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
Category: Church
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
On what is faith based: escape or divine renovation?
I find many contemporary Christian songs difficult. I find them too fluffy, too sentimental, too individualistic, too escapist. They may contain words of radical aspiration but do not seem drawn from the genuine struggles of life. Rarely do our songs reflect scripture’s lament for the injustices and brokenness of the world. My friend Andy Flannagan… Continue reading On what is faith based: escape or divine renovation?
“I Hate God” (But I Met Jesus)
A poem by Rev'd Jon Swales It was raining. Sideways rain. Hard, mean, Leeds rain. The kind that says: You’re not welcome anywhere. She stood outside, soaked, smoking the last of her rollies, muttering curses like liturgies for the lost. Then she saw the collar— white, stupid, clean. And that was it. “You lot make… Continue reading “I Hate God” (But I Met Jesus)
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
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
Grace + Truth 