by Richard on April 16, 2013
Dave Faulkner points to 5 signs of a dying church and asks “What does a dying church look like?”
This is a really simple question, assuming that we’re talking about the church as you can see it in our towns and villages. (The Church Triumphant is, of course, a different matter) It isn’t a matter of [...]
by Richard on September 13, 2011
Lesley’s Blog :: Are large growing churches successful?
by Richard on June 16, 2011
More brilliance from ASBO Jesus
I don’t know why I didn’t think of it years ago. Or rather I do: it’s the zeitgeist, the spirit of the age, the values of secular culture – it’s like the invasion of the body-snatchers, like being taken over by an alien force, and before you know it the church has been colonised [...]
by Richard on February 10, 2011
This is St Govan’s Chapel, set almost at the bottom of a sea cliff on the Pembrokeshire coastline. It dates from the twelfth century, but is reputed to be on the site of a sixth century hermitage. The origins of the place are lost in myth, but it has long been (and remains) a place [...]
by Richard on January 25, 2011
Another splendid cartoon from Dave Walker which originally appeared in the Church Times.
by Richard on October 21, 2010
Bishop Alan: Why new media matter in church
by Richard on June 16, 2010
Worthwhile articlette from Spencer Burke on The Ooze.
via maggi dawn, to whom thanks are due.
by Richard on April 22, 2010
Angela Shier-Jones has another terrifyingly honest post about ministry.
by Richard on March 5, 2010
I’m not a fan of Frank Skinner, but there’s no denying he hits a few nails on their head in today’s Times.
To many British people, Christianity seems like a weird but unexciting theme park. Personally, I like our ever-dwindling status. I even like our ever-dwindling numbers. There was a time when social pressure made [...]
by Richard on January 9, 2010
I don’t know whether it was intentional or not, but this cartoon from Dave Walker seems very appropriate as the Church prepares to think about the baptism of Jesus.
Dave’s aim is very sure - he rarely misses. Find out how you can use his cartoons.
by Richard on December 8, 2009
Banksy Boy, inspired by this cartoon from ASBO Jesus and this video of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, suggests “disposing of worship groups/bands, just give everyone a Ukulele instead”.
I don’t want to say he’s wrong. I don’t want any controversy here.
But it would be better if only half got ukuleles. The other [...]
by Richard on September 11, 2009
Following on from yesterday’s post, the Guardian has another letter on the subject of the role of faith communities in responding to climate change.
My experience suggests Lord May has a challenge on his hands if he expects most church leaders to play a role in mobilising people to take action against global warming (Report, 7 [...]
by Richard on September 10, 2009
Former chief scientist to the British government (and now President of the British Science Association) Lord May on Monday called for faith communities to take a lead role in motivating people to respond to the challenge of climate change.
Lord May highlighted the value of religion in uniting communities to tackle environmental challenges ahead of [...]
by Richard on July 13, 2009
Olive is on a bit of a roll at the minute. First, she reminds me that I haven’t welcomed the election of our new President and Vice-President for next year. That was remiss of me.
Second, she points to a report in the Telegraph that Only 10% of Britons know the Bible. Olive is right - [...]
by Richard on January 30, 2009
Church Times Blog: It seems that personal disorganisation is splitting the Anglican Church. Do the bishops need a dose of GTD. But Bishop Alan has an iPhone so he can’t possibly be disorganized. Could he be the next Archbishop?
Another fine cartoon from Dave Walker.
by Richard on January 16, 2009
Another item from the Methodist Church news service…
The people of Zimbabwe will be held in the thoughts of Methodists and United Reformed Church members on an Africa Day of Prayer.
The two denominations have backed the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC’s) call for churches around the world to pray for Zimbabwe on January 25.
The cholera [...]
by Richard on January 16, 2009
A news release from the Methodist Church
On the initiative and at the request of those working for several of Britain’s major churches on church and society issues, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland is to hold a one-day conference on “The economic crisis: towards sustainable economies and livelihoods”.
The aim of the conference is to examine [...]
by Richard on January 13, 2009
There’s a worthwhile article over at Christianity Today. Tyler Wigg-Stevenson argues with the conflation of evangelism and marketing in Jesus is not a brand.
The difficulty with the pro-marketing arguments, however, is the failure to recognize that marketing is not a values-neutral language. Marketing unavoidably changes the message—as all media do. Why? Because marketing is the [...]
by Richard on December 18, 2008
Having told us why he is glad to be a Methodist, Dave Warnock owns up to some stuff that worries him about the Methodist Church. His post, and the subsequent conversation, is very helpful. Meanwhile, Kim’s comments here contribute a critical friend’s reflection on whether there is any continued need for a seperate Methodist denomination. [...]