An overview: where are we now on the Lobbying Bill?
Even with the changes agreed as result of the Report Stage in the House of Lords this week, the UK government's Lobbying Bill remains a huge restriction on civil society campaigning compared to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
Lobbying debate in the media as Lords vote
As the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill comes up for the final votes at Westminster this week, an advert is appearing in The Times newspaper – supported by Ekklesia and 100 other civil society organisations – drawing parliamentarians' attention to the huge concern about this bill across the voluntary sector, and highlighting the 164,000+ members of the public who have signed it in just a few days.
SysAdmin / Webmaster sought for Ekklesia
This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in looking after an influential website which receives thousands of visitors a day.
Care Bill: What support means for a severely disabled person
Today, Monday 16 December 2013, the Care Bill has its second reading in the Westminster parliament.
Ten steps towards improving human rights in Pakistan
In Ekklesia's news briefing service, we reported this week on renewed calls for an end to serious violations of human rights against religious minorities in Pakistan occasioned by the country's notorious blasphemy law (http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/19653).
World AIDS Day: churches' health project
On World AIDS Day (1 December 2013), it is worth reminding ourselves of the World Council of Churches' Healthand Healing project, which supports the churches' work in this field, with particular emphasis on HIV/AIDS, mental health, and the promotion of reconciliation and the "healing of memories".
The essentials of a radical faith: Anabaptists and Mennonites
The Anabaptist Network and the Mennonite Trust, both partners of Ekklesia, have organised a day on Saturday 30 November 2013, entitled 'The Essentials of a Radical Faith'.
Baroness Warsi on MENA Christians: right problem, wrong diagnosis
"Christians 'face extinction' in their ancient homelands because of a rising tide of sectarian attacks." That was the way the Daily Telegraph signalled the content of a talk by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi last week.
Church schools and the reality of religiously-based selection
In addition to challenging the misuse of statistics in recent claims about Church of England Schools, the The Fair Admissions Campaign, of which Ekklesia is part, has recently highlighted a number of Church schools that are highly selective in their admissions.
Electoral Commission briefing on Lobbying Bill
The Electoral Commission which was not consulted by the government before it developed its controversial Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill, which is in Committee stage in the House of Lords. The EC sent a briefing to peers yesterday (4 November 2013), backing a pause. It reads as follows:
