An article is it time to write the Eulogy?: The future of Seminary Education caught my eye (HT Steve Harmon who blogs at Ecclesial Theology). My impression is that the situation in the US is different to the UK but the question of what we expect from our Theological colleges is nevertheless worth asking. Not... Continue Reading →
Review: Rob Bell, Love wins
Never having read any of Rob Bell’s previous books I wasn’t sure what to expect; the vitriol poured in his direction suggested it wasn’t going to be good. My overall impression is that there isn’t anything in the book which is fundamentally objectionable or not said by someone else before; so why all the fuss?... Continue Reading →
Rob Bell: Love Wins
As mentioned in an earlier post Rob Bell's book is causing quite a stir. My Amazon order hasn't arrived yet and I will blog some thoughts when I've read the book (but not before). However, I note that some UK based comments are starting to emerge. This month's Christianity magazine has a brief book review... Continue Reading →
Distrust larger churches?
As comments to my Home Mission post demonstrate there is some distrust of larger Baptist Churches in the UK. As someone who was previously a minister of a Home Mission supported small church I have some experience on both sides of this; there is something dispiriting about the suspicion that the life of your congregation... Continue Reading →
Fissiparousness alert: Rob Bell makes waves
Rob Bell’s latest book isn’t even published but is already making waves in the US. No doubt this is exactly what the publishers wanted when they wrote this blurb (source Amazon.com): Fans flock to his Facebook page, his NOOMA videos have been viewed by millions, and his Sunday sermons are attended by 10,000 parishioners—with a... Continue Reading →
Evangelicals
The Evangelical Alliance has produced a survey of ‘Evangelical Christians’. The survey sample was made up of people attending large Christian events and a selection of churches who belong to the Alliance. However, given that 96% of those responding said they attended church weekly and 76% a small group I conclude that the sample is... Continue Reading →
Christian nonsense
Well it made me smile. (HT Chris Tilling)
The politics of church leadership
Reflecting on the Student Tuition Fee vote got me thinking about the connections between political parties and different styles of church leadership. The Lib Dems have found themselves an interesting position because they campaigned with lots of promise, enthusing people with a vision of what might be. Now in government they are finding the reality... Continue Reading →
Advent: the call of the wild
A voice cries out in the wilderness calling people to turn to relationship with God. In preparation for the joyful tidings that will introduce a new situation for the world, God’s creative act fulfilling promises of salvation. John the Baptist is the archetypal man of the wilderness, the nomad who follows God in the desert.... Continue Reading →
Hopeful living
My contribution to the hopeful imagination blog is now posted here. If you want to listen to the sermon which I mention it is available for download here, (click on the link on the right side of church home page). Thinking about the relationship between how we use money and who we are I also came... Continue Reading →
Distinct Reflections 