Modern Church

Justin Welby sparked controversy this week while expressing views on same-sex relationships. In our latest blog post Miranda Threlfall-Holmes asks whether it is ok for an Archbishop to say that he has changed his mind on something the church has traditionally taught, and (How) Can the Church Change Doctrine?

(How) Can the Church Change Doctrine? by Miranda Threlfall-Holmes Is it OK for the Archbishop of Canterbury to say that he has changed his mind on something the church has traditionally taught? […]

The Church 24 survey is closing soon. This is a chance to make your opinions known through a professionally run survey overseen by Professor Leslie Francis. Questions include contemporary issues such as assisted dying, racial justice, sexuality and the environment. Participation takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on your role in your church.

Most responses involve ticking boxes to indicate various things about you (such as denomination, country of residence, age etc.), your church life (are you ordained or a licensed minister, do you belong to groups, how often do you attend church etc.) and whether you agree or disagree with a range of ideas.
No information held from the survey will link records to particular individuals. Please click on the link to participate, it would be good to get a wide range of views from people on this FB group:

The Church 24 Survey | York St John University There’s still time to join the 3,000 people who have shared their views about a host of issues facing today’s church by taking part in the ‘Church 24’ survey.

Sabina Alkire, Director of Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative in the University of Oxford; Priest in the Anglican Church and Ordinary Academician on the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences reveals statistics on poverty published on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Read her blog article on our website

4 out of 10 poor people worldwide exposed to conflict Sabina Alkire, Director of Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative in the University of Oxford; Priest in the Anglican Church and Ordinary Academician on the Pontifical […]

If you missed our livestream panel on Christianity and the Far Right last week, you can still watch it back on our youtube channel. Find the link here:

Watch Back: Christianity and the Far Right – Panel with Helen Paynter, Maria Power and Raj Bharat Patta Thank you to all who joined us live for our Online Panel on the topic of Christianity and the Far Right, with Helen Paynter, Maria Power […]

The Church, The Far-Right, and the Claim to Christianity
ONLINE PANEL - 2nd October
featuring Helen Paynter, Maria Power and Raj Bharat Patta

Event details here: https://modernchurch.org.uk/events/christianity-and-the-far-right-panel
Read Helen's blog on this topic here: https://modernchurch.org.uk/the-church-the-far-right-and-the-claim-to-christianity

Image description: A purple book cover with large white letters in a weathered style that say "'The Church, The Far-Right and the Claim to Christianity' Edited by Helen Paynter and Maria Power"

It's nearly Greenbelt Festival time, and Modern Church will be there, sharing a stand with our good friends at Inclusive Church! We'll be thinking about what our dream Church might look like - if you are going, then be sure to drop by the stand to say hi and share your thoughts, and if you're not, you can still join in the conversation here or on our website: https://modernchurch.org.uk/dream-with-us-at-greenbelt

Dream On!

[image description: a black and white image of a pair of weathered, worn and dirty hands clasped together in prayer. Words read:
Visionary God,
You know there is nothing we can think
That may not be thought;
Nothing we can feel
That may not be felt.
Release us from human constraints
Of doctrine, rationality, convention.
Awaken in us a hunger and curiosity
For mystery, challenge and growth.
Draw from us love, of
Vulnerability that shapes our strength,
Interdependence that connects us,
Justice, that builds our power
To make one another’s dreams
Come true,
In you.
Amen ]

On the Blog: Rev Dr Raj Bharat Patta - Methodist Minister, Dalit Liberation Theologian, author and speaker from our 2023 conference - shares his insights into the recent far-right riots.

"God is located in our being and becoming a nation of sanctuary, offering hope, home and hospitality for all. God’s sanctuary is on the margins, among the migrants, the ethnic minority communities and in the efforts of solidarity and love."

Racist Riots: Encountering un-love and the un-divine by Raj Bharat Patta It was appalling and shocking to see the spiralling violence, riots and intimidation across the country following the horrific incident of three […]

The latest edition of Signs of the Times should be with all members now (or shortly) - this season features:
Partnership to End Poverty - Joe Forde on Gordon Browns proposal for tackling the impact of austerity
Trinity Sunday - a reflection from Trevor Pitt
Faith and Co-operation In the Public Square - David Driscoll discusses
Doubters and Misfits - a hymn by Rachel Reed
and book reviews from Yin-An Chen, Helen King and Evie Vernon

https://modernchurch.org.uk/signs-of-the-times-autumn-2024

There's still time to book for tomorrow evening's webinar 'Participating in Democracy'

Speakers include Churches Together in England General Secretary Bishop Mike Royal and The Church of England national officer for local ecumenism Rev Tim Norwood.

It starts at 6pm

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/participating-in-democracy

Hosted by the Church Times and Modern Church

Online Lecture 7.30pm today (Thursday). Join us as we host Professor Jane Shaw talking about "Mysticism and it's Possibilities", focussing on the 20th Century revival of mysticism and its relevance for today. We will be livestreaming on YouTube, join us live and ask questions in the chat, or catch up after the event.

Jane is Principal of Harris Manchester College, Professor of the History of Religion and Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Oxford.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHEXyliCDh4

We have some wonderful events coming up, starting with next week's online lecture with Professor Jane Shaw about Mysticism and its possibilities...

Do find out more: https://modernchurch.org.uk/whats-on

You didn't think you'd be reading a great piece inspired by Blue Öyster Cult’s classic track ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’ during Holy Week, did you?

Simon Cross: Looking for what is Becoming, now live on the Modern Church blog.

Simon Cross: Looking for what is Becoming “Seasons don’t fear the reaper, nor do the moon or the sun or the rain, we can be like they are…” When Buck Dharma (aka Donald […]

Martin Palmer writes about how thinking in terms of 'stewardship' and human arrogance has led to a breakdown in our relationship with our planet.

Martin Palmer: Walking Humbly with Creation In 2006 on the wonderful island of Gotland of the Swedish coast, we (Alliance of Religions and Conservation, ARC) held a major meeting between the largest […]

Modern Church Annual Conference, with Professor John Drane. Find out more on our website:

https://modernchurch.org.uk/events/finding-the-sacred-in-the-21st-century-new-ways-of-looking-at-spirituality

John Drane, Alison Webster, Anne Richards from MTAG are all involved in this.

Last night we published our response to Jay Report on the Future of Church Safeguarding.

Our thanks to Stephen Parsons, a longterm Modern Church member and a passionate advocate for survivors and victims of abuse, for writing this blog, which was published jointly with his blog, Surviving Church:

The Future of Church Safeguarding: A look at the Jay Report Stephen Parsons, MC member and Editor of the Surviving Church blog, reflects on the findings of Professor Alexis Jay’s Report, The Future of Church Safeguarding, published […]

The Jay Report into the Future of Safeguarding in the Church of England was published today. Modern Church Council member Stephen Parsons has long been someone who has supported and walked alongside survivors of abuse in the church. You can read his response to the Jay Report on the Modern Church blog:

The Future of Church Safeguarding: A look at the Jay Report Stephen Parsons, MC member and Editor of the Surviving Church blog, reflects on the findings of Professor Alexis Jay’s Report, The Future of Church Safeguarding, published […]

Professor Adrian Thatcher, editor of our academic journal Modern Believing, has written this blog in response to a statement on the theology of marriage by seven Church of England Bishops. Adrian has written many books in this field, including Celebrating Christian Marriage, Theology and Families, Gender and Christian Ethics, and most recently Vile Bodies - the Body in Christian Teaching, Faith and Practice, making him well placed to contribute to this debate.

Adrian Thatcher: A ‘Theological Vision’, or ‘Myopic Homophobia’? There has been some controversy about the recent appointment of theological advisers to the House of Bishops. It’s clear from the recent statement of seven of […]

We are delighted to be partnering with SCM Press as the editor of Modern Believing, Adrian Thatcher, launches his new book Vile Bodies: The Body in Christian Teaching, Faith and Practice.

Speakers include Adrian Thatcher, Jarel Robinson-Brown, Helen King and Elaine Graham.

Find out more and register here:

'Vile Bodies' Book Launch Join SCM Press for an online conversation on Monday 5th February from 6pm. We'll be discussing Adrian Thatcher's new book Vile Bodies: The Body in Christian Teaching, Faith and Practice. Speakers include Adrian Thatcher, Jarel Robinson-Brown, Helen King and Elaine Graham.

We'll be going live shortly as we dive into the world of Caribbean Contextual Theology. Do join us on this link:

Caribbean Contextual Theology: An Introduction Caribbean Contextual Theology: An Introduction with Carlton Turner, Rev Dr Stephen Jennings and Rev Dr Evie VernonJoin us for a discussion to launch ‘Caribbe...

Join us online next week for an introduction to Caribbean Contextual Theology, with Carlton Turner, Rev Dr Stephen Jennings and Rev Dr Evie Vernon.

Totally free to attend - livestreamed on Modern Church's YouTube channel.

Details below:

Caribbean Contextual Theology: An Introduction with Carlton Turner, Rev Dr Stephen Jennings and Rev Dr Evie Vernon Join us for a discussion to launch ‘Caribbean Contextual Theology: An Introduction’ (SCM Press 2024). Reflections from the author, Carlton Turner (of the Queen’s Foundation, Birmingham), […]

Friends, fantastic news as the Church of England takes another baby step towards equality for our LGBTQI+ brothers and sisters towards full equality:

"Prayers of Love and Faith: Bishops agree next steps to bring to Synod"

But, reading the small print, it appears that Bishops have opted to make this a marathon, not a sprint.

https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/prayers-love-and-faith-bishops-agree-next-steps-bring-synod

On the eve of General Synod, a service organised by and for LGBTQIA+ people, allies and all who believe in a more inclusive church. 6.30pm, Sunday 12th November, St Martin-in-the-Fields. Do book in and come along - all are more than welcome.

https://wiping-away-our-tears-tickets.eventbrite.co.uk

Alison, our General Secretary, is also Missions Theologian for Citizens UK and is therefore well placed to examine how churches can form part of progressive local alliances.

Read more here:

Alison Webster “Collectives: our Hope for the Future” This blog was first published by the Methodist Recorder as part of a series edited by Inderjit Bhogal to mark the 60th Anniversary of Martin Luther […]

We're delighted to be hosting an illustrious panel to this evening's conversation around a brilliant theme:

Deconstructing Whiteness, Empire and Mission: What happens when ‘go, make disciples’ meets ‘Black Lives Matter’

Online Seminar: Deconstructing Whiteness, Empire and Mission Thank you for joining us for this online seminar. Please leave any questions in the 'Live Chat' on YouTube and our team will pose them as and when they are a...

Only 1 day to go until our panel discussion with Anthony Reddie and others looking at deconstructing whiteness, empire and mission. We go live from 7.30pm, or you can catch up afterwards on YouTube.

Deconstructing Whiteness, Empire and Mission: What happens when ‘go, make disciples’ meets ‘Black Lives Matter’ Thursday Sept 21st 2023, 7.30pm, livestreamed on YouTube. Join us for a roundtable discussion on the themes of the book of the same title, new out […]