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Church and State
You may wish to know that the Evangelical Alliance has called for a time of fasting and prayer for our nation.
In addition, a number of Christians throughout the country have been petitioning the Prime Minister in regard to the spiritual state of our nation. Unfortunately, it seems that his office is reluctant to support proposals that are specifically Christian, preferring a multi-faith approach.
This group of praying believers are now encouraging a petition from individuals to the Queen, who is head both of the State and of the Church of England.
They have written:
HM The Queen
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA
5th April 2001
Ref: Foot & Mouth Petition
Your Majesty,
I am sure you are as deeply concerned about the Foot & Mouth epidemic, as the rest of your subjects. This is yet another of the plagues we as a nation seem to be facing over the last year including BSE, floods, derailments and economic uncertainty.
I believe God would respond to the nation being called to a day of prayer. Many churches are therefore organising a petition to your government calling upon them to take the brave step of calling the nation to prayer on Good Friday.
If I may be as bold to remind you of the scripture in 2 Chronicles 7v14 "If my people who are called by my Name humble themselves, and pray and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land". What a great promise?
It would be a great honour if Your Majesty would lead in this. Your father was the last person to make such a call during the war. Those of us within the church were extremely encouraged over your own statement of faith in your Christmas message. We would appreciate your support in Calling The Nation to Prayer, both as Head of State and the Church. I know that many of your subjects are already on their knees, and interceding for this land during this time of crisis. We are all praying that yourself and your government will take this bold step to seek God's mercy for this land.
Yours truly,
PRISON SERVICE SHUTS DOWN CHRISTIAN WINGS
Pioneering Christian based prison units are to be closed. Four prisons have had much benefit from wings operated by the Kainos Community, a charity specialising in rehabilitation programmes based on Christian principles. They also bear the cost of running the wings and staff them with Christians. These experimental units have dramatically cut the re-offending rate from 60% to 20%. However, the prison service has bowed to complaints from Moslem groups. Jonathan Aitken recently wrote for the Daily Telegraph "... I was one of the many prisoners helped to faith along the road to change through Prison Alpha. I can't bear to see the men on Kainos wings denied their chance to travel on a similar road."
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