NEWS
Religious Education Matters
The FCG, through the Education Team, has had active representation on the RE Council of England and Wales for many years.
The RE Council says: “The ability to understand the faith or belief of individuals and communities, and how these may shape their culture and behaviour, is an invaluable asset for children in modern day Britain. Explaining religious and non-religious worldviews in an academic way allows young people to engage with the complexities of belief, avoid stereotyping and contribute to an informed debate.”
You can find out more about the work of the RE Council and register for its newsletter at the bottom of this page linked HERE.
There are lots of interesting debates, resources and links from across the worlds’ religions in each newsletter. One of those recently featured is from Barnabas in Schools. You may find these materials featuring ideas and worksheets from Christianity Around the World interesting.
You can read more about the Barnabas in Schools resources HERE.
Photo courtesy of Ant Rozetsky at Unsplash
"Top 100 Charity!"
The Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) is a national charity that provides support to prisoners, people with convictions, and their families. A few years ago, I had the benefit of attending a Pact course entitled The Hidden Sentence; Pact developed the course and named it based on a phrase that they have so often heard from prisoners’ families as a description of how their lives can feel - The Hidden Sentence. It was challenging and inspiring to be part of this training and I am so pleased to see that Pact are going from strength to strength in their work! They have just been ranked as one of the best charities to work for. Congratulations from all at FCG! Pact has a long history of serving prisoners, families and communities and was established by Christians over 120 years ago!
Pact says: “We are proud to announce that Pact has been ranked as one of the top 100 best not-for-profit organisations to work for in the UK for the second time! We are absolutely delighted to see that we have risen 24 places to 55th in The Sunday Times list. We would like to say a huge thank you to all staff who took part in the Best Companies B-Heard survey and thank them for their fantastic feedback. We will be looking at all of the results carefully so that we can continue developing Pact as a great place to work. Pact CEO, Andy Keen-Downs said to our staff: You have told us that you work for Pact for the very best of reasons. You’ve said that your work really matters to you – that it’s not just a job - it’s part of your life, and you are here because you share our values. We do work that most people in Society would never dream of attempting. We have a uniquely values-driven, passionate, brave and determined workforce. That’s why we keep growing and improving. That’s why we are a Top 100 charity.”
Pact support people to make a fresh start, and minimise the harm that can be caused by imprisonment to people who have committed offences, to families and to communities.
What Pact do:
Build stronger families and safer communities.
Reduce risk of harm to prisoners and their children.
Remove barriers and increase awareness in public services.
Influence commissioning, policy and legislation.
Please pray with us the work of Pact, their staff, volunteers and services to be upheld and supported!
You can read more about the wider work which FCG do to support ministry in prisons HERE
Revd Sara Iles, FCG
Photo by Ethan Hoover, from Unsplash
Happy 40th birthday to Prison Fellowship!
It’s said that life begins at 40. Yet, thanks to God’s faithfulness, PF has already achieved so much in the transformation of prisoners’ lives since they were founded by Sylvia Mary Alison in 1979.
Join them and their special guests on the afternoon of Saturday 30th March at Westminster Chapel, London to celebrate the past 40 years, and look forward with anticipation to the future of our ministry to prisoners in England and Wales.
Register your attendance through our Eventbrite page. This is a free un-ticketed event, but registering will help them to plan how much cake to buy!
Find out more about the event and the contributors who will be part of it here.
Revd Bob Wilson SECRETARY FOR PRISON CHAPLAINCY AND FREE CHURCHES FAITH ADVISER will be there along with many other friends of PF and fellow workers.
“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison.”— Hebrews 13:3
Photo by Jason Leung @ Unsplash
Every school a prayed-for school
The Free Churches Group has been an active partner with Pray for Schools for many years.
The Steering Group of Pray for Schools met earlier in March to pray for and plan for how to engage even more churches in praying for our schools.
Does your church pray for the local schools?
Would you like to find out more? Check out the latest events, resources and news HERE.
Pray for Schools Fortnight is coming up soon - 16-29 May. Find out more and how to get involved HERE.
The steering group is made up of many Christian groups who are involved in education, some of whom are featured in the photo from our latest meeting, which includes partners/guests from:
You can read more about the work that FCG are doing in the field of education HERE.
Are you a chaplain working in FE in the West Midlands?
Then this event is for you!
If you’re a chaplain working in an FE college in the West Midlands region, you’re invited to join a conference on Wednesday 15 May at the Priory Rooms, Birmingham! The day includes contributions from Prof. Trevor Cooling (on spiritual development in secular settings), Garry Neave (on the current state of FE chaplaincy), stories from chaplains around the region, and plenty of scope to share ideas and good practice. The conference is organised by Phil Metcalf, WM regional FE chaplaincy ambassador (a three year ecumenically funded role*), and the WM Churches’ FE Council.
You can find out more information and book your place HERE.
The Free Churches Group are committed to developing and enhancing our member churches’ capability to engage with the local FE sector - you can read more about this work HERE.
Please join with us as we continue to pray for the staff and students in our FE sector, particularly our FE chaplains.
Let us pray.
Living God, we pray for students, tutors and support staff in the further education establishments in our area. May students be filled with strength, determination and wisdom to fulfill their potential in their vocational and academic studies.
In the name of Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
You can download and share a helpful little flyer for your church about churches and FE HERE