Church leaders urge calm after Duggan verdict

AN UMBRELLA-GROUP of African and Caribbean churches has offered its sympathies to the family of Mark Duggan, whose shooting by armed police in Tottenham in 2011 was ruled lawful last week. The statement from the National Church Leaders Forum said that there were "conflicting and contradictory aspects" to the case, but echoed the family's call for peace.
 

New Bishop to the Forces and for Falkland Islands

THE Bishop at Lambeth, the Rt Revd Nigel Stock, has been named as the next Bishop to the Forces and Bishop for the Falkland Islands. Bishop Stock will take up his new responsibilities in June after the retirement of the current Bishop, Dr Stephen Venner.
 

Afghan atheist given asylum in UK

IN THE first case of its kind, an atheist from Afghanistan has been granted asylum in the UK on the grounds of religion. The unnamed man fled the conflict in Afghanistan, aged 16, and came to Britain in 2007, where he later renounced his Muslim faith. His lawyers said that if he were forced to return to Afghanistan he could face the death penalty.
 

Church leaders urge calm after Duggan verdict

AN UMBRELLA-GROUP of African and Caribbean churches has offered its sympathies to the family of Mark Duggan, whose shooting by armed police in Tottenham in 2011 was ruled lawful last week. The statement from the National Church Leaders Forum said that there were "conflicting and contradictory aspects" to the case, but echoed the family's call for peace.
 

Lincoln Cathedral 'must double footfall'

THE chief executive of Lincoln Cathedral has warned that he faces a budget deficit of up to £500,000 unless visitor numbers double, writes Richard Vamplew. Phil Hamlyn Williams, who is also the Chapter Clerk, highlighted the financial challenge to maintain the 1000-year-old building after the ending of English Heritage conservation grants.
 

ACC comes out against reparative therapy

THE Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC) has instructed its members not to use reparative therapy, a model used with clients experiencing same-sex attraction. Members must also replace any advertising material related to this form of therapy. The ACC said that the therapy was incompatible with its ethics and practice framework, because "its language implies that sexuality can be 'repaired' and so introduces the idea of treatment or cure," and it "appears to make an a priori assumption" that a specific outcome is desirable. It is also deemed to be "incompatible with the Equality Act 2010".
 

The Revd Paul Flowers on bail

THE former chairman of the Co-operative Bank, the Revd Paul Flowers, has been released on bail. He was arrested in November by West Yorkshire Police as part of an investigation into drugs supply (News, 22 November). His solicitor, Andy Hollas, said: "There are no charges yet . . . The investigation is still ongoing."
 

Wakefield supports Peshawar victims

MPs LEARNED on Tuesday of the support offered to Christians in Pakistan by the diocese of Wakefield. Yakub Masih, who chairs UK Asian Christians and Pakistan Concern, told a meeting in the Commons how a fund-raising effort in the diocese had enabled him to give 15,000 rupees to 65 families who had been bereaved or injured in the bomb-attack in Peshawar last year.

Correction: In 2010, the Revd Mark Edwards was appointed MBE for his for his services to the voluntary sector in the north-east, not for his service as chaplain to Northumbria Police (News, 10 January). Our apologies.