Category: Opinion

Coming out of lockdown may require a re-plant mindset

One of the responsibilities of leaders is to see and prepare for what may lie ahead. That’s a double challenge because we are not given infallible foreknowledge, we are dealing for possibilities and probabilities. That means we have to be ready for multiple scenarios. It also means that we will need to be ready to… Continue reading Coming out of lockdown may require a re-plant mindset

Word Crimes? Thought Crimes?

Police have decided that: “No criminal offence took place when a plane banner carrying the message “White Lives Matter Burnley” was flown over a Premier League match between Manchester City and Burnley,”[1] No doubt, some people will be relieved and delighted by that decision this morning and will hail it as a victory for common-sense.… Continue reading Word Crimes? Thought Crimes?

Children, childlessness and culture wars – what we believe affects how we live

Last week, I responded to an article that Kevin DeYoung has written for The Gospel Coalition arguing that the best way for Christians to respond to engage in the US culture wars was to have lots of children and disciple them well. In his own words: “Here’s a culture war strategy conservative Christians should get… Continue reading Children, childlessness and culture wars – what we believe affects how we live

Did the Church miss an opportunity during lockdown?

It’s locked in my memory, my first ever Bradford City game. The year is 1986 and our next-door neighbour agreed I could go with him to see City play Huddersfield Town. We are stood in the crowd behind the goal, the ball is played into our centre forward, he is a couple of feet out… Continue reading Did the Church miss an opportunity during lockdown?

Faith, hope and children (What Kevin DeYoung could have said)

Here’s an extra article this afternoon instead of sharing afternoon tea. The Kevin DeYoung article about having lots of children has certainly stirred emotions. Some people have taken this to mean that there are obstacles to pastors talking about discipleship issues that affect women. I don’t think so. I don’t think that the problem was… Continue reading Faith, hope and children (What Kevin DeYoung could have said)

A top down approach won’t get us out of lock-down

The Government’s proposals for ending lockdown suggested that it might be possible for places of worship to open again from July onwards. Back in May, I wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister encouraging him to engage with local churches on the ground and to provide a clear, phased plan for leaving lockdown. In… Continue reading A top down approach won’t get us out of lock-down

A phased return out of lockdown for churches (a draft proposal)

Over the past few months, churches have willingly complied with COVID-19 lockdown measures. We have done so because we believed it was the right thing to do as we sought to love our neighbours. Throughout the lockdown we have sought to continue to care for the communities around us often providing practical and emotional support… Continue reading A phased return out of lockdown for churches (a draft proposal)

If you don’t want to be racist, don’t misrepresent what black people are saying

Since George Floyd’s death, I have been fascinated to see the number of tweets, Facebook posts and articles by Christians responding to the call to “take the knee.”  Some Christians have chosen to do so, others have not and that’s the way it should be. We should not force people to take particular actions, these… Continue reading If you don’t want to be racist, don’t misrepresent what black people are saying

The end of the Department For International Aid (DFID) should encourage a bigger conversation about governments, aid and charity

The merger of the Department for International Development (DFID) into the Foreign Office was one of those worst kept secrets, a case of when not if.  In effect it’s a bit of restricting, a bit of musical chairs. Of greater importance than what departments exist in government, is the effectiveness of their objectives. This means… Continue reading The end of the Department For International Aid (DFID) should encourage a bigger conversation about governments, aid and charity