The Government and the Church of England have outlined a blueprint to help churches, charities and local authorities work better together to deliver community services such as health, day care and post offices.

While the Government is not giving extra funding to the church to adapt any of its 16,000 worship buildings for better community use, it pledged to help combat the ‘squeamishness' often felt by funding providers when it comes to giving grants to faith groups. In a report backed by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham and launched in London last Tuesday, the Cabinet Minister and Financial Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms, along with other ministers, say faith communities play a ‘valuable' but often unrecognised role in local communities. The publication of the document comes as the Church of England seeks to highlight its role as the largest voluntary organisation in the country.

Pray:for the Church, often accused of being irrelevant, as it becomes more involved in peoples' lives in real and practical ways. (Mt.25:35)

Source: Prayer Alert