Refugee Week is taking place from 20-26 June this year, with the theme of 'Healing'. There is so much going on across the UK to celebrate the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees - we've picked out five things you and your church can do: Reflect on Sanctuary each day A new free …
Power and protest
Church leaders have joined representatives of hundreds of civil society organisations to express concern about government proposals to restrict protest and increase police powers. As consideration of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill begins in the House of Lords, they have written …
Reaction to the Budget
In this Budget, the Chancellor faced the difficult task of setting financial and economic priorities at a time when unprecedented support has been needed, and continues to be needed, to help the country get through the pandemic. As well as setting out plans for the extension of that support, he had …
A prayer as the Brexit transition period ends
God of allAt this moment of changewe pray for our country, our neighbours, and for your kingdom to come. Where there are new freedoms, may they be used with wisdom and compassionWhere there are new barriers, may we not forget those on the other sideWhere there are new challenges, may we seek …
Bad news for the poor? Why the abolition of DFID matters
JPIT’s Simeon Mitchell, who worked in the international development sector for 20 years, offers a personal perspective. It might sound a harmless, even sensible, change. Bringing together the UK’s Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to create a …
‘Damning’ Windrush report is published
“A toxic combination of immigration policies, Home Office culture, and individual and institutional failings made this scandal almost inevitable.” The government has published the independent report into the Windrush scandal. This was commissioned in 2018 after it came to light that some of …
Getting to the heart of the general election
Any election is about choices. But the widely different visions for the future course of the UK on offer at this general election mean its result will have decisive repercussions for years to come. We consider some of the major issues at stake and explore how Christians might approach them, in the …
‘Days of challenge and vulnerability’: church leaders at the Labour Party Conference
Delegations of church leaders from the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches, the Quakers and the Salvation Army attended the conferences of the main political parties this autumn. Here, Simeon Mitchell reports on the Labour Party Conference. “It’s just horrendous, there is such an …
Why work should be part of welcome
Over the last six weeks, our series of blogs have been exploring what it means to offer a welcoming environment to refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants. Today, Simeon Mitchell argues that giving people seeking asylum the right to work should be part of offering a proper welcome to those …
An Epiphany Prayer
Epiphany God, As we reflect today on how a major incident involving migrants brings Christmas to an abrupt end, we pray for your world. God whose light draws travellers, be with all who journey seeking something better whether by camel, carload or dinghy. God of the truth-seekers, save …