Quotes from the media

from Salvationist 18 December 2021

by The Salvation Army UK and Ireland

Feature 12 and

THEOS REPORT HIGHLIGHTS LINK BETWEEN MARRIAGE AND POVERTY

The benefit of marriage and ‘stable household relationships’ is being sidelined in the national debate about economic inequality, according to a new report from Theos.

The Christian-based religion and society think tank made the ... observation in Beyond Left and Right: Finding Consensus on Economic Inequality...

‘We noted that the role of marriage and stable household relationships is often ignored in discussions of economic inequality,’ [senior researcher Hannah Rich] said...

The report finds that married families are less likely to be in poverty than single parent households.

It continues: ‘There is evidence that family structure has an impact on educational outcomes, with some studies suggesting that children in single parent families fare worse in literacy and numeracy tests.

‘There are demonstrable differences in outcomes for children born to single-parent households versus married or cohabiting, even once the associated economic disadvantage is accounted for’…

Theos argues that policy initiatives supporting stable households ‘are therefore likely to reduce economic inequality too, albeit indirectly, not least because of the improved health and educational outcomes associated with [relational stability].’

Christian Today

NORTH IS WHERE THE ACTION IS, WEBINAR HEARS

Churches in the north of England point to the future for the Church elsewhere, it was suggested in an online discussion hosted by York St John University...

Is God Northern?, hosted by the Centre for Religion in Society, heard from the authors of a new book, Fuzzy Church: Gospel and Culture in the North of England, the Rev Dr Nigel Rooms, a researcher with the Church Mission Society, and Dr Elli Wort, a director of studies at the Church Army.

Although in many places in the north the Church was ‘struggling’ and churches were closing, they had discovered that ‘something is happening: people were finding new faith in Christ and becoming Christian’, Dr Rooms said. In this sense, the north was ‘at the forefront… There’s a real sense ... we can learn ... from ... churches that are trying new things.’

Church Times

BETHLEHEM OPEN TO CHRISTMAS VISITORS AGAIN, BUT LOW NUMBERS EXPECTED

After 20 months without pilgrims, Bethlehem can now welcome overseas visitors again this Christmas, as Israel eases its Covid-19 restrictions.

As pilgrimages have been cancelled or postponed until next year, however, there is expected to be only a trickle of visitors over the next few months, leaving those dependent on ... the tourism sector facing mounting debts.

The director of the charity Friends of the Holy Land, Brendan Metcalfe, said … ‘This is the second Christmas for people in Bethlehem with very little income... It’s been very tough...’

Just over 30,000 tourists entered Israel in the first half of November, compared with 421,000 in November 2019, according to Israel’s Interior Ministry.

Church Times

UK RANKED AMONGST TOP FIVE PLACES CHRISTIANS EXPERIENCE INTOLERANCE IN EUROPE

The UK has been ranked as one of the top five countries in Europe where Christians experience the most violations to their religious freedom.

A preliminary report investigating the human rights of Christians in France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom in 2019/2020 has found an increasing level of intolerance towards believers throughout society.

Data from the Observatory of Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe found this to be prevalent from both a government level – through legislation and political discourse – and through social exclusion and criminal acts against Christians.

The study found that most practising Christians in Europe have come across some form of discrimination or intolerance due to their faith, while anti-Christian hate crimes increased by 70 per cent across the five countries between 2019 and 2020…

The report also highlights an opposition to traditional and conservative moral views and stigmatisation within the media as contributing factors to secular intolerance and discrimination.

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TOGETHERNESS

THE emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant has led to the reintroduction of restrictions for many who were hoping for an almost normal Christmas this year. As I write, international travel restrictions mean that some people are having to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days upon arrival in the UK – including one of the Salvationist team – while others need to take a Covid-19 test not more than 48 hours before travelling here and within 48 hours of arriving, and must stay in isolation until receiving a negative result. England has now joined the rest of the UK in asking people to work from home if they can and requiring face coverings in most indoor public settings, as well as other requirements if attending large gatherings. (See details on page 23.)

The new variant is a major concern, but let’s hope that the acceleration of the vaccine booster campaign means that we will not be where we were last Christmas, when gatherings were banned in much of the UK and families from different households could not meet.

Thankfully, the restrictions did not prevent the Army’s carol concert from taking place at the Royal Albert Hall this year. It was a joyous occasion, and the report and photo feature in this issue capture something of the atmosphere. An enthusiastic audience gathered to enjoy festive music, carol singing, readings and a Christmas message. Most of all they appreciated the opportunity to be together for the event, as was clear from the spontaneous applause when Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant welcomed the audience with the words, ‘It’s a joy to be back in the Royal Albert Hall.’

Celebrating with others is a natural part of Christmas across the world. LieutColonel Ced Hills and three colleague officers give insights into gatherings in various settings in Indonesia. For example, Ced recalls the first Christmas he and his wife, Lyn, spent there in 2019, when the hall was full for the 5am and 5pm Christmas Day meetings they were leading.

In her Christmas meditation Commissioner Jane Paone reflects on our desire to ‘come close to others’ and acknowledges that during the pandemic many people have suffered from a lack of social contact. In their loneliness, she asks, could we be ‘the answer to someone’s prayers for a close friend’?

Some people prefer to be alone, notes a tongue-in-cheek Ron Thomlinson in his final Advent reflection with the Rev James Macfarlane. James responds by saying that we will miss the blessings of Christmas if we approach it with a Scrooge-like ‘isolation mentality’.

The message of the Incarnation is that we are not on our own, says General Brian Peddle in his Christmas message – Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. If our relationship with Jesus has waned, we are invited to reconnect with him this Christmas. The General also encourages those who have never known Jesus to accept him as Saviour and friend.

Although people sometimes appreciate solitude, we are not meant to be constantly on our own. We are made in the image of God, which among other things means we are spiritual beings created for a relationship with our maker and social beings created for fellowship with one another. It is only as these relationships flourish that we experience life in all its fullness. So if restrictions allow and we feel safe meeting with others this Christmas, let’s make the most of every opportunity. As Major Paulus Marewa from Indonesia says, ‘Christmas is about joyful togetherness and God’s blessings.’

From the editor Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts