Every so often a group of ministers emerge in Baptist life seeking to change the course of the Union. In the 1950’s it was about baptism; seeking to promote a more sacramental understanding. In the late 70’s and early 80’s concern about decline in the denomination led to the formation of Mainstream and many of... Continue Reading →
Challenge of change
Recently there has been some debate in church here about what lessons, if any, can be learnt from 'fresh expressions'. But first we need to grapple with some prior questions: how we read the Bible, how we understand culture, what the essence of church is and what it means to faithfully follow Jesus. Hermeneutics:... Continue Reading →
Images in preaching
As someone who routinely uses images as a backdrop to my preaching I was pleased to come across this site. The site isn't simply a collection of pictures but designed to use images as a means of spiritual reflection. Like other sites it will only be as good as the contributions made to it but... Continue Reading →
Free will?
Not many blog entries recently but I watched a BBC programme about the internet the other day where one of the interviewees talked about the way the web tracks the types of thing you are interested in and helps advertisers to target products. For example the way that Amazon and Youtube always have recommendations for... Continue Reading →
Christian music trends
An interesting conversation with someone involved in the Christian music scene in the UK got me thinking. Changing patterns of CD and download sales affect commercial viability making it harder for anyone not producing the ubiquitous worship album to survive and necessitating new creative solutions. Which makes me wonder:Are the days of Christian bands which... Continue Reading →
The struggle for insight against the powers of twaddle
I regularly have conversations with folk who are keen to promote ideas connected to ‘spiritual warfare’. While I hope I am gracious I am also sceptical about much of what’s proposed. It’s not that I don’t accept there are things which can’t be fitted into tight doctrinal systems, nor that I deny God is at... Continue Reading →
Is there anything that every minister should know?
I intended by earlier post about books to be followed by one which listed five books that every Baptist Minister should read. But I can’t decide what should be on the list not least because no book is so important that every minister should read it. There is a certain baseline of knowledge that... Continue Reading →
Society is changing
It is an interesting comment on the changes in society that Ed Balls (the government minister with responsibility for schools) chooses to criticise the Conservative Party's plans to give tax breaks for married couples as "unfair" and amounting to "social engineering".Whatever one thinks about the Conservative Party's plans it is a fascinating snapshot into our... Continue Reading →
Books which influence me
Challenged to name some books that have influenced me I’ve pondered a few book lists over the last couple of days. So here is a list of books, that don’t require a degree in theology to understand, which influence how I do ministry. Stanley Hauerwas Resident Aliens. Hauerwas’ approach to ethics and the task... Continue Reading →
Christmas greetings
"Our Lord Jesus Christ,the word of God, of his boundless love, became what we are that he might make us what he himself is." Irenaeus Happy Christmas to all
Distinct Reflections 