“Because of our Welfare State, it’s hard in the UK for the Church to find social needs to respond to,” explained the young man to the group of European Christian leaders. “The local homeless project has asked members of the Church not to give money to anyone begging outside the church,” announced the Curate to… Continue reading Being obedient to becoming more human – by Jenny Flannagan
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Giving up negativity for Lent – by Anna Whittaker
With Easter fast on its way (the Creme Eggs have been on the shelves since before Christmas), many of us will be marking the Lent period by giving up something which we feel we would struggle to live without. My past attempts at this have had mixed results, the most successful being when I gave… Continue reading Giving up negativity for Lent – by Anna Whittaker
Gifts of Grace and Presence in a King’s Cross Care Home – by Corin Pilling
It all started a couple of years ago, when Dorothy (pictured) made an announcement in church. She’d decided that something had to happen. I, in turn, decided that I was not the person to argue. She might look delightful in this photo, but when Dorothy decides that action is required, you sit up and listen.… Continue reading Gifts of Grace and Presence in a King’s Cross Care Home – by Corin Pilling
Robin Hood ethics: should I rob the rich to feed the poor? – by John Bavington
Photo by George Chambers on Pexels.com I work in a boarding school where the fees are nearly £28,000 pa (or only £19,000 if you come as a day pupil). “It’s not the real world”, some would say. But they are wrong. This is a part of the real world. The world in which rich and poor co-exist,… Continue reading Robin Hood ethics: should I rob the rich to feed the poor? – by John Bavington
Tranforming communities: what the world can learn from the Philippines – by Tom Graham
Photo by Marfil Graganza Aquino on Pexels.com It’s a village community Christmas party, and a bunch of over-enthusiastic men are on stage, dressed as lady boys, dancing enthusiastically to the repetitive and yet (dare I say it?) catchy tune of Gangnam Style. Whilst everyone enjoys the show, you imagine these Alpha-males will regret their performance… Continue reading Tranforming communities: what the world can learn from the Philippines – by Tom Graham
Vital subject, narrow perspective: Tim Chester’s ‘Unreached’ [review] – by Greg Smith
Tim Chester and his group of collaborators are to be praised for the work they do in living incarnationally in some of the toughest neighbourhoods in Britain. They seek to bring the Good News of Jesus to local residents and to plant culturally relevant churches among them. The book draws on this experience and is… Continue reading Vital subject, narrow perspective: Tim Chester’s ‘Unreached’ [review] – by Greg Smith
Why the Church of England must say YES 2 Women Bishops – by Stephen Kuhrt
These are exciting times for the Church of England. The appointment of Justin Welby to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury has been met with considerable enthusiasm across the Church. There is a desire to reflect his optimistic vision for the relevance of the church and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Before then, we face… Continue reading Why the Church of England must say YES 2 Women Bishops – by Stephen Kuhrt
Lament, protest and resistance – by Keith Hebden
Photo by kailash kumar on Pexels.com I met recently with Manohar, a South Indian priest and activist, in his office in central Bengaluru (Bangalore). Manohar is a Dalit and a determined champion of the rights of the Dalits whose spiritual and political solidarity with the oppressed are integral to each other. He told me of a… Continue reading Lament, protest and resistance – by Keith Hebden
The Paralympics, Stoke Mandeville and the Church in Action – by Martin Kuhrt
Dr Ludwig Guttmann was the founding father of the Paralympics. He was an eminent Jewish doctor who had fled Nazi Germany just before the start of the Second World War and became head of the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville, near Aylesbury. There, 'Poppa' Guttmann, organised the first Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948 which began… Continue reading The Paralympics, Stoke Mandeville and the Church in Action – by Martin Kuhrt
How ‘Surprised by Hope’ changed my whole outlook on life & death – by Mari Williams
What is the Christian hope? What does the Bible say about life after death? What are the implications for life before death? Tom Wright tackles these and other questions in his seminal book Surprised by Hope. It’s dense but engaging, rooted in Scripture, and it’s changing the way I think, pray and act. I won’t… Continue reading How ‘Surprised by Hope’ changed my whole outlook on life & death – by Mari Williams
