Contextual theology

Does it matter if Church of England parishes wither on the vine?

At the inaugural meeting of 'Save the Parish' this week at Great St Bartholomew's in Smithfield, London, the Rev'd Marcus Walker was animated and agitated. Time is short, he told us. The ancient parishes of the Church of England are…

BBC Panorama smears the Church of England as ‘racist’

April 20, 2021
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'Is the Church racist?', asked the BBC's Panorama yesterday evening, as reporter Clive Myrie interviewed a few minority-ethnic clergy who have experienced some awful abuse at the hands (or from…

Anglican spinach – a primary challenge for the Church’s mission

December 1, 2020
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There was a subtitle fail in the Zoom service from Guildford Cathedral on Advent Sunday. It caused a bit of amusement on Twitter, but it presents an opportunity to explore…

Sheffield Cathedral sacks choir – because God told them to

July 26, 2020
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The Dean and Chapter if Sheffield Cathedral have sacked their choir, and this has caused a bit of a stir in the media and consternation on Twitter. They explain: For…

Catholic and Reformed: continuity and development

January 13, 2020
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Toward the end of his ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury (though it may have been just after the end), Rowan Williams was interviewed about his beliefs, and in particular his…

Lambeth Palace - follow the star Brexit colloquium

Lambeth Palace convenes Brexit colloquium – and crams it with Remainers (including one MP..)

November 14, 2018
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This Friday there is to be a colloquium at Lambeth Palace entitled: 'After Brexit: European Unity and the Unity of the European Churches'. In the current political morass of 'Hard'…

Don’t defame Mohammed: ECHR affirms European sharia blasphemy law

October 26, 2018
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The European Court of Human Rights has unanimously decreed that national governments may fine or imprison their citizens for attacking or defaming Mohammed. The judges determined that "the Prophet of…

Death penalty: Pope Francis hasn’t changed the teaching; he just ‘developed doctrine’

August 5, 2018
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One of the more curious aspects of Roman Catholic apologetics is its inability to answer certain specific questions to which it should have ready answers: 1. What is the content…

The General Synod of the Church of England puts same-sex relations over youth evangelism

December 1, 2017
300 Comments

There is perhaps nothing more challenging in mission than the proclamation of the gospel to those who have never heard it, in a foreign land, in an unfamiliar culture, in…

Prison chaplains may no longer convict offenders of sin: preaching must be ‘sensitive’

August 2, 2017
360 Comments

Remember the case of the Rev'd Barry Trayhorn, the 'tent-maker' (gardener) volunteer prison chaplain at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire? Being an ordained minister in the Pentecostal Church, he quoted Scripture…

Theresa May did not instruct the CofE to allow gay marriage

July 20, 2017
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'Prime Minister: The Church should "reflect" on allowing gay couples to marry', declares the Telegraph; 'Theresa May Suggests Churches Should Consider Conducting Same-Sex Marriages', says Huffpost UK; 'May: Church should…

England has defeated religious fanatics in the past, and will do so again

May 24, 2017
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When in 1587 Pope Sixtus V began conspiring with King Philip II of Spain in 'The Enterprise of England', it was the world's most powerful religious leader giving his blessing…

Boris, whisky, and Sikhs who think they’re Muslims

May 20, 2017
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Boris, whisky and Sikhs? Can you talk about alcohol in a gurdwara? What does the Guru Granth Sahib say about it? "I wouldn't go there," counselled Aaqil Ahmed, former Head…

Same-sex marriage: what does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?

February 2, 2017
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This is a guest post by the Rev'd Dr Gavin Ashenden, sometime Chaplain to the Queen. ___________________________ ‘Archbishop Cranmer’ has written a balanced and generous analysis of the House of…

The great canon doctor Martyn Percy implicates Justin Welby in "secular sorcery"

August 17, 2016
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"Everything you need to know about the Bible can be summed up by the great canon doctor Martyn Percy: 'The Bible did not arrive by fax from heaven.'," writes…

Fr Raniero Cantalamessa – Preacher to the Papal Household – to speak at Synod Eucharist

November 1, 2015
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As the Queen and Supreme Governor of the Church of England inaugurates the tenth General Synod on 24th November, it has been announced that the ceremony will be preceded…

Archbishops clash over crushing ISIS and right-to-die compassion

September 6, 2015
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The Church of England is all over the place today. Indeed, one headline seems almost purposely designed to degrade the other. In the red corner we have Archbishop Justin…

Was St Paul wrong about the timing of the Second Coming?

August 20, 2015
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If Jesus, being fully and infallibly God, was not wrong about the time of his Second Coming, what about St Paul, being fully and fallibly man? The whole thrust…

Bishop Philip North – catholic continuity and ecclesial unity

February 2, 2015
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On 7th November 2014, it was announced by The Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street: "The Queen has approved the nomination of the Reverend Philip John North to the…

The Community of St Anselm – satisfaction and spirituality

November 25, 2014
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A few months ago the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced a new initiative at Lambeth Palace: the establishment of the Community of St Anselm, the objective of which…