Lockdown and the church
New severe restrictions on freedom are causing many to question the wisdom and the legality of the government’s policies: (newer items at the top)
Scottish ministers to face judicial review over church closures, from Christian Concern
Christian liberty versus ‘lockdownism’, by Dr Joe Boot, Christian Concern:
Hundreds of people tune into church’s Morning and Night Prayer services, from the Church of England website
How should Christians respond to the Scottish worship ban? by Lois McLatchie, Christian Today
The Church in the Digital Age: Ways the Church Can Step into Digital, by Josh Laxton, The Exchange
Christians unite against this lockdown madness by Ben Mildred, The Conservative Woman
A fifth of Church of England worshippers may not return after pandemic ends, from Christian Today:
Lessons from Church history and past plagues, from Christian Concern: Tim Dieppe looks back over church history to see what lessons we can learn about responding to crises and pandemics.
Only one in 10 Brits think Covid-19 has strengthened their faith, by Jennifer Lee, Christian Today
Praise God that church buildings are allowed to open. Let’s make the most of it, by Graham Nicholls, Premier
‘Is it OK to eat during online mass?’: how the faithful handle lockdown, by Séamas O’Reilly, Guardian:
Vaccines – safety, ethics and the bigger picture, from Christian Concern
Synod to discuss challenges facing the Church and world amid coronavirus lockdown, from Church of England website
Covid: Church of England services hit by pandemic, from BBC News
More than half of Church of England parishes close for Sunday services amid Covid crisis, from Premier
Cathedrals across England suspend public worship as Covid cases remain high, from Christian Today:
The impact of lockdowns on religious freedoms, from Christian Concern: Following the government’s restrictive lockdown measures to try to combat the spread of Covid-19, the Joint Committee on Human Rights launched a call for evidence on the impacts of local and national lockdowns. The committee said it was seeking views on the impact that lockdown has on specific freedoms, including: “The impact of lockdown on the freedom of religion and believe, and in particular on collective worship.” READ HERE
Covid update Scotland: Church leaders write to Nicola Sturgeon about worship ban, By Emer O’Toole, The National
Local councils in England accused of ‘pressuring’ churches to stop public worship, By Marcus Jones, Premier
London Mayor Sadiq Khan urges Johnson to close places of worship as Covid cases surge, by Harriet Sherwood, Guardian
Physical gathering, online meeting and false dichotomies, by Stephen Kneale, Building Jerusalem: Some insist that not meeting is a clear violation of God’s command to gather together. Others argue that meeting online represents a ‘temporarily deficient ecclesiology’ that is adequate. Are these the only two positions we might be able to take? READ HERE
Why are more Christians “chalking the door” during lockdown and what is it? from the Church of England website
Lockdown UK: only in Scotland is public worship prohibited (except for the rich), by Archbishop Cranmer
England lockdown: Church leaders welcome continued public worship but urge caution, by Tola Mbakwe, Premier
Canadian church pens epic response after police charge six elders for holding services in defiance of lockdowns, by Joel Abbott, Not the Bee
Shutdown of churches and ban on weddings during Covid crisis has cost Church of England ‘£150MILLION’ and could trigger a cull of parishes, by Steven Doughty, Mailonline
If the Church of England worships online, how can its historic buildings survive? by Simon Jenkins, Guardian
Corporate worship provides care for your soul, by George Robertson, The Gospel Coalition
2020: The year the Church was as sharp as a marshmallow, by Rob Slane, The Conservative Woman
Articles from 2020:
A Christmas with Covid-19 – The Christian Legal Centre’s Rob Smith breaks down what churches are allowed to do this Christmas, in line with the new Covid regulations.
‘Let us disobey’: Churches defy lockdown with secret meetings, by Harriet Sherwood, Guardian
Communal worship ‘criminalised’ under lockdown, church leaders in England say, by Harriet Sherwood, Guardian: More than 100 Christian leaders have launched a legal challenge against the ban on communal worship in England under lockdown restrictions
Pastor who broke England’s lockdown worship rules has baptism service shut down by Met police, by Press Association
Scientists, the false idols of a faithless land, by Peter Simpson, The Conservative Woman
Church leaders expect easing of English lockdown ban on communal worship by Harriet Sherwood, Guardian
Synod invited to challenge lockdown ban on public worship by Maddy Fry, Church Times
A Letter to the Nation from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York
Boris Johnson doesn’t get God, by Giles Fraser, UnHerd
A pastoral statement on the proposed suspension of public worship from 5 November from The Society
Why church leaders should join me in protesting the closure of our buildings by Joshua Jones, Premier
‘No scientific justification’ for church closures, say Archbishop of Canterbury and faith leaders, Christian Today
Criminalising worship would be ‘serious overstep of power’, Christian Concern
Whitty, Vallance: ‘No evidence to back church closures’ from The Christian Institute
Banning collective prayer is an ALMIGHTY mistake, Boris – we need it now more than ever by Andrew Pierce, Mailonline
No sign of end to public worship ban in Ireland, by Sarah MacDonald, The Tablet
Archbishops join interfaith call to PM to allow public worship, C of E Website
Christian leaders taking legal action against Government over church closures, Christian Today
Communal worship banned in England by Archbishop Cranmer
Christian leaders threaten UK Government with legal action over lockdown church closure by Tola Mbakwe, Premier
Interview with Peter Sanlon on BBC Radio Kent: “We are challenging the legality of the government’s actions. We are very concerned to be careful about people’s health…but if the government passes laws to criminalise churches meeting together for worship, they will have exceeded their authority and contradicted the declaration of human rights…”
Britain has succumbed to panic – again By Fraser Myers, Spiked
‘Government by decree – Covid-19 and the Constitution’: Lord Sumption. Lecture to the Cambridge Private Law Centre
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