Christian Concern

16/10/2026

It has been an honour to support the Darlington nurses from the beginning of their ordeal.

Read more 👉 https://christianconcern.com/news/darlington-nurses-welcome-nhs-guidance-biological-s*x/

16/10/2026

"We're here because people need the gospel!" | Standing against the silencing of street ministry

We are backing Bread of Life Community Church as they oppose Colchester City Council's Community Protection Notice against them that seeks to silence the gospel being shared on the streets.

Supporters gathered outside Colchester City Council’s offices on Wednesday 14 October to deliver a 27,000 signature petition to the council’s chief executive, Pamela Donnelly, opposing the authority’s decision to issue the church with a Community Protection Notice (CPN).

Our petition calls on the council to withdraw the notice, which the church says could criminalise its pastor and members for continuing their Christian outreach in Colchester city centre.

The petition delivery comes as the church, backed by the Christian Legal Centre, prepares to challenge the notice through the courts, with a hearing relating to the matter due to take place at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 22 October.

A CPN against public evangelism represents an unprecedented use of public-order powers against an entire church rather than individual street preachers.

Read more 👉 https://christianconcern.com/ccpressreleases/petition-to-be-delivered-to-colchester-city-council-over-criminalising-churchs-street-preaching/

15/10/2026

If the argument is that it's too disruptive to impose your worldview on the public, then should pride marches also be shut down?

Yet it's a community church in Ess*x that is being told stop their outreach.

ITV filmed us standing with Bread of Life Community Church yesterday, as we defended their right to preach the good news of Jesus to the people of Colchester.

Andrea Williams told ITV: "What's great about our country is the freedom to disagree"

Our lawyers are backing the church in court next week. Please pray for freedom and that no part of the good news of Jesus Christ will be silenced on the streets of the UK.

15/10/2026

BREAKING: Victory for the Darlington nurses as NHS England publishes new guidance putting biological reality at heart of patient accommodation and staff facilities

Bethany Hutchison, President of the Darlington Nursing Union, said:

“Biological s*x is not an optional belief. It is a material reality and, following the Supreme Court’s judgment, it is the basis upon which s*x must be understood in equality law. We therefore welcome this clear and necessary guidance from NHS England.

“The test now is whether NHS trusts will actually follow it. Too many NHS institutions have been ideologically captured on these issues, leaving frontline women to defend rights and protections that their employers should have upheld from the outset.

“The Darlington nurses should never have had to take their own employer to court to secure privacy, dignity and lawful single-s*x facilities. Enforcement cannot continue to depend on the courage and personal sacrifice of individual nurses.

“NHS England, regulators and trust leaders must now ensure that every NHS policy is brought swiftly and lawfully into line with this guidance, the EHRC Code and the Supreme Court’s ruling. There must be clear oversight, meaningful accountability and consequences for trusts that refuse to comply.”

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said:

“This is welcome and long-overdue guidance. It has taken a long-fought battle, led by courageous women such as the Darlington nurses, to put biological reality back at the heart of NHS policy.

“But an important gap remains. The guidance does not give NHS staff the clarity and protection they need over pronoun use. Jennifer Melle was investigated, disciplined and referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council after declining to use female pronouns for a biologically male patient. She was eventually cleared, but no nurse should have to endure that ordeal for using biologically accurate language.

“NHS England must now make clear that healthcare professionals cannot be compelled to use preferred pronouns or penalised for declining to express beliefs about gender identity that they do not hold.”

See more on our website and breaking in the media 👇

https://christianconcern.com/news/darlington-nurses-welcome-nhs-guidance-biological-s*x/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/10/15/nhs-bans-trans-women-female-spaces-supreme-court-ruling/

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16211757/NHS-bosses-finally-tell-hospitals-stop-letting-trans-women-female-wards-18-months-landmark-court-ruling.html

15/10/2026

Today we remember Sir David Amess, who was murdered five years ago today.

A man of faith and strong advocate for those Christian principles he held so dear, we continue to remember him and his legacy.

Read Tim Dieppe's reflection article written at the time 👇

14/10/2026

“The gospel belongs on the streets”

We have just handed in our 27,000 signature petition which says that the gospel belongs on the streets of Colchester.

Around the country, the Christian message is being increasingly silenced in public spaces. But in Colchester, this has taken a new form with the council seeking to stop evangelists from mentioning judgement and hell.

We stand with Bread of Life Community Church as they challenge the Community Protection Notice (CPN) that could criminalise its pastor and members for preaching in the city centre.

The Christian Legal Centre is backing Bread of Life church in court next week.

13/10/2026

“The primary mistake of Christian pacifism is to read commands in the Bible intended for individuals as if they are commands for the state.”

Do Jesus's words - “blessed are the peacemakers” - mean that we should all be pacifists?

Our Head of Public Policy Tim Dieppe, writing in Affinity magazine, helps us think through the idea of Christian pacifism. He walks through the Old and New Testaments, including how Christians often misread Jesus’ words in passages like the Sermon on the Mount, especially when it comes to whom those words are directed.

Read the full article and share your thoughts 👇

12/10/2026

"Everything changed when a biological male was permitted to use our changing room"

Bethany Hutchinson gave a powerful call to public institutions to get back to common sense at our fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference 2026.

The NHS must make sure its policies are aligned with the latest Supreme Court guidance – which is simply stating biological reality.

Listen to Bethany share the story of how, when raising a concern that a biological male was getting changed in the female changing room, it was they, the nurses, who were told they had to ‘broaden their mindset’.

Full speech below 👇

11/10/2026

✍️ Sign our petition before we hand it in on Wednesday ✍️

Around the country, the Christian message is being increasingly silenced in public spaces. But in Colchester, this has taken a new form with the council seeking to stop evangelists from mentioning judgement and hell.

Bread of Life Community Church from Colchester was issued with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) that could criminalise its pastor and members for preaching in the city centre.

Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre are backing the church as it challenges the legality of the notice in court in late October.

We created a petition that calls on on Colchester City Council to take urgent action to defend the right of churches to preach the gospel peacefully in public - which reached 25,000 signatures.

We’re handing in the petition to Colchester City Council on Wednesday - so take this final opportunity to sign the petition and stand up for the right to preach the gospel on the streets of the UK ✍️

Around the country, the Christian messa…

10/10/2026

Today, believers from across Scotland gathered with one purpose at Awake, Arise! Aberdeen, to see society renewed under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

We began in worship, led by Allan McKinlay and Emma van Delft, fixing our eyes on Jesus and declaring His name above every challenge.

Andrew opened our first session, "Look Up: See Jesus, the Lord of All," reminding us that we are called to be Christ-exalting culture builders. We are not called to fear, but to shape and influence society with truth, courage and hope. Jesus is on the throne. He cares. And He is calling His people to be clear and courageous ambassadors for His Kingdom.

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Mark 8:34-38)

Our CEO, Andrea Williams, then challenged us to Wake Up and understand the battle around us. The Church is not called to retreat from culture but to influence it. Why is Christ absent from the public square? Why has His truth been pushed aside? The light of Christ cannot remain within church walls. It must shine into the darkness.

The afternoon was filled with inspiring Stories of Hope. From courageous pro-life work in Aberdeen shared by Megan Randall and Juliet Philip, to a bold vision for education from Niel Deepnarain, founder of Unite for Education and John-William Noble, founder of Scotland's first Christian Classical School. Richard Lucas, leader of the Scottish Family Party, reminded us of the need for political engagement from Christians. We left encouraged, challenged, and equipped to be part of the change. The future is shaped by those willing to stand, speak, and act.

Throughout the day, we heard powerful testimonies from many of our clients across Scotland. Their journeys have not been easy, but they are standing firm for truth. Their courage reminds us why we are here today: to bring light into darkness, hope into confusion, and truth into a culture desperately searching for answers.

The awakening of the Church is not about comfort. It is about courage. It is about rebuilding, re-engaging and responding to Christ's call to be salt and light in every part of society.

Please continue to pray for us as we approach the final leg of the 2026 Tour (Belfast, Saturday, 21 November). Pray that hearts would be stirred, faith strengthened, and a generation would arise to live boldly for Jesus.