British Bishop paints gloomy picture of the Church of England

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:30:41 +0000

Bishop Richardson

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

In the UK almost half of the population consider themselves part of the Church of England, while seven in ten described themselves as Christian in the last census.

Now a British Bishop is painting a gloomy picture of the future of the Church of England.

The Church of England bishop is claiming ‘Christian Britain is dead’ and warned the CofE could become extinct in the next thirty years.

The Rt Revd Paul Richardson, Assistant Bishop of Newcastle, said unless some of his colleagues get hold of the situation the Church will die out, according to a story broadcast on London’s Premier Radio.

Richardson believes declining church attendance and the rise in multiculturalism means the next generation will not grow up in a Christian society.

He told the radio station: “At this rate it is hard to see the Church surviving for more than 30 years though few of its leaders are prepared to face that possibility.”

Richardson also warned leaders must face up to this challenge and recognize that the disestablishment of the Church is inevitable.

Premier Radio said the General Synod, the Church’s parliament, will next month consider proposals to cut the number of bishops and senior clergy amid fears over finances.

The radio station says the Bishop’s comments will further stir the questions over the future of the Church. He said the Church had lost more than one in ten of its regular worshippers between 1996 and 2006, with a fall from more than one million to 880,000.

Bishop Graham Cray is in charge of finding new ways of worship for the Church. He says there are positive stories, which shows there’s still life out there yet.

He said: “There is a whole strategy about planting congregations amongst people who have no contact with a church and no history with a church and until Christians start involving themselves with them, no desire for church.

“My confidence is that the gospel still has power to win people and transform communities in Britain. Any church that involves themselves will see people come to faith and communities transformed.”

Cray said it was not the job of the Church to keep questioning the role of the CofE and not to keep looking at whether it is growing or declining, but to get on with spreading the Gospel.

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael has traveled to Albania and the former Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany and the former Czechoslovakia, Israel,and Canada. He has reported for ANS from Jordan, China, Russia, Jamaica, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Michael’s volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department — Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) — of A.C.T. International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can donate online to support his stated mission of ‘Truth Through Christian Journalism.’

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Atheist Campaign: Christians “Jump on the Bus”

admin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:30:49 +0000

Evangelicals Accompany Atheists on Round Trip Through Germany

By Wolfgang Polzer
Special to ASSIST News ServiceBERLIN (ANS) – Busses with atheistic slogans are nothing new. They have been touring the streets of London and other European cities with the message “There is probably no God”.

But this is new indeed: Christians in Germany have accompanied atheists on a 20-day nationwide bus tour. The red “atheist” double-decker and a white “Christian” coach were often parked side by side or opposite one another.

Both vehicles made stops in 25 cities, where local Christians joined the bus crew and spread the Gospel message with songs, leaflets and personal testimonies. Television, radio and the press covered the unusual event.

The round trip started in Berlin, May 30, went anticlockwise through Luther’s home country and ended in the German capital, June 18. The atheist bus carried the slogan “There is – with a probability bordering on certainty – no God”. The Christian bus posed the question “And if he really does exist …”

The Christian initiative under the auspices of “Campus Crusade for Christ” made it clear from the start that hostile confrontation was not their intention. They talked to the organizers of the atheist campaign before the tour began.

Both sides welcomed the opportunity for an exchange of ideas. Despite the opposing messages atheists and Christians often helped one another. Christians took pizza and cake to the atheists. And when their bus was covered in dirt, Christians helped wash the vehicle.

They welcomed the chance to spread the Christian message. Thousands of tracts – as well as flowers – were handed out. Approximately two thirds of Germany’s 82 million inhabitants are at least nominal church members. No more than six percent worship regularly. Evangelicals number about 1.3 million.

Originally several organizations wanted to display “No-God”-slogans on local busses. But local authorities in 16 cities refused. Their reason: The slogans would upset customers, and the transport companies could not afford to lose business.

The round trip through Germany was an alternative option. With the help of sponsors evangelical Christians were quick to “jump on the bus”.

Wolfgang Polzer (59), is senior news editor of the Evangelical News Agency idea, Wetzlar (Germany), which he joined in 1981. In all, he has spent more than 30 years in Christian media. Wolfgang can be contacted by e-mail at: Wolfgang.Polzer@idea.de.

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Christian Connection » Europe

British Bishop paints gloomy picture of the Church of England

Atheist Campaign: Christians “Jump on the Bus”