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hotline 46 CHURCH AND SOCIETY NETWORK HOTLINE 46New Secretary for
Church and Society, Stuart Dew, began work on October 10. He comes
to the job from the Churches’ Criminal Justice Forum, where he was
Director. Stuart Dew began his working life as a local newspaper
reporter, then joined BBC Radio News as a news scriptwriter and,
later, news duty editor. His experiences as a volunteer prison
visitor led him to train, in mid-life, to be a probation officer,
where he specialised in working with people whose offending was
linked with drug and alcohol misuse. He is an elder and lay preacher
within the URC. Stuart sees it as an important part of his role to
get out and engage with local churches in discussion of Church and
Society issues. Do please
ENVIRONMENTAL
NETWORK With the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church is in the process of establishing an Environmental Network. Gwen Jennings has been appointed as Co-ordinator. Gwen lives in Torquay and is married to Robert, minister at Furrough Cross United Reformed Church. She works full time for the Environment Agency as a Technical Advisor on waste issues. In her role as Co-ordinator for the new Network, she hopes to increase awareness and action across the membership and enable everyone to really do something positive to help and care for the earth. Further information will be distributed prior to the launch of the Network early next year. In the meantime, please contact us if you would like to register your interest.
MOVING STORIES Updating the mailing list - If you signed up to receive ‘Moving Stories’, the regular email update on Israel/Palestine, but have not seen it for a while, we might have lost your latest email address in recent changes. The current issue is number 67. Please get in touch if we need to amend our records - or if you would like to receive this worthwhile resource. Thank you! Commitment for Life -
direct dial: 020 7691 9867;
PRISONS WEEK -
20-26 NOVEMBER This is the major opportunity in the year for churches to focus on criminal justice concerns. These are emphasised by the news that once again the prison population has reached a new high, and prisoners are being kept in police cells, which is unsatisfactory both for the police and the prisoner. This year’s Prisons Week theme ‘The least of these’ uses words from the lectionary reading for Sunday 21 November (Matthew 21:35-46) in which Christians are urged to visit those in prison and to care for others described as ‘ the least of these’ as though doing it for Christ. A leaflet with suggested readings, prayers and short commentaries for each day of the week opens out into an A4 poster. Copies are available from The Secretary, Prisons Week, PO Box 2733, Lichfield WS13 6GZ. A donation of £1 for ten copies is requested. Other resources are available from www.prisonsweek.org
URC PEACE
FELLOWSHIP - ANNUAL CONFERENCE Saturday 26 November 2005, 11.00 am - 4.00 pm at United Reformed Church House, 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT. Keynote speaker: Roberta Rominger (Moderator of Thames North Synod and a patron of the Peace Fellowship). Please bring your own lunch; tea and coffee will be provided. To book, please contact Church and Society.
RESOURCES FOR WORLD
AIDS DAY - 1
DECEMBER ‘Becoming HIV Positive’
- worship resource from the Church of Scotland HIV/AIDS Project,
containing ideas for worship, preaching, children’s and young
people’s activities for World AIDS Day and beyond. Supplement for
preachers and teachers develops the Bible readings. Available to
download (.pdf or Word formats):
www.churchofscotland.org.uk/boards/worldmission ‘Acts of Faith’ - Christian Aid resource comprising reflections and stories from Hong Kong, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Burma and India, with an outline order of service. Available to download: www.christian-aid.org.uk/actsoffaith/index.htm or for booklet contact Christian Aid (08700 787788 or orders@christian-aid.org).
LIVING GHOSTS - National conference arranged by Church Action on Poverty and Enabling Christians in Serving Refugees (ECSR); Saturday 3 December, 10.30 am (registration from 10.00) - 4.00 pm at Brunswick Parish Church, Brunswick Street, Manchester M13 9YX (192 bus from Piccadilly Station). Keynote speaker: Maeve Sherlock, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council. Speakers, workshops, worship and sharing will help explore the questions: how can the churches engage?, what are the challenges?, what are the solutions? Flier/booking form can be downloaded from the ECSR website: www.ecsr.org.uk/cm/news/49 or ask us for a copy.
OTHER EVENTS AND MEETINGS:
CLIMATE CHANGE Two meetings at Redland Park United Reformed Church, Whiteladies Road, Bristol: Wednesday 26 October, 7.30 pm: Climate Change - What is it? Speakers: John Bailey (Climatologist at the University of Bristol); a Christian response - Professor Colin Russell (Emeritus Professor, the Open University). Wednesday 9 November, 7.30 pm: What can we do about it? Speakers: Lorraine Hudson (Create Centre, Bristol City Council), and a representative of Friends of the Earth.
WHAT FUTURE FOR FARMING AND FARMING PEOPLE?
13 October 2005
Stuart Dew stuart.dew@urc.org.uk
Wendy Cooper wendy.cooper@urc.org.uk Church and Society United Reformed Church 86 Tavistock Place London WC1H 9RT direct dial: 020 7916 8632
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