Church criticised for newsletter claims

A Shropshire community church has been criticised by a government advertising watchdog after a newsletter it circulated about prayer healing was found to be "irresponsible".The North Shrewsbury Community Church has been warned an advert it produced in May must not appear again after the Advertising Standards Authority said that it could put off readers from seeking qualified medical advice.

Church leaders have also been asked to seek advice before advertising in the future.

But some of the findings have been dismissed by the church and its national alliance group. They claim ASA compliance rules would prevent them from spreading their belief that God can and does heal people.

They have vowed to negotiate more appropriate guidelines for churches.

The offending ad was featured in an edition of the church's Beautiful News newsletter which included an editorial by church member Dr John Matthias - a retired doctor from Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury.

In it, Dr Matthias introduces "true" testimonies from people in the area who have been healed "as a result of Christian prayer". He also informs readers he is a medical doctor with more than 35 years' experience, including more than 20 spent locally.

But the ASA said that by implying attendance at the service could help treat or prevent medical conditions, the ad was "irresponsible and could discourage readers from seeking qualified medical advice".

The ASA also said Dr Matthias's statement implied he was registered as a medical doctor with the GMC and had been actively practising medicine in the UK when the ad appeared, which was not the case.

Despite accepting some findings, both the church and The Evangelical Alliance said they had concerns.

A statement from the Alliance said: "We affirm the important role of the ASA in maintaining honesty and decency in advertising, but have some serious concerns with regard to the judgement and, in particular, regarding the requirements being laid upon the church in respect of future communications. We shall be taking up these concerns directly with the ASA."

By Russell Roberts