Unease at planned kidnap drama
A PROPOSED BBC series about the faked kidnapping of
nine-year-old Shannon Matthews has been criticised by parish
clergy. Shannon disappeared for 24 days in 2008 from her home in
Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, but the kidnapping was later discovered
to have been invented by her mother in the hope of claiming a
£50,000 reward. Canon Kevin Partington, Team Rector of Dewsbury,
told The Guardian that the community had moved on, and a
TV show would needlessly aggravate matters. The Revd Kathy
Robertson, Team Vicar, said that she feared the programme might
unwittingly expose Shannon - who has been given a new identity - to
more scrutiny.
Derbyshire churches remember Indian murders
THE sixth anniversary of anti-Christian violence in India which
claimed more than 100 lives has been marked by churches in Derby,
which has links with the Church of North India. Almost 300 churches
were destroyed and more than 56,000 people were displaced by the
outbreak of violence in Orissa State on 25 August 2008. The Bishop
of Repton, the Rt Revd Humphrey Southern, who chairs Derbyshire
Churches in Partnership with the Church of North India, said that
they were observing the anniversary to spur the Indian government
into action to protect survivors and ensure that further attacks
were prevented.
US bishop writes about same-sex marriage
THE Bishop of Virginia, the Rt Revd Shannon Johnston, has
written to his diocese seeking to reassure both sides in the debate
about same-sex marriage, which is close to being legalised in the
state. Virginia's ban on gay marriage was deemed unconstitutional
by an appeals court in July, but one day before couples could begin
to marry, the Supreme Court stayed that decision to consider it
further. Writing before the Supreme Court intervened, Bishop
Johnston said that clergy were free to marry gay couples in civil
ceremonies, but he pledged that no priests would be forced to
officiate at same-sex unions against their convictions.
How Would Jesus Vote?
A SURVEY has been launched to find out how Evangelicals are
planning to vote in the General Election next year. The online
poll, organised by the Evangelical Alliance, will also explore
Evangelicals' views on politics in general, and whom they believe
Jesus would have voted for.
Church of Scotland keeps out of independence fray
THE Church of Scotland has insisted it is neutral on the
question of Scottish Independence, after 33 serving and retired
ministers signed a pro-independence statement. The Moderator of the
Church's General Assembly, the Rt Revd John Chalmers, said that
there was a broad range of views within the Church. The 33
represented only 1.8 per cent of the total number of ministers, he
said.