Staff writer

Top Christian academic appointed knight in New Year Honours
Professor Iain Torrance, a former Moderator of the Church of Scotland, has been honoured for his service to the Church, theological education, interfaith dialogue, the British Army and work to combat homophobia.
The UK's Archbishop Angaelos, Egypt's Muslim leader and more join in condemning Egypt church terror attack
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb, warned that such attacks threatened national unity in Egypt. He called on all Muslims to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ

How to pray for persecuted Christians in 2018
Release International, which campaigns for persecuted Christians worldwide, has highlighted China, Nigeria and India as 'countries of concern' in 2018.

Church of Scotland has launched its own tartan
Tartans were traditionally associated with different regions in Scotland, but patterns were assigned to specific clans and institutions in the 19th century.

Pastor's son accidentally shoots dead his cousin
A pastor's teenage son has accidentally shot and killed his younger cousin while they were searching for intruders at the church attached to his home.

Christians murdered in Nigeria's Kaduna state over Christmas
Fulani herdsmen have launched two attacks on Christian worshippers in Nigeria's Kaduna State in the Christmas period.

Obama and Prince Harry: Former President warns against misuse of social media
He warned against the harmful effect of social media in which people were increasingly split into hostile tribes.

Warnings over new relationships education that will teach British school children about transgender issues
The lessons will address sex, sexual health, and LGBT issues, including transgenderism.

Why do Matthew and Luke have different Nativity stories?
Two of the four Gospels don't feature the story of Jesus' birth at all. Mark and John jump straight into his baptism and ministry without reference to how or where he was born

Christmas tension? How families can survive Christmas and still be friends
One of the most difficult things about Christmas for many people â couples in particular â is the need to balance the expectations of different parts of the family.

Iraqi Christians prepare for first Christmas back home in Qaraqosh
Christian families in Iraq are preparing to spend their first Christmas at home after returning to their homes following ISIS' retreat.

Rebuilding Iraq, one house at a time
A Christian charity working in Iraq is helping refugees returning to their ruined homes begin a new life there.

India's Christians under pressure at Christmas as tensions rise
India's Christians are losing confidence in the government following an increase in tensions leading up to Christmas, according to the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference there.

Christmas in England: You're just a mile from an Anglican service, Church says
The average person in England is less than a mile away from a service at their local Anglican church this Christmas, according to the Church of England.

Christian lands in Jerusalem could be confiscated, warn UK Church leaders
Church leaders from across the UK have rallied around the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III in his campaign against a bill making its way through Israel's parliament.

National Secular Society accuses the BBC of running a 'PR exercise for the Church of England' â and it backfired
The National Secular Society is accusing the BBC of running a 'PR exercise for the Church of England' by broadcasting its Today programme from Lambeth Palace earlier this month.