UK & Ireland in Brief

A new Christian termly youth event in Devon has been launched by a group of churches and local youth organisations, Exeter ICE and South West Youth Ministries (SWYM).

The Gathering is for anyone aged 12–18 years old and is designed as a space for young people to connect with others, worship together and grow in their faith in Jesus. At the most recent event, over 200 young people from 25 churches in and around Exeter came together to worship and explore loving mercy, acting kindly and walking humbly. The next one is due on 15 October.

Franklin Graham’s ‘God Loves You’ tour of the UK has begun in Liverpool. The city’s Exhibition Centre was full and attended by more than 3,500, according to the Billy Graham Organisation.

Franklin’s opening tour message on Saturday 14 May was on the prodigal son in Luke 15. He was due to be in Newport, Wales on 21 May; at Sheffield Arena on 25 May; and London’s Excel Centre on 16 July.

The Online Safety Bill, which would require social media companies to address poorly defined ‘legal but harmful’ content, will unlawfully restrict free speech, a QC has warned.

Gavin Millar QC has told the government the Bill will breach citizens’ human rights under Article 10 and said the absence of any recognition of this is ‘concerning’. Millar said: ‘This aspect of the legal regime will inevitably be so vague that the quality of law issues will be secondary to the question of whether such a law is necessary as a general measure.’ The Christian Institute has told MPs that radical amendments are necessary to prevent the Bill from trampling on free speech.

Gambling in Scotland is on the rise, but the numbers of individuals seeking help has also risen by almost a quarter since the start of the pandemic, according to GamStop.

However, nearly a quarter of young people between 11 and 26 years old have gambled in the last 12 months, a survey from the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland showed. Danielle Rowley of Samaritans Scotland has highlighted ‘a clear link between gambling and suicide’ and said much more needs to be done to reduce the impact of gambling on children.

An evangelical pastor who resigned from his part-time job as a school caretaker after Tweeting in opposition to ‘Pride Month’ events in 2019, saying they were ‘especially’ harmful to children, has won an employment tribunal.

Keith Waters received death threats following the Tweet, yet had been described as an asset to the school in his final appraisal. The tribunal ruled that he was discriminated against and that the school had not acted proportionately. The fact that the Tweet was posted outside of work on his personal account as part of his role as a Christian minister was highly relevant – tipping the balance in his favour.

Legislative changes now make it a criminal offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for ministers, faith leaders and others in positions of trust to engage in sexual activity with anyone under 18.

Amendments to existing rules applicable to those in a ‘position of trust’ now encompass church settings, extending the protection of young people. It follows allegations of abuse across various religious settings in recent times. Justin Humphreys, CEO of Christian safeguarding organisation ThirtyOne:Eight welcomed the move but believes the church has a long way to go. ’

Newton House is holding its first annual conference this month (17–18 June) at its new Oxford location, St Aldates Church, which was opened last September.

The topic is Faith and Its Affections, with the line-up of speakers to include Dr Michael Reeves and Professor Michael A.G. Haykin. Newton House is a fellowship for evangelicals which was set up to ‘bridge the gap’ between church and theology. Its aim is to work in partnership with Tyndale House, Cambridge.