Bethel Baptist Church

The latest issue (Mar 2010) of The Bulletin, published by the Affinity Social Issues Team is now available over on the Affinity website. Here’s the blurb on what’s in this issue:

The March 2010 issue of The Bulletin looks at what happened on the steps of Wakefield Cathedral on 2 October 1997. This was a day which has had a lasting effect, not only the legal protection afforded to street preachers, but on the way in which preaching events are now treated by the police. Andy Banton of The Open Air Mission, outlines how this has since been working out in practice on the streets of Great Britain.

Dr John R Ling provides an analysis of the final guidelines the Director of Public Prosecutions has issued in respect of prosecutions for assisted suicide. Dr Ling also looks ahead 10 years to 2020, and offers his best assessment of what British society will be like then in respect of life issues. Although his prognosis in some areas is of further descent into moral chaos and public policy utilitarianism, he does see one or two hopeful signs.

Following victories in the House of Lords over the Equality Bill, Rod Badams answers the doubts of those who wondered whether the campaigning churches and groups were merely “defending their own corner” in opposing the employment restrictions the Bill would have imposed on faith-based charities. The Bulletin also sets out in detail the precise changes which the Lords made to the Bill, and which the government later accepted.