Asylum and refugees in Europe during COVID-19: Webinar : 17 Jun, ONLINE
Category: Coronavirus
Remember Me: Online Book of Remembrance
St Paul’s Cathedral has created an on-line book of remembrance for all those who have died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. You can submit the name of someone who has died, or view entries, at https://www.rememberme2020.uk/.
What can the #Coronavirus pandemic teach us about responding to Climate Emergency. A Christian perspective : 28 May, ONLINE
We are delighted to confirm that Margot and Martin Hodson, a couple of renowned Chritian speakers and educators on issues of faith, sustainability and science, will be giving a Zoom talk entitled:
“What can the #Coronavirus pandemic teach us about responding to Climate Emergency. A Christian perspective.“
Margot is an associate vicar, theologian, researcher and educator working within the field of environmental theology. She is a former chaplain at Jesus College, Oxford and is Director of Theology and Education at the John Ray Initiative.
Martin is a plant scientist and climate change expert who holds a variety of research and educational roles, including a visiting research post at Oxford Brookes University, membrsio at the Institute of Human Sciences at the University of Oxford and he is also Operations Manager at John Ray Initiative.
For further information about the John Ray Initiative see: https://www.jri.org.uk/
To learn more about Margot and Martin please visit their websites at http://www.hodsons.org/
Questions welcome both on the day of the talk in Zoom chat and via email worcester@greenchristian.org.uk
Please join us in Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85132469446?pwd=KzByNFFHcUFzOWNnNlROT1FSVjBYdz09
The talk has been organised by Green Christians in Worcester.
Read moreAt a Loss : Supporting the Bereaved
Prayers for Royal Cornwall Show : 3 Jun, AT HOME
Wed 3 June at 6.30pm would have marked the opening of the traditional Eve of Show Service at the now-cancelled Royal Cornwall Show.
The Churches Together in Cornwall RCS Tent Committee will be gathering for prayer on Zoom at this time, and invite us all to join with them ‘offline’ wherever we are, offering our prayers for the rural and farming community across Cornwall, for all those affected financially by the Show’s cancellation, and for those who have lost family and friends to COVID-19.
If you would like to join the zoom meeting please email jhereward@gmail.com.
The EVE OF SHOW SERVICE will return next year on Wed 9 June – followed no doubt by the traditional Beer and Pasty Reception!
New taskforce developing plan to reopen places of worship
Faith leaders and government agree to develop plan to enable phased and safe reopening of places of worship.
Published 15 May 2020
From: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Stephen Greenhalgh, and The Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP
Faith leaders and government have agreed to develop a plan to enable the phased and safe reopening of places of worship when the evidence shows it is the right time to do so, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed today (15 May 2020).
This follows the first virtual meeting of the new Places of Worship Taskforce which includes leaders and representatives from all the major faiths.
Earlier this week the government set out its ambition to reopen places of worship in step 3 of its plan to lift restrictions, which is expected to be no earlier than 4 July subject to further scientific advice.
In recognition of how difficult it has been for people of faith to not be able to practice their religion with their community, members agreed to work together to consider whether some forms of worship, such as individual prayer, might be permitted in places of worship before they fully reopen in step 3, where appropriate and safe to do so in line with social distancing guidelines.
Members of the taskforce also agreed to consult their faith communities on the measures being considered and to support ongoing engagement with their communities on this important work as it develops. The Communities Secretary also confirmed today that Faith Action will receive £125,000 to consult and engage with different community groups and places of worship up and down the country to ensure their views are represented at the Taskforce’s meetings.
The Communities Secretary was clear places of worship will only be opened when the government is confident that people can use these spaces safely and will not put themselves or others at risk.
Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:
During this pandemic, significant spiritual moments such as Easter, Passover, Ramadan and Vaisakhi when families, friends and congregations traditionally gather together, have been celebrated at home.
I realise how challenging being separated from their communities has been for people of faith. That’s why I have convened the Places of Worship Taskforce to establish how religious practices can safely resume outside the home as soon as possible.
Today’s first meeting of the Taskforce was very productive. We will now work together with all faith communities to understand how we can open places of worship as a priority, while continuing to prioritise safety. I look forward to working with the Taskforce over the coming weeks to reach a solution.
Faith Minister Lord Greenhalgh said:
Places of worship serve such an important role in supporting and providing spiritual leadership for this country’s diverse communities and in bringing communities and the generations together, but this also makes them places that are currently particularly vulnerable to the spread of the pandemic.
We realise that practical issues such as the size of both physical buildings and congregations are significant but we are determined to find a way to safely reopen places of worship as soon as possible, ensuring that people are not put at undue risk.
The Taskforce will jointly produce guidance with Minstry of Housing, Communities and Local Government which supports places of worship across England to reopen safely.
For the time-being, churches and places of worship must remain closed as set out in law. However, funerals are still able to go ahead in places of worship and in crematoria where possible to do so safely.
Members of the Taskforce that met today include:
- The Archbishop of Canterbury
- Cardinal Vincent Nichols,
- Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis
- Shaykh Dr Asim Yusuf, The British Board of Scholars and Imams
- Rajnish Kashyap, Hindu Council UK
- Jasvir Singh, City Sikhs
- Daniel Singleton, Faith Action
Other faith representatives and government officials may be invited to attend future meetings depending on the Taskforce’s priorities.
Further information
No place of worship will be able to reopen before a final decision by the government and the accompanying change to the legal position in the published regulations. Faith organisations will be able to reopen at a slower pace if they wish.
The Minister for Faith has held a series of roundtables and one on one meetings with faith and community leaders over the last few weeks and will continue to do so in the weeks ahead.
The funding for Faith Action has been awarded from the £360 million pot of funding recently announced by Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to provide targeted support to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. As made clear at the time, this funding was not allocated via an open bid but awarded in line with agreed departmental priorities.
Read moreImpact of Covid-19 on BAME communities : 26 May, ONLINE
Tuesday 26 May 2020, 7.30pm.
This hour-long webinar, from the Standing Together coalition, will explore how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities in Britain.
It will feature the Ascension Trust’s Les Isaac OBE; General Practitioner and Ascension Trust Chair, Dr Chinyere (Chi-Chi) Ekhator; and Dr Joan Myers OBE, Board Member of the Royal College of Nurses and Director of the Florence Nightingale Foundation, who will discuss the Standing Together Community Appeal, which is addressing the COVID-19 crisis.
The conversation will be moderated by Richard Reddie, CTBI’s Director of Justice and Inclusion and fellow Standing Together member, and attendees will hear about Standing Together’s work to:
- Raise money to buy PPE for vulnerable frontline workers.
- Provide counselling and prayer support for those traumatised by events.
- Campaign and advocate to ensure BAME medical staff and care workers get the support they need.
Speakers
Les Isaac OBE,
Ascension Trust.
Dr Chinyere (Chi-Chi) Ekhator,
General Practitioner and Ascension Trust Chair.
Dr Joan Myers OBE,
Board Member of the Royal College of Nurses and Director of the Florence Nightingale Foundation.
Registration
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) will be hosting this webinar via Zoom.
To find out what is taking place and the ways in which we can make a difference, please register for this event.
Read moreCOP26: A Decade to Deliver
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and Chair of The Elders, speaks on the impact of Covid-19 on preparations for climate change, introducing this webinar run by Climate Action
Recorded on: Thursday,14 May 2020
COP26: A Decade to Deliver: The pandemic has given us a glimpse into a global economy decimated by a crisis. If governments and businesses do not maintain their commitments to climate action, and if COP26 is not successful in addressing the global climate emergency, the current levels of economic disruption will be our reality by 2050. The actions we take this year, and the outcomes of the COP26 in 2021, will dictate our global capacity to stem the climate breakdown forever.
Discussion points included:
- How has the pandemic affected climate and environmental diplomacy?
- What are the critical components that must be addressed for COP to be a success?
- What is the role of the private sector, NGO community, and Civil Society groups at COP?
- How can we maintain momentum throughout 2020 and what can organisations do this year to lay the foundations for more ambitious climate action?
- Should we be linking the economic recovery to the SDGs and how do we ‘build back better’?
Featured Speakers:
Moderator:
Gleanings: Listening and Learning about poverty under lockdown
We are all sharing the experience of the storm caused by COVID-19 and the lockdown, but it is increasingly clear we are not all in the same boat. Some are being buffeted but remain fundamentally secure, yet it is clear that some groups are at risk of being financially overwhelmed.
The Joint Public Issues Team and Church Action on Poverty have started an ongoing programme of research with churches and local charities. Through surveys and regular focus group conversations we are aiming to understand the impacts being seen seeing on the ground.
Briefing – May 2020
This briefing provides a short snapshot of our findings, putting churches’ experiences in the rapidly developing wider context, and offering a context for thinking about what happens next.
Insights into the Social Impact of COVID-19 – Briefing
Read moreBring the tastelife course to your community : 19-21 Jun, ONLINE
Could you be the tastelife difference post COVID – when eating disorder sufferers will be even more in need of help?
As we inch towards the easing of lockdown, eating disorder sufferers and carers face even greater challenges. Could you be the post Covid difference by training as a tastelife Volunteer Course Leader, sponsored by your church – live online through the marvel of Zoom – Friday 19th – Sunday 21st June?
The training is ideal for volunteers in churches wishing to enhance their community and ministry outreach to suffering individuals of all ages and backgrounds. tastelifeuk.org is a Christian charity providing education and tools for recovery from all forms of eating disorders for sufferers and those who care.
Accredited by the University of Brighton REQ Award. More information on our website here. Get in touch now: carole.rutherfordmilligan@tastelifeuk.org
Hear about the tastelife course and its impact:
I want to help. How do I get trained?
You are needed.
We meet so many people who are desperate for help, want to go on a tastelife course but as yet there is not one near them.
It is estimated that 4 million people in the UK have an eating disorder of some kind.*
The tastelife course is designed for sufferers of any eating disorder and/or friends and family. It is unique in bringing people together in this way. In a safe and accepting environment, group members are offered a toolkit for recovery and support.
2020 Covid response: join with us as we take the tastelife course online and offer UK wide support to even more people. All training included.
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