NEWS
[Event] Equality & Diversity Training Days for Chaplaincy
Event details for equality and diversity training days in 2017 - for chaplains.
Please register via the following links:
London: http://bit.ly/2gQ9z2I
Sheffield: http://bit.ly/2ggPaCR
Training Objective: To support chaplaincy services in order to...
- Deliver services that promote equality and diversity.
- Ensure equal access to high quality care for the population served.
- Create plans to support service development, local policy development and recruitment.
- Target Audience: Lead chaplains, HR leads and equality leads
Purpose of Training: NHS chaplaincy in England has evolved considerably in recent years, largely in response to changing patient needs and increasing diversity of the population. Chaplaincy teams now often include people from a range of faiths and beliefs, including non-religious care providers. The NHS England Chaplaincy 2015 guidelines acknowledged that: ‘Where requests for support relate to a particular religion or belief the chaplaincy service should be able to access appropriate support for the patient or service user and, when this cannot be matched, other chaplaincy support should be offered.’ Recognising the need for likeminded care, chaplaincy teams are developing their model of delivery to increase the choice available to patients, carers and staff.
When chaplaincy teams are more diverse the take up of the service increases, and so chaplaincy services will need to continue to evolve to best meet the needs of the people they serve, and to continue to provide high quality care for all.
This one-day training course will support chaplaincy services to complete a thorough equality assessment and apply this to all aspects of service development.
These events are free of charge.
Please feel free to circulate this information to your network.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: All food and drink will be provided. The organisers are happy to cater for specific dietary requirements. Please specify your requirements.
The organisers have requested that no food and drink are to be brought into both synagogues as all the food and drink consumed on the premises must be strictly kosher.
Locations
London
Date: Wednesday 25th January, 2017
Location: The Western Marble Arch Synagogue, 1 Wallenberg Place (formerly known as Gt Cumberland Place), London, W1H 7TN
Sheffield
Date: Tuesday 28th March, 2017
Location: United Synagogue Sheffield, 3 Brincliffe Crescent, Sheffield, S11 9AW
Prisons Week 2016
Free Churches Moderator, Revd Dr Hugh Osgood, share his thoughts on at the start of Prisons Week.
As I write, initiatives are in hand all around the country to inspire the nation’s churches to pray for all involved in the Criminal Justice Service. We are being urged to engage more effectively with prisons and prisoners, chaplains and officials, law-makers and law-enforcers, victims and rehabilitators. It is one week in the year when our focus can shift to effect the fifty-one weeks that follow.
This Prisons Week it was my privilege to speak at the launch in Pentonville Prison. Taking this year’s theme of ‘Lord, have mercy’ I was able to speak on the significance of Pauls’ words in Ephesians 3:15 ‘He [Christ] has broken down the middle wall of separation’, underscoring the importance of showing mercy without condescension – even-handedly, sacrificially and securing equality of access.
Those of us present were aware that the walls of separation that can exist in our minds, ensuring that many never give Prisons and the Criminal Justice System a thought, can be greater than the 15ft walls of Pentonville prison that surrounded us. Paul’s words to the Ephesians are certainly still relevant!
Interestingly, there was ample evidence at the service of how other walls can be broken down. The co-operation between the institutions and the Churches was remarkable. Not only were many of our Free Church denominations and chaplains represented, with contributions from myself and a Baptist magistrate, but the Governor and offenders took part, along with Pentonville’s Anglican Chaplain, the RC HQ Advisor, the Bishop of Rochester and Pastor Agu Irukwu of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Rarely do we get the chance to see our sermons illustrated so visibly!
Revd Dr Hugh Osgood
Moderator of the Free Churches Group
For more information to get involved in Prisons Week, please visit here
Press Release from Prisons Week
CHURCH AND CHARITY LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE HEADING FOR PRISON - “LORD HAVE MERCY”
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
on behalf of Prisons Week
Registered charity no.1020920
Over 90 Church leaders are expected to congregate in HMP Pentonville to pray during Prisons Week this year.
The Rt Revd James Langstaff (Anglican Bishop to Prisons) has invited Christian leaders from across the Church to gather together with charity leaders on 10th October to pray in this, the 40th anniversary of Prisons Week.
Over four decades the Church has observed a week of prayer for those affected by imprisonment, but never before has such a diverse range of church leaders congregated inside a prison’s walls with the sole purpose of praying together.
Revd Bob Wilson, chair of the Prisons Week Committee and Free Church Advisor to NOMS said
“This event is witness to the church uniting across denominations behind the power and potential of prayer – bringing together prisoners, victims, those who work in prisons, the criminal justice system and communities; people usually separated by prison walls. Prayer knows no such barriers.”
Prisons Week is run by a broad alliance of Christian denominations and leading faith-based charities working in the criminal justice system. It motivates prayer through its resources and encourages practical engagement through the voluntary sector.
Beginning on Prisons Sunday, the week of prayer runs from 9 -15 October. Across the country, people will gather in small groups and large cathedrals to support all those affected by prison, through events and services under the collective prayer theme of ‘Lord Have Mercy’. It is the great unifying prayer of all those who have ever called to God for help and this Prisons Week, the call to prayer will extend to prisoners, their families, victims, communities and all those working in the justice system.
The event at HMP Pentonville will also include the introduction of Prison HOPE, an initiative to encourage the church to engage actively with their local prisons.
Further information and resources can be found at www.prisonsweek.org
ENDS
For more information, please contact the following representatives from the Prisons Week Committee:
Rev Bob Wilson
bob.wilson@freechurches.org.uk
020 3651 8338
Tim Rosier
tim.rosier@reflex.org
07803 888 255
Rachel Shackleton
rshackleton@spurgeons.org
07976 323502
Notes to editors
• Organisations involved include: Assemblies of God, Caring for Ex-Offenders, The Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales, The Church of England, Churches in Communities, Clean Sheet, Community Chaplaincy Association, Free Churches Group, Langley House Trust, The Methodist Church, Prisoner Advice and Care Trust, Prison Fellowship, Reflex, The Salvation Army, Spurgeons, Spread Creative Agency, United Christian Broadcasters and The United Reformed Church.
• BBC Radio 4 Daily Service will include prayer each day during Prisons Week.
• A short film on the theme is available here.
Free Churches Group Moderator, Revd Dr Hugh Osgood, offers condolence on the death of Shimon Peres
We have heard today the sad news that Shimon Peres, the former Israeli president, has died at the age of 93. The Free Churches Group Moderator, Hugh Osgood, has sent his condolences.
We have heard today the sad news that Shimon Peres, the former Israeli president, has died at the age of 93. The Free Churches Group Moderator, Hugh Osgood, has sent his condolences to the Council of Christians and Jews and the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
Message of Condolence
"As moderator of the Free Churches Group in England and Wales, I wanted to write to express my sadness at the news of the death of Shimon Peres. I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Israel. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Shimon Peres worked tirelessly for the nation of Israel and peace in the region."
Revd Dr Hugh Osgood
Thy Kingdom Come 2017
Praying Together at Pentecost for mission and evangelism
CTE Presidents’ statement and accompanying video transcript Sept 2016
The 6 Presidents of Churches Together in England - Photo credit Churches Together in England
Statement
‘Thy Kingdom Come – Praying Together at Pentecost 2017’
Jesus invites all his followers to pray in His name to the Father confidently and expectantly. In the power of the Holy Spirit we pray together as one family. All Christians share this gift of the Lord’s Prayer. When we pray ‘Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done’ we long for Christ’s transforming love to bring hope and joy to all.
Earlier this year many of the churches in England took up the invitation of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to set aside the days leading up to Pentecost Sunday to pray for the renewing and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit to make Christ real in our midst, for the flourishing of all. As Presidents of Churches Together in England we are delighted to join together to extend this invitation to all the churches in England to participate in this movement of prayer in 2017.
We want to encourage our brothers and sisters in churches of all traditions to partner in praying ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ in the days leading up to Pentecost, from 25 May - 4 June, 2017. There is no prescription about how we should pray; we hope each church will participate in a way that is authentic to them and where possible to engage in this with their partner churches in their area.
The aim is simple and threefold
- To join with the whole family of God the Father
- To pray for the empowering of God the Holy Spirit
- That we may be effective witnesses to God the Son Jesus Christ
As Presidents, we will be writing to our churches and congregations to encourage them to share this aim and to take part in this movement. We pray to the Father that his family, called to be one in Jesus Christ, may see the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to transform many lives and communities in our land.
Video transcript:
Live on: www.thykingdom.co.uk
Global link: www.thykingdomcome.global
Direct link: https://vimeo.com/183026876
Archbishop Justin Welby, The Archbishop of Canterbury:
We are here at Lambeth Palace. This is one of the regular meetings of what are called the Presidents of the Churches Together in England. We all get together to share what’s going on, talk about plans and ideas, and today is particularly important because on the agenda is the programme for ‘Thy Kingdom Come’, and seeking to get all the different churches involved together, praying next summer for the witness and evangelism of the churches.
If we don’t pray, nothing happens. In prayer, we engage with God, he changes us. As we pray together, it will draw us closer together, closer to God, and move forward the cause that the church is here to serve. My hope is that everyone will go out excited and enthused by what we are talking about and will, in whatever way is appropriate, in each church, have them involved in the way they want to be involved.
Rev Dr Hugh Osgood, Free Churches Group Moderator:
I am really excited about ‘Thy Kingdom Come 2017’, as everyone’s able to pray in their own style and in their own way, and yet the fact that we are doing it all together, at the same time, just really make an impact.
Bishop Eric Brown, the Pentecostal President:
What started out as a C of E event is emerging as a global event.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster:
Please do join in before Pentecost, this drive to pray together for the gift of God’s spirit for our mission. We know how rich Pentecost is in the life of the church from its very beginning. That richness can be ours too - if we ask God for it.
HE Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain, The President for the Orthodox Churches:
It is very important for the local churches to share this unique message.
The Revd Canon Billy Kennedy The President nominated by the New Churches, the Religious Society of Friends (ie the Quakers) and the Lutheran and German-speaking Churches:
Here is a great opportunity for us all to engage in a broader national, and international project to mobilise the whole church.
Rev Dr Hugh Osgood, Free Churches Group Moderator:
Right across the Free Churches I really want to encourage everyone to get involved in this event. It is such an opportunity to express our unity but also to be praying for the mission of the church. The fact that we can be reaching out and our prayers will prepare the ground for our evangelism.
Bishop Eric Brown, the Pentecostal President:
Get involved. Jesus commanded us, Jesus said always to pray and not faint. This time we are not just praying about our individual needs, but about the needs of the nation and our world.
Archbishop Justin Welby, The Archbishop of Canterbury:
It’s gone very well today. The Heads of each of the denominations and churches were deeply committed to the idea of evangelism and witness, and are going to throw their weight of their own church behind it, in every case. So we are really enthused and people have gone out buzzing.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster:
To have a week of prayer for Christian mission is just a wonderful thing.
Bishop Eric Brown, the Pentecostal President:
I’m so glad that we in the Pentecostal movement can be part of this.
Rev Dr Hugh Osgood, Free Churches Group Moderator:
I’m so excited, let's really make it happen.
‘Thy Kingdom Come’: 25th May-4th June 2017
For more information please visit: www.thykingdom.co.uk
Recorded 09.09.16 at Lambeth Palace, by Frogspawn Creative TV