Church

Kazakhstan targets home groups, private prayer in new religious freedom crackdown
Kazakhstan targets home groups, private prayer in new religious freedom crackdown

Christians, Muslims and Jehovah's Witnesses have been subject to increasingly punitive restrictions on religious freedom in Kazakhstan. New amendments to law would expand limitations - including an effective ban on private home groups.

Pope investigates Chilean Bishop Barros after new information emerges
Pope investigates Chilean Bishop Barros after new information emerges

Pope Francis is sending the Vatican's top expert on sex abuse to investigate the case of a Chilean bishop accused of covering up a paedophile priest's crimes.

Priest banned from ministry to defend George Bell at Church of England's headquarters
Priest banned from ministry to defend George Bell at Church of England's headquarters

A disgraced priest barred from ministry for abusing colleagues and making malicious allegations against his superiors is to speak at the Church of England's headquarters in London on Thursday.

The Pandora's Box of Spiritual Abuse is out: Here's what the Church must do
The Pandora's Box of Spiritual Abuse is out: Here's what the Church must do

We need to open this issue up, it will be painful and I don't know where the boundaries should be drawn, but we can't duck it if we are genuinely to be a Church of healing and flourishing.

Church of England calls for ban on daytime gambling adverts amid warnings of 'moral crisis'
Church of England calls for ban on daytime gambling adverts amid warnings of 'moral crisis'

The Church of England is warning of a 'moral crisis' facing children and young people as a study revealed two in three teenagers feels bombarded by adverts for betting firms.

Has a film-maker really captured footage of a golden 'glory cloud' at Bethel church?
Has a film-maker really captured footage of a golden 'glory cloud' at Bethel church?

In Charismatic terms, it's the Holy Grail in every sense. A miraculous event, not just reported, but apparently captured on film.

The 'post-Christian' generation: 3 ways they (might) find God outside church
The 'post-Christian' generation: 3 ways they (might) find God outside church

A study this week found that many amongst Generation Z (those born between 1999 and 2015), 'find God' outside of Church. So where might that be exactly, and should the church take note?

Luis Palau family: Cancer has spread but he is at peace with the Lord
Luis Palau family: Cancer has spread but he is at peace with the Lord

The family of evangelist Luis Palau, diagnosed recently with stage 4 lung cancer, has said the cancer has spread but that he and his wife Patricia 'remain absolutely at peace in the Lord'.

Bear Grylls 'helped so many people explore faith', says Alpha
Bear Grylls 'helped so many people explore faith', says Alpha

Bear Grylls is being praised for his role as the face of the evangelistic course Alpha last year as his arrangement comes to an end.

'Every Baptist is a missionary': How Johannes Gerhard Oncken evangelised Europe
'Every Baptist is a missionary': How Johannes Gerhard Oncken evangelised Europe

By his immense energy, organisational skills, commitment to evangelism and sacrificial faith Oncken was responsible for the founding of hundreds of churches and the saving of thousands of souls.

Brawling and abuse banned as Church of England's synod told to play nicely
Brawling and abuse banned as Church of England's synod told to play nicely

The Church of England's General Synod is not known for its propensity for all-out brawls but officials are taking no chances, telling members to play nicely when they gather in Westminster next week.

German Catholic bishops reject Pope's re-translation of the Lord's Prayer
German Catholic bishops reject Pope's re-translation of the Lord's Prayer

Catholic bishops in Germany have rejected Pope Francis' controversial suggestion of re-translating the Lord's Prayer. The Pope said in December that the Church should follow the adoption of French Catholics, who render 'lead us not into temptation' as 'do not less us enter into temptation'.

Psephizo: Does theology matter in the Church of England any more?
Psephizo: Does theology matter in the Church of England any more?

In the age of echo chambers and the Twitterati, the Psephizo blog is something of an enigma.

'Juvenile' interpretations of the Bible blamed for mental illness and self-harm among LGBT people
'Juvenile' interpretations of the Bible blamed for mental illness and self-harm among LGBT people

Irresponsible church leaders who encourage a literal and 'juvenile' interpretation of the Bible are partly to blame for heightened mental illness and physical harm among LGBT people, according to a leading UK evangelical Christian.

Church has 'shot itself in the foot' over trans liturgy
Church has 'shot itself in the foot' over trans liturgy

The Church of England has shot itself in the foot and 'missed an opportunity' by refusing to write a new liturgy specifically for people transitioning gender, a leading member of its General Synod has said.

Rob Bell returns in 'The Heretic': New film follows former pastor's 'revolution'
Rob Bell returns in 'The Heretic': New film follows former pastor's 'revolution'

Decried as an apostate by some, praised as a prophet by others – no one divides evangelicals quite like Rob Bell. The former megachurch pastor and provocateur is the subject of a new documentary, whose title captures well the cry of Bell's despisers: 'The Heretic'.