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Some years ago, one of the fringe meetings at a session of the General Synod focussed on the needs of ‘mid-sized churches’, in this case defined as worshipping communities of 20 to 60. The reason for this was a question that William Nye, Secretary General of Synod and the Archbishops’ Council, had raised: Without meaning … Continue Reading
In the last few weeks I have been busy with the media, and this is a reflection of the fact that there are more and more opportunities for us to engage in broadcast media than ever before. Quite apart from the (literally) millions of podcasts and pre-recorded YouTube videos, there is demand for live radio, … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 6 in this Year B is Mark 6.1–13, and is yet another example of Mark’s highly concise storytelling that is packed with theological narrative significance. Once more the lectionary does us a slight disservice; the reading combines the story of those taking offence at Jesus in his home town … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 6 in this Year B is Mark 6.1–13, and is yet another example of Mark’s highly concise storytelling that is packed with theological narrative significance. The passage combines the conclusion of this section of Jesus ministry, and recounts the startling rejection of Jesus in his hometown of Nazareth (though … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 3 in Year B is Mark 4.26–34. (Note that this is usually the reading for Trinity 2, but with Easter being early, this season is longer, and an additional reading has been added in Trinity 1, pushing all the others back by a week.) Once again, the lectionary makes … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 3 in Year B is Mark 4.26–34. Once again, the lectionary makes a slightly odd choice, picking up the teaching of Jesus midway through a sequence of pericopes mostly related to parables and the kingdom. But the two quite simple parables contain a wealth of insight into the nature … Continue Reading
The Lord’s Prayer must surely be the central devotional text in the Christian faith. Tom Wright (in his short book The Lord and his Prayer) comments: When Jesus gave his disciples this prayer, he was giving them part of his own breath, his own life, his own prayer. The prayer is actually a distillation of … Continue Reading
I first met Tom Creedy when he was doing Masters-level study at the college in Nottingham where I taught, and we have kept in good touch ever since. I was delighted to see that this week it has been announced that he is now the Publishing Director at Inter-Varsity Press (IVP), which for the last … Continue Reading
On Monday there was a (comparatively) early release of the 2023 Statistics for Mission, the results of the annual October collection of attendance numbers in Church of England churches. The headline was all about the good news! Weekly Church attendance up five per cent in third year of consecutive growth Average weekly attendance at Church … Continue Reading
Safeguarding in the church has become a high-profile and contentious issue. On the one hand, all agree that our churches must be experienced as safe places, and that the failures of the past must be addressed. On the other, the experience of many is that safeguarding administration has grown exponentially, and it is in danger … Continue Reading
John Root writes: By a macabre coincidence the Church of England is simultaneously engaged in debates about safeguarding and the victims of abuse, and responses to its involvement in slavery in the Caribbean. Both issues raise two questions: how are we to make some assessment of the damage done under the aegis of the Church … Continue Reading
Ian Paul: theologian, author, speaker, academic consultant. Associate Senior Research Fellow, Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology; Associate Minister, St Nic's, Nottingham; Managing Editor, Grove Books; member of General Synod and Archbishops' Council. Mac user; chocoholic. Tweets at @psephizo
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Gospel commentary index Lectionary Year A
Andrew Goddard Bible biblical interpretation Biblical literacy biblical theology Christmas Church of England culture discipleship discussion doctrine eschatology evangelism gay General Synod Grove guest Hermeneutics History hope interpretation James Blandford Baker Jesus John's gospel Justin Welby leadership lectionary Luke Luke's gospel Matthew ministry mission New Testament Paul politics preaching Revelation same sex marriage same sex unions sexuality theology video Year A Year B Year C
