Religion Media Centre Podcast

The decision by the Church of England general synod in York, to move towards allowing services for same-sex blessings, has once more revealed deep divisions, hurt, anger and anxieties. Speakers in this Religion Media Centre briefing discussed what possible moves could come next to keep the church together, where both sides are certain they are right. With the conservative evangelical wing planning to appoint "overseers", who will take over the role of bishops in pastoral oversight of people on their side of the divide, the panel discussed whether this was in fact legal. And there was an appeal for the whole church to take lessons from local parishes which stay together amicably despite differences on this issue.Tim Wyatt hosted with the panel:Peter Collier KC, retired judge and vicar general of the province of YorkDr Laura Oliver, GP from PrestonRev Dr Ian Paul, Member of the Archbishops' CouncilRev Jody Stowell, Vicar of St Michael and All Angels, Harrow, and co-convenor of Inclusive EvangelicalsFr Robert Thompson, St Mary's Kilburn and St James' West Hampstead, LGBTQIA campaignerFor further information on RMC briefings: [email protected]: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

How should the incoming government work with faith groups in modern, diverse Britain? In this Religion Media Centre briefing, the panel discussed the current vacuum of communication, and heard that Muslims in particular feel alienated and ostracised. The government refuses to speak to the Muslim Council of Britain and there is no mechanism for faith groups to tap into central government.Meanwhile, the Church of England and the Catholic church among others, have well-established structures allowing access to government ministers. Labour alone in this election has promised to ensure strong partnerships with faith communities including the appointment of a faith minister to lead on engagement with faith communities.In this briefing, Sir Stephen Timms, the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group of Faith in Society, said the government’s ban on talking to the Muslim Council of Britain was “absolutely absurd” and he was confident that a new Labour government, if elected, would talk to them. He criticised the government’s withdrawal of support to the Interfaith Network, a decision he described as “extraordinarily foolish”.Lord Jim Wallace spoke for the Liberal Democrats, but the Conservatives did not put forward a spokesperson. The former faith engagement adviser under Boris Johnson, Colin Bloom, outlined the faith and government conversations held during Covid and offered recommendations for future relations.Other speakers included: Professor Adeela Shafi, Richard Chapman, Marie Southall, Phil Champain, Daniel Singleton, Amrick Singh Ubhi, and Jack Palmer-White.For further information on RMC briefings: [email protected]: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Faith groups across the globe are passionately engaged in climate change campaigns, with a deep desire to save the planet. Representatives of faith organisations and campaign groups told this Religion Media Centre election briefing that they saw signs of hope in several of the parties' manifestos.While each manifesto has different pledges on the date by which net zero may be achieved, and different approaches to fossil fuel excavation, they all have many ambitious commitments to make faster progress on renewable energy sources, with windfarms and solar energy providing the UK’s electricity supply within five years.The briefing also heard a plea for the next government to prioritise an end to the dumping of raw sewage into rivers and the sea. Chaired by Ruth Peacock, our panel was:Steven Croft, The Bishop of OxfordDr Timothy Howles, Associate Director, Laudato Si' Research InstituteAmandeep Kaur Mann, founder and director of Eco Sikh UKJamie Williams, Senior Policy Advisor with Islamic Relief WorldwideOliver Pearce, Chief of Policy at Christian AidMahmooda Qureshi, interfaith campaigner from the MidlandsFor further information on RMC briefings: [email protected]: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The cost of living is a top election issue, yet the increasing wealth divide and extent of poverty have not really figured in election debates. In this Religion Media Centre briefing, Theos Think Tank pointed to data that indicated the majority of Christians are concerned about the growing wealth divide and want income inequality addressed. And 88 per cent of Christians are dismayed at the cost of living crisis.Many speakers agreed that poverty has not been given the emphasis it deserves in this election campaign, a feeling particularly strong among Christian charities which described "deep poverty" as people cannot find enough support to even afford the essentials.There were discussions about taxation, around how it has been portrayed in the campaign as an evil to be guarded against, rather than a passport for the common good. And there was some blue-sky thinking, as people said the current model of state support with charities picking up the pieces showed the system has failed and there was a need for a root-and-branch approach to social inequality in the future.Chaired by Mick Ord, our speakers were:Paul Morrison, Joint Public Issues Team, representing several free churchesPhil Callaghan, Trussell Trust Network Church Engagement Manager North WestGareth McNab, Christians against Poverty director of external affairsHannah Fremont-Brown, anti-poverty movementMudaser Ali from the Muslim Charities ForumStephen Bediako, social entrepreneurBishop Mike Royal, Gen Sec of Churches Together in England, on tax as a blessingJosh Nicholson, senior researcher at the Centre for Social JusticeBartek Staniszewski, senior research fellow at Bright Blue think tankGeorge Lapshynov, researcher at Theos Think TankFor more information on Religion Media Centre briefings: [email protected]: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Immigration is among the top four concerns driving voters at the general election, and their religious identity impacts how they regard the issue, according to speakers at a Religion Media Centre briefing.Polling analysed by the Theos think tank has found that the British public is not overly positive about asylum seekers, but non-practising Anglicans have the coldest approach to the issue, a response which was described as “deeply depressing” in the briefing. Speakers pointed out that asylum seekers form just five per cent of the total net migration, yet all the focus is on them. The briefing discussed the Rwanda scheme and ways to tackle gangs bringing in migrants on boats across the Channel; the need to control the flow of migration to give public confidence and the faith imperative to treat people with dignity and love your neighbour.The speakers included: Zara Mohammed, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain; Liam Allmark, Jesuit Refugee Service; Krish Kandiah, founder of the Sanctuary Foundation; Paul Bickley, head of political engagement at Theos Think Tank; and Sebastian Milbank, executive editor of The Critic.This is one of a series of briefings organised by the Religion Media Centre on how religion is intertwined with the public debate on issues in the General Election 2024. For more information on Religion Media Centre briefings: [email protected]: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

A range of experts from across the education and faith spectrum joined this Religion Media Centre election briefing, reviewing the various parties’ manifestos on education. It’s a topic not regarded as a key election priority issue by voters, who instead tend to focus on the economy, the NHS and immigration.But religion is long associated with education in Britain, with a third of all schools having a faith foundation. Concerns were expressed on a shortage of teachers, contraction of arts subjects at universities which affects departments of Theology and Religious Studies, and the continuing campaign to remove a 50 per cent cap on faith school admissions, a move frozen in parliament because the election was called.The proposed 20 per cent VAT hike on private school fees is causing real anxiety among independent schools, especially the smaller ones affiliated with minority British religions with lower fees, less affluent parents and determination to choose a faith school for their child. The briefing heard an appeal for any future Labour government to provide extra capacity in the state system before bringing in the tax change. Speakers included:-Rev Steve Chalke, founder of Oasis Trust-Rudi Eliott Lockhart, Chief Executive Officer at the Independent Schools Association-Raisel Freedman, assistant director of the Partnership for Jewish Schools-Prof John Lydon and Dr Caroline Heely from the Catholic Union-Ashfaque Chowdhury, chair Association of Muslim Schools-Dr Lois Lee and Dr Tim Hutchings, on university funding and the study of religion-Deborah Weston, from NATRE, on RE in schools-Paul Bickley, head of political engagement at Theos Think TankFuture briefings will look at how religion impacts the election issues of immigration, poverty and climate change. Details from [email protected]: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

How will people from the religious traditions in the UK affect the vote in the General Election on 4 July? The majority of the UK population is affiliated to a religion - 63 per cent in England and Wales, 49 per cent in Scotland and 83 per cent in Northern Ireland. And in this Religion Media Centre briefing, faith representatives explained the issues for each group which will sway the vote, in addition to the usual election battlegrounds of the economy, the NHS and immigration.This time a foreign policy issue - response to the war in Gaza - supersedes others for many Muslims. Antisemitism is a key issue for Jewish voters. Immigration and wealth tax are issues for some Hindu voters. And for Christians, it’s around social issues such as asylum seekers, poverty and support for families.The briefing heard from researchers at the think tank Theos which has analysed voting data to discover the influence of religion on engagement, ideology and voting trends. One of its findings is that if Nigel Farage wants to make a pitch for a religious vote for his right-wing organisation Reform, then he should pitch to non-practising nostalgic Anglicans.Rosie Dawson hosted the briefing with guests:-Paul Bickley, head of political engagement at Theos Think Tank-George Lapshynov, political researcher at Theos Think Tank-Sophie Cartwright, Jesuit Refugee service-Catherine Pepinster, Catholic commentator-Abubakr Nanabawa, national coordinator for the Muslim Vote campaign-Prof Adeela Shafi, founder of the Bristol Muslim Strategic Leadership Group-Miqdaad Versi, director for media monitoring at the Muslim Council of Britain-Jagdev Virdee, Editor British Sikh Report-Daniel Sugarman, Director of Public Affairs for the Board of Deputies-Dr Subir Sinha, director of the SOAS South Asia InstituteFor more information on RMC briefings: [email protected]: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The Theos Think Tank has analysed data from the British Election Survey on the correlation between religion and election voting. It indicates that religiously affiliated voters are more likely to vote on polling day than non-religious voters.Anglicans are the group most likely to vote. Overall they tend to vote Conservative, but those who attend church regularly are more likely to vote Labour. Catholics are floating voters, with their traditional support for Labour swinging to the Tories in 2019-2020, a trend that is now reversing. There is no clear party preference among other Christian denominations.Muslims tend to vote Labour - though this may have taken a knock because of the party’s stance on the Gaza conflict. And non-religious Britons vote more consistently for Labour. The reports are on the Theos' website:https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/religion-counts-2024Rosie Dawson hosted this briefing with report authors: Paul Bickley, Theos head of political engagement; George Lapshynov, Theos political researcher; and Dr Yinxuan Huang, Bible Society.And commentators: Dr Siobhan McAndrew, Senior Lecturer, Politics, Philosophy and Economics, University of Sheffield; Zara Mohammed, Secretary-General Muslim Council of Britain; and Keith Kahn Harris, associate fellow of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research and a lecturer at Leo Baeck College. For more information on RMC briefings: [email protected]: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The decision by the United Methodist Church to row back on anti-gay legislation dating back 50 years came after overwhelming votes in favour at the general conference in Charlotte. But the picture that paints of a “super liberal, progressive” church with all traditionalists having left, is not accurate, according to researchers who have tested the opinions of clergy and congregations. Drs Joseph Roso and David Eagle from Duke University were among the panellists at our Religion Media Centre briefing and explained their research, conducted in North Carolina in 2021. They found both clergy and congregations of those that remain are divided - but determined to stay. This leaves ministers who have to bridge the divide and keep everyone together, suffering high levels of stress with half more likely to report symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, and others experiencing burnout or a desire to leave.Their most recent research indicates the situation has calmed down and clergy are finding ways to navigate the terrain. The briefing also discussed the decision to give each global region the power to make decisions according to their culture, a 40 per cent budget cut after disaffiliation and Covid, the vote in favour of moving to full communion with the Episcopalian church, and the view of a British delegate that the votes marked a moment of rebirth for the United Methodist Church.Ruth Peacock hosted this briefing with guests:-Heather Hahn, United Methodist News, assistant news editor-Steven Adair, Director of Local Church Services, United Methodist Communications-Rev Lindsey Baynham Freeman, lead of the Virginia delegation and chair of the Ordained Ministry Legislative-Dr Joseph Roso, and Dr David Eagle, Duke University-Rev Jennifer Smith, superintendent minister, Wesley's Chapel, London-Bishop Mande Muyombo, from the Democratic Republic of the CongoFor more information on RMC briefings: [email protected] LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The decision by the High Court to back the ban on prayer rituals at the Michaela School in North London has provoked a wide discussion on the place of religion in schools and what it means to live in a multicultural society.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, we hear from a lawyer who says the judgment is surprising and is concerned it may be viewed as the model of a secular way forward, when it is simply a judgment on one school at one time. An academic points out that the Muslim population in Britain is young and the case has politicised a local disagreement creating a moral panic with ramifications for Muslims.The Michaela school ethos that community takes precedence over the individual with all religions making concessions in order to achieve inclusion is only one form of multiculturalism, which is not clearly defined in Britain as in France with its policy of Laïcité, according to another university teacher. He says in Britain, the pattern of multiculturalism is achieved through a gradual evolution of values, laws and measures emerging over time.Questions were raised on guidance to schools about the place of religion, where faith schools are subject to inspection on belief, values and ethos, whereas state schools, some with a large majority of students from one religion, are not. But it was pointed out that Christianity is still the starting point in all schools reflecting British tradition, with compulsory daily collective worship, broadly Christian in character.Hosted by Ruth Peacock, the panel is:-Dr Azim Ahmed, deputy director of the Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, based in Cardiff.-Prof Russell Sandberg, professor of Law at Cardiff University and author of many books on law and religion.-Ed Pawson, Educational consultant and RE adviser.-Dr Joseph Downing, International Relations and Politics, Aston University and fellow of the LSE on minority rights, migration and Islam in France.For more information on RMC briefings: [email protected] LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

A report into the work of cremation and crematorium staff during Covid and how it changed the industry has described their common feeling that they were taken for granted or ignored. Not regarded as key workers, they nevertheless felt a responsibility to ensure the death care system didn't fall apart as the number of bodies for cremation increased by 23 per cent in 2020.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, the panel discussed lessons learned and changing rituals which have continued. Live transmission of funeral services is one, alongside invitation-only funerals and an acknowledgement of the role of cremation staff in bereavement processes.But the biggest legacy is the drive towards direct cremation, where the body is cremated without a funeral service. These increased from 5 to 15 per cent of the total during Covid and are still as popular today. There is concern that people nearing death opt for this to save the family from expense and turmoil, whereas there is general agreement that the funeral arrangements are for the benefit of the bereaved not the deceased. It's feared that the absence of a ritual send-off leads to a failure to grieve properly, storing up mental health issues in the future.Ruth Peacock hosted this discussion with report authors Rev Prof Douglas Davies, Director of the Centre for Death and Life Studies at the University of Durham; and Dr Georgina Robinson. They were joined by Alan Jose, who has spent his entire career in the industry and is now ambassador for the Westerleigh Group; and Julie Dunk, CEO of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The Vatican's declaration on human dignity, Dignitas Infinita, has created headlines on what it says about sex change operations. Its 12,000 words conclude there are many grave threats to human dignity on issues such as poverty, human trafficking and war, alongside sexual and reproductive ethics. But although the section on gender theory, surrogacy, abortion and sex change operations is only 1,000 words long, it is dominating the reports.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, the panel discussed why the document appeared to row back from more liberal moves on sexual ethics, with the Pope earlier giving the green light to gay blessings. Panellists suggested there had been a lack of consultation with trans and LGBTQ+ people, in contrast to moves towards great involvement of lay people in decision-making through synod discussions.There was concern that the report would be used as a weapon against trans people, as those outside the church picked up comments from church leaders to attack groups they don't like. And in America, where Catholic health institutions care for around one in five people, there was concern that new church directives on issues including gender transition may reflect the Vatican report and persuade people to offer "a condemnatory, or even a ban" on gender change operations.Hosted by Leo Devine, our panellists were: Christopher White, Vatican correspondent of the National Catholic Reporter; Robert Shine, Associate Director of New Ways Ministry, which campaigns for LGBTQ+ equity, inclusion, and justice; and Canon Sarah Jones, trans Anglican priest.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

There's a resurgence of interest across the world in Passion Plays, which depict the story of Jesus from Palm Sunday to the resurrection. The main one in Britain is at Trafalgar Square, produced by the Wintershall Trust, which attracts audiences of 20,000. There are at least twenty others taking place in towns and cities across Britain. But this year they are staged against a backdrop of heightened community tension and rising antisemitism after the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel and the war in Gaza.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, the panel discusses how producers are paying closer attention to words, settings and costume this year in order to remove antisemitism, while Jewish communities report anxiety over the way Jews are portrayed in the dramas. A rabbi tells the briefing that the British Jewish community is small and most people who see a Passion Play will never knowingly meet a Jew here, so what is said about them is a huge responsibility. Hosted by Ruth Peacock, the panel is:-Rev Dr Nathan Eddy, Do-Director, Council of Christians and Jews-Dr Katie Turner, Consultant on visual depictions of the Bible-Prof Jolyon Mitchell, Principal, St John's College Durham-Charlotte de Klee, producer of the Wintershall Passion of Jesus-Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers, Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue-Alex Stewart-Clark, trustee of The Passion TrustLinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The UK is experiencing a swirl of headlines and widespread concern at the extent of hatred targeting Muslim and Jewish communities. Since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, there has been a huge rise in incidents of Islamophobia and antisemitism, and arguments over the policing of pro-Palestine marches where chanting and banners have caused offence. News headlines have been dominated by rows over Islamophobic comments by politicians. The Prime Minister delivered a speech on the steps of Downing Street warning that extremist forces are trying to tear the country apart. The government's response is to redefine extremism but this has been met with alarm by both archbishops who say that in itself will divide the country and vilify the wrong people.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, faith leaders discuss how religious hatred can be tackled. It became clear that neither the anti-Muslim hatred working group nor the cross-government working group on antisemitism have met since before the Covid pandemic. Community leaders said they felt let down and abandoned. Ruth Peacock hosted with guests:-Akeela Ahmed, the chair of independent members on the government’s anti-Muslim hatred working group.-Imam Qari Asim, who was sacked as the government's adviser on Islamophobia in 2022 after comments on the "Our Lady of Heaven" film.-Daniel Sugarman, public affairs director at the Board of Deputies.-Rabbi Debbie Long-Somers of Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue.-Prof Adeela Ahmed Shafi, co-founder of the Bristol Muslim Strategic Leadership Group.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The Church of England has been boiling over in recent months, with divisions on same-sex blessings and frustration at the debacle over safeguarding, with talk of parishes withholding money and calls for an alternative set of bishops. But the February 2024 General Synod struck a different tone. There were some issues on which the whole synod agreed, such as more churches on housing estates. And the clergy felt appreciated, with open discussion on their pay and pensions and moves to deal with rebellious church councils.But on same-sex blessings, the synod is stuck, unable to find two thirds in favour of any current proposal, so the lead bishop appealed for peace and reconciliation and agreed to provide clear proposals on how the church can stay together. The church’s bureaucratic failures on safeguarding were displayed in two highly critical reports, and the synod decided to move forward with a plan, despite a disagreement over the way this would be done.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, Rosie Dawson spoke to some of the leading voices from the synod to find out if a page had been turned and a split averted. Her guests included: Prof Helen King; Ven Dr Miranda Threlfall-Holmes; Rev Dr Andrew Goddard; Rev John Bavington, Great Horton, Bradford; Susie Leafe, Anglican Futures; Debbie Buggs, Church Pastoral Aid Society; and Paul Waddell, representing Southwark diocese.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The charity Inform (Information Network Focus on Religious Movements) has just celebrated its 35th anniversary and in this briefing, we look back at its work with founder, Professor Eileen Barker; honorary director, Dr Suzanne Newcombe; and senior research officer, Dr Sarah Harvey.Inform's role has always been to research and communicate information about minority religions, sects and new religious movements. Over 35 years, the landscape has changed from clearly visible groups like the Moonies and the Children of God, to invisible networks on social media, where ideas bounce and re-emerge across them all, and increasingly new groups within mainstream traditions. The continuing growth of new religious movements across the board looks certain to secure Inform's future, with Dr Newcombe observing that "people's beliefs and practices are not going away, they're just changing contexts. And even if it appears that people aren't identifying with institutional religion, they're still doing similar things". LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

A report by Prof Alexis Jay into safeguarding in the Church of England recommends two new charities should be set up to deliver and scrutinise safeguarding operations, and they should be entirely separate from the church. It says the current safeguarding system is “flawed and cannot be sufficiently improved whilst it remains within church oversight” and needs to fundamentally change to restore the confidence of victims, survivors and clergy.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, our panel discuss the report’s tough criticism of the current safeguarding system on seven key issues including inconsistent systems across all 42 dioceses, failure to collect data and lack of independent scrutiny. They consider how this major change can be implemented when confidence and trust are at an all-time low. And they voice complaints that this is another structural change which will be forced through like those which failed before, and that the same people involved in the collapse of the last system have been assembled to oversee the setting up of the new charities, with an absence of survivors at the heart.Ruth Peacock hosts, with guests: Julie Conalty, the Bishop of Birkenhead; Rev Dr Ian Paul, member of the Archbishops’ Council; Andrew Graystone, advocate for survivors of church abuse; Jane Chevous, co-founder of Survivors Voices; and Justin Humphries, CEO of Thirtyone Eight, a Christian organisation dealing with safeguarding.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The impending closure of the Inter Faith Network after 37 years has shocked and dismayed faith leaders across the UK. The government says it is withdrawing funding because a new IFN trustee is associated with the Muslim Council of Britain, an organisation which the government will not speak to due to a dispute in 2009.The Inter Faith Network was set up to raise awareness and understanding of different faith communities and promote good interfaith relations. It has supported local initiatives and brought together national faith organisations to provide opportunities for safe dialogue, especially needed during the flashpoints of the Rushdie book burning, 9/11 and terrorist attacks in the UK.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, speakers said its role was more important than ever at the moment against the background of war in the Middle East. So the decision to withdraw funding was outrageous and devastating, leading to predictions that dialogue will wither. Rosie Dawson hosted this discussion with many speakers including Dr Harriet Crabtree, executive director Inter Faith Network; Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra; Dr Ed Kessler, founder director of the Woolf Institute; the Bishop of Bradford Toby Howarth; and Bishop Patrick McKinney, lead Catholic bishop for inter-religious dialogue; plus many local interfaith activists.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Church leaders have hit back at allegations that they are naively backing fraudulent asylum claims by accepting the validity of fake conversions. In a Religion Media Centre briefing, The Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani said wisdom and discernment needed to be applied to the conversion process and it should not be seen as a ticket to get someone magically through the asylum process. There was no “cast-iron set of criteria to be 100 per cent sure of what’s going on in people’s hearts and minds”.The Tory MP Tim Loughton, who asked in the Commons whether the Archbishop of Canterbury was effectively “scamming the taxpayer” over fake asylum claims, told the briefing that the Church of England's guidance should encourage clergy to test the validity of conversions. And he believed the smaller Christian groups and churches needed to create their own guidelines for work with asylum seekers, in association with the Home Office.Ruth Peacock hosted this discussion, which also included: Emily Shepherd, CEO of the Welcome Churches Network; Pastor Graham Nicholls, director of the Affinity network of evangelical churches; Krish Kandiah, founder and CEO of The Sanctuary Foundation, Gulwali Passarlay, former asylum seeker; and the Rev Jonathan Keyworth, formerly Heywood Baptist church, Manchester, which has a large Iranian congregation.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The National Churches Trust has published a manifesto calling for urgent action to save the UK’s church buildings. ‘Every Church Counts’ sets out a six-point plan to support volunteers, make more use of church buildings for the community, achieve annual government funding of £50 million for maintenance and repairs, work with tourism organisations to make more of their heritage, keep them open for the community outside worship times, and collect the information and data on church buildings and their role.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, the panel discusses the current situation where churches are forced to close. They explore the options for keeping them maintained, functioning and open as assets in their communities. Chaired by Rosie Dawson, our panel is:Sir Philip Rutnam, chair of the National Churches TrustClaire Walker, Chief Executive of the National Churches TrustBishop Vivienne Faull, one of two lead bishops for church and cathedral buildingsEmily Gee, Director for Cathedral and Church Buildings for the Church of EnglandRev Scott Rennie, the Vice-Chair of the General Trustees Church of Scotland Alex Glanville, Head of Property Services Church in WalesSophie Andreae, Vice-chair of the Patrimony Committee of the Catholic Bishops ConferenceLinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The Media Bill going through parliament will change the landscape for public service broadcasters — the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, STV and S4C. They are being given powers for more flexible programming and the requirement to include specific genres of programmes on religion, science and arts will be removed. Questions have been raised as to whether this endangers the provision of religious broadcasting, where there has already been a dramatic decline over the past ten years.In this briefing, our panel discuss the bill and the campaign to ensure hours of religious programming continue to be catalogued and reviewed. Ruth Peacock hosted, with panellists: Bishop Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, and lead bishop on the media in the House of Lords; Roger Bolton, journalist and broadcaster; Professor Kim Knott, author of 'Media Portrayals of Religion and the Secular Sacred'; Gareth Barr, Director of Policy and Regulation, ITV; Mark Friend, author of BBC Religion and Ethics Review 2017; David Strachan, trustee of Sandford St Martin Trust.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Reporters on religion joined our panel to look ahead at the stories likely to make the headlines in 2024, within the UK and around the world. They unpacked headlines such as the way religion will be interwoven in the US and UK election campaigns, the response to war in Israel / Gaza and its impact among religious groups here, a split in the Church of England over same-sex blessings, Pope Francis and the Rome synod, alongside long-running stories on climate change, poverty and freedom of religion.Our panel included our own reporters Tim Wyatt, Catherine Pepinster, Amardeep Bassey and Julia Bicknell, with guests Madeleine Davies, senior writer, Church Times; Bob Smietana, national reporter for the US Religion News Service; Peter Robertson, senior journalist at Christian Aid; and Paul Bickley, Director of Political Engagement at Theos.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The Church of England has agreed to introduce standalone services for blessing same-sex couples, for a trial period, following a marathon 10-hour debate at the general synod. But the church is deeply divided, with just four votes in it as the final proposal passed. In this Religion Media Centre briefing, the panel spoke of their concern at the tight votes, the lack of consensus, the possibility of schism and the prospect of “years and years more” of discussion over alternative structures for people who disagree. LGBT people welcomed the outcome as a gentle, positive move forward, but they found the debate with familiar arguments against same-sex relationships were “ intensely painful”. There was a reluctance to talk of schism, but bewilderment as to how the opposing sides could still be in the same church. And there was an acknowledgment that this was a watershed moment, a shift following decades of argument.Rosie Dawson hosted with panelists: Bishop Jill Duff, Bishop of Lancaster; Canon Andrew Goddard; Professor Helen King; Rev Dr Charlie Bell; Susie Leafe; Rev Dr Patrick Richmond; Ven Mark Ireland; Canon Dr Mandy Ford.

The Sunday programme on BBC Radio 4 has been going for more than 50 years, reporting and explaining stories about religion across the globe. To mark the 50-year milestone, SPCK has brought out a book simply called "Sunday", written by presenter Ed Stourton, and producer and editor Amanda Hancox. They identify 19 topics which the programme has reported and returned to over the decades, from internal Church of England rows to global political shifts.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, past reporters, presenters and producers remember the stand-out moments and the camaraderie that kept the programme lively and sharp. Ruth Peacock hosted, with guests Amanda Hancox, Mike Wooldridge, Emily Buchanan, Trevor Barnes, Alison Hilliard, Christopher Landau and Tim Maby.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Community reporting in England is under threat, as Meta (formerly Facebook) withdraws a multi-million-pound scheme providing community reporters, and the BBC cuts local radio broadcasting hours to become regional instead. Editors representing local publishing groups said the cut was like a hammer blow and they are trying to secure alternative funding, speaking to MPs for support.In a Religion Media Centre briefing, they agreed that the future lies in collaboration between all engaged in local community journalism, including independent neighbourhood titles, community broadcasters and the BBC which is planning to hire local digital reporters for more online content. There was also a plea to emphasise that every reporter is a community reporter and all should have the skills and knowledge to enable them to reflect under-reported communities.Leo Devine hosted this briefing with guests:Amardeep Bassey, community reporter based in the West MidlandsMary Dowson, Director and one of the founders of Bradford Community BroadcastingToby Granville, Editorial Director at Newsquest Media Group and board director of the National Council for the Training of JournalistsRobert Barman, Managing Editor, KM Media Group, Iliffe MediaHelen Dalby, Audience and Content Director, Reach PLCDr Liam McCarthy, Honorary Fellow, Department of History, Politics & International Relations, University of Leicester, and former Managing Editor of BBC Radios Leicester Sheffield and Nottingham, and Head of BBC Local Radio TrainingDr Rachel Matthews, Coventry University, former newspaper reporter and lecturer on regional newspapers and communitiesDr David Baines, Newcastle University, lecturer on journalism, localities and communitiesLinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

In this Religion Media Centre Big Interview, Rosie Dawson speaks to Robert Jones about his latest book - "The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future". Origin stories are really important – they determine how America sees itself, and they are one of the reasons why we’re fighting so much over our history, right now,” says Robert P Jones, founder and president of Public Policy Research Institute in Washington DC.In his latest book - "The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future" - Robert Jones argues that the stories America tells itself about its beginnings need to reach back beyond the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to the year 1493 when a Papal bull enshrining the “doctrine of discovery” gave European settlers divine justification for the enslavement and genocide of Native American peoples. Jones believes that it is only by coming to terms with this history that America can build a shared future. LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Headteachers, especially in urban areas with multiple nationalities, are enthusiastic about providing Religious Education, as children are surrounded in daily life by different religious dress, symbols and customs. And the future of all children, from rural or urban settings, is global, with many religions, many cultures, many languages and a competitive global market.Religious Education has a unique place in the school curriculum, spanning different subject areas, but it is hard to provide, with fewer trained specialist teachers and a crowded curriculum. This year’s exam results showed GCSE is stable with RE remaining as the 7th most popular subject, A-level results showed a slight dip in entries, fewer students chose to study Theology or Religious Studies at university, and fewer have chosen to train to teach RE, forming a “dangerous cycle”.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, teachers, academics and RE advisers discussed the state of RE and how to secure its future. This includes rebranding RE as Religion and Worldviews, or in Wales, Religion Values and Ethics, providing education on how people understand, interpret and respond to the world from religious and non-religious perspectives. It also includes a plea for a national plan to support high standards in RE provision and bursaries to encourage new teachers.Hosted by Ruth Peacock, our panelists are: Deborah Weston, Chair of the RE Policy Unit for NATRE, the REC and RE Today; Dr Tim Hutchings, University of Nottingham TRS-UK; Heather Marshall, Senior Lecturer and Religious Education PGCE Course Leader at Edge Hill University; Claire Clinton, Director RE hubs project; Jennifer Harding-Richards, Wales RE hub lead; Manjit Kaur, chair of Coventry and Warwickshire SACRE; and Ed Pawson, Deputy Chair of the Religious Education Council.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Children's book author Onjali Rauf told the Religion Media Festival 2023 that children should not be overly protected from the problems of the world today. When she speaks in schools, she finds that children ask tough and great questions, which she describes as the “Tintin moment”, after the boy reporter in Hergé's stories, who kept asking questions to solve baffling mysteries. That is why, when delivering any talk, she carries with her a toy dog like Snowy, Tintin's loyal companion.Tintin’s legacy, she believes, “centres on the courage to ask your question, to move forward and try to find the answers”, a quest for the truth linked to journalism. She explained that the children ask her questions arising from the bold themes she confronts in her books, from her best-seller "The Boy at the Back of the Class", the story of a refugee who finds a kind friend when he arrives at a UK school, to domestic abuse, being in foster care, suddenly losing a parent and being homeless.Addressing the festival, she spoke of her public role as a woman of visible faith and campaigner for the rights of women and refugees. Following Onjali's address, presenter Hannah Scott-Joynt teased out the story with her own set of questions.The festival was held at the JW3 Centre in North London, with a programme organised by the Religion Media Centre.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, president of Theology and Religious Studies UK, told the Religion Media Festival 2023 of her passion to ensure that the study of religion is given a degree of seriousness in schools and is part of the national curriculum. But it was time to rebrand religious education to reflect world views and lived experiences, so “world views” was a good way forward. She said it was about moving away from the textbook and focusing on lived experience - ethical issues, morality, religion, politics, history.Dr Takhar, who is also director of the Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies at Wolverhampton University, said the media representation of Sikhs in Britain was important and she condemned the recent report, Does Government Do God, by the government faith adviser, Colin Bloom, as wrong and damaging to the reputation of the Sikh community. However, she did agree with the recommendation to improve religious literacy across the board.The festival was held at the JW3 Centre in North London, with a programme organised by the Religion Media Centre.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The American evangelist Franklin Graham, who believes Donald Trump defends the Christian faith, now confirms that Trump definitely lost the 2020 election. In an interview with Roger Bolton for the Religion Media Centre, he said there was no question the election was lost, though he acknowledged that millions of people do not believe that.Aged 71, Franklin Graham attracts thousands at his rallies around the world, following in the footsteps of his father, Billy Graham. He is returning to Britain for a rally at the Excel Centre in London on Saturday 26 August entitled “God Loves You”.In his interview, Mr Graham made clear his unchanging views on the infallibility of the Bible, the need for conversion, the certainty of hellfire for unbelievers and a prohibition on gay sex. This caused controversy in Britain, where all eight of his rallies in 2020 were cancelled after protests that his views were divisive.But he took legal action and won, re-instating many of the events. Mr Graham believes that God has called him to preach, but he does not regard himself as special to other evangelists, although his events attract many thousands of people: “I’ve tried to use these opportunities in life that God has opened up and use them for his glory,” he said.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Sir David Lidington, once the de facto deputy prime minister under Theresa May, and long-standing member of the Church of England, has spoken of his shock at discovering a total breakdown of trust within the church: "I was used to acrimony in politics, but I hadn’t expected to find it in the church”.In this RMC "Big Interview", Sir David told Roger Bolton of the deep suspicion he found at all levels while writing "The National Church Governance Report", which proposes an overhaul of CofE structures. He said the mistrust “bedevilled” efforts to bring people together when confronting divisive issues such as same-sex marriage or the safeguarding process.The new governance proposals could take two years to be enacted, and Sir David said he hoped restructuring would contribute to a rebuilding of trust. But a change of culture was also needed to move the CofE into a “more trustful direction where people do have greater confidence in each other”.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The rich pageantry, sacred music and innovative liturgy will make the coronation service of King Charles III a profound statement of how the modern era meets a thousand-year-old tradition. Royal authors, the Rev Prof Ian Bradley and journalist Catherine Pepinster, were joined by Canon Prof Alison Milbank to analyse the order of service.Their overriding impression is to note the centrality of the idea of service from beginning to end, and its very Protestant nature.They discuss the historical involvement of non-Anglican clergy in prayers of blessing, including the contribution of Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the first time a Roman Catholic has been involved in a coronation since the Reformation.They talk about the significance of the presence of faith leaders, carrying regalia or offering greetings to the King, which is a significant break with tradition, reflecting the King’s long-standing interest in all faiths.They shed insight on the oaths where the King swears he is a faithful Protestant and pledges to maintain the Protestant Reformed religion, both of which remain intact. Their explanation is that the Church, the Government and the Palace ran out of time to introduce the necessary Act of Parliament to change the oath to something more inclusive.The now infamous request for the public to pledge allegiance to the King provokes polar opposite views, from immense scepticism to gratitude that the public is included in some way.They suggest that the ritual, music and words may make this coronation even longer than the late Queen’s, certainly not less than two hours.As for the long-lasting impact of the service on the public, they said this would depend in some part on how broadcasters shape their commentary. If they keep their counsel at the moment when the King is anointed in secrecy behind a canopy, then this would be a very profound sacred moment.This podcast should be used in tandem with Catherine Pepinster’s explainer: "Order of Service – the coronation of King Charles III"LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The Evangelical Alliance has cautioned evangelicals within the Church of England that it is too early to leave in protest at same-sex blessings, because the pastoral guidance, including words for the prayers of blessing, has not been issued yet. CEO Gavin Calver, speaking to Roger Bolton for the Religion Media Centre Big Interview, said that a number of Anglican churches will probably join his organisation because they are seeking unity with other evangelicals while staying put in a challenging situation.Large evangelical Anglican churches have announced they are withholding money from central church organisations and threatening to break away in protest. Evangelicals base their objection to same-sex relationships on interpretations of seven verses in the Bible, which they believe is “the inspired word of God”. Mr Calver confirmed that he believed every word of the Bible was true, though he conceded there was a development on ideas within the text, with teachings in the New Testament superseding some of the old.While church attendance in England is in general decline, he said the Evangelical Alliance had seen the biggest growth in individual membership in 25 years, over the past twelve months. His ambition is to grow individual membership from 19,000 to 50,000. He also addressed the importance of speaking out on behalf of “the least and the lost”, his rejection of the idea that all faiths lead to heaven, and the danger of all-powerful leaders without accountability.Mr Calver is the latest in a family dynasty to lead the Evangelical Alliance, having followed his father Clive and his grandfather Gilbert. He acknowledged that the job could be really hard and he coped by “running with Jesus” for an hour every morning when he said God spoke to him. He also spends two hours a week escaping from it all watching AFC Wimbledon: “One Jesus, one football team, one wife. If I can stay loyal to all three, I’ve done my bit.”LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Justin Welby was virtually unknown outside Anglican circles when he became Archbishop of Canterbury in March 2013. Ten tumultuous years later, the mild-mannered Old Etonian has become a globally recognised figure, having helped the Church of England navigate troubled times, ranging from bitter theological disputes over women bishops and gay relationships to the Covid pandemic and the death of Queen Elizabeth.His leadership style, achievements, and legacy were reflected upon during this Religion Media Centre briefing to mark 10 years since he took up the post.The panel discussed the key flashpoints he has faced - deep divisions over sexuality, the consultation Living in Love and Faith leading to a vote to allow blessings for gay couples, the resulting row with evangelicals and traditionalists threatening to leave, damning reports on safeguarding issues over multiple cases of sex abuse, new initiatives to combat racism in the church, falling church membership, loss of income leading to church closures, evangelistic missions regarded as a threat to the parish system, more bureaucracy, and bishops.Yet he has successes - he got through a measure allowing women to be bishops, he led a successful Lambeth conference of global Anglicans healing fractures for a while over sexuality, and he has spoken out on issues of morality, poverty, refugees, gambling, climate change, and peacemaking.The panel discussed the personal toll of dealing with multiple crises, but he is regarded as a “gentle leader” whose self-deprecating humility meant he was not afraid to ask for help. He is 67, three years away from the mandatory retirement age for all CofE bishops and he has said he has no plans to stand down.Our panel: Bishop Paul Bayes, the former Bishop of Liverpool; Rev Prof Alison Milbank, University of Nottingham, on the steering committee of Save the Parish; Prof Helen King, member of General Synod and the Living in Love and Faith project; Canon Dr. Anderson Jeremiah, University of Lancaster and former member of the Archbishop's Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

A campaign to attract a new generation of RE teachers has been launched by a number of Religious Education teaching organisations after applications plummeted by a third this year.The reasons given were workload, pay and retention, alongside outdated perceptions that RE teachers must have a theology degree and/or a religious belief.In a Religion Media Centre briefing, our panel explained how RE has changed from Christian instruction to an exploration of world views, helping young people move into a world where they have to navigate complex, challenging, and difficult issues. Young people and their parents are starting to value it more, but school systems haven’t caught up with the changes.The “Beyond the Ordinary” campaign aims to attract graduates and others wanting a career change, and our briefing suggested university theology and religious studies departments have a key role in encouraging new recruits.The shortage of qualified RE teachers means many lessons are delivered by teachers with no specialist training and this may be behind an increase in demand for local religious leaders to come into schools to explain their faith. The briefing heard of a project to consider rules of best practice, warning of the damage that can be done if the wrong kind of thing is said – all the more reason to ensure the provision of qualified RE teachers.Our panel was: Dr Kathryn Wright, Chief executive, Culham St Gabriel's Trust; Dr Tim Hutchings, Assistant Professor in Religious Ethics at the University of Nottingham; Heather Williams, associate tutor in Religious Education at Edge Hill University, Liverpool; and Catherine Hughes, chair of SACRE at St Helens, Merseyside.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Pope Francis’ election ten years ago was a huge surprise. His humble, simple style confused the faithful – he chose to live in a suite at the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse, instead of the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. He carried his own suitcase, took the bus, and used a small car. His first pastoral visit was to the island of Lampedusa off the coast of Sicily to pray for refugees and migrants lost at sea. Throughout his ten years, he has spoken for the marginalised and his marks of office are servant leadership.Reflections on his ten years in office were offered by panellists in a Religion Media Centre Briefing, marking the anniversary of his election on 13 March 2013. They spoke of his determination to tackle issues of social justice and equality head-on, his bravery in starting a process of consultation “synodality” to animate the grassroots of the church, his appeals for peace in Ukraine and South Sudan, his constant attention to issues of global concern such as poverty, war and climate change, demanding action in response.His understanding of the church as embracing all including the marginalised has led him to offer the “help of sacraments” to divorced Catholics and saying of LGBTQ+ people “who am I to judge?”. While held in high affection by the majority of Catholics, during the last ten years, he has attracted venomous opposition, especially in the United States, with a ferocity unprecedented in many ways. And despite his ill health and mobility issues, it has become clear that he intends to stay in office rather than retire early like his predecessor.Our panel: Christopher Lamb, Vatican correspondent for The Tablet, journalist, and author of The Outsider: Pope Francis and His Battle to Reform the Church; Professor Anna Rowlands, St Hilda Associate Professor of Catholic Social Thought & Practice in the Department of Theology and Religion, University of Durham; The Bishop of Salford, John Arnold; Kerry Weber, Executive Editor, America magazine; and Fr Damian Howard, Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

There is much more to the Kate Forbes row over same-sex marriage than secularism versus out-of-date conservative Christianity, according to commentators in this week’s Religion Media Centre briefing. The key issue is the place of conscience which seems fixed, infallible, and impervious to change. And the intense media commentary illustrates that religious convictions are treated in a different league from political dissent.Hosted by Rosie Dawson, our guests are: Simon Barrow, director of the religion and society think tank Ekklesia; Dr Jessica Scott, University of Nottingham; Ben Rich, Chief Executive of Big Tent and Radix, and Tim Farron's former chief of staff; Nick Spencer, senior fellow at think tank Theos; Yahya Birt, research director of the Ayaan Institute; and Frank Cranmer, honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Law & Religion UK.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The doyenne of British cooking and the passionate owner of Norwich Football Club, Delia Smith, took a massive step outside her comfort zone last year. The bestselling author of countless cookery books, famed for teaching the nation to boil an egg, has made headlines with an altogether different kind of read. In “You Matter: The Human Solution”, she considers human nature, that we all matter, we are all unique, and all have our own responsibility in the universe. In the Big Interview with the RMC’s Roger Bolton, she says that she is utterly optimistic about the strength of the human spirit and would “probably die for it”. Baptised in the Church of England, Delia Smith converted to Catholicism aged 22 and says in this book that she hopes to encourage people to realise their inner strength in order to understand their unique role in the world.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

As the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches, the full extent of the devastation of war is being assessed. 7,200 civilians have been killed and almost 12,000 injured. 8 million people have fled as refugees and 5 million are displaced within the country. In this Religion Media Centre briefing, faith leaders discuss the way churches have played a critical role in providing humanitarian aid with the need for food and shelter developing into provision of “psycho-social support” for the many dimensions of living in a country torn by war.The fracturing of the Orthodox church was discussed, with churches, priests and congregations changing their allegiance from Moscow to Constantinople instead. And in the UK, where more than 150,000 refugees have settled, civil society and church groups have been mobilised to care for people who arrived with nothing. Catholic Ukrainian churches were on the front line, and now there is a brand new church in the UK, the Ukraine Orthodox church, still looking for a building to call home.Leo Devine hosts this discussion with Peter Robertson, from Christian Aid, a senior journalist on humanitarian aid who has recently visited Ukraine to report on the front line; Rev. Fr. Myroslav Pushkaruk, who is establishing additional Ukrainian Orthodox parishes in the UK; Father Taras Khomych, Catholic Priest of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and senior lecturer in early Christian literature and Byzantine theology at Liverpool Hope Univechurchrsity; Sergei Chapnin, from the Orthodox Christian studies centre, Fordham University, New York; and Krish Kandiah, founder of Sanctuary UK who has mobilised places of refuge for Ukrainian people.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

For almost two weeks, a revival has taken place at Asbury College, Kentucky, where thousands of people have taken part in non-stop praise and worship. It began with students following a regular chapel service that snowballed through live feeds and social media to include thousands of people of all ages, some of whom travelled thousands of miles to be part of the experience.It resembled revival meetings of old, with singing of familiar songs, free-flowing prayer, and kneeling in repentance. But this was a charismatic experience, which included soft speaking in tongues, movement and arms held high in praise.In our briefing, historians observed that revivals are a fairly regular occurrence at Asbury college, which grew out of the Methodist revival movement.Academics who have studied revivals explained they can be explained not just as a psychological phenomenon but as a response to change, often happening at a time when people feel they are losing something important to their identity. Now American religion is in decline, with fewer people, especially younger people, saying they are affiliated to Christianity, and it is a moment of cultural crisis. Comparisons were noted with the insurrection on Capitol Hill, where protesters blew shofar horns, sang songs and prayed, and it is said there is an overlap between some of the people attending the revival and those who were Trump supporters. Politicians, it is said, have used the model of revival worship to whip up political support in campaigning tactics.The Asbury revival has united people of different generations and political ideas. It is different to others in that it has no identifiable leaders - it sprang up spontaneously and is organic in nature. It is an amateur rather than a professional enterprise which has a paid group of preachers leading it.Could it happen in the UK? A Methodist minister, Rev Ashley Cooper, explained that all Methodists pray for revival, but in the broadest sense of the transformation of the church and the nation, not for an effervescent moment, though it is in those warm experiences that awakening can occur.Our guests in the briefing were Bob Smietana, reporter with the Religion News Service; Dr John Maiden, Head of Department of Religious Studies at the Open University; Dr Leah Payne, Associate Professor of American Religious History, George Fox University; Rev Ashley Cooper, principal of Cliff College, Derbyshire; and Kami Rice, former student president at Asbury College.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Churches in England are being forced to close due to crumbling buildings, declining congregations, and loss of income. But a report from Church Action on Poverty concludes that churches in deprived areas in Greater Manchester are closing at a faster rate than in more affluent neighbourhoods.The report ‘Is the Church Losing Faith in Low-Income Communities in Greater Manchester?’ compared the number of churches in the city in 2010 with those that remain in 2020. Its findings were discussed in an RMC briefing hosted by Rosie Dawson with many guests working in churches in the margins. Niall Cooper, director of CAP, says there must be a reason why churches in deprived areas are closed more frequently and believes there are forces at play, where churches with fewer resources, less money, and potentially fewer human assets are the ones that close.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

The chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Michael Wegier, has been speaking about his passionate moderation and optimism in a difficult job, with the desire of British Jews for a robust, secure community. Speaking to Roger Bolton for the Religion Media Centre’s Big Interview, he expressed his “absolute belief” in Sir Keir Starmer’s “root and branch” approach to stamping out antisemitism, saying the community experienced a very difficult period when Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader but that his successor was making amends. In a wide-ranging interview, he was asked about politics in Israel, the need for education about Judaism in the UK, the holocaust memorial, and relationships with the media.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Exhausted, sad, confused, anxious, and angry - the legacy of the Church of England’s tortuous eight-hour debate on same-sex blessings. The general synod re-stated church doctrine on marriage but allowed same-sex blessings, with bishops promising to produce suggested prayers and pastoral guidance by July. In this Religion Media Centre Briefing, our bewildered panel said there was so much more information they need – on the nature of marriage, the response of the worldwide Anglican communion, what the guidance will say about clergy in same-sex marriages, how to be united in a deeply divided church, and the possibility of alternative parallel structures.Rosie Dawson hosted this conversation with the Bishop of Lancaster Jill Duff; the Bishop of Reading Olivia Graham; Rev Dr Ian Paul; Rev Dr Charlie Bell; Ed Shaw, co-chair of the Church of England Evangelical Council; Professor Helen King, vice chair of the gender and sexuality group on general synod; Busola Sodeinde, a Church Commissioner; Rev Dr Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, church historian and theologian and acting archdeacon of Liverpool; and Nicola Denyer, lay minister from Newcastle.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Journalist Ruth Peacock hosts a discussion about The Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and the moderator of the Church of Scotland the Rev Dr Iain Greenshields visiting South Sudan this weekend on a “pilgrimage of peace”.South Sudan is going through an ongoing civil war, frequent floods have wiped out homes and livelihoods causing widespread food shortages and there are millions of displaced people. The country is 60 percent Christian and most are Catholic, but Dr Greenshields said this ecumenical trip is a historic occasion, the first time that the Pope and reformed leaders have done something together since the reformation.They are meeting politicians and religious leaders, as well as people living on the edge dealing with multiple crises. There is also a massive prayer meeting planned with an expected congregation of 60,000 when the church leaders will encourage communities to find a way forward for peace.Our Religion Media Centre briefing included guests the Rev Dr Iain Greenshields; Tom Delamare, CAFOD’s deputy country representative for South Sudan; and Lucy Gillingham, from Jesuit Missions, recently returned from South Sudan. Guests from the Episcopal Church of South Sudan were unfortunately unable to join due to internet failure.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Journalist Rosie Dawson hosts a debate on the Church of England bishops saying they will not agree to marry same-sex couples in church. This comes after a five-year process, Living in Love and Faith, aimed at achieving a consensus among church members where the issue is bitterly divisive. We’ve assembled people from all sides of the debate to join in our discussion.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Hannah Scott-Joynt is joined by regular co-hosts Leo Devine and Rosie Dawson who reflect on the big events of 2022. They are joined by two journalists with specific expertise to discuss perhaps the two biggest stories of the year. Times columnist and Lib Dem politician, Edward Lucas sheds light on the war in Ukraine. His 2008 publication 'The New Cold War: Putin's Russia and the Threat to the West' saw it all coming, but he takes no delight in being proved right. He confidently predicts that this will be Putin’s last winter before a messy clear-up begins.Catherine Pepinster is also on board as a royal constitution and coronation expert who looks back at all the events and ceremonies surrounding the Queen’s death, and looks forward to the King’s coronation in 2023. And if all that seems a bit heavy, Leo reminds us of Pablo the singing goat – the unlikely musical star of 2022.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Hannah Scott-Joynt is joined by regular co-host Leo Devine who reflects with her on the main religious news from the past week and looks forward to Christmas. They are joined by regular RMC journo Amardeep Bassey; visual artist, photographer, and Jameel scholar Shaista Chishty, and the Rev Kate Bottley, who help them understand the enduring appeal of Christmas not only to Christians but also to Sikhs, Muslims, and people of no particular faith who just like the odd carol and getting together to celebrate. What is it about the Christmas story that gives it such wide appeal? The different faiths represented discover a shared feeling around the importance of community, Christmas TV schedules, and celebrating the birth of this significant child.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Hannah Scott-Joynt is joined by regular journos Rosie Dawson and Leo Devine who reflect on the main religious news from the past week which is all about the Census results. What does Christianity’s apparent demise mean for the UK in terms of its description as a Christian country, the potential disestablishment of the Church of England, religious education in schools and what spiritual representation, if any, makes sense in the House of Lords?The team are joined by Chine McDonald, director of Theos Think Tank, and sociologist Dr Lois Lee who led the research programme “Understanding Unbelief” at the University of Kent. Leo galvanises some opinions from a church-based foodbank in Truro, and on a lighter note tells us about a tattooist in Jerusalem who loves nothing better than tattooing pilgrim grannies with the Jerusalem cross. “Go girl” as Hannah rightly puts it.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

With all eyes on the World Cup, has anyone noticed the growing tendency of football players to point to the sky, or cross themselves after scoring a goal, thanking God for their success? In one striking example, Ecuador players knelt in prayer together after the ball hit the back of the net in their 2-0 win against Qatar. Hannah Scott-Joynt and journos Rosie Dawson and Leo Devine try to find out what this all means, in conversation with Matt Baker, national director for England and pastoral support director in English football sports chaplaincy UK, and Rabbi Alex Goldberg, who chairs the English Football Association's Faith Network. While Qatar’s record on human rights comes under the spotlight in the World Cup, Rabbi Alex talks about efforts in English football to be inclusive, stamping out racism and tackling antisemitism. He considers Channel 4’s recent programme “Jews Don’t Count” where David Baddiel argues that antisemitism is low down the list of priorities in identity politics, even in football.LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709

Hannah Scott-Joynt is joined by regular journos Rosie Dawson and Leo Devine who reflect on the religious news from the past week. Rosie is frustrated to discover that according to one scientific report, she could have sung in church throughout the pandemic after all, without danger of spreading infection, and Leo picks up on a report from the Methodist Church that the help offered to the poorest in society by the Chancellor this week just hasn’t gone far enough.They are then joined by another regular, Amardeep Bassey, who has been running training programmes for journalists on how to report the World Cup from a strict Muslim country. He has encouraged his trainees not to ignore the ordinary Qataris and says that this shouldn’t just be a three-week focus, but the beginning of more exposure of the conservative Islamic culture of the area. Rev Richard Cole, a keen football fan and member of the LGBTQ+ community, joins the conversation and welcomes the way the World Cup opened up the debate in Russia and is hopeful it will do the same in Qatar.But Richard was really there, with his half a million followers on Twitter, to discuss the Musk revolution of the Twittersphere. Despite the changes and some concerning developments, he still believes it is a force for good and remembers the support he received when he lost his partner David. Also regarding Elon Musk’s plans, he says that it’s not a good idea to pay too much attention to the person at the top – of any institution!LinksWebsite: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmwContact [email protected](+44) 0203 970 0709