Sermon preached at the ordination Sue and Alison as priests. St Michael and All Angels 28th September, 2020.Holy Trinity, Westward Ho! Exeter Diocese. ‘… we have such a hope, we are very bold.[for] We with unveiled faces are seeing the glory of the Lord …. displayed in the face of Christ.’ 2 Cor 3.4-5,12-18&4.1-7 I […]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TePuPl1FDRM&feature=youtu.be This is the text of a presentation I have given to several zoom events to mark the publication of my new book Love means Love – same sex relationships and the Bible (SPCK). You can find more information about the book here on these web pages. But let me start with a story. Four […]
Sermon at service for licensing of lay ministriesLeicester Cathedral ReadingsNumbers 13: 1-2, 27-33Ephesians 4: 1-6Luke 10: 17-20 If those bible readings were chosen to set the scene for this celebration of rich and varied Christian callings then have you noticed one important ministry seems to be missing today? Where are the spies? In that first […]
For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! I Thess 5.2-3 For as the days […]
I am sitting in remote cabin where I have gone for a week of prayer and writing. A squirrel has befriended me in my hermitage. Several times a day she lands with a thump on the windowsill, taps boldly on the window and watches me with bright anticipation. Ask and it shall be given to you. […]
In October 2018 a group of Bishops sent an open letter (1) to the Coordinating Group for the Living in Love and Faith project (2) expressing concerns about possible changes to the church’s understanding of marriage and same-sex relationships. This article was one of three published responses to a letter on a website called ViaMedia. I gratefully acknowledge […]
Reflections on Judas ‘One of you is going to betray me …’ Jn 13.21ff. We are told they all looked at each other in bewilderment. In Matthew they ask Jesus – ‘surely you don’t me?’ It’s a strange response. Wouldn’t they know if it was them? Wouldn’t you? Can you betray without knowing it? […]
First published in 2014 Apartheid and the Word With the death of Nelson Mandela stories of apartheid South Africa have been retold in all their harrowing detail. Less commented on was how uncomfortable this chapter of history remains for Reformed and Evangelical churches who make particular claim to base their life and values on the […]
This piece was first written as a briefing paper for a Church of England House of Bishops Working Group on Human Sexuality. The outcome of the Working group was ‘The Pilling Report’ where it was published as an appendix in the ‘Pilling Report’ – the offering of It was published November 2013. This paper traces the journey […]
‘He showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’. Jn 20.19‑22 […]