Churches Together in Britain and Ireland

church and public issues - archive

current issues

are concerned that the UK government has failed to live up to commitments The churches undertake work relating to a broad range of political, social and ethical issues. Here are some of the current topical issues, with details below:

Abortion and embryo research

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 received Royal Assent on 13 November 2008.
Full details of the bill are in the National Archives

Briefings

Dignitas Personae - Vatican document on bioethics:
Catholic Church in England and Wales

Briefing on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill from the Scottish Bishops for parishes:
Bishops warn of "scientific opportunism" behind embryo legislation

List of resources on stem cell research from CARE

News

1 July 2013
Catholic briefing - Clones and Three-Parent Babies: the Ethics of Mitochondrial Replacement

18 April 2013
Catholic Church urges support for 'One of Us' human embryo campaign

11 October 2012
Bishop Noel Treanor's response to the news of the opening of the Marie Stopes Clinic in Belfast

22 October 2007
Briefing paper on Abortion (PDF) prepared by the Joint Public Issues Team of the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches.

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Child protection

Catholic Church in England and Wales

Safeguarding: Annual Report 2012-13

Cumberlege Commission site with links to the report

Catholic Church in Scotland

November 2013
Scotland's Catholic Bishops announce range of safeguarding initiatives

Church of England

2013
The Church of England web page on Child Protection and Safeguarding includes the latest policy document from 2010 Protecting All God's Children, a May 2013 statement on safeguarding from the House of Bishops and the June 2013 policy draft on Safer Recruitment.
Church of England - Child Protection and Safeguarding

Churches Together in britain and Ireland

Time for Action
Sexual abuse, the churches and a new dawn for survivors

The 2002 report to Churches Together in Britain and Ireland of the group established to examine issues of sexual abuse. More

Methodist Church in Britain

2013
An extensive range of documents relating to safeguarding including The Methodist Safeguarding Handbook (with policies and procedures which came into effect on 1 January 2011), 10 Steps for Safer Recruitment (June 2013) and Safer Recruitment Policy (June 2013).
Methodist Church - Safeguarding

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Equality

Equality Bill

This bill was published on 27 April 2009. For more details see:
Government Equalities Office

Church of England - statement from Bishops

Methodist Church FAQ (PDF)

Quakers welcome government move on civil partnerships

Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which began operating in October 2007, undertook a consultation on its equality scheme, which is about how it will promote equality in everything it does. The results are now available:
EHRC website .

Faith communities and community cohesion

12 September 2008
Archbishop of York urges Government to recognise contribution of faith groups to community cohesion

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Gambling

Church of England

The Church of England is committed to working alongside people who are affected by gambling and is also active in making appropriate submissions on Government legislation. More

Methodist Church

1 July 2014
Methodist Conference Beckly Lecture 2014, Birmingham
Gambling: Sin, Vice or Legitimate Leisure Activity?
Philip Graf CBE, Chair of the Gambling Commission, will explore the ethical issues around gambling and whether gambling can be fair and safe for all.
Joint Public Issues Team

Methodist Church's current position on gambling

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Human Trafficking and Sexual Slavery

News

December 2014

Police and Church partner to combat human trafficking
Police chiefs, Church representatives from across the world and Home Office ministers are taking part in a conference in London, between 5-6 December, aimed at developing strategies to combat human trafficking. It will showcase and build on a joint police and Church initiative that has been running in London for the past three years. Training modules and good practice will be shared and developed.

It will be the second international conference of the Santa Marta Group, an alliance of international police chiefs and Bishops from around the world, working together with governments to eradicate human trafficking and provide pastoral care to victims. The group is led by Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, and Cardinal Nichols, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
Catholic Church in England and Wales

Faith leaders sign Global Freedom Network declaration on human slavery
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, joined Pope Francis and other world Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish leaders in Rome on 2 December to sign a historic declaration to end modern slavery.
Archbishop of Canterbury

November 2014

Anglican Communion consultation on anti-trafficking and slavery
Anglicans from across the Communion are gathering in Rome, from 3rd - 7th November 2014, to discuss their churches' work to end human trafficking and modern slavery. The group will reflect on the most effective approaches and agree on recommendations for a Communion-wide response. Churches, individuals and communities worldwide are invited to join a one-hour global webinar held on Thursday 6th November 2014 at 1pm GMT, which will share outcomes from the consultation and discuss the way forward.
Anglican Communion News Service
Archbishop of Canterbury sends message to consultation

October 2014

Church of Scotland supports campaign against human trafficking
The Church of Scotland has joined with 21 different denominations, networks and faith-based groups across the UK to campaign for action to prevent the crime of human trafficking in our local and global communities.
Church of Scotland

To be Silent is to be Unfaithful - resource from Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland has produced a resource pack containing information, discussion topics and worship material which can help individuals and groups to understand and respond to the issues of human trafficking.
Church of Scotland

August 2014

Freedom Sunday 2014
A large number of churches, ecumenical groups, and anti-slavery campaign groups have produced resources for Freedom Sunday, 19 October 2014. Help highlight the plight of the millions of children and adults around the world, including in this country, who are victims of modern forms of slavery and human trafficking.
Churches Together in England

June 2014

Archbishop Welby and Pope Francis recommit effort against slavery
Meeting in Rome, Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby have recommitted themselves to the struggle against modern slavery and human trafficking.
Archbishop of Canterbury

May 2014

British Black Churches back legislation to outlaw modern day slavery
The UK's African and Caribbean churches have committed themselves to join the struggle to expose and outlaw modern forms of slavery.
Churches Together in England

March 2014

WCC to consult on migration, human trafficking and modern slavery
A World Council of Churches (WCC) consultation, titled Migration and Human Trafficking: Modern Slavery? will bring together participants from Africa, the Arabian Gulf, Europe and Asia. It will be hosted in Colombo, Sri Lanka by the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCC-SL) from 4 to 7 April 2014.
World Council of Churches

Catholics, Anglicans and Muslims join together to end trafficking
Archbishop Justin Welby and Pope Francis are backing the Global Freedom Network, an initiative aimed at eradicating human trafficking by the end of the decade. The Global Freedom Network is an open association and the initial signatories to the founding declaration included Dr Mahmoud Azab, representing the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, one of the centres of Sunni Islam located in Cairo. Other faith leaders will be invited to join and support the initiative.
Archbishop of Canterbury
Vatican Radio

December 2013

Anti-slavery coalition calls for Modern Slavery Bill to be strengthened
A coalition of 15 organisations working against modern-day slavery, including the Salvation Army, has welcomed the Modern Slavery Bill but calls for it to be strengthened. A briefing paper has also been published.
Evangelical Alliance

Churches and organisations

Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS)

The ecumenical Anti-Human Trafficking Group of ACTS has produced two leaflets Human Trafficking: What are the indicators? and Human Trafficking: The Human Stories:
ACTS

Church of Scotland

November 2013
Speak Out against Human Trafficking - respond to consultation with Scottish Parliament

Human trafficking and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games (PDF)

Salvation Army

What the Salvation Army is doing.

Hope for Justice

An anti human trafficking organisation working to uncover and abolish the hidden crime of modern-day slavery, which is looking to partner with churches.

Hope for Justice

Stop the Traffik

Charity founded by Steve Chalke who has become a United Nations Special Advisor on Community Action Against Trafficking.

Stop the Traffik

Churches Regional Commission for Yorkshire and Humberside

"Look and see our disgrace!" A briefing paper on Human Trafficking, Nov 2007 (PDF)

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Law and Order

Alcohol

7 February 2014
Methodist Church responds to government alcohol announcement
The Methodist Church in Britain says that the government's plan to ban below-cost alcohol sales is "a pale reflection" of the Minimum Unit Pricing policy the government originally committed to.
Methodist Church in Britain

18 July 2013
Churches condemn u-turn on alcohol pricing
The Government has broken its pledge to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol say the Church of England, the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church, the Salvation Army and Quaker Action on Alcohol & Drugs.
Methodist Church

3 July 2013
The Salvation Army launches a new five year drugs and alcohol strategy for Scotland, to help communities around Scotland suffering the effects of drug and alcohol misuse.
Salvation Army

26 March 2012
Cautious welcome from the churches for Government action on alcohol pricing
Church of England

The Measure for Measure campaign asks people to write to their MPs on the issue:
Joint Public Issues Team

5 December 2008
The Church in Wales launched a joint campaign with the Police to curb binge drinking, called Alcohol Pledge Wales

Knife crime

Church response to social disorder linked to gangs, drugs, guns and knives published by Churches Together in England "Who is My Neighbour"

Hate crime

November 2012
Catholic Church in Scotland responds to Religious Hate Crime statistics

10 October 2012
Archbishop's statement to mark the beginning of Hate Crime Awareness Week

Religious Hatred and Religious Offence
29 January 2008
James Callaghan Memorial lecture by the Archbishop of Canterbury

Incitement to hatred on grounds of sexual orientation
Responses:
Church of England and Catholic Church in England and Wales

Provention of terrorism and protection of civil rights and liberties
Church of England position papers and statements

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Life issues

16 July 2014
Assisted Dying Bill: Archbishops signs faith leaders' statement
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, have joined over 20 British faith leaders against Lord Falconer's Assisted Dying Bill.
Archbishop of Canterbury
Catholic Church in England and Wales

3 July 2012
Catholic Church in England and Wales comment on the draft Assisted Dying Bill Consultation

5 January 2012
Church of England statement on report of Commission for Assisted Dying

7 September 2010
Scottish Episcopal Church College of Bishops submission on the End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill

20 November 2009
Response to the Director of Public Prosecutions' Consultation on the interim policy for prosecutors on assisted suicide

30 June 2009
Bishops' Conference response to GMC consultation on end of life care

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Mental Capacity Act, Living Wills and Assisted Dying

The Mental Capacity Act came into force on 1^st October 2007.

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Nuclear Weapons, drones and the Arms Trade

News

12 September 2014
Churches campaign for abolition of Trident ahead of Peacemaking Sunday
Baptists Together, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church are reiterating their call for the abolition of Trident. Spokesperson, Steve Hucklesby, commented 'The government's proposed spending on Trident - of £100 billion over the next 30 years - is out of step with the developing international consensus. It's clear that the enormous sums of money earmarked for Trident would divert resources from other pressing priorities, such as addressing poverty at home and overseas, providing affordable and energy efficient homes, and investing in health and education.
Methodist Church in Britain

9 July 2014
WCC calls on churches to work towards a 'nuclear free world'
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting churches to join in a coordinated international advocacy towards a ban on nuclear weapons 'in accordance with international humanitarian law and in fulfilment of existing international obligations'.
World Council of Churches

1 July 2014
Quakers reject recommendations of Trident Commission
Quakers in Britain says that it strongly disagrees with the conclusion of a report by the independent cross-party Trident Commission that the UK should retain its nuclear deterrent.
Quakers in Britain

30 April 2014
Church leaders pushing government to make progress on disarmament
Leaders of the Baptist Union, Methodist Church and United Reformed Church are concerned that the UK government has failed to live up to its commitments on disarmament and are pushing the government to make progress at the Non Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meeting in New York this week.
Methodist Church in Britain

3 April 2014
Leaders of the Methodist Church in Britain have welcomed the UK Government's ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty saying it is a "legal milestone that should help to protect those who are abused and oppressed".
Methodist Church in Britain

7 February 2014
The United Reformed Church calls for government action in the light of arms fair trial. "The URC endorses the suggestion by former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, that the trial next week of the five Christians who staged a non-violent protest at the London arms fair should spark a public debate about the UK's support for the arms trade".
United Reformed Church

December 2013

Pope's World Day of Peace message appeals for disarmament
Pope Francis called for a culture of fraternity to take us further down the pathway to peace, saying "I make my own the appeal of my predecessors for the non-proliferation of arms and for disarmament of all parties, beginning with nuclear and chemical weapons disarmament."
Catholic Church in England and Wales

5 October 2010
The Union of Welsh Independent Churches calls on the coalition government to face economic reality and cut back on unnecessary defence expenditure and abandon weapons schemes, such as the update to Trident.
Union of Welsh Independents

5 March 2010
Welsh church leaders join campaign for nuclear weapon ban:
The Church in Wales

29 June 2009
Bishops' Conference of Scotland:
Cardinal calls Trident "immoral"

3 December 2008
World Council of Churches:
Comment on signing of Cluster Munitions Convention

Nuclear weapons

Better Off Without Trident
Campaign by the Methodist Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the United Reformed Church which calls on the Government not to spend £26 billion of tax payers' money on replacing the country's nuclear submarines.
Joint Public Issues Team

Now is the Time
Campaign calling for a nuclear weapons convention that would make the possession of nuclear weapons illegal and a new treaty to ensure that all fissile material is brought under international control. Supported by the Baptist Union of Great Britain, Catholic Church of England and Wales, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Church in Wales, the Methodist Church, the Religious Society of Friends and the United Reformed Church.
Now is the Time website

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland produced a briefing in 2006 to add to the public debate on the future of the UK nuclear weapons programme. It does not promote a particular position or seek to represent the views of all member churches.
Trident: UK nuclear weapons at a crossroads (PDF)

Drones

February 2014

Use of armed drones condemned by World Council of Churches (WCC)
Armed drones pose "serious threats to humanity" and the "right to life" while setting "dangerous precedents in inter-state relations" says the WCC.
World Council of Churches

September 2013

Evidence to a Defence Committee inquiry on the UK's use of Drones has been submitted by the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) of the Methodist Church, The United Reformed Church and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. It builds on the research previously undertaken for the Churches joint report Drones: Ethical Dilemmas in the Application of Military Force.
Defence Committee inquiry
JPIT report

July 2012

Church argues for Just War ethics in drone attacks
Methodist Church

June 2011

Military drones are unwelcome in Wales says Union of Welsh Independents
Union of Welsh Independents

Campaign Against the Arms Trade

The Campaign Against the Arms Trade has a Christian Network formed in 1989 to bring to the attention of national churches and Christian organisations, the immorality of the arms trade. CAAT holds regular events and meetings .

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Politics

The Church of England is represented in Parliament in several ways with the 26 most senior English archbishops and bishops sitting in the House of Lords as 'Lords Spiritual'.
The Church of England in Parliament

The Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) of the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Church look at issues relating to politics and the Church.
Joint Public Issues Team

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