After a turbulent year, Church leaders to see in 2021 with week of prayer

After a turbulent 2020, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Karen Gibson, of Kingdom Choir, will be teaming up to lead a special week of prayer to see in the New Year.

'Declaration' is the initiative of Tearfund and will air on Christian TV channel TBN from 3 to 9 January 2021. 

Other special guests at Declaration include Bishop John Francis, founder of Ruach City Church, 24/7 Prayer co-founder Pete Greig, and Pastor Agu Irukwu, Chair of RCCG UK, who will join Gibson and Archbishop Justin Welby in a televised discussion about race. 

Pastor Irukwu said: "I'm looking forward to being part of a round table debate with the Archbishop and others to explore justice, race and healing.

"I hope all our communities join us for this week of prayer and begin the year renewed and reawakened."

Archbishop Welby said the events of 2020 had brought race issues to the fore. 

"This year longstanding racial injustice has been brought again to our attention as a sin demanding our repentance and urgent action," he said. 

"I'm honoured to be supporting Declaration's week of prayer and I'm looking forward to a courageous discussion exploring how we as the Church can become more deeply transformed into a truly Jesus-shaped community."

'Declaration' coincides with what is traditionally significant time in the black majority Church, when churches would normally come together to ring in the New Year with prayer, worship and celebration followed by a week of corporate prayer and fasting.

Seth Pinnock, head of African and Caribbean engagement at Tearfund said: "I can see no better way to start 2021 than by taking part in Declaration week to give your new year a head start.

"My hope is as people gather in their living rooms over the seven days they'll have something of an upper room encounter, transformed by what they've experienced. Prayer is powerful, prayer changes things."

Declaration will air on TBN at 8-9pm from 3 to 9 January. Each day will have a different theme, from 'Justice and Restoration', to 'Women' and 'Youth'. 

For more information visit https://www.tearfund.org/campaigns/declaration

News
Major UK supermarket clothing brands fall behind Primark in ethical fashion rankings
Major UK supermarket clothing brands fall behind Primark in ethical fashion rankings

BMS said that even the highest-rated companies have considerable room for improvement.

Fresh violence in Manipur leaves four dead as security is tightened
Fresh violence in Manipur leaves four dead as security is tightened

Security forces have stepped up operations in affected areas amid fears of further unrest.

Church of England faces ‘financial disaster’ without radical cuts, academics warn
Church of England faces ‘financial disaster’ without radical cuts, academics warn

A new report argues that dioceses have been strengthened at the expense of ordinary parishes.

Southwell Minster faces closure amid £20m funding crisis
Southwell Minster faces closure amid £20m funding crisis

Southwell Minster is seeking urgent financial support to keep its doors open after decades of underinvestment that has left it needing around £20m to safeguard its historic building and grounds.