Part 305. An interesting week.

0n Friday, 12th July The Alliance held a 'Commissioning' of 'Overseers' to provide 'Alternative Spiritual Oversight' for clergy and congregations opposed to stand-alone services of blessing for couples in same-sex civil marriages. Is this the precursor to schism or mere sabre-rattling to secure a separate province within the Church of England?  I believe the latter is not achievable whilst the desire to hold on to churches, vicarages and stipends will overrule the concerns over conscience.

Then we had a speech by Paul Main, The Salvation Army Territorial Leader for the United Kingdom & Ireland informing us that Salvationists must challenge injustice where they see it and act.  It is not enough to merely love the idea of justice.  Will this call to action include The Salvation Army abandoning discrimination in the selection of officers on the basis of sexual orientation?

On Wednesday 18th July the State Opening of Parliament was the occasion of the King's Speech setting out the new Labour government's legislative programme for the next session.

It is proposed to publish a draft bill to ban conversion therapy. The key  will be the clarity in the legislation between advice/concern and therapy/coercion.

The government is committed to improving living standards but charities have criticised the proposals as lacking focus on tackling poverty. A task force will work towards ending child poverty but no proposal on scrapping the two child benefit limitation.

A Renters Rights Bill will be introduced to abolish no-fault tenancy terminations. The government seeks to see1.5million new homes in the next 10 years but the question is how many will be truly affordable social rent homes? There was nothing in the speech to tackle rough sleepers issues.

There is a lot more information and comment on the above on my Facebook group 'Progressive Theology UK ' and 'John Hopkinson Theology Page".