News

Chinese and European leaders explore changing church-state relations

The rapidly changing relationship between religion and state and the challenge of multiple identities were the foci of a lively dialogue between ten Chinese and nine European scholars and religious leaders representing Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and traditional Chinese religions held in Sweden, 3-6 October.

Former bowling alley sees its lanes turn into church aisles

A former Hollywood Bowl bowling alley has seen its well-used lanes become the aisles of a new black-led church in east London.

CSW welcomes Foreign Secretary's condemnation of Iran apostasy bill

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has condemned a draft bill currently making its way through the Iranian Parliament, which would codify the death penalty for apostasy.

Major shift in faith voters towards Obama, survey finds

Not only is Senator Barack Obama ahead in general national polls, but a new survey finds that the Democratic presidential candidate has made significant inroads among faith voters.

Michael W Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman prepare to kick off historic tour

Award-winning and multi-Platinum-selling artists Michael W Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman will kick off their historic joint tour Thursday with plans to hit 19 cities through early November.

Bishop and vicars ready to welcome brides-to-be at National Wedding Show

A team of vicars led by the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, is set to welcome thousands of brides-to-be this weekend at the National Wedding Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

Millions to tell world leaders: 'End poverty now'

Millions of people from every continent are expected to take action against poverty from 17 - 19 October 2008 to demand that their leaders act to end poverty and to meet and exceed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Catholic girls' school latest casualty of violence in Pakistan

A Catholic-run girls' school in Swat, North-West Frontier Province, was bombed on Tuesday by Pakistani Taliban.

Three Iraqi Christians killed in 24 hours

Three Christians in the northern city of Mosul, Iraq, were killed within the short span of 24 hours on Tuesday, an Iraqi news agency reported.

Lutherans seek to strengthen church role in social services

A global consultation on diakonia organised by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for Mission and Development (DMD) will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 13-17 October 2008, hosted by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus.

Church in Wales to launch new children's Advent book

Children will learn about the events leading up to the birth of Jesus in a new book being launched this week.

Campaigners meet MPs on refused asylum seeker policy

Two Church Action on Poverty supporters from Manchester have been meeting with MPs, in the second week of their fortnight-long protest camp outside the Houses of Parliament in London. They are asking MPs to help change UK policies they say are making refused asylum-seekers destitute.