Discrimination!

I was listening to BBC Radio yesterday and an interesting conversation emerged. There is a push right now to alter the Acts of Succession and Settlement which, at least in part, currently set out that any male born to the King or Queen will have priority as heir to the throne. A woman will only take the throne if there is no living male fit for the throne. The acts also require that the monarch to take the throne must take communion in and support the Church of England AND Church of Scotland. (here's a link to an article on it: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/25/anglicanism.catholicism1)



Parliament has proposed a revision that eliminates these requirements. The funny thing? The conversation taking place on the radio show was centered around the discrimination of the current acts. It was said and agreed on by several Members of Parliament and other government officials on the program (as well as the hosts) that the current policy discriminates against women and non-Anglicans. However, they somehow seem to completely ignore the fact that a monarchy is, by nature, discriminatory. If you're not bothered by the fact that only one family in the whole empire can rule, how can you base your argument for these changes on discrimination?

Photograph: Prince William with Kate Middleton: his first-born would be heir regardless of gender. Photograph: Michael Dunlea/Reuters

East London Teens

Some of you may know that we've been working with a new faith community of Chinese from North Vietnam. To say it's been a challenge would definitely be an understatement. The community only gathers twice a month - once on a Saturday and once on a Sunday. Most of the teenagers have Chinese school during the Saturday meeting so we don't meet with them on those days. That only leaves one day a month that we spend 2 hours with them (if our trains are running on time). So it's not exactly a recipe for fast results. Still, in the 7 or 8 times we've been with these teens (and pre-teens) we've quickly become accepted.

So, on Saturday, I (Chris) was asked to meet with them because the Chinese school has not started back yet. And the whole week leading up to this time I couldn't shake the feeling that it was time to give them a clear picture of Christ's love for them. So, this past Saturday we had an amazing conversation about the love of God through Jesus. Now the seed is germinating. Let's watch it grow!