Religion

“Because of the ambiguity about the place of sexual activity within civil partnerships of both sorts, and the church’s teaching that marriage between a man and a woman is the proper context for sexual intercourse, we do not believe it is possible for the church unconditionally to accept civil partnerships as unequivocally reflecting the teaching of the church.” … [Read more...] about Sex is for married heterosexual couples only, says Church of England

Stott, radical in his conservatism, could not be pigeonholed. He was deeply committed to the need for social, economic and political justice and passionately concerned about climate change and ecological ethics. He regarded the Bible as his supreme authority and related its teaching to all areas of knowledge and experience. He insisted that Christians should engage in "double listening" – to the word of God, and to the world around them – and apply their biblical faith to all the pressing issues of contemporary culture. He himself researched, preached and wrote on a wide range of matters – from global debt to global warming, from the duties of the state to medical ethics and euthanasia. This was the kind of evangelicalism he embodied. … [Read more...] about The Rev John Stott obituary

Like many southern preachers, Falwell opposed black civil rights; in 1965 he told his congregation he would find it impossible to preach the pure gospel and still participate in such reforms, and that integration would mean the destruction of the white race. But in later years he was not above massaging the date of his conversion, saying he had first baptised a black family "probably" in 1960, whereas the parish records showed it had not happened until 1971. To the last, he blended his life's work of saving souls with political activism. He recently preached a sermon on global warming, in which he dismissed the issue as "hocus pocus", a satanic plot to distract Christians from the more important work of spreading the gospel. … [Read more...] about The Rev Jerry Falwell

Sarah Mullally, the bishop of London, said: “We live in an age of rapid social change affecting all aspects of life – right down to people’s working patterns and how they spend their weekends. It is really striking to see how churches are responding and evolving in the face of that. … [Read more...] about Attendance at Church of England’s Sunday services falls again

On the issue of sexuality, which has divided the Church of England and the global Anglican communion for two decades, Dorgu said he stood firmly behind the church’s official position. The church refuses to conduct same-sex church weddings on the traditional biblical grounds that marriage is between a man and a woman, and its insistence that gay clergy must be celibate. … [Read more...] about Church of England appoints first black bishop in 20 years