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Important read for parents and member organisations working with children and young people in England

United Methodists are among the Christian and Jewish bodies suing to prevent ICE agents from intruding on their ministry with immigrants and their worship.

[Episcopal News Service] Easton Bishop Santosh Marray plans to conclude his official duties as bishop of the Maryland diocese a year earlier than previously announced, according to a revision of his retirement plans that was announced Feb. 11. Marray initially said last November that he planned to retire in fall 2026, setting in motion the process for calling his successor. In the latest update, he now says he will serve until Oct. 31 of this year, after which he plans to take a scheduled one-month vacation followed by a two-month sabbatical. His official retirement date will be Feb. 2, 2026. “This decision was not made lightly but was discerned in the knowledge that God’s great story continues to unfold in my life and that of the diocese,” Marray said. The diocese, in releasing Marray’s announcement, noted that it comes “with the full support of Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe,” who joined a diocesan leadership meeting by Zoom “to commend the bishop for his prayerful and measured approach and to endorse the bishop’s decision.” The Diocese of Easton serves communities on the eastern end of Maryland. Marray was elected bishop in 2016. At that time, he was serving as an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Alabama, after previously serving as bishop of Seychelles, Province of the Indian Ocean, from 2005-2008. In July 2023, Marray was the subject of a disciplinary complaint alleging inappropriate behavior, according to information posted in May 2024 to The Episcopal Church’s website. Few details have been released publicly about the allegations, other that “multiple complainants” made allegations of “inappropriate public statements and behavior” by Marray. A separate complaint was filed in February 2024 by a single complainant alleging “inappropriate public statements and misrepresentations.” Under the church’s Title IV disciplinary canons, a three-member reference panel referred the matters to a canonical process known as conciliation, in which Marray and the complainants were to work with an appointed conciliator to reconcile their differences. On Jan. 21, 2025. the reference panel issued determinations concluding both matters with pastoral responses. No other information was provided about the cases’ resolution.

[Episcopal News Service] More than two dozen Christian and Jewish organizations, including The Episcopal Church, sued the Trump administration on Feb. 11 for allowing immigration officers to target churches and other “sensitive” places for arrests as part of the president’s promised crackdown on legal and illegal immigration. The Episcopal Church and its fellow plaintiffs, represented by the nonpartisan Georgetown University Law Center, argue that by allowing arrests without first obtaining judicial warrants the Trump administration is violating First Amendment protections of both freedom of religion and freedom of association, because of the burden created by the “looming threat of immigration enforcement action at their places of worship and during their religious ceremonies.” The lawsuit notes that many congregations serving immigrant communities have already seen decreases in worship attendance and participation in social service ministries since the Trump administration’s new policies took effect. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, in a church news release about the lawsuit, echoed his recent sermon at Washington National Cathedral by saying that immigrants and refugees are not at the edges of God’s kingdom but at its center. “We believe their struggles reveal the heart of God, and we cannot worship freely if some among us live in fear,” Rowe said. “We are seeking the ability to fully gather and follow Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourselves.” The federal policy shift, enacted in the first days of the new administration, has spread fear in many of the plaintiffs’ worshipping communities, the lawsuit says, and runs counter to biblical teachings that “every human being, regardless of birthplace, is a child of God worthy of dignity, care and love.” President Donald Trump vowed during his campaign to oversee mass deportations of millions of people living in the United States without permanent legal residency status. He began pursuing policies to follow through on that promise in the hours after his Jan. 20 inauguration to a second term, with a series of executive orders related to immigration. The lawsuit filed by the 27 faith-based organizations does not take direct issue with those orders, but rather with separate directives issued by the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security. On Jan. 21, the department ended Biden administration policies that had identified certain sensitive areas, including schools, hospitals and houses of worship, as protected from immigration enforcement actions. The church’s release says some Episcopal congregations in the United States are among the houses of worship where even some immigrants with legal residency have chosen to stay home rather than attend worship services because of the risk of arrest. “Welcoming the stranger is not a political act. It’s a sacred obligation,” House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris said in the news release. “When immigrants walk through our church doors, they’re not entering as outsiders; they are stepping into the heart of our faith, where their dignity and stories are embraced as reflections of God’s love. This lawsuit is about protecting our ability to live out the Gospel without fear or interference.” The plaintiffs 80-page complaint includes short summaries of ways the government’s policies have burdened the faith organizations’ practice of their religions. The Episcopal Church’s summary includes the following examples, which do not give specific locations or congregation names: Local officials parked outside one Episcopal church during past enforcement efforts and attempted to arrest undocumented congregants leaving the church. At another congregation, federal agents already have appeared outside its food pantry, photographing those in line. In one Episcopal diocese, some congregants were reluctant to join an informational Zoom call with an immigration attorney. Some congregations have stationed members at their doors to watch for immigration officials. The Episcopal Church is one of 12 denomination bodies that have signed onto the lawsuit, which also includes the Disciples of Christ, Mennonite, Methodist, Presbyterian and AME Zion churches. Other plaintiffs include regional denominational bodies and other religious associations “We declare our unequivocal opposition to any and all attempts by the government or any other external entity to infringe upon or restrict or otherwise interfere with the free exercise of religion by members of our congregations,” the Rev. Carlos Malave, president of Latino Christian National Network, said in a Zoom news conference about the lawsuit. Rabbi Rick Jacobs spoke on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish denomination in the United States. “The opening of the Hebrew Bible tells us that every single human being is created in God’s image and there are simply no exceptions,” Jacobs said. And Rowe, in his remarks during the news conference, affirmed The Episcopal Church’s support for the lawsuit, which he said contained a “compelling and conservative argument about the exercise of religion.” “We cannot worship freely if some among us live in fear,” Rowe said. “We must proclaim, particularly in this time, that all are welcome in our places of worship and should be able to be in those places worshipping their faith of choice without fear. This seems a basic human right, but certainly one we’re called to by the God that we serve.” The lawsuit says many of the member churches and synagogues have undocumented congregants, as well as ministries that serve undocumented people, such as food and clothes pantries, English classes, legal assistance and job training services. “An immigration enforcement action during worship services, ministry work or other congregational activities would be devastating to their religious practice,” the lawsuit says. “It would shatter the consecrated space of sanctuary, thwart communal worship and undermine the social service outreach that is central to religious expression and spiritual practice for plaintiffs’ congregations and members.” The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., seeks an injunction against the federal government that would block immigration enforcement at houses of worship or during worship services unless authorities first obtain judicial warrants. The lawsuit cites at least one reported case in which immigration agents attempted an arrest at a church. Wilson Velásquez, a migrant from Honduras who came […]

As part of his visit to India from 8 to 14 February, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay visited diaconal and educational work of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church and led two Bible study sessions at the Maramon Convention.

In the past two weeks, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have moved to return to northern Gaza during a tenuous ceasefire agreement. The move follows nearly 16 months of violence and war waged by Israel following Hamas’ attack on Oct.…

The post ‘Cries for Peace in Palestine’: Palestinian Christian voices are center of new book, webinar series appeared first on United Church of Christ.

[Church of England] The Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice has published its sixth and final report, following three years of extensive interrogation and questioning of the Church of England’s willingness to embed racial justice in its structures and the practice of its ministry. Mandated to drive “significant cultural and structural change on issues of racial justice within the Church of England,” the Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice , headed by the Rt. Hon. Paul Boateng, was charged with monitoring, holding to account and supporting the implementation of the 47 recommendations of the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce that were laid out in the Taskforce’s comprehensive 2021 report, From Lament to Action. In his final foreword, Boateng describes the commission’s trajectory over the preceding three years, recording the frustrations, highs and lows, and examples of those in leadership who were willing to share their insights openly and honestly. He calls for the church to address the “gaping wound of racial injustice that afflicts it” and to “reach out and welcome all comers.” The report highlights in its summary that a consensus about the need for change is not yet fully in place, and a strategy for bringing about change has not yet been adopted at all the front lines of the Church. The commission identifies four priorities as key to further progress: Nurturing a worship culture in the Church of England that reflects the rich mix of backgrounds and accents present within the church today. Worship leaders must be enabled to use the flexibility allowed to them by canon law to lead acts of worship drawing on the wealth of material which has been generated across the Anglican Communion. The diverse voices present within our communities must be heard in the worship of our church, Sunday by Sunday. The Church of England needs to have a robust structure of governance in place across its many component parts that ensures that a sustained focus on racial justice becomes a normal part of its policy and practice. This must be adequately resourced at all levels of the church and make a difference at the front lines of the church, especially within parishes. The Church of England needs to put an adequate complaints system in place that will enable those who have been treated badly to have their negative experiences genuinely heard. In addition, individuals (and the church as a whole) must learn from mistakes made in the past and improve their practice in the future. Church leaders need to move from a defensive stance where complaints are ignored, or managed away, to a progressive stance where complaints drive learning and progress. The barriers to full participation for all within the Church of England identified in the report “Behind the Stained Glass” must be addressed in a sustained and comprehensive manner. This is our opportunity to truly be the church which we say we are. Acknowledging publication of the commission’s final report, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said, “I begin by thanking Lord Boateng and every member of the commission for their commitment and dedication to this work. Their mandate was by no means easy, and I acknowledge the frustrations that they evidenced in report after report over the last three years. Their proposed priorities are achievable, and I and my fellow bishops are committed to ensuring that we drive forward the change and progress needed to eradicate racial injustice within the church, and march into the light of God.”

[Anglican Communion News Service] The Rt. Rev. Danald Jute — bishop of Kuching, located in Malaysia and part of the Church of the Province of South East Asia, and chair of the Anglican Interfaith Commission — recently met with Ahmed El-Tayeb, grand imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, in Cairo. The meeting, held at Al-Azhar, reaffirmed the shared commitment of Christian and Muslim leaders to fostering interfaith understanding and cooperation. Reflecting on the meeting, Jute expressed his gratitude and deep appreciation for the grand imam’s insights. “Such a great honor to be received today by His Eminence, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, whom I first met in 2018,” he shared. “Greatly humbled by His Eminence’s gracious and open sharing during the course of our meeting. I feel especially touched by his thoughts and concerns for the building of better understanding and strengthening of relations between people of different religious affiliations.” Jute assured the grand imam that Anglicans share in this mission for peace and justice. As chair of the Anglican Interfaith Commission, he reiterated the Anglican Communion’s dedication to fostering harmony and mutual respect among people of all faiths. During their conversation, the grand imam emphasized two key points: that religion should not be used or manipulated for political gain, and that religious freedom is a fundamental right, noting that all individuals should be free to practice their faith without restriction. In reference to Malaysia, he specifically highlighted that there should be no limitation on the use of the word “Allah” by Christians, pointing out that in Egypt and other Arab nations, Christians freely use the term. Jute also expressed his gratitude to the Most Rev. Mouneer Anis, archbishop emeritus of the Anglican Province of Alexandria, who accompanied him and assisted with translation. The meeting in Cairo reflects a growing and deepening commitment to interfaith dialogue, particularly at a time when religious harmony is needed more than ever. Jute’s leadership within the Anglican Interfaith Commission continues to strengthen relationships between Christian and Muslim communities globally. Concluding his reflections, Jute gave thanks for the opportunity to engage in this significant dialogue. “Once again, thank you, Your Eminence. Looking forward to seeing you again in the not-too-distant future. Glory be to God!” The importance of interfaith dialogue will continue to be explored later this year through the Interfaith Lambeth Call. This call, adopted at the 2022 Lambeth Conference, underscores the Anglican Communion’s commitment to peace-making, religious freedom and collaboration with people of different faiths for the common good. It encourages Anglican leaders to foster friendships across religious traditions, work together on pressing global challenges, and support those facing religious persecution. The upcoming discussions will further reflect on how Anglicans can live out their mission in diverse and complex interfaith contexts.

Más de dos docenas de denominaciones y asociaciones cristianas y judías demandan para proteger las libertades religiosas (lea más en español a continuación) Reversal of the Department of Homeland Security’s ‘Sensitive Locations’ Policy interferes with central religious beliefs, violates both the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Today, the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy

As the world edges closer to exceeding the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold set in the Paris Agreement, members of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development gathered in Panama City for a training on climate litigation for churches.