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joint
public issues newsletter 4
JOINT PUBLIC ISSUES
TEAM
Newsletter
4. March 2007
Click here to download this newsletter in PDF Format
Click here to download this newsletter in Microsoft Word Format
VOTE 2007 – INFORMATION FOR ELECTIONS
Thursday 3 May 2007 is Election Day.
Elections will be held for the Scottish Parliament and Scottish
local councils, the Welsh Assembly, and for some local councils in
England.
Action of Churches Together in Scotland
and the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office (SCPO) have prepared
briefing documents on the hot topics for the Scottish Parliamentary
election, and instructions on how to host a hustings event. For more
information visit
www.actsparl.org or
www.acts-scotland.org, or
contact SCPO on 0131 558 8137.
The Methodist Church and the United
Reformed Church have made statements encouraging members not to vote
for parties that promote racial or religious hatred. The website
Countering Political Extremism, set up by the Methodist Church, has
more information and has recently been updated:
http://www.methodistchurch.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.content&cmid=759
For more details about English local
council elections, visit the Joint Public Issues Team website
www.jointpublicissues.org.uk
SEXUAL ORIENTATION REGULTIONS –
PROVISION OF GOODS AND SERVICES
The Sexual Orientation Regulations
designed to prevent discrimination in the provision of goods and
services in England, Scotland and Wales have now been published by
the Government. The Joint Public Issues Team has prepared a briefing
paper for members of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the
Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church outlining some of
the key issues and explaining what the new regulations will mean in
practice. See
www.jointpublicissues.org.uk
or contact us (details at the end of this newsletter).
NOT FOR SALE SUNDAY – 20 MAY 2007
CHASTE –
Churches Alert to Sex Trafficking Across Europe – is providing fresh
resources to churches to enable them to be informed and their
membership engaged in this issue. ‘Not for Sale Sunday’ on 20 May
2007 seeks to raise awareness in churches of the many ways in which
women, girls, boys and men are exploited in the sex trade in its
local and global manifestations. This special Sunday will equip the
churches to engage in the issue and highlight the problems
associated with sex trafficking.
For more information visit
www.chaste.org.uk -
www.notforsalesunday.org -
or call 0845 456 9335.
STILL HUMAN, STILL
HERE
A coalition
of asylum and anti-poverty groups are lobbying MPs over the UK
Borders Bill. They are asking supporters to take urgent action to
coincide with the Bill reaching the report stage in the House of
Commons. For information about the issue, and how you can help, go
to
www.stillhuman.org.uk
If you would
like to attend the Churches’ Refugee Network Annual Conference ‘The
Needs of Strangers’ on Sat 19 May at Holy Apostles, Pimlico, London,
please contact Wendy Cooper on 020 7916 8632.
BAMAKO
Bamako is the title of a film, on general
release from 23 February. The film explores the unjust and damaging
policies of the IMF and World Bank on the African continent in
general, and Mali in particular - the home of the director
Abderrahmane Sissako. Christian Aid and Q-News have come together to
mount the BAMAKO petition targeting the IMF and World Bank, and will
be delivered at their meeting in April. Actor and executive producer
of the film, Danny Glover is working with Christian Aid and Q-News
to promote the petition and its demands.
You can hear him speak about the film and
sign the petition at:
http://www.pressureworks.org/play/video/270207_
bamako_glover.html
GREEN CHURCH AWARDS
The Church
Times is running an award scheme to celebrate what churches and
individuals are doing to further environmental sustainability. Visit
www.greenchurchawards.org.
The deadline for applications is 30 June.
WORLD MISSION
CONFERENCE: 1 – 3 June, Swanwick
‘The Earth is the Lord’s’ – What is our
Response-ability? is the theme for the 2007 World Mission Conference
arranged by Methodists for World Mission in partnership with the
Methodist Church, Christian Aid, USPG and Christians Aware.
Enquiries and booking information from Meg Bailey, 0161 432 3854.
VOTES FOR PRISONERS
The
Department for Constitutional Affairs recently held a consultation
about whether convicted prisoners in the UK should be allowed to
vote in elections. The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist
Church and the United Reformed Church submitted a joint response,
which can be read on the Joint Public Issues Team website
www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/jpitpublications.htm
JUBILEE DEBT CAMPAIGN – BECOME A JUBILEE
CONGREGATION
The Jubilee Debt Campaign is continuing to
work to eradicate the debt owed by poor countries to the rich. They
have recently launched a new programme where churches can become
certified ‘Jubilee Congregations’. This means Jubilee Congregations
agree to:
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Affirm the aims of the Jubilee Debt Campaign in their work to free poor people
and countries from the burden of unjust and unpayable debt
-
Pray for justice for the world’s poorest communities
-
Provide a contact person to facilitate education and action on debt
-
Make an appropriate annual donation for the work of the Jubilee Debt Campaign
-
Take at least one action a year on debt as a congregation.
If you would like your
Church to become a Jubilee Congregation, see
www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/?lid=2910
The Jubilee Debt
Campaign’s Annual Conference is taking place on 28 April at South
Camden Community School, London NW1. Entry is free. If you would
like to book a place call 020 7324 4722. Visit
www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk
for more information.
THEOLOGICAL SUMMER SCHOOL: 23 June – 7July 2007,
Dunblane
This
International Summer School in Theology, Church & Society will offer
an opportunity to Christians and others from all over the world to
study the complex and varied social, religious and cultural life of
Scotland. The fortnight is planned to explore some of the richness
of past and present religious life as it faces globalisation. The
historic impact of devolution, contemporary grappling with
sectarianism, the new challenges of a multi-faith society will be
among many aspects of the Scottish scene to be picked up through a
series of visits and encounters with key people. Dunblane will be
the ‘base camp’ for the event. A wide range of excursions will
introduce participants to Iona and the Iona Community, the Highlands
/ European Year of Culture 2007, Edinburgh and Glasgow Divinity
Schools and the history of the Reformation, with visits to St
Andrews and the Border Abbeys.
For more
information call 01786 823 588 or visit
www.scottishchurcheshouse.org
CHURCH IN NEW HOUSING AREAS
Churches
Together in England has set up a new website dedicated to the Church
in new housing areas.
www.cinha.org.uk looks at
issues to do with building community and church in areas of
development, has places to share stories and experiences, and
information on the planning process.
CONTACT
The JOINT PUBLIC ISSUES TEAM newsletter is
distributed through existing denominational mailing lists. If you
are reading a copy that someone else has given you, and you would
like to be added to the mailing, or if you have any other queries,
contact
Wendy
Cooper tel. 020 7916 8632
Address: 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT.
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