Post-Christian Britain
So the media is reporting a new survey which tell us what we've known for ages: the church in Britain is in decline and according to the piece in The Telegraph:
"Researchers describe a large proportion of the country as the “fuzzy faithful” who have a vague belief in God but do not necessarily belong to a particular denomination or attend services".

The article ends with the C of E spokesperson trying to talk things up.
And there are some signs of life and resurrection.
But I think it's a continuing call for those of us within the church to continue the journey of faithfulness, reimagining and bold experimenting, and to work out what a marginalised post-christendom church looks like in 21st Century Britain.
And to think seriously about where connecting points for faith-sharing begin, without pre-supposing prior knowledge.

Worst Young People
Apparently Britain's teenagers are the worst in the world. Or something like that!
Actually it's worst in Europe according to a new report. (see here, and the wonderful Daily Mail here).
Findings range from stating that 44% had been in a physical fight in the last year to "Just 64 per cent ate a main meal with their parents several times a week, against 93 per cent in Italy".
Be interesting to read the full report rather than just the tabloid headlines.

Linked to this is news that the government plans to invest more in youth clubs:
"Regular attendance at extra-curricular clubs helped pupils manage their emotions better, cut down on anti-social behaviour and "radically improve" life chances" .
The idea is for a club in every neighbourhood (BBC here), with "constructive" after school activities on the agenda.
Could be a great opportunity for some creative churches...