What is the future of the Anglican Communion?

The Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order (IASCUFO) has recently published the Nairobi-Cairo proposals for reimagining the Anglican Communion. Here Andrew Atherstone, one of the contributors to the proposals, explains why they deserve a fair hearing and how they might bear good fruit. I have a dream for the Anglican Communion. It is … Continue Reading

Where is the Church of England going on race and ethnicity?

John Root offers his analysis of the recent report: ‘Behind the Stained Glass: A Report on the participation of UK Minoritised Ethnic People in the Ministry and Leadership of the Church of England’, written for the Racial Justice Commission of the Church of England by Professor Paul Miller and associates of the Institute for Educational … Continue Reading

Should churches grow?

Two articles were recently published by Al Barrett, Rector of Hodge Hill Church in east Birmingham, arguing (slightly tongue-in-cheek?) that we should establish an ‘anti-growth coalition’ in the Church of England, as a protest against the constant language of ‘we must grow’ coming from the centre. The first was his own article, ‘Simpler, Humbler, Bolder?’ … Continue Reading

The God of Small Things

I write a quarterly column for Preach magazine, in which I explore a significant word or phrase in the Bible, or a theme or section of Scripture, and the ideas that it expresses. At the end of this piece I list the previous articles I have written for them. Here I explore what Scripture says … Continue Reading

Why We Need to Talk about Clergy Well-being

Sean Cathie has just written an important Grove booklet on The Clergy’s Experience of Pastoral Care in the Grove Pastoral series. I have become acutely aware of the importance of this issue from travelling and speaking to clergy, and from my work on General Synod and the Archbishops’ Council. One of the factors has been the … Continue Reading