Anne Thomas

• MySpace Bands Raise Money for Sudan Crisis

  Following last week's Darfur warning by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the public became more aware that the war-stricken nation is creeping ever closer to catastrophe, with rape and violence on the rise and humanitarian access at its lowest level since 2004.

• Church of England Criticises Government's 'Multi-Faith Society'

  In a wide-ranging condemnation of policy, it says that the attempt to make minority "faith" communities more integrated has left society "more separated than ever before". The criticisms are made in a confidential Church document, leaked to The Sunday Telegraph, that challenges the "widespread description" of Britain as a multi-faith society and even calls for the term "multi-faith" to be reconsidered.

• Archbishop Williams Embarks on China Trip

  The visit, which starts Sunday, "is intended to provide a deeper understanding of the Christian communities in China and the varied context in which it is developing...

• Christian Aid to Highlight Development Issues at London Film Festival

  Christian Aid has welcomed the number of films highlighting development issues at this year's The Times BFI 50th London Film Festival.

• Legendary Worship Leader: Amish Girls' Death Not God's Will

  Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith joined a community prayer service at a nondenominational evangelical Christian church in the Lancaster suburbs, following the fatal shootings of five Amish girls at a school in Pennsylvania.

• Worship Service for Amish Victims Led by Michael. W Smith

  Following the fatal shootings of five Amish girls at a school in Pennsylvania, prayers and services have been held around the world in memory of the victims, some attracting thousands from around their communities.

• Free Text Service to Keep Children Connected with Church

  A Christian children's ministry has launched a free texting service for children to help them get more involved in church life. MethodistChildren launched mctxt4, a service for nine-to-13-year-olds, with the aim to keep children in touch with what's going on in the world and give them food for thought.

• Church of England Opens Schools to Non-Christians

  With the aim to provide schools that were both Christian and inclusive, at least a quarter of all places at new Church of England schools will be open to children from non-Christian families, the church's Board of Education said on Tuesday.

• Pope Prays for Peace and Harmony Between Christians and Muslims in Iraq

  Pope Benedict XVI prayed for peace and harmony between Christians and Muslims in Iraq yesterday, saying both faiths had lived together in the country for 14 centuries 'as children of the same land.'

• Jesus Camp Questioned: 'Why Should Kids Repent?'

  A documentary on evangelising young people entitled "Jesus Camp" has launched, featuring kids praying and worshipping at Bible camps and youth events in the US.

• Anglican Schools will Require Church Attendance for Admission

  Church of England guidelines will require that parents who want their children to gain places at popular Anglican schools should go to church with their families at least twice a month.

• Church World Service Calls on UN to Respond to Burma Violence

  Church World Service (CWS) is calling on the United Nations Security Council to respond definitively as reports show that more than a million ethnic civilians have been forcibly displaced by Burma's military dictatorship and more than 3,000 villages in eastern Burma have been destroyed or relocated.