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hotline 54 CHURCH AND SOCIETY NETWORK HOTLINE 54 21 July 2006
REMARKABLE BIRTHDAY PARTY AT SALE Sale United Reformed Church, on the outskirts of Manchester, has celebrated twenty one years of briefings on Church and Society topics, by holding its two hundredth meeting. Topics covered have been wonderfully diverse: including - at home - prisons, waste collection, AIDS, education policy, homosexuality, transport and health care and - internationally - Africa, India, China, and European issues. The aim of monthly meetings, attended by twenty to thirty people, has always been to raise awareness, so that people can better decide how to be Church in society. Founders Ruth and Bill Cowhig are still actively involved in a steering committee. A 2lst birthday party was held on July 20. If any other church or group of churches can lay claim to a similar achievement, we would be delighted to know of it ….. or, if you want advice on starting something similar, e-mail cowhigwt@ntlworld.com
PEACEMAKING RESOURCE A resource for churches on the ethics of war in the 21st Century Peacemaking: A Christian Vocation was adopted by General Assembly meeting in Exeter. It was produced by a joint URC/Methodist working group and includes a study guide which could be used by individuals or home groups. The report urges Christians to make common cause with international attempts to limit the proliferation of arms and, specifically, considers that “Church members should oppose the renewal of the UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent”. The report is available from the URC bookshop (tel. 020 7916 8629). Price £3.99 plus p&p. ISBN 1-85852-323-0.
ASSISTED DYING Church and Society is encouraging the Church to address the issue of euthanasia, and particularly Assisted Dying. An article is being written for the October issue of Reform and a resolution is likely to be brought before General Assembly next year. Meanwhile, we would like to know your views, informed by personal experience. A short questionnaire is being distributed with this edition of Hotline. If you feel able to, please complete it and return it to the Church and Society office. Feel free to copy it and pass it on to others.
KEEPING SUNDAY SPECIAL The government has announced that there is to be no alteration to the current Sunday shopping hours. After a review of the existing six hour trading limit for large stores, Trade Secretary Alistair Darling said nearly one thousand responses to a consultation, received from consumers, religious groups, employees and business, indicated that there was no substantial demand for change. Church and Society had responded on behalf of the URC expressing concern about the social effects of increased seven-day-a-week working on families, noting the importance to family and social cohesion of parents spending time with children.
STOPPING THE TRAFFI(C)K Through Church and Society, the URC has committed itself to support Stop the Traffik, a coalition to help stop the sale of people, to see traffickers prosecuted and to protect the victims of human trafficking. See www.stopthetraffik.org. The government has highlighted several suggestions made by the URC, in a summary of responses to its consultation on establishing a UK Action Plan to combat human trafficking. In particular it notes that many people want more emphasis to be put on protecting victims of trafficking. The document picks up the suggestion that there should be a publicity campaign to try to encourage those who use prostitutes to see them as they might see women and girls in their own families. The summary is available at www.homeoffice.gov.uk A House of Commons motion has been tabled calling for the Government to extend the principle of “work for those who can, support for those who can't” to everyone in the UK, including people seeking asylum. Church Action on Poverty is asking supporters to encourage their MP to support this motion to put pressure on the Home Secretary to change policies that are making asylum seekers destitute.
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWSLETTER The second newsletter of the URC/Methodist environmental Network is available at www.methodist.org.uk/static/econetwork
CHAPLAINS IN COURT The Department for Constitutional Affairs wants to place chaplains in courts and tribunals to be a listening ear for anyone who wants to talk. Chaplains will need to be supported and accredited by a religious organisation or by a local place of worship. A document Multi Faith Chaplaincy - Support for Staff and Customers in Court is available from andrew.drury@dca.gsi.gov.uk
CARING FOR EX-OFFENDERS The national Caring for Ex-Offenders conference for churches wanting to help people leaving prison to integrate into the community, is on 5 and 6 October at Holy Trinity, Brompton, London SW7. This year’s conference will be a two-day two-track event with different programmes for experienced practitioners and for those new to caring for ex-offenders. Details from www.caringforexoffenders.org or ring 020 7052 0440.
NATIONAL CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE ON PROSTITUTION Annual Conference, Friday 10 November (6.00 pm) - Sunday 12 November (2.00 pm) at the Coventry Hill Hotel, Coventry. The event will be of particular interest to those wishing to learn more about working with individuals involved in prostitution; staff, trustees and volunteers at projects; and people from churches seeking to respond to the issue in their local community. For further information, including costs, and a booking form, e-mail conference@ncapuk.org or ring 0845 0044231. Bookings must be received by Friday 6 October.
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