There was a time when hanging out in the park was the prerogative of those the band Blur described as “the park class”. Blur’s 1994 hit Parklife conjures up the secret life of city parks as a place to suspend social norms: public sunbathing, loud music, playing with dogs. Another culture During the Covid pandemic… Continue reading PARKLIFE – by Sally Mann
A tale of two vicars: one exploiting the status quo, the other challenging it
Jonathan Fletcher was the vicar of Emmanuel Church Wimbledon (ECW) and enjoyed a high-profile and influential ministry. But in recent years, his bullying, coercive and abusive behaviour has been exposed. A report by the Safeguarding Agency thirtyone:eight catalogued Fletcher’s long-running pattern of sexual and spiritual abuse. Much of the fall-out from this scandal has… Continue reading A tale of two vicars: one exploiting the status quo, the other challenging it
A tale of two vicars: one exploiting the status quo, the other challenging it
Jonathan Fletcher was the vicar of Emmanuel Church Wimbledon (ECW) and enjoyed a high-profile and influential ministry. But in recent years, his bullying, coercive and abusive behaviour has been exposed. A report by the Safeguarding Agency thirtyone:eight catalogued Fletcher’s long-running pattern of sexual and spiritual abuse. Much of the fall-out from this scandal has… Continue reading A tale of two vicars: one exploiting the status quo, the other challenging it
A church as diverse as Jesus’ friends were – by Peter Graystone
I’m in my late 50s now. Well...63. It’s a time to reassess things. Try out new possibilities. I was thinking about applying for Love Island. Make some new friends, explore new ideas and meet some new challenges. New friends But if I was on Love Island, how would I choose my new friends? Maybe… Continue reading A church as diverse as Jesus’ friends were – by Peter Graystone
Marrying grace and truth
In summer 2001, my wife and I left church together as a newly married couple. This picture of us walking into bright sunlight is my favourite photo from that day. In the months before the wedding, to help us get ready for life together, we enrolled on a Marriage Preparation Course. Two aspects of the course made a… Continue reading Marrying grace and truth
To serve is to heal – by Adam Hughes
Adam, back centre, with friends from Tree of Life My name is Adam. I’m an ordinary 25 year old from London. I left school at 16 and trained to be a mechanic. I eventually found myself at a high-end car company in Chelsea. Life was good; I enjoyed my work and I was surrounded by… Continue reading To serve is to heal – by Adam Hughes
Tears for Fears – by Jeannie Kendall
I grew up in a house where tears were never seen. My mother had been brought up in an orphanage at a time when little was known about the emotional needs of children, and my father had his own very different struggles. As a result, I developed a deep shame around my tears. When I… Continue reading Tears for Fears – by Jeannie Kendall
‘I am kind of a Big Deal’: insecure pride and confident humility
On the podcast, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, a former staff member of the church recounts a time when he accompanied the pastor, Mark Driscoll, to a preaching engagement at the Royal Albert Hall in London. After the event, a few people were waiting outside to get Driscoll’s autograph and a photo with… Continue reading ‘I am kind of a Big Deal’: insecure pride and confident humility
Charisma over character: life on Mars Hill
The podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill makes for compelling listening. For those who don’t know, it tells the story of the mega-church in Seattle founded by Mark Driscoll in the mid-1990s. The church grew rapidly, had an incredible online reach and exerted huge influence. But, when Driscoll resigned in 2014 following disciplinary… Continue reading Charisma over character: life on Mars Hill
Making God’s welcome personal and tangible – by Stephen Kuhrt
Coronavirus has provided a major challenge to churches. But every problem also represents an opportunity. The lockdowns have led to considerable ingenuity by many churches through their online services and adapted forms of pastoral care. Re-connecting But as we gradually emerge from the pandemic, a new challenge now confronts churches: how to re-connect with regular… Continue reading Making God’s welcome personal and tangible – by Stephen Kuhrt
Grace + Truth 