The Baptist Union reported slight losses and the Pentecostal Union experienced a strong growth. In 2019, the Catholic and the Protestant Churches lost over 270,000 members each.
Government buildings and the Post Office supported the Pride. AEE: “We want diversity, plurality and respect in Spain. But, above all, absence of impositions and demagogic discourses about disobeying the law”.
The European Evangelical Alliance praises the work of Jan Figel’, who finished his mandate in 2019. “It is important that the EU leads by example and shows that FoRB is a precious human right for all people”.
Surf Church started in a living room in Porto, and now they offer dance classes and children work. “We would to see that church reproducing into more and more communities of Jesus followers”.
A research of Christian think tank Theos, also shows that Londoners are “more conservative and civically engaged”, and “26% feel marginalised because of their beliefs”
The latest EKD report shows that Sunday attendance reached a new low: only 3.2% of the members went to church services. Baptisms, weddings and funerals also dropped.
It is the highest number since the Abortion Act was introduced. The official annual report shows that the abortion rate was highest for women aged 22.
“Churches were shut, but many have never been busier”, said the United Kingdom Evangelical Alliance as the findings of the survey ‘Changing church: Responding to the coronavirus crisis’ were presented.
Volunteers of the Christian project I58 serve the needs of asylum seekers in the Moria refugee camp. Their community centre offers “tea and biscuits to around 500 to 700 people per day”.
Members of Evangelical Alliances shared stories about how “local traction” can help evangelicals to have a “voice in Europe”. The Marriage Week project received the 2020 Hope for Europe award.
A union of Pentecostal churches denounces the “profitable business that turns a mother into an exploited object and her child into a living commodity”.
A 2019 report of the Observatory for Religious and Conscience Freedom warns that the violent attacks against places of worship have increased.
According to Alpha UK, more than 1,600 people are now registered to a course. "We have never done Alpha online before, but I think online courses are here to stay”.
The “joy” of those who already had their first Sunday gatherings contrasts with the precaution of many others who prefer to wait some more weeks before organising in-person activities.
In Europe, hundreds of churches have joined to sing versions of “The Blessing” in their own language. See some of the videos.
Churches across the country remember those who died in special worship services with a “message of hope in resurrection and eternal life”.
The evangelical platform Community in a Crisis calls church members from across Europe to respond to questions that will help “learn lessons from lockdown that will shape the future of the church”.
The first Sunday of reopening was May 24, but several churches waited another week. “Returning was a mixture of feelings between joy and pain”, church members said.
“This conference is an impressive example of how the church has been adapting during the pandemic”, a participant says. 25 Networks, 101 workshops, plenaries and mentoring were available online.
The National Council of Evangelicals of France collected the data of 580 churches. 8 in 10 congregations have used video conferences and other online tools during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The German ‘land’ of Hessen re-opened church buildings on 1 May. The worship service followed hygienic and social distancing measures, but singing without face masks was allowed.
“Banks and governments do not have to keep money back, but to be proactive and stimulate the market”, says the director of the World Evangelical Alliance Business Coalition.
French evangelicals welcome the “affirmation of freedom of worship as a fundamental freedom” and issue a guide with practical information about the re-operning of church buildings.
The mission of the field hospital set up two months ago by Samaritan’s Purse has ended. Italian Christians underline the “human dedication” of the over 100 specialists that helped fight the Covid-19.
The German Evangelical Alliance had previously said that “the planned law is not coherent with its assumptions. We advocate for freedom of choice”.
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