1. The death of Kayla Mueller
The young US aid worker was killed while a captive of Islamic State militants in Syria, allegedly by a Jordanian air strike. Friends paid tribute to her kindness and generosity, while US president Barack Obama also offered a tribute and admitted that she was one of the hostages commandos had tried to rescue some months ago. Later reports indicated that she might have been forced to 'marry' one of her captors, but this has not been confirmed. A moving letter she had written to her parents was released in which she expressed her love for her family and friends, and her faith in God. Another innocent victim: but it is not to denigrate her life or death to point out that there are thousands of others whose lives are equally valuable and whose names we do not know.
2. Iraq archbishop warns of the extinction of Middle Eastern Christianity
Most Rev Bashar Warda, on a visit to the UK, said that both as a religion and as a culture, Christianity is at risk in the Middle East. He speaks from personal experience as his archdiocese includes Erbil, where refugees from Islamic State have gathered in large numbers. Speaking before the General Synod of the Church of England, he said: "We are personally affected by the need and by the reality that our vibrant Church life is dissolving in front of our eyes. The massive immigration that is now occurring is leaving my Church and other Churches much weaker. This is a deeply sorrowful reality."
3. Controversial pro-Palestinian vicar asks the wrong question
Rev Stephen Sizer has been banned from writing, preaching, teaching, emailing, tweeting, posting on Facebook or commenting in any way about the current situation in the Middle East. He has also been banned from doing anything at all on any social media for six months. He will instead now concentrate on his ministry as a parish priest.
The ruling by his diocese came after he posted a link on his Facebook page to an article entitled "9-11/Israel did it". He asked online: "Is this anti-Semitic?.. It raises so many questions." A foolish link to an absurd article has permanently damaged the credibility of someone who sometimes raised important questions.
4. 'Fresh expressions' will not rescue the Church
New forms of church gathering will not solve the problem of declining numbers of churchgoers, according to research carried out in the Diocese of Canterbury. A study by the Rev Dr John Walker claims to show that the innovative evangelistic and church-planting methods into which the Church of England and Methodist Churches have poured resources over the last few years are no more effective than more traditional approaches in overall evangelistic effect, though they might attract different people. He argues for a mixed economy in which fresh expressions – like pub churches, Messy Church and home meetings – work alongside ordinary parish churches. Some justification for those who never felt they were entirely wasting their time on Sunday mornings.
5. British religion will be Islam and black majority churches
A leading expert in religious trends says that the future of religion for white British people is bleak. Leaders who can inspire and build congregations are few and far between. "Most ordained ministers are good, well meaning people with the leadership ability of bank managers," says Professor David Voas, who specialises in population studies at Essex University. Statistics show that Islam and newer forms of Christianity are overhauling the Church of England as white Britons lose their taste for worship.
A good week for:
The world's oldest Methodist chapel, which has secured a massive £3.9 million funding package for redevelopment. Much of the money for Bristol's New Room is from the Heritage Lottery Fund, on the other hand; Methodists from earlier generations are turning in their graves.
A bad week for:
The yoga group at St Michael and All Angels in Bristol, who have been evicted on the grounds that yoga is unChristian.
The story you might not have read, but ought to know about:
Bishop Cosmas Shi Enxiang of Yixian, who spent half his life, including the last 14 years, in prison for his faith, has died at the age of 94. One of the age's unsung martyrs.
And one for pure enjoyment:
A mummified monk discovered after two centuries isn't actually dead, he's just meditating deeply. Very, very deeply.
