Association of Christian Financial Advisers on Budget; Christian Socialist Movement challenges churches on money; UK Coptic Orthodox Church to hold Memorial Service for Pope Shenouda III; Judge rules human rights don’t apply to Christian Facebook case
Budget 2012: What’s in it? – Association of Christian Financial Advisers
Christian Today – George Osborne’s Budget increases personal allowance, a move welcomed by the Association of Christian Financial Advisers. They are concerned, however, by the phasing out of age-related benefit, saying that this penalises those who have contributed the most to society. The changes to child benefit look set to be “expensive” and riddled with “red tape”, the ACFA further warns. The group is also “disappointed” that the Chancellor did not include stricter regulations on payday loans.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/budget.2012.what%27s.in.it/29516.htm
Christians encouraged to think about where their money goes
The Christian Socialist Movement is challenging churches and Christians to think about where they are putting their money. CSM has launched a new campaign calling on people to think about whether their investments and choice of bank reflect their core values. The “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” campaign is asking people to explore ethical banking and investment options that would allow their investments to “work for the common good, rather than for fast profit”. The campaign draws inspiration from churches in the US that are already re-investing in a thoughtful way, and the “Move Your Money” campaign asking people to switch from banks with unethical banking policies.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.encouraged.to.think.about.where.their.money.goes/29510.htm
UK Coptic Orthodox Church to hold Memorial Service for Pope Shenouda III
The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in the UK will holds a Memorial Service on Saturday 24 March from 3pm for HH Pope Shenouda III who died on 17 March 2012.
Heads of churches, as well as Ecumenical, inter-religious and Civil representatives have been invited by His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in the United Kingdom to attend.
His Grace who travelled to Egypt upon hearing the news, said: “We have been inundated with messages of condolence from many friends across the United Kingdom. It is only fitting to hold this memorial service in order to allow people to join in giving thanks for the life and ministry of His Holiness. It is undoubtedly very sad to farewell a father, yet as a Church, we are confident in the knowledge that our Lord, through the power of His Resurrection that we will celebrate in only a few weeks’ time, promises us life after death, and we join together to pray for His Holiness as he is welcomed into that heavenly promise.”
There is a book of condolence available at The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre for those who would like to show their respects. For more information see: http://www.CopticCentre.com
Judge rules human rights dont apply to Christian Facebook case
Christian Today – A Christian demoted by employers over comments he made about gay marriage on his Facebook page has been told he cannot appeal to human rights arguments in his defence. Disciplinary action was taken against Adrian Smith, a housing manager at Trafford Housing Trust (THT), last year over an exchange on Facebook relating to gay marriage. In February last year, Mr Smith posted a link to a BBC news story entitled “Gay church marriages get go ahead”, and added his own comment, “an equality too far”.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/judge.rules.human.rights.dont.apply.to.christian.facebook.case/29513.htm