To be a Christian is to be woven into a community of all the baptised. I can no more go it alone in my spiritual life than I can in my ordinary secular living. There, I can pretend to be sturdily independent, but in truth my food, my housing, my transport, my comfort, my clothing, …
Category: church
about being part of a church
Prayers from Pride
Happy Valley Pride in beautiful Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, is a five day celebration of life and love and diversity. It was a huge privilege to be part of it this year. I was asked to speak in a Human Rights strand with the distinguished lawyer, Flo Krause, and found myself judging the Dog Show with …
Letter to General Synod Members before the July Synod
Dear Synod Member, Thank you for your contribution to the life of our church. I do not underestimate the amount of time that it takes for you to prepare for a Synod meeting, and to give up time for what is a very intense few days. I know too, from my time as a Rural …
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The Past, Present and Future of Christian Marriage.
This is my panel contribution to the Open Conversation in Chester Cathedral on Saturday 22nd October 2016 as part of the Sexuality and Anglican Identities project of the University of Chester: We are in 1988. In Zaire. It is Sunday morning. It is very hot and there is no air-con. Church is full - there …
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Embodying Love and Hope – The Chaplain’s Calling
Today is the last day of eight and a half years working as an NHS chaplain. I began what you might call my career at the age of twenty-five when I was ordained deacon in the Church of England's Durham diocese, and, with short breaks for study or illness, I have been doing a variety of …
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Wedding days
We are off to a wedding today. It is going to be a huge joy to share in Laura and Richard's special day, notwithstanding what looks like very damp weather. There will be laughter and tears, meeting of old friends and new, and all the other good things that go to make up a wedding …
From The Quire 