Over a dozen church leaders in the United States are urging a new strategy for Afghanistan on President Barack Obama, based on a "a humanitarian and development surge" rather than military might.

America can either tolerate constant and crippling conflict, or recognise that the yearning for peace is universal, and strengthen its resolve to end conflicts around the world, say US Christian leaders, echoing President Obama's words back to him. They are calling for a new approach to Afghanistan based on "a humanitarian and development surge".

Both believers (not least evangelical Christians) and non-believers are having a hard time pinning Barack Obama's faith down, says Martin Davis. This is because he is redrawing the dialogue about religion in the US.

The domineering and partisan politics of the US religious right was a serious Christian mistake, says Jim Wallis. To be faithful to the Gospel, Christians need to engage publicly and politically from the vulnerable space that Jesus made his own.

Faith leaders in the world's riches nation have told a hearing that it is time to stop the "poverty train" in the United States of America and rescue its 37 million citizens who are still living below the poverty line.

Now Cameron is up and Brown is down. But there is something unstable about the media-driven leadership swings and roundabouts, says Simon Barrow. Even so, the Prime Minister will have a job wooing the public.

PM Gordon Brown has launched a new consultation involving the Labour Party, churches and faith communities. It will focus on identifying the values held in common by different faiths and beliefs - ones that also echo with the non-religious.

A group of 70 major American Evangelical leaders have issued a manifesto which they hope will promote better conversation within their tradition, and a more positive public profile for evangelical Christianity in the United States.