Welsh Senedd, parliament, Wales

Welsh Senedd members urged to reject assisted suicide bill

Members of the Welsh Senedd will on Tuesday decide whether to give their consent to Kim Leadbeater MP's assisted suicide bill.

Headlines

Concerns raised over Scottish legislation allowing children to override parents' wishes

The Scottish Parliament has narrowly passed legislation which critics say will “exacerbate” family tensions and could effectively pit parents against their children.

Scottish parliament

Presbyterian Church in Ireland urged to return to God during safeguarding crisis

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has said the denomination is going through “an ecclesiastical earthquake”.

Richard Murray

Police officer praised for defending right to preach in Muslim area

A female police officer who apparently defended the rights of a Christian street preacher against complaints from a crowd of Muslim men in London has been praised for her actions. 

Muslims, police officer
Spotlight

Culture change needed to reduce gargantuan abortion numbers, says peer

Many women have abortions due to feelings of inadequacy, rather than financial concerns.

abortion
World
Singapore
New research highlights global religious diversity trends

Singapore has been ranked the most religiously diverse country in the world.

Tehran, Iran
Christians being treated as 'scapegoats' in Iran, says report

Iran is currently ranked the 10th worst persecutor of Christians in the world.

Vatican
Vatican rules out joining Board of Peace

A bleak assessment of the Russia-Ukraine conflict was also given.

Maiduguri, Nigeria
Thousands of Christians return to churches in north-east Nigeria despite years of terror

The faithful are returning “in their thousands, not hundreds” despite more than a decade of brutal violence.

News
Acts, Judas
Who was Matthias and why is he called the thirteenth apostle?

24 February is St Matthias’s Day. Matthias is known as “the 13th apostle”, but who was he and what do we know about him? This is the story …

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Between two cultures: an Afghan Christian in the Netherlands

Esther*, who was born in Afghanistan and raised in the Netherlands after her family fled the country when she was three, speaks to Christian Today about her journey of faith, life between two cultures, and her hopes and fears for Afghanistan’s future.

people, power, communities, world, relationships, humanity, mankind, population
In an age of global turbulence, new report reframes power through a biblical lens

At a time of global instability, questions about who holds power and how they use it have become increasingly urgent.

counselling
Christians welcome decision to pause puberty blockers trial

The Christian Institute's Simon Calvert said the trial would reduce children to guinea pigs.

Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Rev Stephen Conway.
Bishop of Lincoln suspended and arrested

The Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Rev Stephen Conway, has been suspended from ministry following a safeguarding complaint. 

Kings Hall Methodist Church
Investigation launched into fire at west London church

Investigators are working to uncover the cause of a huge fire that tore through a derelict Methodist church in west London on Sunday night. 

Iran
Iran killed at least 19 Christians involved in anti-regime protests - watchdog

Iran’s security forces killed at least 19 Christians during a sweeping crackdown on anti-government protests, according to a monitoring group, which said the confirmed toll rose after two more Christian converts died from gunfire during demonstrations last month.

Chard Methodist Church, church, Christianity
Zia Yusuf says Reform would protect the UK's Christian heritage

Reform's home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, has said his party will protect Britain’s Christian heritage if it is voted into power at the next general election. 

Haghpat Monastery Church, Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenia’s Christian civilization is under existential threat - the UK must not stand idly by

The constellation of powers that produced the eradication of the Armenian Christian presence in Nagorno Karabakh now have their sights on the Republic of Armenia itself. 

Bishop Philip North
Bishop: 10 years on, concerns that led to Brexit have still not been addressed

It's not the first time North has spoken of the disconnect between the Church and the working classes.

Harry Clark
Traitors’ winner Harry Clark heads to Rome in new BBC documentary exploring faith in modern Britain

BBC Two and iPlayer are set to air a new one-hour documentary this Easter charting The Traitors’ winner Harry Clark’s personal pilgrimage from Slough to the Vatican

abortion
Christians mobilised to oppose extreme abortion law changes

Christians are being asked to urge peers to support amendments tabled by Baronesses Monckton and Stroud.

Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Armenia, The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church
Armenian Apostolic Church head barred from leaving the country

Church-State relations are at an all time low in Armenia.

children, child, childhood
Christians welcome NI decision to pull out of puberty blocker trial

Nesbitt initially indicated that the province would join the trial.

Ramadan
Ramadan ‘offers a unique opportunity’ to share the Gospel, says missiologist

Dr Emil Saleem Shehadeh has some sage advice for how Christians can engage with their Muslim neighbours and colleagues during Ramadan.

Turkey
EU Parliament condemns expulsion of foreign Christians in Turkey

Turkey has said the EU is interfering in its internal affairs.

young Christians, worship, Bible study, Christian faith, Christianity
Bible Society stands by 'Quiet Revival' research

Questions about the study have been raised.

Bible study, Bible, faith
Lent for the weary: rethinking the season as rest, not religious hustle

Has Lent just become another self-improvement project with a spiritual label?

coffee, rest, break
Fewer Britons giving something up for Lent as cathedrals invite deeper reflection

The number of Britons giving something up for Lent has fallen sharply over the past decade, according to new research highlighting a significant shift in how the season is observed.

The Church of England
David Tudor hit with another lifetime ministry ban

Having already been banned, the latest sanction merely reinforces an earlier decision.