back back to Letters previous previous story  |  next story next

Bans: LGCM from an exhibition; and a Christian couple from fostering

From the Revd Richard Kirker
Sir, — The answer to the Revd Mike Plunkett’s surprise at LGCM’s absence from the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) that he attended (Letters, 7 March) is very simple: we are not welcome. Our requests for exhibition space have been refused.

He might be similarly surprised at the absence of any advertisement in the UK Christian Handbook, published by Christian Research. We are also banned from there. The chair of the CRE, Gospatric Home, wrote the foreword to the last edition of the Handbook in our possession.

I should explain that this list of where our presence is deemed inappropriate is far from exhaustive: it is merely indicative of the prevalence of attitudes that still prevent a full, fair, and informed debate in the Church at large.
RICHARD KIRKER
Chief Executive
Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM)
Oxford House, Derbyshire Street
London E2 6HG

From Rachel Ruthven
Sir, — As a Christian who has been foster-parenting for well over 20 years, I find it hard to believe that Owen and Eunice Johns’s application to foster was turned down simply because they are Christians (News, 29 February; Letters, 7 March).

Our foster-children have accompanied us to church until they were old enough to choose whether to come or stay at home on their own. Our present foster-child (seven years old) is a much welcomed member of the congregation. An ex-foster-child, adopted by a non-Christian couple, for whom we have taken an aunt/uncle role, loves to come to church with us when visiting. She is greeted with such warmth by the congregation, and the organist plays her favourite hymn for us all to sing: “What a friend we have in Jesus”.

If we should ever be asked to foster a Muslim child, I would be able to arrange for him or her to attend a local mosque.
RACHEL RUTHVEN
Waterhayes Farm, Birchwood
Chard, Somerset TA20 3QH


back back to Letters up back to top previous previous story  |  next story next


© Church Times 2006 - All rights reserved

Website by Baigent