Yesterday, I began to talk about celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. As promised, here’s why I don’t intend to make a big thing of the so called Jubilee Sunday. The first thing to say is that my position doesn’t arise out of some passionate republicanism although my sympathies lie increasingly that way. I’m inclined to… Continue reading Why I won’t be celebrating Jubilee Sunday (if I can help it)
Category: Opinion
Is the Queen a Christian?
This weekend marks the official celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. A recent pastors’ discussion on Facebook was prompted by the question “How will you be marking Jubilee Sunday?” My answer is that “I won’t”. I’ll write a little bit more about that tomorrow. Steve Kneale has written here explaining why he won’t. Personally, I’ve… Continue reading Is the Queen a Christian?
A stupid and sickening response to the latest horrific shooting incident
This week brought the sad and horrific news of another terrible shooting at a High School in Texas with 19 children among those murdered. In the United States, there remains a strong pro-gun lobby and that includes many evangelical Christians. This is seen by them as a freedom issue. They rely on the second amendment… Continue reading A stupid and sickening response to the latest horrific shooting incident
My Prime Minister went to a party and all I got was this lousy windfall tax
You may have seen this headline on Wednesday morning. Now, there may be good reasons and bad reasons for introducing new taxes but surely doing so when it officially goes against your political instincts and possibly your economic judgement isn’t good at all. Cards on the table, my personal instincts are towards keeping the tax… Continue reading My Prime Minister went to a party and all I got was this lousy windfall tax
Why we cannot stay silent when antisemitism turns up in church
Another day and another church scandal relating to an evangelical leader drops into the mainstream news. As with the recent abuse scandals, the Stephen Sizer case has been rumbling away within conservative evangelical circles especially on social media and blogs. Like with the other cases, the frustration felt by those who have been campaigning to… Continue reading Why we cannot stay silent when antisemitism turns up in church
Sturgeon, Sinn Fein and why an end to sectarianism is urgently needed
The image at the top of this article is one that will trouble many people. It’s the image of Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister meeting with Michelle Collins, the leader of Sinn Fein. Now in the years since the 1997 Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Fein have certainly had an image make over. However, it… Continue reading Sturgeon, Sinn Fein and why an end to sectarianism is urgently needed
Do we need an emergency budget?
A lot of politicians – mainly opposition ones – have been calling urgently for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to deliver an emergency budget. It’s barely a few months since Rishi Sunak delivered his budget so why do we need another one so soon after? Ostensibly, the reason is the dramatic change we are seeing… Continue reading Do we need an emergency budget?
Why I believe women should pursue degrees in theological AND pastoral studies
The other day, a Christian woman announced on twitter that she’d completed her BA in pastoral ministry. This drew the following response from a US Theology professor. There has been an ensuing debate around the rights and wrongs of women studying at seminary particularly in a complementarian context. Complementarians understand that men and women are… Continue reading Why I believe women should pursue degrees in theological AND pastoral studies
The future of Northern Ireland
Last week, Sinn Fein topped the poll for the Northern Irish assembly at Stormont. This means that it is likely that a nationalist will be the First Minister for the first time in the province’s history. Elections and devolved government in Northern Ireland are complex and so simply being the largest party doesn’t tell us… Continue reading The future of Northern Ireland
“Talk softly and carry a big stick” – latest thoughts on the Russian- Ukrainian War
Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine I argued that such a move did not fit with Vladimir Putin’s known and declared ambitions. It was not that I believed such an invasion could never happen, certainly not that I claimed the ability to predict the future. It’s just that Putin’s ambitions were understood to be the… Continue reading “Talk softly and carry a big stick” – latest thoughts on the Russian- Ukrainian War
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