Key Quotes - Church

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Last update: Wednesday 25th March




Catholics were urged to protect the “true meaning” of matrimony yesterday as the Church steps up its campaign against government plans for gay marriage. A letter from two senior Archbishops was read in 2500 churches during the Mass, arguing that the change would reduce the significance of marriage to just the commitment of the two people involved, without recognising the intention of procreation and the education of children
Church	The Sentinel – 12 March 2012



In it’s submission to the House of Bishops review group on civil partnerships (made public on 2 February) the LGBT Anglican Coalition called on the Church of England to allow churches to register civil partnerships, to authorise blessing services and to end it’s ban on bishops entering civil partnerships. The paper states: “As social attitudes towards those in same-sex relationships have become increasingly open and accepting, the Church of England is becoming increasingly isolated. This is in turn damaging both our mission and our ability to provide pastoral care to those in our parishes, congregations and clergy.”
Church	Reform – March 2012



Devout Christian, Euan Murray, has questioned the need for Rugby World Cup matches to be played on Sundays. The Glasgow-born prop, 31, choose to prioritise his faith and missed Scotland’s Pool B clash with Argentina on a Sunday during the World Cup. ‘I don’t see why there have to be games on Sundays,’ said Murray. ‘I hope things will change in future.’ Back in 2008, Murray did play on a Sunday when Scotland took on France in the Six Nations. But, after his faith deepened, he announced a year later that he would no longer be available for selection on Sundays.
Church	Day One Magazine, February to May 2012



The Christian Growth Index, published in December, shows that more than half of people who made a decision for Jesus over the internet have subsequently shared their faith with others. Of the more than 100,000 people surveyed around the world, 51% said they shared their faith three times or more and 37% said they shared their faith at least once or twice. The study indicates that ‘online evangelism and discipleship is truly measurable and effective.’
Church	Evangelicals Now, February 2012



The comedian Jo Brand is backing a new Church of England website to help people to find a Christmas service near them. Services will be listed by many of the CofE’s 16,000 places of worship. Ms Brand said that she was ‘not really a churchy person’ but that services could be ‘a great attraction for families at Christmas-time’.
Church	Salvationist, 17 December 2011



Premier footballer Anton Ferdinand is planning to start a prayer group at his new club Queens Park Rangers, it was reported in October. He said: ‘I’m a Christian, I have faith in the Lord… At Sunderland we had a group who prayed. There was me, Kieran Richardson, Stephane Sessegnon, Asamoah Gyan, John Mensah, Nedum Onuoha. Hopefully I will start building that here’. He also described his faith as ‘one of the best things that has ever happened to me’.
Church	Evangelicals Now - December 2011



According to Operation World, in a population of 177 million people, 96% of whom are Muslims, there are just over one million evangelical Christians in Pakistan and that figure is increasing with an annual growth of some 3.3%.
Church	Evangelicals Now - December 2011



The row over the anti-capitalist protest outside St Paul’s Cathedral has claimed another victim. The Dean, the Right Reverend Graeme Knowles, resigned saying his position was “untenable” following criticism. His departure follows those of Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Giles Fraser and part-time chaplain Fraser Dyer. The dean made the initial announcement that the London cathedral had closed its doors for the first time since the Second World War because of fears over health and safety.
Church	The Sentinel - November 1 2011



46% of the polled members of dating website Christian Connection said that their church leader’s advice on relationships and singleness is ‘quite unhelpful – unrealistic or impersonal or simply lacking’ and a further 20% said the guidance is not relevant or helpful to their situation. More than 80% of Christian Connection members said that their church did not put on anything for single people, or did not recognise or affirm them at all. Only 2% said that there was plenty of encouragement, support, and special programmes.
Church	Christianity September 2011



A Barna Group survey published in July showed that most Americans still think that churches are assets to the communities around them. The nationwide study shows that three-quarters of US adults believe that the presence of a church is ‘very’ (53%) or ‘somewhat’ (25%) positive for its community. In contrast, just 5% believe that churches are a somewhat or very negative presence. About one out of six adults (17%) are indifferent towards the role of churches.
Church	Evangelicals Now September 2011



Following the Anglican Synod’s gloomy forecast in July, of its demise in the next 20 years, other records may indicate a less ominous future. The Archbishop’s Council’s Research and Statistics Unit show that more than 26% of those who worship within the Church of England has steadily grown by a total of 37%, which is about 4% on average each year.
Church	Evangelicals Now September 2011



The Vatican reported a budget surplice for the first time in four years in 2010, but said contributions from Catholics and dioceses around the world had gone down…Worldwide giving to the Pope decreased in 2010, the statement said. Peter’s Pence collected £42.8 million, compared to £2.1 million in 2009. The contributions of dioceses amounted to about £17.3 million, compared to £20 million the previous year. The Holy See, which depends largely on investments for its annual income, had income of about £205 million and expenses of about £196.5 million. Vatican City State had income of about £213.5 million and expenses of about £196 million.
Church	Salvationist 23 July 2011



The Church of England has voted to tackle claims of a “pale, male and stale” leadership with a new campaign to recruit more ethnic minority people. Members of the General Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of positive action to recruit ethnic minority clergy into the church’s leadership. The move came after a report by the Venerable Daniel Kajumba, archdeacon of Reigate, showed only 1.1 per cent of bishops, archdeacons and cathedral deans posts are filled by ethnic minorities. This was in spite of congregations of up to 90 per cent ethnic minorities in inner cities.
Church	The Sentinel July 12 2011



The increasing age of congregations means the Church of England may cease to exist in two decades, according to a report at the General Synod in York. Revd Dr Patrick Richmond said that the average age of members is now 61, and in just ten years ‘some extrapolations’ show the Church may not be ‘functionally extant.’ In other developments at the Synod, the Church voted to ‘take note’ of a proposal for ‘covenanted partnerships’ with Methodist churches, to reject a rise in the price of weddings and funerals, and to recruit more ethnic minority clergy into church leadership. It was also proposed that the Church might benefit by awarding its own degrees in the future, in training clergy.
Church	Bible Society Newswatch - 15th July 2011



According to Tearfund’s statistics, 28% of our neighbours are people who have left church and now want nothing more to do with it. 32% are anti-church, having never been part of a church and never want to. However, 3% were identified as willing to come along to church if they were asked.
Church	Christianity July 2011

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