Articles that have appeared on the Evangelical Alliance UK front page

Gather: the conference – are you coming?
There are a growing number of unity movements that have been formed in towns and cities across the UK over the last few years. Founded on prayer and friendship among leaders and churches they are resulting in some very exciting mission initiatives. Gather is a collaboration of these movements and in February its first-ever conference will be held in Derbyshire.
Bishop’s amendment defeats government’s £26k benefit cap plans
Church of England bishops were among those who voted against government plans to put a £26,000 cap on the amount of benefits UK adults can receive. On Monday, the House of Lords voted on the plans, which would limit the amount of benefits available to £500 a week for families, or £350 for childless single-adult homes. But the government’s proposals were defeated as members supported an amendment by Rt Rev John Packer, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, which would exclude child benefits from the annual cap.
Marriage Week 2012: A chance to champion marriage
We all know that even strong marriages need encouragement from time to time. Marriage Week UK is a week to celebrate marriage and help couples build stronger, healthier relationships for the whole year round. This year Marriage Week takes place from 7-14 February. The Evangelical Alliance is part of Marriage Week along with many other charities that care about marriage. This annual event is a great opportunity to help couples in your church and community celebrate marriage.
The UK Church: big shots, wimps or just humble servants? Pastors respond to Driscoll
Recent comments by American pastor and author Mark Driscoll regarding the state of Britain’s church leaders in a Christianity magazine interview have spawned a barrage of protests, but also a few defenders, from Christians on this side of the pond. Many think Driscoll doesn’t ‘get it’, while others claim he has a point. To get to the heart of the debate, we asked two British pastors to answer this question: Do we really need more well-known, influential Bible teachers in Britain?
Hundreds bid farewell to John Stott – a radical disciple
Hundreds packed out St Paul’s Cathedral in the heart of the city of London on Friday to celebrate the life of John Stott – one of the 20th century’s leading evangelical thinkers – who died in July, aged 90. Staff from the Evangelical Alliance, including General Director Steve Clifford, were among 2,000 people who joined Rev Stott’s closest friends and colleagues, as well as the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishop of London, at the memorial service.
Take the Biblefresh survey and win Amazon vouchers
The Biblefresh year has been fantastic. But what needs to happen next to ensure the Church continues to increase its passion for the Bible? If you’ve been involved in Biblefresh we’d love to hear from you…and you could win a £25 Amazon voucher. All you have to do is complete a short survey.
Persecution of Nigerian Christians set to worsen
Christian human rights groups have called for prayer in response to the wave of violent attacks on Nigerian Christians over the Christmas period for the second year running. The Islamist militia Boko Haram was responsible for the attacks on churches which occurred on Christmas day, killing 40 people. They were also behind further attacks in northern states on 4-5 January and more attacks on churches on 8 January, bringing the total number of deaths to 54.
Falconer report on assisted dying criticised
The Falconer report on euthanasia has been dismissed as biased and flawed by Care Not Killing. The report, published last week by the Commission on Assisted Dying, and funded by campaigners seeking a change in the law, said that the current system was inadequate. It said that within strict guidelines it was possible to allow assisted dying. The report and the commission that produced it has come under sustained criticism for being designed to come out with conclusions that would propose altering the law and permitting assisted dying.
Christian leaders pay tribute to Lawrence family
Christian leaders have paid tribute to the tenacity of Doreen and Neville Lawrence after two men were convicted of their son Stephen’s murder – 18 years after the brutal racist attack which killed him and changed the criminal justice system.
‘Cameron’s Bible backing should encourage UK Christians’
The prime minister’s recent remarks in support of religion in public life should spur Christians to action, according to the Evangelical Alliance’s advocacy director. In a speech to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible last week, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “The Bible has helped to shape the values which define our country."
2011: The year in tweets
What a year 2011 was. Uprisings, riots and demonstrations; the death of the world’s most wanted; earthquakes, tsunamis and one right royal knees-up were among the topics everyone was talking about. One of the things that characterised the year was the rise of social media. Whatever was happening, people were tweeting about it.
Churchads campaign: Christmas starts with Christ
In the run up to Christmas many Christian organisations and individuals are speaking out about avoiding over-commercialisation and urging people to remember that Jesus is the reason for our celebrations. Churchads.net’s fashion-themed nativity poster consciously re-treats the traditional nativity scene with luxury branded items and fashion. However, baby Jesus remains at the centre of the picture and the slogan reads “However you dress it up…Christmas starts with Christ”.
Archbishop of Canterbury calls for ‘respectful diversity’ in the Middle East
The position of Christians in the Middle East is “more vulnerable than it has been for centuries” warned Dr Rowan Williams. He added that the treatment of Christian communities would be “something of a litmus test” in the success of the Arab Spring. Dr Williams was speaking at the five-hour debate on the plight of Christians in the Middle East that was held on Friday, 9 December.
Global mission must adapt to a ‘messy’ world, says WEA
The Church must adapt to an increasingly “complex and messy world” with shifting cultures if it is to be effective in global mission, evangelicals from across the world have heard. This was among the topics at the Mission Commission (MC) of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) when it met for its 11th Global Consultation in Germany on 6–11 November. The theme was ‘God’s disturbing mission’.
No civil partnerships without General Synod’s consent
The Church of England will not allow its churches to be used for civil partnership ceremonies unless the General Synod gives its consent. This comes in direct response to the amendment to the Equality Act of 2010, which came into effect on Monday, 5 December. The change in law gives people the right to have their civil partnership ceremonies within places of worship in England and Wales.