Magic Statistics

As if confirming Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali’s statement that many British cities have Muslim-dominated areas where Christians fear to tread, a Birmingham police officer has threatened two Christian preachers with hate crime charges if they continue to spread the gospel in a Muslim area.  So much for freedom of religion.

The evangelists say they were threatened with arrest for committing a "hate crime" and were told they risked being beaten up if they returned. The incident will fuel fears that "no-go areas" for Christians are emerging in British towns and cities, as the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, claimed in The Sunday Telegraph this year.

Arthur Cunningham, 48, and Joseph Abraham, 65, both full-time evangelical ministers, have launched legal action against West Midlands Police, claiming the officer infringed their right to profess their religion.

West Midlands Police refused to apologise but said “the officer would be given training in understanding hate crime and communication.”  So, it sounds like the officer had his facts wrong when he threatened the two evangelists with hate crime charges.

Are West Midlands Police in the habit of refusing to apologise when one of their officers misinforms the public about a potential serious crime?  Apparently, West Midlands Police management needs “training” in good public relations.

Previous related posts:

• British imam’s daughter under police protection after accepting Christ
• Impossible to satisfy demands of Muslims, says C of E bishop

The Most Rev Terrence O. Buckle, Archbishop of Yukon, Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of BC & Yukon, announced this morning that he has decided to remain in office after none of the four candidates in yesterday’s diocesan synod received the required majority of votes to succeed him.

Thirty-five delegates at Yukon Diocese’s special episcopal synod deliberated, prayed, and voted all day and into the evening at Christ Church Cathedral, Whitehorse.  In the end, however, the synod adjourned without selecting a coadjutor bishop to serve alongside and then replace Archbishop Terry Buckle, who had announced his intention to retire at the end of this year.

This morning at the cathedral, Archbishop Terry spoke to the assembled congregation before the commencement of the worship service.  He said he went home yesterday evening wondering if the Holy Spirit is saying that there should be no change in diocesan leadership, that this is not the time for him to retire.  Awaking with that same thought on his mind, he spoke to trusted advisors and friends and heard the same message.  He is now convinced that God’s will for him and the diocese at this time is that he should stay on as archbishop.

The congregation was filled with joy and excitement when we heard this.  May God bless Archbishop Terry and his family as he continues to serve our risen and ascended Lord in Yukon.

The voting rules require a winning candidate to receive a simple majority in each of the two houses of clergy and laity, and also demand a two-thirds overall majority.  As we have just seen, that can be quite difficult to achieve with several candidates and a total of only thirty-five voting delegates.  Seven ballots were held yesterday and, at one point, a candidate came within two votes of success.

There is some talk of revising the voting rules, but that will have to wait until a general diocesan synod.

c/p: Anglican Essentials Canada Blog

The collect for today, the 2nd Sunday after Trinity, from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:

O Lord, who never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: 1 St John 3:13-24
The Gospel: St Luke 14:16-24