The leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, was asked in an interview whether welfare spending was unchristian and she replied: “In early Christian times there was no state or welfare so I think that you can argue that, actually. The Christian tradition is about communities and families and charity, not about compulsory taxation in… Continue reading Is Kemi Badenoch right: is the welfare system “unchristian”? – by Krish Kandiah
Category: Poverty
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
The contributory principle: everyone can do something for others
Our church runs a weekly drop-in meal called The Vine where we welcome a whole range of different guests. Some are homeless, many are vulnerable and lonely, and everyone seems to appreciate the fun, food and friendship we share. Last Wednesday was a great evening with the whole church building buzzing with life. The young… Continue reading The contributory principle: everyone can do something for others
Frank Field: socialist, conservative, Christian
Frank Field, the late Labour MP who represented Birkenhead for 40 years and died last year, will always be one of my political heroes. Last year Together for the Common Good invited me to give a talk in his memory, and this month, an official Frank Field Memorial Lecture has been inaugurated. The first lecture… Continue reading Frank Field: socialist, conservative, Christian
Prophet or Provider: what is the church’s role to those on the margins?
On Tuesday 21st October, I am very honoured to be giving the annual Hook Lecture at Leeds Minster on the title: Prophet or Provider? How can we be a prophetic voice for change while meeting the needs of people at the margins. Watch this 90 second video introducing this topic: https://videopress.com/v/2VVdXYfZ?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fvideos.files.wordpress.com%2F2VVdXYfZ%2Fdoc-20251010-wa0000-1_mp4_std.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true We are living in… Continue reading Prophet or Provider: what is the church’s role to those on the margins?
Pope Francis: ‘We are tired of systems that produce poor people’
The death of Pope Francis today has created an incredible wave of sadness and appreciation for his life and ministry. Since becoming Pope in March 2013, Jorge Bergoglio's generosity, simplicity and passion for social justice has inspired those both inside and outside the Church. But as Paul Vallely's superb biography, Pope Francis: Untying the Knots shows, Bergoglio's journey to becoming… Continue reading Pope Francis: ‘We are tired of systems that produce poor people’
Challenging Power, Changing Practice & Deepening Spirituality: The future of UK Christian social action
by Jenny Sinclair and Jon Kuhrt Download full paper as a PDF Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’ Jeremiah 6:16 Poverty is getting worse Christian social action… Continue reading Challenging Power, Changing Practice & Deepening Spirituality: The future of UK Christian social action
The dehumanising denial of work
Photo by Andrew Neel on Pexels.com Scenario 1: Pete At our church drop-in meal recently, one of our regular guests Pete* was telling me about how he lost his job. He was a lorry driver and loved the work until the company was taken over by a bigger firm. In order to maximise profit, the… Continue reading The dehumanising denial of work
Restorers of Hope: conference March 12th
The UK faces a homelessness and poverty crisis, made up of many different problems: Resources: the lack of affordable housing, debt, rising cost of living. Relationships: abuse, mistrust, family breakdown, loneliness, isolation. Identity: meaninglessness, low self-esteem, mental ill-health, addictions. We need a hope strong enough to respond to all three of these challenges. Hope into Action works with churches… Continue reading Restorers of Hope: conference March 12th
The contemporary nature of poverty. And why it matters.
In his autobiography, the legendary footballer Bobby Charlton wrote about the material poverty he grew up in a North East of England mining community in 1940s. He records how everyone in his neighbourhood would be hungry the two days before pay-day because everyone was surviving on just bread and margarine. Charlton describes the insecurity and… Continue reading The contemporary nature of poverty. And why it matters.
Grace + Truth 
