Last week I watched the film Bonhoeffer about the German Lutheran pastor and theologian who opposed Hitler. The film begins at the end of his life, as the 39 year-old Dietrich Bonhoeffer is held as a prisoner by the Nazi regime and awaiting execution. A series of flashbacks record his wealthy upbringing, his beloved older… Continue reading Religious nationalism: where do we draw the line?
Category: Politics
A turbulent priest for the Trump era
Rt Rev Mariann Budde, click to listen to full sermon At the service at the Washington National Cathedral yesterday, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, Rt Rev Mariann Budde preached a sermon on the subject of unity. A moderate, thoughtful sermon has created a firestorm of anger and recrimination. Clearly, it was not the kind of… Continue reading A turbulent priest for the Trump era
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
The de-humanising effects of liberalism – by Jenny Sinclair
Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Pexels.com Every era is characterised by an animating idea – and in our era it is liberalism. This is the sea we swim in. We don't really see it because it's all around us. Much of its influence has been positive, but it becomes a problem when it goes too… Continue reading The de-humanising effects of liberalism – by Jenny Sinclair
Prince William & ‘ending homelessness’
Watch: Prince William: We Can End Homelessness (ITV) Last week, ITV broadcasted two hour-long programmes Prince William: We Can End Homelessness in which the future King outlined the ambition of his initiative Homewards. The programme included plenty of footage of the Prince talking about why he cares about homelessness and the influence of his mother… Continue reading Prince William & ‘ending homelessness’
“This is my life. I want no other”: faith, politics & belonging – by Ian Geary
“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is… Continue reading “This is my life. I want no other”: faith, politics & belonging – by Ian Geary
‘Life to the Full’: Labour Party Conference sermon
The text of a sermon I gave at the Labour Party Conference Church Service on 22/9/24. The bible readings were Isaiah 65: 17-25 & John 10:7-18 In the field of homelessness, where I have worked for 30 years, you cannot avoid the twin issues of politics and faith. Rough sleeping is a sensitive political issue… Continue reading ‘Life to the Full’: Labour Party Conference sermon
Rough sleeping: what Starmer can learn from Blair – by David Christie
When Labour came to power in 1997, huge and unprecedented numbers of people were sleeping rough in every town and city across Britain. The appalling sight of people bedding down in shop doorways across the nation was widely considered a ‘national disgrace’. Labour gave a high priority to homelessness and set itself the aim of… Continue reading Rough sleeping: what Starmer can learn from Blair – by David Christie
Grace, Truth & the Common Good: a lecture in honour of Frank Field
"Church-based social action has grown significantly in the last 20 years, but it needs an appraisal. Too often social action projects can become disconnected from efforts for justice, deepen a sense of dependency in those they serve, and end up drifting in a secular direction." I am very honoured to have been asked to give… Continue reading Grace, Truth & the Common Good: a lecture in honour of Frank Field
Grace + Truth 