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News Briefing and Comment

Ekklesia runs a syndicated news and events listings service for churches, journalists, organisations and charities. Hundreds of churches and organisations now carry Ekklesia's news on their web sites. You can get Ekklesia's news on your web site in seconds, or by signing up for our daily email bulletin.

  • 23 May 2013
    Fraternity, propaganda and transformation: thinking about 'welfare'

    The government is using many of the clasic tools of propaganda to influence our thinking about 'welfare' and those who receive it, says Jill Segger. She argues that we need to turn again to the real meaning of Jesus' transformative relationships with the despised.

  • 23 May 2013
    Welfare and benefit reform justice forum held in Oxford

    A Justice Forum on welfare and benefit reform, the first of a series organised by the Diocese of Oxford,took place today (23 May) at the Wesley Memorial Church in Oxford.

  • 23 May 2013
    Responding rationally to the Woolwich murder

    In the streets of Woolwich, south-east London, a brutal murder took place yesterday (22 May). Pictures and eyewitness accounts suggest that a man was hacked to death in broad daylight and those responsible for this horrific crime were arrested shortly afterwards. While this was a tragedy for the victim, his family and friends and a shock to the local community, the reaction by some in government risks spreading unnecessary panic.

  • 23 May 2013
    Ekklesia daily e-briefing resumes

    We are pleased to announce that as of yesterday, 22 May 2013, Ekklesia's daily e-mail briefing service (covering news, events and comment) has resumed.

  • 22 May 2013
    Kirk pushes forward 'Go For It' community innovation fund

    The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has been urged to help people ‘Go For It’ through its recently launched community innovation fund.

  • 22 May 2013
    The Armenian genocide: remembering sorrows, articulating hopes

    'The Armenian genocide: remembering our sorrows and articulating our hopes?' was the title of a talk given by Ekklesia associate Dr Harry Hagopian at St Werburgh's Church in Dublin, Ireland, at the end of last month, 29 April 2013.

  • 22 May 2013
    Syria through a lens: another future is possible

    All the news coming out of Syria at present seems negative, and bound up with remorseless cycles of violence and the huge refugee and internal displacement crisis, which is impacting millions of people.

  • 22 May 2013
    UK Government 'attempts to evade responsibility' over part in Libyan torture

    Lawyers for the UK Government claim that it should not be held accountable in British courts for its role in the rendition and torture of Gaddafi opponents in 2004.

  • 21 May 2013
    Work Capability Assessments have failed the test

    Last year I wrote about my friend Yvonne, who had undergone an Atos Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and been placed in the Work Related Activity Group, meaning she was expected to attend the Jobcentre and prepare for work.

  • 21 May 2013
    Only communicate: how the church addresses the world (or not)

    Given that the Church of Scotland, like all major Christian denominations, conducts a good chunk of its internal business in public these days (with the boundary between what is 'internal' and what is 'external' increasingly stretched), media and communications can no longer be thought of - if it ever could - as a specialist function alone.

  • 21 May 2013
    Church 'issues' are about people, not abstract ideas

    Ask anyone reporting or commenting on the 2013 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and they will tell you that proceedings this year are being dominated by two 'issues': the reception, or otherwise, of same-sex persons in the life and ministry of the Kirk; and later this week 'The inheritance of Abraham: A report on the promised land' (which has provoked a substantial preemptive assault by the pro-Israeli government lobby, on account of its advocacy of justice for Palestinians and Jews alike).

  • 21 May 2013
    Kirk opens a door it will be very difficult to close again

    The Church of Scotland vote to allow civil partnered gay and lesbian ministers, despite no change in the official teaching on sexuality, shows that the drift towards accepting gay people in the Kirk is continuing, says Simon Barrow. Indeed, while seeking pastoral sensitivity towards their opponents, the advocates of change believe that full inclusion is now inevitable.

  • 21 May 2013
    Church of Scotland votes to allow partnered gay and lesbian ministers

    The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has voted to permit an individual Kirk Session to call a minister in a civil partnership if it so chooses.

  • 20 May 2013
    UK Government in court over Libyan renditions

    Tomorrow will see the first court hearing in the case brought by a Gaddafi opponent against the UK Government over its part in ‘rendering’ him and his pregnant wife to Libya in 2004.

  • 20 May 2013
    Kirk appeal for unity and respect as sexuality debate begins

    The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Lorna Hood, has called for respect for different views among Kirk members.