Christians have repeatedly tied themselves in knots about Mission. At various times we've boxed it, felt guilty about it, outsourced it and pretended to do it whilst running in the other direction. Mission as we often think of it came of age in 17th Century, but what should it look like in 2012? To start… Continue reading What should Mission look like in the 21st Century?
Author: Jonathan Chilvers
Jonathan Chilvers...leads a homeless project in the middle of Leamington and is part of Jubilee Church Leamington. He is a Green Party County Councillor in Warwickshire, but is not writing on behalf of any of the above. Jonathan loves his wife and two beautiful daughters. Follow or contact him via Twitter: @jonchilvers
George! No more benefit cuts before we get a living wage
George Osborne has said that he wants to cut benefits by a further £10bn in the next five years on top of the £18bn already announced. He singled out Housing Benefit for special treatment, slamming people claiming it for having an easy life compared to people working. What Osborne chose to ignore in his rhetoric… Continue reading George! No more benefit cuts before we get a living wage
The Power of CBeebies
CBeebies the hugely successful channel aimed at 0-6 year olds, is ten this year. Although not directly a New Labour Project it still perfectly reflects the government’s cultural agenda of the time. Culture not economy At the height of the Blarite Years in the early 2000s a conservative commentator perceptively wrote that: ‘all the lefties… Continue reading The Power of CBeebies
Graham Jakeman – Rest In Joy
My church leader, Graham Jakeman, died suddenly earlier in the summer aged 44. His vision, faith and unique leadership helped start and sustain Jubilee Church since it began in September 2003. Stubborn Graham was stubborn. I am used to being able to convince and influence people through my words and arguments, but I don't think… Continue reading Graham Jakeman – Rest In Joy
Our Olympic positivity can last – but we’re going to need practice
Photo by Donald Tong on Pexels.com One of the best things about the Olympics was the regular positivity it bought to every day conversations. I first realised quite how far this had filtered through the nation’s psyche when I read the comments after this Charlie Brooker article in the Guardian. The space ‘below the line’… Continue reading Our Olympic positivity can last – but we’re going to need practice
That figures: what the census numbers feel like
The first figures from the England and Wales census (pdf file) were released today and here's a quick look at how they back up (or not) the changes that we've felt since 2001. 1. The North is getting emptier The overwhelming majority of local authority areas significantly grew in population – the mean average being… Continue reading That figures: what the census numbers feel like
Stop Thieves! The Olympics have been sanitised and stolen
I was excited enough about the Olympics to apply to be a part of the huge phalanx of volunteers needed to run the games starting in two weeks. One of the reasons I eventually turned down the place I was offered was that I wasn’t sure whether I could stomach wearing a t-shirt advertising McDonalds.… Continue reading Stop Thieves! The Olympics have been sanitised and stolen
Sex and the Spa Town
Photo by Marina Zvada on Pexels.com In the last three months two nightclubs in my home town of Leamington Spa have applied for ‘sexual entertainment licences’ that allow them to run strip clubs and other ‘adult entertainment’. With the Green Party and others from across the political spectrum I've been campaigning to stop the licences being granted. Similar… Continue reading Sex and the Spa Town
Don’t buy the lies about Executive Pay: Reward people for the contribution they make
“Did you know that the Chief Executive of Warwickshire County Council gets paid £173,000 per year, which is over 14 times the least well paid person in the Council who get by on £12,145?” Over the last month, I've been knocking on peoples' doors asking them if they want to sign the local Green Party's Fair… Continue reading Don’t buy the lies about Executive Pay: Reward people for the contribution they make
Who will be the fathers?
Photo by Casey Allen on Pexels.com This story was told at my church a few weeks ago: “Elephant herds are formed of an intrictate social web of the extended family. Two or three generations of parents and cousins all play their part – it really does take a whole herd to raise an elephant child.… Continue reading Who will be the fathers?
Grace + Truth 