Outlook bleak for theological education
The future of theological education in the UK looks uncertain, with experts predicting that half of all Bible colleges may close within the next two years. Declining enrolment, financial struggles, and shifting educational models have left many institutions at risk. The CofE, which relies on these schools to train ministers, has seen a 40% drop in ordinands since 2019. Factors for this decline include secularisation, the cost-of-living crisis, and changing church dynamics. Some conservatives argue that a lack of doctrinal clarity within the CofE has contributed to the uncertainty. Others point to a global shift away from traditional seminary models, with institutions now exploring nonresidential programmes, microcredentials, and hybrid learning. St Mellitus and WTC have introduced flexible learning models to reach lay leaders and working professionals. Capernwray Bible School, which attracts mostly international students, sees a potential revival of faith through broader access to theological education. Experts believe these changes could reshape theological training for the future.
Sweden: ten dead after school shooting
A mass shooting at an adult education centre in Örebro has left ten people dead, including the suspected gunman, in what prime minister Ulf Kristersson called ‘the worst mass shooting in Swedish history’. Police have stated that the suspect acted alone, and have ruled out ‘ideological motives’. A number of others were injured, and local hospitals cleared extra space so that they could treat victims. Witnesses described scenes of terror, with students attempting to aid the wounded as gunfire erupted. Authorities locked down nearby schools for safety, and emergency rooms were cleared for victims. Kristersson called the tragedy a ‘painful day’. He asked people to give police the freedom and the space they needed to do their investigations, and stressed that there was no further risk to attending school the next day.
Germany / Ukraine: Scholz criticises Trump’s demand for rare earth resources
Olaf Scholz has criticised Donald Trump’s proposal to make US military aid for Ukraine conditional on access to the country’s rare earth resources, calling it ‘selfish and self-centred’. A Ukrainian source has said that resource-sharing had already been included in Volodymyr Zelensky’s ‘victory plan’, which has been presented to foreign leaders, including Trump. The future of US aid to Ukraine remains uncertain, with military assistance continuing but non-military aid programs frozen under the new administration. Germany is Ukraine’s second-largest military donor; however, Scholz has blocked proposed additional security assistance worth €3 billion unless it is covered by new government borrowing. He has also resisted sending Taurus cruise missiles, citing escalation concerns. As Ukraine seeks continued support, Western nations face internal debates over military aid, economic interests, and the war’s broader implications.
Germany: huge protest against collaboration with far-right
Tens of thousands of Germans have protested in Berlin against perceived political collaboration with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The demonstrations followed votes in which the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, received AfD backing on immigration-related proposals. While Merz insists he did not seek AfD support, critics including former chancellor Angela Merkel view this as a violation of Germany’s post-war commitment to reject far-right alliances. The protests attracted around 160,000 participants. With national elections weeks away, CDU leads the polls, with AfD in second place. Merz has ruled out forming a coalition with AfD, but tensions remain high. Demonstrators, alarmed by potential shifts in Germany’s political landscape, have called on democratic parties to protect the nation’s values.
