Christians meet to pray for the BBC – there is a lot of anger about; Student Cristian Movement to focus on activism and liberation; 1,000+ petition favours women bishops – review of press comment
1. – Christians pray for the BBC
Christian Today – Christians working in the media industry got together at the end of last week to pray for the BBC.
The prayer evening was organised by the MediaNet, a network for Christians working in all areas of the media.
It was held at All Souls Church, Langham Place, opposite the BBC Broadcasting House in central London.
The BBC remains at the centre of controversy over its decision to shelve a Newsnight report into sex abuse by Jimmy Savile.
More questions have been raised over a Newsnight report that falsely implicated Lord McAlpine in the child abuse sex scandal.
Andrew Graystone, MediaNet member and director of the Churches Media Council said the crisis had led to a loss of trust in the BBC and other institutions.
“I suspect that part of what we are witnessing in the BBC, Stoke Mandeville, Broadmoor and elsewhere is the consequence of the damage caused by the abuse of trust by Jimmy Savile, and perhaps others,” he said.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/3/christians.pray.for.the.bbc/31082.htm
2. – Students called to activism
Christian Today – The Student Christian Movement hopes its next conference will inspire a new generation of Christian students to work for justice and peace.
The Seeds of Liberation conference next March will mark the 40th anniversary of the original conference by the same name.
The 1973 Seeds of Liberation conference is remembered within the movement as the event that saw the most members commit to campaigning for social justice.
The keynote speaker will be the Reverend Raj Bharath Patta, a Dalit pastor and general secretary of SCM India.
He will speak on Christian mission and standing in solidarity with the oppressed and marginalised.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/3/students.called.to.activism/31083.htm
3. – Women Bishops: open letter in favour
Over a thousand clergy of the Church of England have signed an open letter to The Independent urging the General Synod to vote in favour of women bishops in Tuesday’s ballot. The letter, with a complete list of signatories, is here: Open Letter: The Biblical case for women bishops.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/letters/open-letter-the-biblical-case-for-women-bishops-8327446.html
Daniel Goddard, Gerard Brand, Jonathan Brown and Kunal Dutta write about the letter in The Independent: Clergy demand women bishops ahead of General Synod.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/clergy-demand-women-bishops-ahead-of-general-synod-8327442.html
The Telegraph also reports on the letter: Church of England General Synod: women bishop vote in balance as row looms.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9687251/Church-of-England-General-Synod-women-bishop-vote-in-balance-as-row-looms.html
There are other news items previewing the debate.
Telegraph John Bingham – Top female cleric urges backing for ‘imperfect’ women bishops deal
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9686994/Top-female-cleric-urges-backing-for-imperfect-women-bishops-deal.html
BBC Michael Buchanan – Church of England to vote on women bishops
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20385411