UK & Ireland in Brief

Radical plans to speed up divorce were halted as a result of the attempted prorogation in September, with the Bill having failed to pass all its parliamentary stages.

Under the plans, spouses would have been able to walk away from a marriage without having to give any reason and without their spouse being able to contest the decision. There would have been a minimum legal period of just six months between the application for divorce and it being finalised, thus reducing the opportunity for reconciliation.

Chancellor Sajid Javid MP was asked about Islamophobia on BBC Radio 4 on 30 September and helpfully clarified: ‘I call it ‘anti-Muslim hate crime’, rather than ‘Islamophobia’.’

This is the language of choice proposed in an open letter to the Home Secretary earlier this year, which explained that Islam should not be above criticism.

During a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Paddy Ashdown at Westminster Abbey in September, the Qur’an was read, despite it expressly denying the divinity and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

One Islamic scholar subsequently questioned whether Ashdown had converted to Islam. During Ashdown’s time as high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, he had established a resting place for those murdered during the Srebrenica massacres.

Nearly 30 students gathered for the first Truth in Science Summer School in early September.

Experts in a wide range of fields lectured and then spoke to students in small groups. The prime aim of the summer school was to mentor and help students, and give them resources in their own disciplines. It was an opportunity for students to grapple with the relevance of a biblical understanding of origins to each of their disciplines. The two-day course is being expanded for a proposed course in early September 2020.

The Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scripture Readers Association (SASRA) announced in September that it would be placing two new Army Scripture Readers (ASRs).

Tracey Blackwell and Chika Onugha have undergone training at Theological Seminary before being deployed to their operational posts. ASR Blackwell will work around York, and ASR Onugha in units in the Midlands.

In September, Jon Herring became pastor of Christ Church Fetcham, and Adrian Tribe the pastor of Waterford House Evangelical Free Church in Strood.

Christ Church Fetcham had faced a few tough years after the sudden death of their previous pastor. Adrian Tribe, formerly of Borough Green Baptist Church, replaced Norman Hopkins as pastor due to his retirement.