The legacy of John Smyth’s sadistic abuse has had far-reaching consequences which will rumble on. In almost 1500 years never before has an Archbishop of Canterbury resigned. Smyth's appalling crimes have been transposed, compounded and institutionalised through both the active cover-up and the passive inaction of others. The yeast has worked through a whole batch.… Continue reading The crucible of truth
Category: Ethics & Christian living
Compassion or coercion? Grace, truth & Assisted Suicide – by John Clifton
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com On Sunday, I took a risk. I was preaching to a congregation I didn’t know and I chose to speak on the emotive topic of assisted suicide. With the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill approaching on 29th November, I felt it was vital… Continue reading Compassion or coercion? Grace, truth & Assisted Suicide – by John Clifton
Corruption, lies & the power of truth: ‘Mr Smith goes to Washington’ is a film for our times – by Stephen Kuhrt
Senators Joseph Paine (Claude Raines) & Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart). Click to watch trailer. As Christmas approaches, many will repeat the annual ritual of watching It’s a Wonderful Life. A lesser-known film with an equally powerful and important message is Mr Smith goes to Washington. Produced seven years earlier in 1939, it has the same… Continue reading Corruption, lies & the power of truth: ‘Mr Smith goes to Washington’ is a film for our times – by Stephen Kuhrt
Why Justin Welby must resign – by Stephen Kuhrt
Photo: Flickr The Makin Report, published this week, chronicles the appalling, sadistic and spiritualised abuse carried out by John Smyth and the abject failure of the Church of England to respond adequately to this. John Smyth’s abuse represents pure evil. But just as evil is the vast number of professing Christians who knew about Smyth’s… Continue reading Why Justin Welby must resign – by Stephen Kuhrt
What is the point of church?
A while ago I visited a church in East London doing great work with people who are homeless and vulnerable. I saw these words above the inside of the door: "You are now entering a place of worship" At first I assumed it was the standard wording you see in religious buildings asking for respect.… Continue reading What is the point of church?
Sex, power & cheap grace: a short film everyone should watch
"We wake up tomorrow in a Christian nation...will women have the vote tomorrow if we could wave that magic Christian wand?" "No" For Our Daughters is a short film about sexual abuse of women in the US evangelical church and how church culture perpetuated these injustices and covered it up. It contains powerful testimonies of… Continue reading Sex, power & cheap grace: a short film everyone should watch
“Though this world is broken, we know His justice shall win”
Lee Abbey Camp 2024 banner - created by Sabryanne I am just back from another brilliant week at the Lee Abbey Youth Camp. The camp is all about building a community with 150 others bonded by God's love. We sleep in tents in a field by the sea, eat food cooked over open fires and… Continue reading “Though this world is broken, we know His justice shall win”
The priest, the pay-off & an institution paralysed by fear
Blackburn Cathedral Revolutionary France, 1790s: a mob is rampaging through the streets of Paris, smashing up shops, looting and assaulting people. Trailing fifty yards behind the chaos is an older man struggling to keep up. As he stops and leans on a wall to take a breath, a man asks him ‘My friend, why do… Continue reading The priest, the pay-off & an institution paralysed by fear
Fully Alive: tending to the soul in turbulent times [review]
Fully Alive: tending to the soul in turbulent times by Elizabeth Oldfield (Hodder & Stoughton, 2024) Fully Alive is a fresh, thoughtful and extremely honest attempt to build a bridge between the Christian faith and those outside the church bubble. It had me hooked from the first page. Like all the best books, this book… Continue reading Fully Alive: tending to the soul in turbulent times [review]
Radical faith, remarkable community: the real deal at Bonny Downs
https://youtu.be/UV8_0FfrVrk Over the last few years, it has been a joy to get to know the remarkable Christian community in Bonny Downs in East London. It’s a group of people whose life, work and example has truly inspired me. Their story starts back in 1890s, when Charles Howe, walking through the ‘notoriously rough’ Bonny Downs… Continue reading Radical faith, remarkable community: the real deal at Bonny Downs
Grace + Truth 