VirtueOnline, the Barnabas Fund and CMS...

With over 150 years’ experience of work in the Muslim world, CMS has always been well aware of the risks faced by Christian minorities.

But now an anonymous article has been published online which appears to implicate CMS and one of its mission partners, Richard Sudworth, in actions seeking to damage the work of the Barnabas Fund and with it put at risk faithful Christians living in hostile situations.

The article was originally posted on VirtueOnline on 15 February and subsequently replaced by a significantly revised version.

This new version still appears to implicate CMS and Richard Sudworth. CMS notes that the Barnabas Fund still carries the original version of the article from VirtueOnline and is disseminating it.

CMS has no intention whatever to undermine the work of the Barnabas Fund. CMS has consistently affirmed the work of the Barnabas Fund on behalf of persecuted Christians and has occasionally worked collaboratively with it.

CMS affirms the ministry and integrity of Richard Sudworth who having lived and served in the Muslim world knows the realities Christian minorities face and is now engaged in sensitive and courageous work here in Britain.

CMS regrets that this episode has sown disunity among evangelical Christians whose common aim is to share Jesus.

John Martin
CMS Head of Communications

Comments

[Ibn Abbaas]

A Muslim has also recently published a book review from a religious and theological perspective. It makes for an interesting read:

http://www.salafimanhaj.com/pdf_page.php?pdf=119

[John Martin]

This is an example of the heat this issue is currently generating.

By indulging in so much invective against both Patrick Sookhdeo and Barnabas Fund, the author of the attached review has underminded his case.

Note that CMS blogs are unmoderated in our endeavour to encourage free discourse.

John Martin

[Isabel]

If you claim to be innocent of backing up White's viscious attack, why was his review posted on your web-site? It is very easy to destroy someone's reputation amd life's work. It is almost impossible to re-instate it. Read the words of James chpt 3 about the tongue! Anyone who discusses another Christian on a website needs to take heed of this!

[Church Mission Society (CMS)]

Just to clarify, Isabel, we did not publish Ben White's review on the CMS website. Nor in fact did we draw attention to it, aside from carrying an automatically updated feed from the Distinctly Welcoming blog by Richard Sudworth on our Blogs page. Therefore a link to Richard's post about Ben White's review would have appeared for a short time on that page.

Jeremy Woodham
CMS Web Editor