Tag: church abuse

The pastor king?

I’m continuing to reflect on some of the lessons arising from the 31:8 review of the Jonathan Fletcher case. The case relates to an Anglican minister in London who has been identified as engaging in systemic abuse of young men over a number of years.  Leaders within what is often referred to as “the conservative… Continue reading The pastor king?

The fear factor

One of the issues that emerged from the Jonathan Fletcher review was the prevalence of fear amongst those affected by the case.  The review comments: A further factor which is of great importance is fear. As has been explained, the level of fear some participants held was palpable in interviews and email correspondence. Repeated reassurances… Continue reading The fear factor

Little leopards …

The reports have come out on the Jonathan Fletcher case and they make for sober reading. Fletcher was the pastor of a church in London and over the past few yers, in an alarming similarity to the accusations against John Smyth, it emerged that he had introduced an abusive regime of punishment beatings with vulnerable… Continue reading Little leopards …

When the wounds do not heal

In my review of “The Wounded Christian” I raised one small point where I felt the author hasn’t quite hit the nail on the head.  I felt that the book whilst rightly talking about how healing happens may have given the impression that it always will or at least should happen in this life time. … Continue reading When the wounds do not heal

Elders are to guard and protect the church

In Acts 20:17, Paul sends for the elders (note plural) of the church in Ephesus to come and meet him at Miletus as he travels back to Jerusalem.  There he gives them instructions about how to continue serving the church when people like Paul are no longer around to visit and write letters. He tells… Continue reading Elders are to guard and protect the church

Apologetics in its place and the need for Gospel reform of our culture

In the light of the Ravi Zacharias scandal, the debate has continued about what should happen to the vast empire of trusts and organisations that took his name.  The options so far have been: Disband all of the trusts quickly and completely Dissociate individual national trusts from the US one which is seen as the… Continue reading Apologetics in its place and the need for Gospel reform of our culture

What does the Bible tell us about corporate worship?

Talking about the connection between church context abuse and a shallow view of worship the other day, I mentioned a debate about whether corporate worship was primarily a corporate activity, addressed to God or a horizontal activity addressed to one another. I would like to investigate that question a little further with a quick look… Continue reading What does the Bible tell us about corporate worship?

The connection between faulty views of worship and abusive cultures

What has our view of corporate worship got to do with the problem of abuse in the church? Well, it struck me during a conversation on social media that it might have quite a bit. The discussion was about whether or not corporate worship is primarily horizontal or vertical.  I intend to engage in a… Continue reading The connection between faulty views of worship and abusive cultures

Abuse and the fault in our theology

I remember being asked once whether I’d prefer to pastor a church that was weak/confused in its doctrine but seemed on fire with passion for the Lord and loving or a church that seemed to be ticking all the right boxes doctrinally but wasn’t clicking in terms of love, welcome, enthusiasm. After thinking about the… Continue reading Abuse and the fault in our theology