Church Issues

• Possible movement of the C of E on marriage: The Church of England has confirmed that, if one person in a married couple later undergoes 'gender transition', they will still be deemed to be married according to C of E teaching. Read more here.

• Methodist Church moves towards allowing same-sex marriage: The annual conference of the Methodist Church has voted in principle to permit the marriage of same-sex couples in Methodist churches. Read more here and this week’s Editorial here.

World Scene

• Dutch railway company to compensate Holocaust victims: Nederlandse Spoorwegen, the Dutch national railway, has announced that it is to offer compensation to the survivors and relatives of Holocaust victims who were taken via Dutch rail during the Second World War to Nazi concentration camps. Read more here.

• Australia set to bring in new laws on religious freedom: In light of the ongoing Israel Folau case, the Australian Prime Minister – a practising Christian – wants to introduce new legislation to protect people against discrimination based on their religious beliefs. Read more here.

• Over a thousand New Zealand doctors oppose euthanasia: A letter rejecting legislative efforts to permit euthanasia has been signed by more than 1,000 doctors in New Zealand. Read more here.

• Imprisonment of Sudanese Christian women and children: Hundreds of Sudanese believing women (some with their children with them) are in prison in Sudan simply because they have broken one of the regulations of Islamic law. Please pray for them and considering supporting a local ministry to them. Read more here.

• Fierce persecution of believers in Africa: Rising violence across the Sahel region of Africa is particularly targeting believers. There has also been a major crackdown on believers in Eritrea. Read more here and here.

• Russia backtracks on nuclear cooperation: President Vladimir Putin has approved Russia’s departure from a key 1987 nuclear arms treaty with the USA. Read more here.

Israel & Middle East

• The opening of the 'Pilgrimage Road': Representatives of President Trump have participated in a ceremony dedicating a recently discovered Pilgrimage Road in Jerusalem, dating back 2,000 years. Archaeologists believe it would have been used by pilgrims ascending to the Temple from the Pool of Siloam. Read more here and here.

• Iran breaches nuclear deal commitments: Iran has exceeded limits in the nuclear 2015 agreement on its enriched uranium stockpile, a move that brings the deal a step closer to collapse. Read more here.

• Israel advises European ambassadors on immigration: Israeli experts and ambassadors from Europe have met this week to discuss the migrant crisis affecting the continent. Read more here.

• Second son of Hamas founder escapes terrorist group: Suheib Yousef, son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef and younger brother of Mosab Yousef has fled Hamas. Read more here.

Events / Job Opportunities

• Peterloo commemoration service (Sunday 7 July, Manchester): Manchester Cathedral, 2-4pm. A service to commemorate the 200^th anniversary of the Peterloo massacre. Free. Find out more here. In conjunction with the Movement for Justice and Reconciliation.
• International Christian Consulate touring churches (15-21 July): The ICC will be sharing with churches and groups about God’s work amongst persecuted Christian refugees and asylum-seekers in Greece. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for an opportunity to connect, learn and get involved. Find out more about the ICC here.
• Jews for Jesus seek church relations officer: The Messianic mission group are seeking someone to build on existing church partnerships and help establish new ones. Part or full time, from home. Find out more here.