Party leaders to address churches in election webcasts
-6/12/04
The leaders of the Conse
Party leaders to address churches in election webcasts
-6/12/04
The leaders of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are set to address Britainís churches in the run-up to the next General Election through a series of groundbreaking live webcasts being organised by the Christian social action movement, Faithworks.
The Faithworks Lectures will take place in February 2005 at Christ Church & Upton in central London and will see Michael Howard MP and Charles Kennedy MP address church leaders and individual Christians on the subject of what role the Church and other faith groups can play in encouraging trust within Britainís communities.
The lectures may prove controversial, as Michael Howard has recently come in for heavy criticism from churches over recent policy announcements on both asylum seekers and stem cell research.
The two leaders will address an invited audience and answer specific questions from those in attendance, as well as addressing the question, ìIs faith important for building trust in 21st Century Britain?î
It is also hoped that the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will also be able to deliver a Faithworks Lecture, but Faithworks is still awaiting confirmation of this.
Rev Steve Chalke MBE, Founder of Faithworks said; ìThis is the first time that political leaders in this country will address the Church directly through live webcast. In the run-up to the next General Election, the Faithworks Lectures provide leading politicians with a unique opportunity to engage with people of faith over the crucial issue of how we build trust within society. It is also an excellent opportunity for the Church to tell politicians that our faith works ñ that Christ brings purpose to our lives and motivates us to become trustworthy members of our communities.î
The Faithworks Lectures are part of the Faithworks Building Trust campaign, which aims to encourage churches, Christians and Christian organisations to model trustworthy behaviour as they engage with their local community. The campaign, launched in September 2004, features a nationwide tour of local churches along with a book by Faithworks Founder Steve Chalke, entitled Trust: A Radical Manifesto.
The lectures will be webcast live from the web site with the webcasts available for viewing up to six months after the event.
Churches and individual Christians are being encouraged to meet together to view the lectures from their nearest broadband connection.
Although attendance at the Faithworks Lectures is by invitation, a limited number of tickets are being made available to the general public. Anyone interested in attending either of the two Faithworks Lectures should contact Faithworks and state, in order of preference, which speaker they would like to hear.
Applications can be made online at www.faithworks.info/lectures, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 0207 450 9088.
The Faithworks Lectures will take place on the following dates:
? Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP, will deliver his Faithworks Lecture on Thursday 3rd February.
? Leader of the Conservative Party, Rt Hon Michael Howard QC MP, will deliver his Faithworks Lecture on Wednesday 23rd February.
Party leaders to address churches in election webcasts
-6/12/04
The leaders of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are set to address Britainís churches in the run-up to the next General Election through a series of groundbreaking live webcasts being organised by the Christian social action movement, Faithworks.
The Faithworks Lectures will take place in February 2005 at Christ Church & Upton in central London and will see Michael Howard MP and Charles Kennedy MP address church leaders and individual Christians on the subject of what role the Church and other faith groups can play in encouraging trust within Britainís communities.
The lectures may prove controversial, as Michael Howard has recently come in for heavy criticism from churches over recent policy announcements on both asylum seekers and stem cell research.
The two leaders will address an invited audience and answer specific questions from those in attendance, as well as addressing the question, ìIs faith important for building trust in 21st Century Britain?î
It is also hoped that the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will also be able to deliver a Faithworks Lecture, but Faithworks is still awaiting confirmation of this.
Rev Steve Chalke MBE, Founder of Faithworks said; ìThis is the first time that political leaders in this country will address the Church directly through live webcast. In the run-up to the next General Election, the Faithworks Lectures provide leading politicians with a unique opportunity to engage with people of faith over the crucial issue of how we build trust within society. It is also an excellent opportunity for the Church to tell politicians that our faith works ñ that Christ brings purpose to our lives and motivates us to become trustworthy members of our communities.î
The Faithworks Lectures are part of the Faithworks Building Trust campaign, which aims to encourage churches, Christians and Christian organisations to model trustworthy behaviour as they engage with their local community. The campaign, launched in September 2004, features a nationwide tour of local churches along with a book by Faithworks Founder Steve Chalke, entitled Trust: A Radical Manifesto.
The lectures will be webcast live from the web site with the webcasts available for viewing up to six months after the event.
Churches and individual Christians are being encouraged to meet together to view the lectures from their nearest broadband connection.
Although attendance at the Faithworks Lectures is by invitation, a limited number of tickets are being made available to the general public. Anyone interested in attending either of the two Faithworks Lectures should contact Faithworks and state, in order of preference, which speaker they would like to hear.
Applications can be made online at www.faithworks.info/lectures, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 0207 450 9088.
The Faithworks Lectures will take place on the following dates:
? Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP, will deliver his Faithworks Lecture on Thursday 3rd February.
? Leader of the Conservative Party, Rt Hon Michael Howard QC MP, will deliver his Faithworks Lecture on Wednesday 23rd February.