NEWS
Prison Reform Trust - their latest briefing
Each season The Prison Reform Trust publish a bulletin outlining the state and statistics in British prisons. They are a registered independent charity and their mission is to work to create a just, humane and effective penal system. They do this by inquiring into the workings of the system; informing prisoners, staff and the wider public and by influencing Parliament, government and officials towards reform.
The Prison Reform Trust's main objectives are: reducing unnecessary imprisonment and promoting community solutions to crime; improving treatment and conditions for prisoners and their families; promoting equality and human rights in the justice system. You can read their latest news here. The independent nature of the work they do means they can dig deep into the issues and policies affecting those serving prison sentences.
You can read the winter report (Bromley Briefing) in full here, but here is a statement from the latest report which show some of the issues facing the sector and the prison population this season:…
“More than any other factor, it is the increase in sentence lengths
and time actually spent in custody which has created a prison population that already exceeds the available decent accommodation by around 8,000 spaces.“
It is a complex picture and one that will need advocacy and support from many in the criminal justice system. Wondering what you can do in your church? Well, one way you could help is by registering your church as part of The Welcome Directory - whose mission is “Helping faith communities welcome people who are leaving prison.”
Join with us as we pray (Prisons Week Prayer)…
Lord, you offer freedom to all people. We pray for those in prison. Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist. Support with your love prisoners and their families and friends, prison staff and all who care. Heal those who have been wounded by the actions of others, especially the victims of crime. Help us to forgive one another, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ in his strength and in his Spirit, now and every day. Amen.
(photo courtesy of Matthew Ansley at Unsplash)
The Congregational Federation is proud to announce the holding of its first Summer School on 28-30 August 2020
The Congregational Federation (CF) is a federation of independent or Congregational churches formed in 1972 with the object of the advancement of the Christian faith, and with churches directly affiliated to it from England, Scotland and Wales. We are also part of the International Congregational Fellowship.
The aim of this Summer School is both to encourage and to challenge Christians to play our part, especially as Congregational churches, within the broader non-conformist tradition in the public life of the UK today. We will explore our distinctive values, perspectives and principles, reminding ourselves of our call to radical discipleship under Jesus.
The Summer School will immediately appeal to those in any of the non-conformist church traditions but it is open to anyone who believes that Christians and churches should have an impact on the structures and policies of society as well as getting involved at a local level to support disadvantaged people and those suffering injustices.
For information about the Summer School, the presenters and the venue follow this link here.
The weekend will involve a mix of plenary sessions, presented by people with experience and expertise in different aspects of Christian dissent, and interactive, workshop type sessions, led by equally experienced scholar-practitioners.
The venue for the Summer School is the iconic grade 2 listed National Justice Museum in the heart of Nottingham. The cost for delegates is £200 per person, which includes buffet lunches and evening meals, plus a guided tour of the National Justice Museum.
Places should be booked by 31 July 2020, and the first 30 places will attract an early-bird discount of £50.
The particular issues to be explored include the following:
What Are the Distinctives of a Christian Non-Conformist Voice in Public Life?
Challenging ‘Empire’ is a Non-Conformist Church’s Responsibility
Significant Historical Congregationalists with an Ongoing Influence Today
Reading the Bible as Non-Conformists
The Importance of a Congregational Voice in the UK Today
The following academic experts and practitioners are our presenters:
Professor Anthony Reddie
Professor Reddie is the editor of Black Theology: An International Journal. In 2015 he was appointed Professor Extraordinarius in the Department of Philosophy, practical and Systematic Theology at the University of South Africa. He is also the Director of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Culture and a trustee of the British and Irish Association for Practical Theology.
His latest book is Theologizing Brexit: A Liberationist and Postcolonial Critique, the first intercultural and postcolonial exploration of the Brexit phenomenon.
Rev Dr Ann Jeffers
Dr Jeffers is a Research Fellow at Roehampton University, and formerly a Director of Research at Heythrop College, University of London. She is also a Tutor on the Congregational Federation’s ministerial training course. She is the co-editor of a textbook on Gender and Religion and has contributed to The Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception and to Oxford Biblical Studies Online.
Rev Dr Alan Argent
Dr Argent is Research Fellow at Dr Williams's Library, London, and is a significant expert in the Non-Conformist and dissenting Christian traditions with several important books published on this, including the major work, The Transformation of Congregationalism 1900 - 2000. He is the Minister of Trinity Congregational Church, Brixton and a Tutor on the Congregational Federation’s ministerial training course.
Rev Suzanne Nockels
Rev Nockels is the President Elect of the Congregational Federation and the Minister of two Congregational churches in Sheffield. She has a Masters’ degree in Mission (Pioneering) and is a Tutor on the Congregational Federation’s ministerial training course with a particular interest in fresh expressions of church.
Rev Dr Julian Gotobed
Dr Gotobed is a Senior Lecturer in Ministerial Theology at the University of Roehampton. He is a member of the Research Group in Theology, Religion and Practice, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He has published several important articles including one on Martin Luther King Jr, entitled Rediscovering Justice. He is also an Accredited Minister in the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
Rev Dr Graham Adams
Dr Adams is a tutor at Northern College and one of the ecumenical staff team within Luther King House. He is programme leader for their MA and teaches Mission Studies in the context of global Christianity and religious diversity and dialogue. He is the author of Christ and the Other and is a Tutor on the Congregational Federation’s ministerial training course.
For further details and information about booking on the Summer School please contact the administrator at: madeleine.varley@congregational.org.uk. Or telephone: 0115 911 1460.
This press release is available to download here.
A day of prayer across the planet - for students
This Sunday (16th Feb) marks a day of prayer across the world! The Universal Day of Prayer for Students (UDPS) is co-ordinated by the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF)
It has been celebrated since 1898, making it one of the oldest ecumenical days of prayer. Join us and many others across the earth as we pray together for students… The Student Christian Movement (SCM), who have been active members of the FCG Higher Education Working Group, says… “We invite all our members and friends to unite in prayer for the world, the church and students on 16th February 2020.” SCM has produced a resource toolkit for 2020 that can be used by churches, student groups and individuals. You can download a copy of the 2020 Student Sunday resources here. The theme this year is Known By Name.
Here is one of the prayers from the SCM Known By Name toolkit for 2020
The Welcome Directory has a new website!
The Welcome Directory has a simple yet powerful vision: to help faith communities become places where people who leave prison find acceptance. A place to belong that not only nurtures faith but also offers appropriate practical support.
They have just launched an exciting and informative new website which you can check out HERE.
People are at the very heart of the vital work that The Welcome Directory do! … people who have found the benefits of being part of a faith community whether inside or outside the prison gates. If nothing else, we hope that engaging with The Welcome Directory will help you to understand that in a deeper way; that those leaving prison have a name, a story as well as hopes and dreams for their lives beyond the prison gate.
You can register for the newsletter - why not sign up here?
(photo courtesy of Daniel Weiss at Unsplash)
Briefing on the Schools Curriculum for Wales 2022
Cytûn, Churches Together in Wales, has shared a briefing, developed in partnership with others, on the Schools Curriculum for Wales 2022 - the Welsh Government published its new Curriculum for Wales to be introduced in schools from September 2022 and Cytûn has provided representation for faith communities throughout the process of preparing this curriculum.
They have done this by being part of the Curriculum Strategic Stakeholders’ Group (representing the Faith Communities Forum), the Education strand of the Third Sector Partnership Council (representing the Inter-faith Council for Wales), by many direct meetings with Welsh Government officials (some jointly with the Free Church Council for Wales, the Church in Wales, the Catholic Education Service and/or Welsh Humanists), by convening an inter-faith meeting with the Education Minister to discuss Relationships and Sexuality Education, and most recently by membership of the Faith/BME Community Involvement Group.
You can download the briefing paper and find out more about the work of Cytûn HERE
(photo courtesy of Kari Shea at Unsplash)