Student interest in religion, beliefs and values welcomed; Bishops condemn Home Office ‘go home’ campaign; Salvation Army must be confident in Word of God, says new leader
Student interest in religion, beliefs and values welcomed
The Church of Scotland has welcomed news that more pupils have taken Standard Grade and Higher exams in subjects exploring religion.
The figures released today by the Scottish Qualifications Authority show that in 2013 there were 1602 entries for Religious Studies Standard Grade up from 1569 in 2012. For Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies Higher, there were 4136 entries in 2013 up from 4053 in 2012.
Additionally there were 536 candidates at the various levels for the new Award in Religion, Belief and Values.
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland the Right Reverend Lorna Hood said the figures were “great news” and showed that a grounding in faith in the classroom could in turn inspire interest and learning in the subject.
“Overall, I congratulate everyone who has worked so hard to achieve success in their exams across all subjects. Our thoughts and continued prayers are with those who are disappointed and uncertain of their future career path.
“It is hugely encouraging to know that more young people studied for their Religious Studies Standard Grade and Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies Highers.
“It is also noteworthy in these often perceived as increasingly secular times, that the new SQA Award in Religion, Belief and Values has had significant up-take in its first year,” she concluded.
Bishops condemn Home Office ‘go home’ campaign
An Anglican and a Catholic bishop have joined together to condemn a UK government billboard and stop-and-search campaign targeted at immigrants designated ‘illegal’.
Bishop Nick Baines of Bradford in northern England said the Home Office’s’ controversial ‘go home’ bus and van campaign was divisive and ineffective.
Catholic Bishop Patrick Lynch, one of the Church’s authorities on migration issues, has said that the government’s billboard campaign targeting unregistered immigrants in several London boroughs has left the impression all immigrants and foreigners are unwelcome in Britain
Salvation Army must be confident in Word of God, says new leader
The new international leader of The Salvation Army has spoken of his desire to see the organisation balance serving the poor with witnessing the Gospel.
In an interview with the Washington Times, General Andre Cox said he had been challenged in recent years to demonstrate the fact that The Salvation Army are a people “who have received grace from God”.
“We’re grateful for His love and His transformation in our lives . but it’s more than theory, it’s got to take root in us and it’s got to be visible,” he said.
General Cox was appointed last weekend as the successor to General Linda Bond, who stepped down for “personal reasons”.
He praised General Bond as a “woman of great courage, great faith, and great vision”.
There are around 1.7 million people in The Salvation Army worldwide. In addition to worship, the church runs extensive social welfare ministries, including homeless shelters, rehabilitation centres for substance abusers, and support for the elderly.
Zimbabwean-born General Cox said the church’s good reputation had been won over generations because of the “hard work of the people who day in and day out get on with the ministry”.
“One of the concerns I share . is to ensure we are rooted and confident in the word of God, and we want to obviously reflect on the authority of Scripture, what it means to us. I want to see an Army on prayer, and I also want to see an Army that reflects the mind of Jesus,” he said.
However, General Cox went on to say that a focus on the poor and the marginalised was The Salvation Army’s “constituency” and that he wanted to see a “strong emphasis” on that.
He said this was especially necessary in the UK, where churches are providing many frontline support services to help people weather the weak economy.
“I think that recaptures something of the original calling,” he said.
“We’re not called to sit on pews or on chairs on a Sunday morning to worship. That is part of who we are, but we need to be inspired to reach out because of the faith we have, because of our spiritual life to serve suffering humanity.”