Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com A few years ago, I was on the south bank in London, near Waterloo station, and I got talking with a homeless man called Richard who had approached me asking for money. He was in a bad state. As we spoke, he rolled up his sleeves and then his… Continue reading If churches don’t help people with their spiritual needs, then who will?
Category: Church
“Compelling, controversial & convincing…my vote for Christian book of the year”
Tough messages are not shared easily. It’s one of the key themes of this blog. If it doesn’t challenge you, then it doesn't change you. But, let’s be honest, we all prefer easy forms of grace than tough messages of truth. And if this is true for individuals, then it’s even more so for organisations.… Continue reading “Compelling, controversial & convincing…my vote for Christian book of the year”
Formation by flattery, or the cross? Practising truthfulness – by Jon Swales
Photo by John Carlo Capistrano on Pexels.com Christian leaders are complex human beings. That shouldn’t need saying. But sometimes it does. We are all shaped over time — by desire, fear, love, disappointment, trauma, hope. We change. We are never static. And leaders, like the communities they serve, are a mixed bag. Some are being… Continue reading Formation by flattery, or the cross? Practising truthfulness – by Jon Swales
‘No one too lowly, no one too important’: Jesus’ birth breaks barriers of race, class & culture
Text of a talk by Eman Tabbasum, aged 16, at Streatham Baptist Church on 14th December When Jesus was born, God didn’t choose the mighty or the powerful to welcome Him. Instead, he chose people from opposite ends of society: the shepherds and the wise men. God brought them both to Jesus and their inclusion… Continue reading ‘No one too lowly, no one too important’: Jesus’ birth breaks barriers of race, class & culture
The most rewarding 30 minutes of my week – by Stephen Kuhrt
The 'Tales from the Bible' team As a church leader, I’m incredibly fortunate to have a job that I love. After 22 years of ordained ministry, I still wake up each morning full of enthusiasm for the everyday tasks of being a vicar: planning services, writing talks, pastoral care, taking funerals and weddings, encouraging people’s… Continue reading The most rewarding 30 minutes of my week – by Stephen Kuhrt
Keyboard warriors will not inherit the kingdom of God
This post is taken from the 2025 Hook lecture 'Prophet or Provider?' delivered by Jon Kuhrt on 21st October at Leeds Minster. Read the full text here or watch the video below. When it comes to responding to poverty, should the church play the role of prophet or provider? Well, we should not accept the… Continue reading Keyboard warriors will not inherit the kingdom of God
Living off the fumes of Faith (in the City)
Forty years ago, the Church of England published the Faith in the City report which focussed on the plight of the inner cities and urban poverty in the UK. The report hit the headlines, generated significant debate and sold 50,000 copies. A key reason was because it angered the conservative government, with one member of the… Continue reading Living off the fumes of Faith (in the City)
Rage stoked by the Machine: the algorithms are against us
Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com Nothing reveals the health of a culture more than how well people disagree with each other. And this is especially true within local communities. This is why terms like community cohesion and social capital have become important because they describe a vital sense of relational connection and commonality that… Continue reading Rage stoked by the Machine: the algorithms are against us
Disunited kingdom: peace-making in a time of polarisation – by Tony Uddin
Photo by Efrem Efre on Pexels.com Last weekend’s ‘Uniting the Kingdom’ march underscored just how divided our nation is. Amidst the accusations and counter-accusations, demos and counter-demos, most of us are left asking how on earth we got here? I certainly have a dog in this fight. I am half-Bangladeshi and half-British, and a hundred… Continue reading Disunited kingdom: peace-making in a time of polarisation – by Tony Uddin
Untruthful cultures eat safeguarding for breakfast
A review of Safeguarding the Institution: how the culture of the Church of England facilitates abuse by Stephen Kuhrt (2025) Leadership guru Peter Drucker famously said: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” What Drucker meant was that whatever values an organisation articulates, or whatever plans, policies or aspirations it has, will always be trumped by its… Continue reading Untruthful cultures eat safeguarding for breakfast
Grace + Truth 