A public consultation on plans to criminalise ‘conversion practices’ in Scotland has ended. Under the proposals, parents and church leaders could face up to seven years in prison if they fail to affirm the sexuality and gender identity of LGBT people. The plans even include so-called ‘protection orders’ to restrict the speech of people who might say something in the future which LGBT people don’t like. The Christians Institute (CI) has said it will take the Scottish government to court unless there are robust protections for free speech written into the law. Joanna Cook, Public Affairs Office ..read more

Quoting the well-known Bible verse John 3:16 could be ‘triggering’ to National Health Service users, an employment tribunal has been told. The astonishing claim was made by an NHS recruiter in an attempt to justify why a Christian, Felix Ngole, was denied a social worker job. Ngole has taken his case to an employment tribunal, claiming he has been denied a job simply because of his Christian beliefs. In May 2022, Ngole had been recruited for a job as a mental health support worker via Touchstone Support, Leeds, which recruits on behalf of the NHS. However, his career was put in jeopardy after ..read more

Lurgan Baptist Church held its 59th Missionary Conference in February. Stands from 23 missionary organisations were included, and speakers from seven of them. Presentations were given by missionaries from SASRA and Arab World Missions (AWM). The former described the opening he has to military bases, bringing the gospel and spiritual counsel to soldiers and aviators ..read more

Some see the evangelical debate about social justice as a disagreement on strategy or emphasis. But it is much more than that. If the language of social justice is incompatible with biblical justice, then using it to connect with our culture is not an error of strategy but a change in theology. This matters. Church history has many examples of debates which would have been better undertaken in private or perhaps not at all. Paul’s command to ‘make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace’ (Ephesians 4:3) is always vital to remember. Is the debate about social jus ..read more

A packed Knighton Free Church welcomed their new senior pastor, John Smuts, at an induction service in February. The service was led by associate pastor Jon Barrett, with National Director of the FIEC John Stevens leading the congregation in prayers and some words of commissioning for Mr Smuts. Daf Merion Jones (St James Gerrards Cross) preached from John 13, encouraging Mr Smuts to take Jesus as the exemplar of humble servant leadership ..read more

Authors: Keith Underhill Publisher: Broken Wharf 528 pages Purchase from: Broken Wharfe (£16.75) This large but very readable book details the providence of God in the planting and establishing of Reformed Baptist Churches in Kenya. Retiring back to the UK in 2015, the author, Keith Underhill, provides a fascinating autobiography of the establishment of Trinity Baptist Church in Nairobi and the many church plants that emanated from TBC.  It is an honest record of one missionary’s labours over some 40 years under the hand of God. It tells of the successes, but also the struggles, problem ..read more

Authors: Jeremy Walker Publisher: Banner of Truth 47 pages Purchase from: Banner of Truth (£2.50) This booklet is about church discipline; it is not a call to personal sanctification as might be suggested by the title. The sub-title provides the clarification. There are no chapters, but the material is divided under headings of varying length such as the nature of discipline, its motives, purpose, and practice.  A wide variety of biblical passages are referred to, and often helpfully quoted in the text. Reference is also made to a number of authors to substantiate the points made.  ..read more

France has become the first nation in the world to explicitly make abortion a ‘guaranteed’ constitutional right. In an article republished in this edition of ET, one Baptist pastor in France called it ‘a very sad day in France’s history’ (see p.25). French lawmakers overwhelmingly voted 780-72 in favor of the bill to amend Article 34 of the French constitution. The measure was introduced in January and passed by the French Senate in March, to a standing ovation from most politicians. The Eiffel Tower was illuminated with the words ‘My body, my choice ..read more

Sheffield Presbyterian Church was blessed to host its first ‘Westminster Standards for Today’ conference last October. With a vision to promote and establish the teachings found in the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), Kevin Bidwell and Roland Barnes held six sessions ..read more

Campaigners on opposite sides of the world have been calling on their governments to prevent or roll back plans to widen the criteria for assisted suicide.  In Canada, plans to bring in assisted dying this year for those who are medically depressed have been pushed back to 2027, with health ministers and doctors warning the government that its universal healthcare system was not ready.  Meanwhile in Australia, in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), lobbyists pushing for widening the criteria for assisted suicide and euthanasia have been met with a strong backlash from pro-life g ..read more