The Church of England needs many more leaders from working class backgrounds and deprived communities, the General Synod has heard, in a debate where members voted to redouble efforts to establish churches on housing estates.

The Synod re-committed the Church of England to setting up a church on every significant social housing estate, five years on from first giving its backing to this goal.

Members also backed moves to double the number of young active Christians on housing estates and ensure that young people from estates and low-income communities are trained as children’s and young people’s leaders among other forms of ministry.

The Bishop of Blackburn, Philip North, who introduced the debate, called on the Church of England to act now to reverse the “slow erosion” of Christian life on estates.

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Work on estates churches has been 'utterly beautiful' in the face of multiple challenges, @BpBurnley told Synod today.

Members voted to redouble efforts to establish churches and double the number of young active Christians on housing estates.https://t.co/dalD9xMkYR

— The Church of England (@churchofengland) February 26, 2024

According to a new poll from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a First Amendment organization, nearly a third of Americans, including similar numbers of Republicans and Democrats, say that the First Amendment goes “too far” in the rights it guarantees. More than half agreed that their local community should not allow a public speech that espouses a belief they find particularly offensive.

“Those results were disappointing, but not exactly surprising,” said FIRE Chief Research Adviser Sean Stevens in a Tuesday press release. “Here at FIRE, we’ve long observed that many people who say they’re concerned about free speech waver when it comes to beliefs they personally find offensive. But the best way to protect your speech in the future is to defend the right to controversial and offensive speech today.”

The survey, which was conducted in partnership with the Polarization Research Lab (PRL) at Dartmouth College, asked 1,000 Americans about their opinions on free speech and expression. The survey found that “when it comes to whether people are able to freely express their views,” over two-thirds of respondents said they believed America was headed in the wrong direction. Further, only 25 percent of respondents agreed that the right to free speech was “very” or “completely” secure.

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In new poll, almost one-third of Americans say the First Amendment goes "too far." https://t.co/UoAuku9D3j

— reason (@reason) February 27, 2024

We’re now one step closer to a “quantum internet” — an interconnected web of quantum computers — after scientists built a network of “quantum memories” at room temperature for the first time.

In their experiments, the scientists stored and retrieved two photonic qubits — qubits made from photons (or light particles) — at the quantum level, according to their paper published on Jan. 15 in the Nature journal, Quantum Information.

The breakthrough is significant because quantum memory is a foundational technology that will be a precursor to a quantum internet – the next generation of the World Wide Web.

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“'Quantum memory breakthrough' may lead to a quantum internet”

A group of us will be testing this soon.

The big shifts I. Quantum computing will come out of the garages of open source pioneers.

Article:https://t.co/VU3rO0zArp

— Brian Roemmele (@BrianRoemmele) February 26, 2024

Oh King of grief! (a title strange, yet true,
To thee of all kings only due)
Oh King of wounds! how shall I grieve for thee,
Who in all grief preventest me?
Shall I weep blood? why thou has wept such store
That all thy body was one door.
Shall I be scourged, flouted, boxed, sold?
‘Tis but to tell the tale is told.
‘My God, my God, why dost thou part from me? ‘
Was such a grief as cannot be.
But how then shall I imitate thee, and
Copy thy fair, though bloody hand?
Surely I will revenge me on thy love,
And try who shall victorious prove.
If thou dost give me wealth, I will restore
All back unto thee by the poor.
If thou dost give me honour, men shall see,
The honour doth belong to thee.
I will not marry; or, if she be mine,
She and her children shall be thine.
My bosom friend, if he blaspheme thy name,
I will tear thence his love and fame.
One half of me being gone, the rest I give
Unto some Chapel, die or live.
As for thy passion – But of that anon,
When with the other I have done.
For thy predestination I’ll contrive,
That three years hence, if I survive,
I’ll build a spittle, or mend common ways,
But mend mine own without delays.
Then I will use the works of thy creation,
As if I us’d them but for fashion.
The world and I will quarrel; and the year
Shall not perceive, that I am here.
My music shall find thee, and ev’ry string
Shall have his attribute to sing;
That all together may accord in thee,
And prove one God, one harmony.
If thou shalt give me wit, it shall appear;
If thou hast giv’n it me, ’tis here.
Nay, I will read thy book, and never move
Till I have found therein thy love;
Thy art of love, which I’ll turn back on thee,
O my dear Saviour, Victory!
Then for thy passion – I will do for that –
Alas, my God, I know not what.

–George Herbert (1593-1633)

Remembering George Herbert #otd: Anglican priest, poet, and a beacon of faith and devotion. His legacy as a master of metaphysical poetry and a devoted servant of God reminds us of the beauty in humility and the power of words to express the divine. #GeorgeHerbert pic.twitter.com/b6sbME28Zp

— University Church (@SMVOxford) February 27, 2024

Our God and King, who didst call thy servant George Herbert from the pursuit of worldly honors to be a pastor of souls, a poet, and a priest in thy temple: Give unto us the grace, we beseech thee, joyfully to perform the tasks thou givest us to do, knowing that nothing is menial or common that is done for thy sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Today the Church of England celebrates George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633

Image: Panel depicting Herbert in the Anglican Window (C.E. Kempe & Co., 1923) in All Saints', Cambridge. Photo by Adrian Powter, via https://t.co/znkJLsdgR9 pic.twitter.com/fTAsQ2mbD6

— The Anglican Church in St Petersburg (@anglicanspb) February 27, 2024

Almighty God,
lead us by your Spirit that by the prayer and discipline of Lent
may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,
and by following in his Way
come to share in his glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen (slightly edited; KSH).

Morning everyone hope you are well. A nicely framed Blencathra overlooking Derwentwater. Have a great day. #LakeDistrict @keswickbootco pic.twitter.com/n1dq0NrOuL

— Rod Hutchinson (@lakesrhino) February 27, 2024

Let me dwell in thy tent for ever!
Oh to be safe under the shelter of thy wings! Selah
For thou, O God, hast heard my vows,
thou hast given me the heritage of those who fear thy name.

–Ps. 61:4-5

A fine example of stone pine in the necropolis of Cerveteri 🌳#thicktrunktuesday pic.twitter.com/Kvk82tdln2

— Sam (@SamWalksALot) February 27, 2024