Can the Church of England be reformed and revived

Linked to Simon Jenkins article in the Guardian, I’ve seen a number of people comment that they hope the Church of England might experience revival and recognition that this will require reformation. I’m sorry to pour cold water on the suggestion but I don’t think it is possible. Nor, frankly so I think it is… Continue reading Can the Church of England be reformed and revived

Did we miss a revival during COVID?

In a recent article, I picked up on the disappointment expressed by a number of people that they had longed and hoped for a revival to happen as a result of the COVID pandemic.  The hoped that the existential threat of plague would move people to trust in God leading to spiritual growth among believers,… Continue reading Did we miss a revival during COVID?

A wrong turn on route to evangelical renewal

Tim Suffield has written recently about “The evangelical intellectual ecosystem.”  Tim has been raising questions about how we encourage theological thinking in the church, especially in the newer/charismatic churches and how we teach and train people theologically. There is perhaps some overlap between the kinds of questions that Tim is asking and the kind of… Continue reading A wrong turn on route to evangelical renewal

Disability, discrimination and New Creation

Yesterday on my twitter timeline, a tweet came up from someone who seemed deeply angry and offended. They took exception to evangelical theology of renewed and restored bodies, especially when suggested that those with disabilities would receive them.  Their anger arose from having a relative with Downs Syndrome. They couldn’t imagine them without Downs Syndrome… Continue reading Disability, discrimination and New Creation

Church buildings close because churches die

It has been reported that 400 Church of England parish churches have closed in the last decade and 1000 in the last 30 years.  This has prompted concern, not just, or so much from practicing Christians but non-believers too.  See for example this by Michael Deacon in the Daily Telegraph. The primary concern of those… Continue reading Church buildings close because churches die