Published in the Church of England Newspaper as part of a continuing discussion between Evangelicals in the Church of England … Not all Evangelicals think alike. The year I began ordination training I attended the Evangelical Anglican Congress at Nottingham (1977). NEAC remains one of the most exciting conferences I have ever been to. There, […]
I wrote these some years back when seeking a personal discipline when engaging with folk I have dis-agreements. I have no problem at the thought that Christians might deeply disagree at times – it is the way we manage our disputes that is at issue. I accept with gratitude the call to live my life […]
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 […]
When we were first told to stay at home, networks, organisations and individuals from the worlds of spirituality and meditation began posting resources and advice on the themes of solitude, silence and stillness etc. For a captive audience, here was neglected wisdom for our noisy, compulsively overactive world. Familiar stories and sayings did the rounds. […]
Acoss the slow, sunlit mornings of this lovely Spring I have officed in the garden. There I write, read and pray. ‘Lord, teach us what is ours to do’. Well this is mine, I sense, while these days last. The garden, simply gift. As human noise and activity has withdrawn, much else is drawing nearer […]
This article is was published in the September to December 2018 issue of Lee Abbey, Rapport magazine. Down through history, and in a variety of cultures, is found the practice of gathering tears and keeping them in a bottle. There is a poetic reference to this practice in one of the Psalms when a […]
This Island has no interest in meIt just lets me be I generally need more attention thoughso I have been treating it at length to the profounder depthsof my thought and prayer includingthe future of the Church of England diocesan strategy the immorality of the soul student loan schemes Brexit Global warmingGod’s Will For Me […]
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 […]
A Remembrance Day sermon I was standing at the War Memorial on Sunday as many of you were. I spoke the words – ‘We will remember them’.I wore the poppy – ‘lest we forget.’But found myself wondering what the task of remembering actually involves. What does it take? And what does it ask of us not […]