By Jon Swales I don’t want to be a Christianwho forgets how to feel -who hides behind answers,quotes verses like shields,and silences sorrow with a song. I don’t want a faithof romanticised abstraction,where resurrection is polishedand the cross is theory.Give me something real-flesh and blood,grief and grace. I want to weepwith eyes wide open.Tears that… Continue reading I don’t want to be a Christian who…
The best reason for keeping Christian distinctiveness
Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com I bet everyone reading this knows a charity or community project which was started by the church, but which over time lost its connection with the faith which birthed it. When you dig into the history of so many charities, whether related to children, youth work, older people,… Continue reading The best reason for keeping Christian distinctiveness
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
Fatherlessness & homelessness – by Mark Wood
giselaatje from pixabay It feels like suddenly, everyone is talking about boys and the malign influences they are under. The success of the Netflix drama Adolescence has given the issue global profile and Gareth Southgate’s excellent Dimbleby lecture added to this. The recent Lost Boys report by the Centre for Social Justice highlights the disparity… Continue reading Fatherlessness & homelessness – by Mark Wood
‘Adolescence’ could be the ‘Cathy Come Home’ for our generation
Cathy Come Home was a BBC1 drama broadcast in 1966 which shocked the nation by its portrayal of a family’s descent into homelessness. It was watched by a quarter of the population and produced a storm of phone calls to the BBC, discussion in Parliament and inspired the start of the homeless charity Crisis. One… Continue reading ‘Adolescence’ could be the ‘Cathy Come Home’ for our generation
Who are the positive male role models?
Recently I went to a local friend’s birthday party. In amongst the usual chat and catch ups, my friend Ian, whose sons were in primary school with mine, raised a great question to a group of us standing at the bar: “There are so few good male role models these days. Who are my boys… Continue reading Who are the positive male role models?
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
‘Paul’s Letter to American Christians’ by Martin Luther King Jr
Photo by Hugo Magalhaes on Pexels.com Below is an excerpt from a Martin Luther King sermon which imagined the apostle Paul writing a letter to American Christians in the 1950s. This sermon is re-produced in the book Strength to Love, a brilliant collection of King's sermons, which are still relevant and inspirational today. I am… Continue reading ‘Paul’s Letter to American Christians’ by Martin Luther King Jr
Reclaiming social justice from toxic identity politics
Last week I was at Kings Cross station in London waiting for a train when a middle-aged man called Martin approached me begging for cash. I explained that I did not give money but would be happy to buy him something to eat and drink. Martin accepted this offer and as we walked to a… Continue reading Reclaiming social justice from toxic identity politics
Applauded, booed & heckled: David Brooks’ masterclass in public theology
David Brooks addressing the ARC conference, London, 2025 In these polarizing times, what kind of voices do we most need to listen to? Those who simply affirm our own sense of righteousness? Or those who challenge our own blind-spots and urge us to think more deeply? This week the conservative journalist David Brooks gave a… Continue reading Applauded, booed & heckled: David Brooks’ masterclass in public theology
Grace + Truth 