaders have a moral duty to be better prepared for the next pandemic

by Chris Whitehouse, Conservative Home: Lockdown gave an unprecedented character this year to the major celebrations of the great Abrahamic faiths. Those in the Jewish community endured Passover unable to join with family, friends and their wider community to celebrate the escape of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Those of Muslim beliefs found themselves daily breaking their Ramadan fast alone, not together; and approached the culmination of that celebration, Eid, at best in small...

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Anglican Decline, Pandemic and Pandemonium in “Challenging Times”

Jun 28, 2020 by

by Jeffrey Walton, Juicy Ecumenism: Anglicans have had a rough year, according to Archbishop Foley Beach in in a somber but hopeful address before the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) Provincial Council, meeting June 23-24 in an online web conference. Beach cited tired clergy facing “decision fatigue” amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, violence and racial injustice, and the departure of two dioceses last year leading to the denomination’s first significant drop in numbers. There was also...

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Churchgoers in Morecambe ask for MP’s help in getting Covid-19 worship restrictions lifted

Jun 24, 2020 by

Churchgoers in Morecambe ask for MP’s help in getting Covid-19 worship restrictions lifted

By Gayle Rouncivell, Lancaster Guardian: (Hat Tip: Rev Julian Mann) Although churches have been allowed to reopen for private prayer, any measures to meet as a congregation are unlikely to be possible until at least July 4. This is because meeting as a group inside a building of any sort is not currently deemed safe by the scientific advice at this stage of the pandemic. However, Mr Morris has been sent a letter asking for his help in changing these plans. Human Rights: a key issue As a...

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Reopening of church buildings for public worship

Jun 24, 2020 by

Reopening of church buildings for public worship

from The Church of England Media Centre: Following the Government announcement that church buildings will be able to reopen for public worship from 4th July, providing physical distancing remains in place, the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who leads the Church of England’s Recovery Group, said: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement today that we will soon be able to begin to meet and worship together in our church buildings again. “The last three months have been an...

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Could an underground church now emerge in Britain?

Jun 23, 2020 by

by Daniel French, Spectator: Coronavirus and the fallout from it could have been a chance for the Church of England to talk about the grand vision of Christian hope and mortality. The Bible warns us of plagues and pestilence. It tells us that we live in a broken world. It makes it clear this pandemic is far from unprecedented. Yet it also has a message of good news. Instead, too many of the Church’s senior figures have ditched this vision, choosing rather to scare us or play politics when it...

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