A number of churches across the UK are asking questions about how to relate to local primary schools. The new Local Church, Local School website at www.localchurchlocalschool.org.uk is the result of collaboration by a number of organizations including BRF, The Stapleford Centre, The Girls' Brigade, Viz a Viz and Scripture Union, and aims to provide practical and varied suggestions on how churches can engage with primary schools. The site also provides information for schools so that they can understand how churches operate and the kind of contributions they can make. Do visit the website and pass the web address onto those in your church with an interest in children's and youth ministry, your church council or church leadership team.

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ED - WE MISSED THE DATE OF THE ADVERT, BUT THIS IS STILL VERY RELEVANT

Advertising of Abortion Services – urgent action required

 

A very significant step on the way to even more abortions in the UK is likely to take place TONIGHT (24th MAY 2010) with the broadcast of what Marie Stopes International terms the ‘first ever commercial for abortion services to air in Britain’ at 10.10pm on Channel 4. This advert must be recognised for what it is

BBC News report, including footage of the advert

- a deceptive marketing exercise. Abortion is not mentioned in the brief clip yet Marie Stopes in its own press release is presenting it as a commercial for abortion services. This deception must be exposed - for it threatens to be part of a wider strategy to further normalise abortion in our nation.

Despite the fact that abortion remains illegal in the UK except in a narrow range of circumstances, those provisions are being exploited such that over 200,000 abortions took place in 2008. Marie Stopes International (MSI), a registered charity, claims to be the UK’s largest provider of sexual and reproductive healthcare services.

We believe that the television commercial will contravene the spirit of the code which governs such advertising and the broadcasting of it flouts the protections and provisions of the code.   If you are concerned about ‘abortion services’ being advertised on TV, please take the following action:

 

1. Call Marie Stopes  

• Telephone the Marie Stopes Helpline (0845 300 3737) and ask them what advice they give to pregnant women who want to continue with their pregnancy, what information they supply about benefits, financial assistance and educational resources and for how long they provide support to such women. Remember to be polite, genuinely probing what help they offer as a charity. Please publish the results of your research and let us know (info@ccfon.org).

2. Complain to the Advertising Standards Authority

• Phone: 020 7492 2222
• Online: Complaint form
• E-mail: new.complaints@asa.org.uk
• Write (if you can't email or phone): Advertising Standards Authority, Mid City Place, 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6QT

Click here for a suggestion of what to write/say.

3. Complain to Channel 4

• Phone: 0845 076 0191
• Online: Complaint form
• Write (if you can't email or phone): Channel 4 Enquiries, PO Box 1058, Belfast, BT1 9DU

Click here for a suggestion of what to write/say.

4. Write to your MP

You can also write to your new MP about the issue

(Enter your postcode to find the name and contact details of your local MP).

The advertisement should not be aired for a number of reasons:

• Although MSI is a charity, the services which it will advertise involve a commercial transaction, as the public are charged for £80 for a telephone consultation and hundreds of pounds for an abortion.
   
• These services are also ‘medical’ since they require the signature of two doctors and therefore by analogy are prohibited by the code (which prevents advertising for prescription only products and services).
   
• The subject of ‘abortion services’ is a matter of significant political debate and controversy.  Furthermore, MSI openly engage in the political campaigns to change the law on abortion and refer to this advert as part of ‘a wider campaign’. Commercial advertising of such issues is not permitted.

Please forward this email to the leaders and members of your church and other Christians you know. Please also pray.

Andrea Minichiello Williams

Christian Concern for our Nation

http://www.ccfon.org

 

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GOD’S WHEELS

 

For 30 years John Price was Senior Pastor of ‘The Church at Junction 10’. The church lies close to Junction 10 of the M6 in the West Midlands. He and his wife Judith, together with 8 friends and family, planted the church in 1978 and saw it grow to several hundred people. In 1981 they built the first building which was quadrupled in size in 1988. Having handed over the leadership of the church in 2008, John finally got around to writing this book. Let him tell you about it -

 

“Over 30 years as a pastor, one of the things I have sadly noted is that not too many Christian men read books. Wives usually read them and tell their husbands what they’ve read but only a minority of men (usually leaders) read books. On the other hand, many Christian men are interested in cars and/or motorbikes. They’re more than happy to read car magazines, watch TV motoring programmes and talk to their mates about their ‘wheels’. 

 

Would it be possible, by using that interest in ‘wheels’ to get Christian men to read a book about WHEELS IN THE BIBLE, which then teaches on a whole range of things?  This book is that attempt! It is primarily aimed for men but women will love reading it (that’s the feedback so far!) It could well be that a woman will buy and read it and then urge her partner to read it too?

 

The subjects covered are wide and varied, ranging from -

-          the first carts

-          what do you buy God?

-          problems with new car(t)s

-          doing business with the Bible’s cleverest wheeler dealer

-          chariots of fire

-          off-roading with the Ethiopian eunuch

-          ending in Revelation trying to ‘get our heads around’ Apocalyptic chariots!

 

To ensure ‘an easy read’ GOD’S WHEELS has 7 self-contained short sections, each one being 3 or 4 chapters in length. I have tried to use short sentences, every day expressions and things related to cars. However, it does quote the Bible frequently and asks some searching questions, which hopefully will make the reader think? The style is conversational and includes  many personal stories, incidents and jokes as I tell the story of how we planted and grew ‘The Church at Junction 10’.

I trust that you’ll be blessed as you read it ........  “

John H. Price

You can obtain a copy of the book by contacting CCPAS, the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service, of which John is Chairman. Although nothing to do with Safeguarding Children, they have kindly offered to handle sales for him through their online bookshop.

 

The contact details are:-

www.ccpas.co.uk/shop/shop.htm.

When you reach the Online Bookshop go into ‘Other CCPAS materials’ and GOD’S WHEELS is the second item down.

  

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