The Methodist and United Reformed Churches have together voiced their concern about increasing levels of violence and political intimidation, linked to the delay in announcing the result of Zimbabwe’s presidential election.

In the face of growing political instability and desperate food shortages in Zimbabwe, The Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF) is supporting an appeal through ACT International (Action by Churches Together) that will distribute emergency food supplies to vulnerable households.

Amid passionate public debate on bioethics, stem cell research. the use of embryos and abortion, the Methodist Church is taking a careful investigative approach to 'early life' ethical concerns based on both scientific and theological data.

As Britain gets into gear for the new year after an extended holiday season which often includes an excess of food and drink, a church known for its temperance stance has called on the government to rethink alcohol licensing laws.

The Church of Scotland has resolutely rejected the 'war on terror' language being used in some political quarters in discussions about the future of Pakistan following the assassination of former PM Benazir Bhutto.

The Methodist Church in Britain has pronounced A Word in Time, the online Bible study for daily life, launched at the beginning of September 2007, "hugely successful", and is extending the programme to reach a wider audience.

Methodism in Britain will focus its attention on Wales next month, as Cardiff hosts the annual Methodist Youth Conference from 16-18 November 2007 in the new Urdd Centre in the Bay area - where BBC TV series Doctor Who is based.

Britain's Methodists, who have suffered a decline in membership in recent years, along with other historic UK Christian denominations, will invest more in pioneer congregations under the 'Fresh Expressions' programme, the October Methodist council agreed.

The Methodist Church says it is relieved by the Gambling Commission’s prevalence study, which shows that the number of problem gamblers is the same as the previous study in 1999 and the number of people gambling is slightly lower.

As daily life gets more hectic and stressful, many find it difficult to make time for the spiritual dimension of life. Now they can log on to a new website and access A Word in Time, the Methodist Church’s new online daily Bible study, the denomination announced today.