Did you see the story about the mayor who turned up at a public event, a formal ceremony for royal marines wearing shorts, trainers and a floral shirt? My friend, Steve Kneale, has shared his reflections here and I agree with much he says, though I’m perhaps less bothered about whether mayoral roles should exist.… Continue reading On casual dressing mayors
Category: Leadership
Spurgeons College and choosing the lessons we want to learn
In an article about why Spurgeon’s College suddenly closed, Evangelicals Now picks up on comments from three men trying to explain it. Peter Williams of Tyndale House picks up on the financial situation, the college spent more money than it had. We know that a primary donor had pulled out. Bill James, principal of London… Continue reading Spurgeons College and choosing the lessons we want to learn
Don’t train leaders
This may be a surprising title. However, I’m increasingly of the view that we have put too much focus on identifying and then training leaders. We look first at whether people show potential to lead and then we train them. Though of course sometimes we leave them to get on with it. The risk is… Continue reading Don’t train leaders
Pipelines and pathways: A response to “Strange Times: On (Not) Considering Theological Training”
My friend, Dan Strange of Crosslands has recently contributed to the discussion about ministry pathways and pipelines in the latest edition of Themelios. Here’s my response to the article which I shared with Dan via Facebook inititially. Thanks Dan, There is much that chimes here with things I’ve been saying for some time, not least… Continue reading Pipelines and pathways: A response to “Strange Times: On (Not) Considering Theological Training”
What really are the qualifications of an elder/pastor?
I’ve been thinking about this because there is a trend amongst theological educators to talk about the need to emphasise spiritual formation as much as theological training for potential pastors. However, when you look at what the Bible says about the qualifications of an elder in 1 Timothy 3, it says that they are to… Continue reading What really are the qualifications of an elder/pastor?
If a “learned ministry” is important then what is it?
Josh Moody writes with a US Evangelical perspective in mind about the relocation of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School to Canada in Evangelicals Now. He observed that the relocation has provoked a significant discussion about theological training. It might be helpful for him to know that such a conversation has been going on, at least at… Continue reading If a “learned ministry” is important then what is it?
Promotion, drama and distraction
It’s the 96th minute of the final game of the season, it’s 0-0 at Valley Parade, the place is rocking as a late late goal goes in and Bradford City secure third place and promotion. For a Bradford fan like me, the emotion is sheer delight. We did it! I can imagine too, the crushing… Continue reading Promotion, drama and distraction
A little proposal, what if we got rid of the distinction between elders conpletely?
My friend Steve Kneale recently wrote in praise of unpaid elders. He began by talking. about the problems with different descriptions for paid and unpaid elders. I agree 100 percent with him. In fact the one thing I’d want to do is make explicitly clear that there is no Biblical foundation for the presbyterian distinction… Continue reading A little proposal, what if we got rid of the distinction between elders conpletely?
What do we value more, the theologian or the pastor? …and is it possible to be a great pastor but a poor theologian
There have been a few recent articles examining the relationship between two significant puritan figures, John Owen and Richard Baxter. John Steven’s recently commented on Facebook about their falling out and described them as “puritan greats”. This led to one person challenging whether or not we could describe Baxter as “a great”, his assessment was… Continue reading What do we value more, the theologian or the pastor? …and is it possible to be a great pastor but a poor theologian
Cities need walls but they need more than walls
The other Sunday I was preaching on Nehemiah 11. It struck me that there was a crucial link between what was happening here and what the situation was described as back in Nehemiah 7 where we are told: 4 Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had… Continue reading Cities need walls but they need more than walls
