Election of Church Commissioners – how best to assess the candidates
The US Mid-Terms are not the only important elections about to be determined this autumn. The voting papers have just been sent out to the members of the Church of…
Elections
Euro elections: you can ‘send a message’, or you can vote to get Brexit done
Being an Anglican blog, there is no absolutism, command or demand in respect of the way people choose to exercise their vote; there is no 'must' or 'should' or 'ought', for what divides us in the realm of liberal democracy…
Bishop “ashamed” that the UK voted to leave the EU
Bishop David Gillett was the Bishop of Bolton for nine years, and before that he was Principal of Trinity Theological College in Bristol for 11 years. He is now an…
Spiritual influence: bullying voters with threats of hell is no different from threats of physical violence
Following the 2015 Tower Hamlets election court judgment which saw the disqualification of the elected mayor Lutfur Rahman for a number of corrupt and illegal practices, Sir Eric Pickles…
Brexit, the Bible and democracy: the judgment of God is the voice of the people
As the dust settles... Perhaps that's a premature denouement. As the winds of Brexit crack their cheeks throughout Europe, and the refiner's fire purges the political parties – if…
Batley and Spen by-election: you don't respect a murdered MP by suspending democracy
"Following the tragic killing of Labour MP Jo Cox, the Conservative Party has decided not to contest the forthcoming by-election as a mark of respect to a much-loved and…
Jeremy Corbyn is crowned Labour leader – it's the prayer wot won it
Archbishop Cranmer: "Please, Lord, please let Jeremy Corbyn win the Labour Party leadership. Pleeeeeease." It was a frivolous intercession made in the Prayer Room (at the bottom of the Homepage)…
The case for House of Lords reform has become unarguable
We will ensure that the House of Lords fulfils its valuable role as a chamber of legislative scrutiny and revision While we still see a strong case for introducing…
Welby tells politicians: "seek to do right" (no coded political message)
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby preached earlier this week at St Margaret's Church, Westminster, at a service to pray God's blessing upon the new Parliament. It was attended…
The undue political interference of 'undue spiritual influence'
Giles Fraser (pictured centre) has written a perfectly-pitched (yes, indeed) piece, 'Is it one rule for the Hindus and another for the Muslims?', which relates to the judgment in…
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive the politicians who trespass against us
Trust – or more precisely the lack of it – has arguably been the defining theme of this General Election. This was plainly demonstrated during last week’s BBC Question…
Nigeria unites in the war against Boko Haram
This is a guest post by Katie Harrison – Tearfund‘s Head of Communications. Katie tweets at @KatieHarrisonTF _______________________ Last year, I was working in Zambia, on a trip which involved long road…
Benjamin Netanyahu promises legitimacy, peace and security
The Archbishop of Canterbury made a pronouncement last year which was somewhat unusual in modern Anglican geo-political quibbling and hedging. The statement is still on the Lambeth Palace website,…
This General Election is bringing in a new level of Christian engagement
There's something about the build-up to a General Election that is both fascinating and morbid at the same time, as we, the electorate, see a group of gladiators -…
If imams may not influence voters, why should priests or bishops?
According to Dominic Kennedy, Investigations Editor of The Times, there is an 18th-century law which prohibits the 'spiritual influence' of the electorate in the process of democracy. He writes…
Nick Griffin votes Ukip? So what? 45% of British Satanists vote Conservative
"Is it true? Is Nick Griffin now a Ukipper?" tweeted staunch and loyal Tory Walaa Idris (@WalaaIdris), aghast, disgusted and ever so slightly delighted dismayed by the smeary associational…
Has Ukip sold its soul for €2million?
There is apparently a battle currently being waged for the soul of the Conservative Party, at least according to the Jerusalem Post: "..the natural home of British Jews, still…
Rev'd Canon Dr (Labour) denounces South Yorkshire police officer (Ukip)
The Rev'd Canon Dr Alan Billings is a retired vicar of some academic standing: not only was he a member of the respected Youth Justice Board, he was director…
Bishop of Willesden slams "unChristian" Tories and Ukip
The Clacton fallout has sent a few tremors around Westminster. So has the Heywood & Middleton spin-off. Not only have the people elected their first Ukip MP in a…
Salvation of the Union
Land of Hope and Glory! Rule Britannia! God Save the Queen! Scotland has spoken, and, despite the tawdry interventions of certain glitzy Scots living comfortably in the Home Counties, Manhattan…