During 2014, the growing use of food banks across the country has been a major political story. A key reason is because the Trussell Trust, who coordinate the majority of the food banks in partnership with many churches, have been persistent and determined in communicating the crisis they see unfolding across the UK. They have told the stories from… Continue reading ‘Back street theology’ and stories from the frontline
Category: Theology
Unknowable love, unknowable power; revealed in vulnerability
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com From Bono on Bono: conversations with Michka Assayas: "I remember coming back from a very long tour...Got home for Christmas, very excited of being in Dublin. On Christmas Eve, I went to St Patrick's Cathedral...it's a kind of tradition on Christmas Eve to go but I had never been. I went… Continue reading Unknowable love, unknowable power; revealed in vulnerability
Why are churches ‘the best social melting pots in modern Britain’?
Love Streatham's Family Fun Day Today, the Daily Telegraph reports on the findings of research by the Social Integration Commission about the places where people from different backgrounds meet and mix with each other. The article, with the headline 'Churches are the best social melting pots in modern Britain', states: ‘Overall, it found that churches and other places of worship are more successful… Continue reading Why are churches ‘the best social melting pots in modern Britain’?
Church on the Corner: an Oasis in the Blur of urban life
"Jesus did not write a book but formed a community" Lesslie Newbigin Just under twenty years ago, I borrowed my mum's car to visit my mate Giles who had moved to King's Cross. When I got to his flat, he said 'Sit down and listen to this' and he played me Wonderwall from Oasis' recently released album (What's the Story) Morning… Continue reading Church on the Corner: an Oasis in the Blur of urban life
‘The Human Propensity to F*** things Up’
“One of the major obstacles to communicating what belief feels like is that I’m not working with a blank slate. Our culture is smudged over with half-legible religious scribblings. The vocabulary that used to describe religious emotions hasn’t gone away…instead, it’s still in circulation, but re-purposed, with new meanings generated by new usages... Case in… Continue reading ‘The Human Propensity to F*** things Up’
Cranmer and the toxic nature of anonymous blogging
For those of you who don’t know, Cranmer is the name of a blog which comments on religious and political issues. He describes himself as “Bishop of the Blogosphere, Pastor of the World Wide Web and Chaplain to the Digital Archdiocese”. Cranmer has won a large following by expressing right-wing, traditionalist perspectives on both religion and… Continue reading Cranmer and the toxic nature of anonymous blogging
If a picture is worth a thousand words…
Today's Church Times cover is an absolute classic.
When the church leaves the building…
This is my favourite scene from the Oscar-winning 1954 film On the Waterfront, starring Marlon Brando. One of the key characters is a priest who is encouraging the dock workers to stand up against the corruption of the Union bosses. One docker, Kayo Dougan, is prepared to testify in court against the violence and extortion. But the day… Continue reading When the church leaves the building…
Chalke and cheese: Oasis and the Evangelical Alliance
Just over 20 years ago I went to the Christian festival Spring Harvest for the first time. One of the seminars I went to during the week was on ‘Green Issues’ and was part of a series entitled Soapbox. The speaker was highly engaging and charismatic and I still vividly remember some of his lines: “Green… Continue reading Chalke and cheese: Oasis and the Evangelical Alliance
Jesus in a shell suit: the best moment in BBCs ‘Rev’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yo-UYCoZ9o You don’t get much more C of E than my family. My Dad is a former Parish vicar and Archdeacon. Both my brothers are currently vicars, and my mum has only just stopped leading a Parish church as a job share with my Dad in their ‘retirement’. You cannot throw a stick at a… Continue reading Jesus in a shell suit: the best moment in BBCs ‘Rev’
Grace + Truth 