Christians: armchair critics or positive change-makers? By Matthew Vaughan In 2007 a study by the Barna Group, an organisation which describes itself as a “research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture”, published a report into public perceptions of Christianity in the USA1. The findings of the report are striking. Among the most … Continue Reading
The Darkness we call Providence by Tim Dean Is there any point to a doctrine of providence, can it be said to be of any practical consequence for humankind? For ‘Providence’ may appear to raise many insuperable problems and offer very little light. Even if it is right to conclude that the doctrine is of … Continue Reading
Keeping Focused – Starting Training for Ministry by Charles Read Matthew 11 v 1-15 Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities. When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said … Continue Reading
Of delight and a tooth by Simon Cawdell “Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9:37 (From … Continue Reading
The Pharoah’s Concubine and the Egyptian Slave by Jody Stowell (this article was first published in an abbreviated form on sophianetwork and is published with permission) Quite often when we start to look at the thorny issue of the place of women in the Church, we forget that this debate is intensely personal.It is easy to talk ‘theologically’, … Continue Reading
Seeds and Surprises: North London Lammas by James Mercer He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then … Continue Reading
Why I am still an Anglican by Tim Goodbody This article began life from an online discussion between Cranmer’s Curate (Revd Julian Mann) and myself. Cranmer’s Curate published what amounts to an abridged version of what follows here on his blog on the 29th of April 2009. At the time that discussion started I was … Continue Reading
The Reading Church Scriptural Authority in Practice a lecture given at St Mary Islington, 27 April 2009, at the launch of his book ‘A Conversation Waiting to Begin: the Churches and the Gay Controversy’ (SCM Press, 2009) an extract was copublished in the Church Times, 1 May 2009 by The Revd Professor Oliver O’Donovan FBA … Continue Reading
Sermon preached at St Mary Islington, 18 January 2009 by Professor Andrew Bush I want to start by telling you about someone I will call Geoffrey. Geoffrey was born with cystic fibrosis, a condition which causes him to have chronic chest infections which require him to spend many hours a week on treatment and which will eventually kill … Continue Reading
A Humble Moment by Jeremy Begbie A sermon preached at the Ordination and Consecration of The Reverend Canon Dr Christopher Cocksworth to be Bishop of Coventry, and The Venerable Dr David Thomson to be Bishop of Huntingdon Southwark Cathedral, London, 3 July 2008 John 20.24-29 Not so long ago on prime-time TV, Sir Alan Sugarhad … Continue Reading