Homelessness, Social commentary

The kind of leadership needed to end homelessness

Photo by Timur Weber on Pexels.com Yesterday, the Minister for Homelessness, Rushanara Ali resigned after media reports emerged that she evicted tenants from a property she owned and then sought to re-let the property with rents increased by £700 a month. She stood accused of profiteering off the backs of tenants - the very thing… Continue reading The kind of leadership needed to end homelessness

Ethics & Christian living, Homelessness

The path less travelled (& what we can learn from younger people)

Ethan Malcolm is a 22 year old student who decided earlier this year to take up the challenge to walk the entire length of the country, from Land’s End to John O’Groats. He doing it to raise funds for Hope into Action and is aiming to cover the 12oo miles in 60 days. Hope into… Continue reading The path less travelled (& what we can learn from younger people)

Ethics & Christian living, Wellbeing

The heavy burden of self-justification

Photo by lalesh aldarwish on Pexels.com When I was manager of an emergency shelter for rough sleepers in central London, I led a team which was constantly in danger of arguing and falling out. Many difficult decisions had to made every day and it was hard to avoid the chaos of our resident's lives infecting… Continue reading The heavy burden of self-justification

Social commentary, Wellbeing

The daddy of social problems: grace, truth & fatherhood

Photo by Juan Pablo Serrano on Pexels.com Every year, Father’s Day produces a dilemma for public conversations: how do you acknowledge the importance of fathers, without causing upset or distress to those who have had negative experiences?  It’s a balance that churches grapple with every year on Father’s Day. We need to be both sensitive… Continue reading The daddy of social problems: grace, truth & fatherhood

Social commentary

“If good people don’t grip difficult issues, bad people do”

Over the last 25 years, Louise Casey has made a name for tackling the most difficult social issues. A succession of governments, Labour and Conservative, have turned to her to address the challenges of rough sleeping, anti-social behaviour, troubled families, football violence and and police conduct. This week she published her ‘audit’ into how gangs… Continue reading “If good people don’t grip difficult issues, bad people do”

Church, Theology

Let’s get the flock out of here

Photo by Pille Kirsi on Pexels.com I went to a seminar a few years ago led by Mike Frost where he outlined four functions of church: Discipleship: learning and growing in following Jesus Worship: praise and prayer to God, participating in the sacraments Fellowship: building relationships within the church Mission: going out to share the gospel in words and actions The… Continue reading Let’s get the flock out of here

Church

How our church grew by shrinking

Photo by Nita on Pexels.com Over recent decades, my church in south London has been one of the largest churches in our local community. We have been perceived as a vibrant, charismatic, multi-cultural and large congregation. And during these decades, God has done many great things through our church: helping people find faith and be… Continue reading How our church grew by shrinking

Social action, Theology

What does a ‘quiet revival’ mean for social action?

The Bible Society's recent report The Quiet Revival gives evidence of a significant rise in church-going in the last 6 years, most notably among younger people, 'Gen Z' aged 18-24. The research provides solid data of changing behaviour which supports the anecdotal, intellectual and media-driven indicators we have seen in recent years. It backs up… Continue reading What does a ‘quiet revival’ mean for social action?

Ethics & Christian living, Sport

Glad All Over & rising up on wings like Eagles!

Yesterday I had an incredible day that I will never forget. I was at Wembley stadium watching my team Crystal Palace win the FA Cup, the first major trophy the Eagles have ever won in their 120-year history. We have been to an FA Cup final twice before, in 1990 and 2016, and both times… Continue reading Glad All Over & rising up on wings like Eagles!

Ethics & Christian living, Recommended books & reviews, Theology

The Anti-Greed Gospel

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Review of The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward; Malcolm Foley (BraznosPress, 2024) On a flight to New York last year, I watched Martin Scorsese’s film Killers of the Flower Moon. It is a… Continue reading The Anti-Greed Gospel