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March 2018 https://pxhere.com/en/photo/636163 CC0 Public Domain The Dark Why are we afraid of the dark?

The warm, velvety blackness Where tiny lights twinkle and dance And invite our attention

The fertile dark How firm ... Where imagination paints vivid pictures And the soul receives insights How firm a foundation? Which grow to maturity to be born in the light Rock hard, God my Rock, God unchanging. The tactile dark BUT. Where touch is everything Rock has been formed, transformed, reformed. And sensuality blossoms The rock, writhed into being; And bodies quiver with togetherness. Molten – hot, all consuming,

Cooling, hardening, set firm. Pain, Anguish and Despair, Tectonic plates crash, smash, clash and mash. The darkness that is blankness and impotence, Rubbing shoulders, rubbing boulders, Smothering and overwhelming melange in the making. This is frightening - but has to be loved The immovable has moved, and embraced to be healed. The unchangeable has changed. To walk as children in the light all the time A new rock, a new foundation. Is unwholesome, dangerous and destructive Does God change too? How firm a foundation? To be whole we must have the dark With all its sorrows and pain I struggle to understand the changing geology And all its unfathomable joys. - And struggle to embrace a changing theology. Anne Burge I pick up pebbles on the beach and I wonder, I share my thoughts about God and I ponder. We quarry and quarrel the rocks into new formations. We harry and hassle God into our image. God is argued and debated into and out of existence. I stand on the cliffs and marvel at magnificent, majestic rock formations. I look to the word and am in awe of changing, evolving images of God. How firm a foundation? Meryl White https://pxhere.com/en/photo/852014 CC0 Public Domain Welcome Contents We have again put together a themed edition of 2 Poems: Why are we afraid of the dark? Progressive Voices. We set ourselves the challenge to explore how we can engage, support and encourage How firm a foundation? younger folk through Progressive Christianity. 3 Welcome We are more than aware of the demographics of our 4 Chair’s Letter; Staff and Trustees groups, the wider Church, and the sense of uncertainty this raises for the future. But it is often said that 5 Your letters; Free to Believe conference; “Christianity is always one generation away from Rev Dr Roger Ray tour extinction.” While the stories are still being told, the message being shared, and the example being followed, 6 Raising our Voice! there is always hope. 7 Charter for Compassion I trust that what you will find in this issue will give you Children and the Bible reason to be hopeful. 8 In the coming pages: Adrian calls us to find common 9 Finding space; Joining in ground, Mo encourages us to speak up, Simon urges us 10 Engaging with schools to engage honestly with the Bible, Rob tells his story, Nicola wants us to raise our profile, Howard tells of his 11 Introducing: Pat Fuller experience with sixth formers, Thom desires us to be 12 Building our hearts real with each other, and Paul ponders his own childhood and Messy Church. 13 Can’t Sing! I am incredibly grateful to all of those that have 14 What do we tell the children? contributed items, suggested sources, and helped to fill the pages before you. 16 The Virtue of Queerness Alongside this theme the Letters Page has some 18 News from local groups responses, there are plenty of events coming up, and we have a bumper reviews section. 20 Reviews: Matthew in your Pocket, Prayers Welcome to the 24th edition of Progressive Voices. for Dementia, What is the Bible?, Exploring Enjoy! doubt: landscapes of loss and longing, Holy Habits, Unbelievable, Towards Jerusalem, Our Witness, Finding a way ahead, That was the Church that was, Jesus 24 The Heretic, Gretta Vosper DVD, Singing Hymns again for the first time, The Christian Student Guide

Progressive Voices is the magazine of the There is an open invitation for submissions. Progressive Christianity Network Britain Your reflections, questions, events, poems, [Registered Charity No. 1102164]. It is published images, reviews, letters, comments, news, quarterly in March, June, September and December. prayers and other contributions are all welcome.

PCN Britain is itself part of a wider international Publication is at the discretion of the editor: network of progressive Christian organisations. [email protected] You can contact us at 01594 516528, [email protected], or PCN Britain, 26 High Copy Deadlines: Street, Newnham, Gloucestershire, GL14 1BB. June: Friday 11th May 2018 Further information, including details of publications and conferences, is available at Sept: Friday 10th August 2018 Dec: Friday 9th Nov 2018 www.pcnbritain.org.uk March: Friday 8th Feb 2019 3 Chair’s Letter I don’t usually quote Brigham Young, founder obvious than in young people. The average of Salt Lake City and second president of The attendance by children (under 16s) at CofE Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but services fell by 22% (2006-2016). In 25% of Progressive he said: “Don’t try to tear down other churches the weekly attendance by children Christianity people’s religion about their ears, build up and young people was zero. In response many your own perfect structure of truth, and invite programmes and events are organised to Network your listeners to enter in and enjoy its glories.” ‘reach young people for Christ’. What might Britain We certainly have no right to claim a ‘perfect PCN say into this situation? This edition of Progressive Voices attempts to do just that. www.pcnbritain.org.uk structure of truth’, and neither do others, but there is a danger in trying to tear down other Instead, surely our task, young and old, is to www.facebook.com/ pcnuk/ people’s religion. History testifies to the work together for the kind of world which ongoing conflict between, and within, religious Jesus sought to articulate in his life: a world of Trustees faiths. Adherents of any one set of beliefs or compassion and love, of justice and of peace.

Adrian Alker, Chair ideology are passionate to defend and The young people in my family, and my life, do [email protected] promote it. St Paul and Martin Luther were no have ideals about their world. They have Dave Coaker, editor of shrinking violets in this respect. Of course concerns about the environment, pollution, Progressive Voices [email protected] there is passion in religion, and PCN members knife crime, inequality, inclusion, and their feel no less passionate about where they long-term ability to own a home. If you look at Simon Cross [email protected] stand, albeit our passions will vary! the success of Momentum, we see highly We offer our eight points as one approach to motivated young people wanting to make a Maureen Foxall [email protected] dialogue, but even then we can seem to difference to society. Do we need to ‘reach threaten those in leadership, and many folk in out’ to them and if so with what intent? Pat Fuller [email protected] the pews, who find comfort, companionship Many churches share these ideals and vision and purpose in belonging to their local and this is where they can ally with their Ian Geere [email protected] fellowship. In the last PV I wrote of our being aspirations. But we need to ‘ditch the dogma’, ‘missional’ in trying to promote a progressive and ‘live the life’ as our banner proclaims. We Richard Gray [email protected] agenda, and I know that many members feel don’t need the language of ‘reaching out’ as this is a non-starter. When Jack Spong called though young people are ‘lost’. Rather we Sandra Griffiths, Honorary Secretary for a ‘new Reformation’ it seemed a relatively need to recognise that we are all on a journey [email protected] easy task to tear down many of the belief of discovery about life, its purposes, its

Sue Hobley structures embedded in the creeds and possibilities, and the kind of world we wish to [email protected] doctrines of the Church. So many of the inhabit. Most young people are not seeking

Paul Onslow, Vice Chair theological arguments of Spong, Borg, the comfort of a Sunday morning church [email protected] McLaren, and others, have the power to community. They find community in their own

Peter Stribblehill, persuade, to influence and to ‘build up’ as well ways. The days of Sunday Schools, the learning Treasurer as to ‘tear down’, but often it takes time to of catechisms, of confirmations and youth [email protected] gently nudge people into thinking afresh. services, are gone. Let’s really listen to what Richard Tetlow young people are saying and thinking about [email protected] I do not underestimate how resistant many are to such challenges, but I do believe that by God, religion, Christianity and other faiths. Staff promoting an honest and radical examination I do believe that the Jesus story has the power

Sarah Guilfoyle, of the fundamentals of Christian faith we will to resonate and be a guide to young people. I administrator and assistant web editor be on the right side of history. do believe that they are keen to ask the big [email protected] questions about life. I hope that any new PCN At the moment many denominations are Steve Ireland Web host trying to stem decline. Most often they do learning course will have young people in this, not by encouraging an open debate about mind. Perhaps we and other partners can be Jess Lee, DVD Librarian part of a new way in which we seek to work [email protected] belief, but by reorganisation, with ‘growth’ initiatives and by a renewed determination to alongside young people, to learn together Andy Vivian web editor about how a progressive Christianity might [email protected] package the same tired orthodoxy in attractive new clothing. Decline is nowhere more just have a place in their lives.

Adrian Alker serves as the Chair of PCN Britain [email protected]

4 YourIn this letters bleak …. midwinter In reply to Roy Dodman: In his editorial to the December 2017 I am grateful to David Wood for his

My wife and I have for several years issue, Adrian Alker poses several letter describing as ‘pointless’ my hope been using “Fresh from the Word – the questions regarding PCN’s mission. One that we might be able to offer churches BibleIn forthis a change bleak” published midwinter by the of his questions was “Can we offer progressive resources to counteract or International Bible Reading Association. resources to those who are leaders in at least balance the abundance of more ItGifts consists of aabound year’s worth of readings the churches who might be weary of the conservative religious material. David with different commentators each week rather dull and conservative learning has clearly had disappointments and fromGiven around thein world, the that same are fresh spirit,courses a sospirit often available? of love.”. frustrations with his own church and and varied. It aims to ‘build May I, as an ex-Reader and frustrated there are many PCN members who understandingWhen words and respect forof different wisdom Anglican, I cannot suggest that bringany such mission to utterance, doubtless feel likewise. I understand Christian perspectives through the is pointless as long as the Anglican that and it is good that groups like East provision of a range of Biblical Church insists on following almost Shropshire, which David convenes, offer interpretations. Thank It will youinspire yourfor the exclusivelysilent a embraceset Eucharistic liturgy I can and a offer.a space for more open and positive reading of the Bible in a changing world, formulaic and repetitive Lectionary. exploration of faith and theology. bringing together theologians, scholars, There is simply no place in the Sunday However the Church of England and creativeWhen writers, the church answer leaders and lies beyondservice ritual for mydiscussion grasp, or other denominations, in my experience, activists from around the world.’ ‘progressive’ thought. And as one who cannot be ‘written off’ so definitively. when knowledgePaul James yields attempted to tomystery, get discussion groups First not everything happens around a Inter-faith Dialogue: going at various times in my Anglican set morning eucharistic liturgy. At St There is littleThank room for you dialogue for if each your church, truth I found that that getting propels people to meMark forward.’s in Sheffield we began a Night faith claims to have the Truth, for if one meet outside of Sunday worship was Service, still strong after 30 years, which faith owns the Truth then all other more or less impossible - unless for is non-denominational, progressive in faiths must be invalid. social or fund-raising activities. theology and a good counterbalance to I Whenthink most people healing are trying topowers find Progressiveevade, views were even banned more formal liturgy. I attend a ‘Sacred answers to the big questions of life, but from the bland parish magazine! Space’ evening service at a church we cannot Thank hope to understand you forour the Ifaith’m sorry to that say that evenwithout root the and horizonwhich is doing of muchdeath the same. There creator who must be beyond our branch reform of the way the are churches using Living the Questions imagining. Ifcannot people of all faiths separate could meestablished from church your organises love.its Sunday – even Anglicans! We have a number of acknowledge this and see their sacred worship, more and more people will ministers from different traditions who writings, although mainly inspired by vote with their feet (apart from are members of PCN and I would hope ‘GodWhen’, as being the written dream by men (whose of a miracleevangelicals that is). Any mission that through their leadership such understanding and misunderstanding of undertaken by PCN should be directed offering of PCN-type resources would be God distracts shaped what they me wrote) from then theat workthe hierarchy before and the synods, me, but I possible. Perhaps some of these perhaps we could reach a point where surmise that will be difficult (!) and have ministers might join in this debate! we can acceptThank each other you and infor a youran giftequal lack ofof success.discernment Furthermore there are more radical nondogmatic way share our beliefs. The good news is that PCN itself will churches such as All Hallows Leeds, who This will be verythat difficult brings and will takeme backcontinue to to whereflourish as, dare I am.I say it, an are offering imaginative communion services using alternative liturgies, using generations to progress, but it could be alternative to the established church the first step in bringing us closer and a meeting place for a mixture of the wordsmith expertise of writers like togetherWhen and enablingwagging us to offer tongues some denominations divide, who destroy, can share deter,Janet Morley, Jim Cotter and others. really good news to the world - that God experiences and continue seeking ‘The I totally agree with David that radical is love and love is greater than hate. Way’. Long may it continue. change is needed in Sunday worship and Thank you forJohn theWalker courage to apologize,David Wood to rethat- build,we need our to voice trust. heard in synods and with the church hierarchy. But let’s give credit where we see progress and In this season of giving, Revthis Drseason Roger of Ray love, remember there are many folk out Free to Believe there in the pews, often clinging on by https://www.spfccc.org National Conference their fingernails and who need us to Thank you for the manifestation of your Spirit 8th to 10th November 2018 Sat 5 May: keep prompting and challenging Conference at Trinity URC, St Albans churches in what they offer. Dianain gifts Butler Bass bestowed, Sun 6 May: Adrian Alker The Hayes,In the Hayes activationLn, Swanwick, ofPreaching the atsentiment Trinity URC, St Albans Alfreton DE55 1AU Want to reply? Have your own Tue 7 May: To be confirmed. burning question? A comment www.freetobelieve.org.uk To serve you by lovingThurs 9 others,May: eve Malvern PCN Group on a recent event? Want to Worship and Bible Studies led by Trevor Dennis. Sun 12 May: Preaching Brighton check whether a thought is

to love you by servingMethodist all. Circuit / conference unique to you? Ensuite at £195 with a few non- ensuite rooms at £175 per person. lectures [open to all] If so, please get in touch Ana Gobledale [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Inspired by 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 5 Raising our Voice! I spend quite a lot of time in churches. Being a debilitating illnesses, to assisted dying for those who are Methodist minister, I look out at a handful of faces each desperate to escape hell on earth. The most vocal and week and notice that all are over 60. Most are over 70. conservative parts of the Church have even objected to, When I was a child in the late 80s/early 90s I went to and protested, the introduction of a gay family in Peppa Sunday School – in fact we had two Sunday Schools at Pig! It is ALWAYS the Church. And the world is fed up. my church, one for the younger children and another for Don’t get me wrong, I’m convinced the Church should the older ones. We also had a thriving youth club of have things to say on all world issues and ethical about 40 teenagers. Churches these days seem to be dilemmas but the problem is articulated best by those obsessed like never before with young people. How to outside the Church when they say that it (the Church) attract them, how to retain them, how to appeal to needs to reflect first on its own thoughts and actions, them - and yet we have the lowest number of young and that over the centuries the Church has people ever. Not just children and teenagers but anyone demonstrably failed to put its own house in order younger than pensionable age. And so, inevitably, we’re regarding its ethics, policies and practices. In short, the wringing our hands and asking “what went wrong?” world hates hypocrisy. And here lies the problem. Speck, I could offer a number of responses to that question. Plank, and Eye come to mind. The primary, and most obvious one of course being, that Despite this, I am a great believer in ‘the Church’, or I people do not want to be told what to believe. People should say, the potential of the Church. The Church at its reject the concept of the Church having the Truth, that best – the Church as it should be - is a community of we either believe in and sign up to, or we don’t. This is people who meet together in communal support, to not the way people or society operate anymore. People encourage each other in mutual generosity of spirit, to are encouraged and expected to question, people are support and inspire each other to act self-sacrificially in suspicious of authority – especially the Church. (Looking loving others, and to gather the resources to tackle at its history, is it any wonder?) The idea of an infallible injustice, and to speak truth to power in the name of pope, an inerrant Bible, an unquestionable tradition or Jesus our example and teacher - and also, to help each doctrine simply will not work and should not work. And other to live into the mystery of life and reflect on the if that is what the Church has to offer, then maybe it mystery of God (however we understand that). should die and we should be glad? Of course, some churches, and some denominations, are People are totally turned off, or totally uninterested, by more progressive than others. I feel fortunate to be part what ‘religion’ has to offer. And who could blame them? of the Methodist Church where we have already Most members of PCN would go along with that I’m appointed a transgender minister and we have actively sure. In fact, this is why PCN came into existence in the welcomed practising gay minsters into active ministry first place- because in most mainline churches our since the early 90s – however, we still have a very long theology is out of date, our practices are outmoded, and way to go. the world has moved on. Those attracted to PCN, and those who feel liberated on This is an age of quantum theory, subatomic particles, discovering it, are usually those who are, or who have infinite space– of the Multiverse. The Church has to been part of, the traditional Church, often having finally begin to be flexible in its idea of God (or the become to some extent disaffected by it, often feeling divine, the sacred, the transcendent – whatever you like they have met like-minded people, saying the things want to call it). Be understanding and open to the idea they themselves have been thinking for years, and of an evolving truth and truths, and have an discovering there is an alternative way to be Christian. appreciation that our theology has always changed in Younger people nowadays, on the whole, have had no line with new insights, and always should. history or experience of the Church and so are not Is it any wonder that the world looks upon the beliefs looking for an alternative. They simply do not feel the and practices of the Church as quaint at best, and at same liberation, the same freedom, or have the same worst deeply worrying? It is still discriminating on epiphany. They are not looking for anything. The hole grounds of gender, sexual orientation and gender that PNC fills for so many older people who have left identity (usually based on a grotesque literalistic traditional Church behind, simply isn’t there for the interpretation of the Bible) and poking its nose into younger generation. medical ethics, world affairs, societal development. And Does this mean that PCN will inevitably always have an how predictable the Church’s response usually is! If elderly age demographic? Possibly, but not necessarily. there is ever any kind of progress to reduce suffering, Most mainline churches with their prescribed creeds and especially through scientific or medical ingenuity, it’s the doctrines leave little room for critical analysis and free Church that’s usually the one to object and kick up a thinking. Even though PCN is not a church as such, it may fuss. From genetically modified DNA to rid babies of well be a resource for people of all ages to dip into from 6 time to time as it becomes a more established visible presence in the mainstream religious domain. Compassion But is PCN’s elderly age demographic really a problem? Our population is aging, there will always be old people, Practising compassion in an and more of them than ever before. And while it would uncompassionate health system be lovely to have PCN jam-packed with people of all ages, I do not think we should be concerned with it We are not helpless victims of the system, writes Hearts unduly. All membership organisations are dwindling; the in Healthcare co-founder, Robin Youngson. Scouts, the Brownies, the local cricket club, political https://heartsinhealthcare.com parties, the WI- all membership, voluntary and community organisations have fewer members and attenders than they ever have done before. Our world is changing. Yet PCN has a consistently growing membership – we must take enormous encouragement in this growth as PCN continues to establish its identity. “We just don’t have time to care!” is the heartfelt Jesus’ message – the Christian message as I see it- protest of health workers in every country we visit. This despite its heart-breaking misrepresentation, is about is the reality of modern healthcare – always being asked loving one another and about loving God. The loving to do more with less, in a frantic and stress-filled God part is difficult for most people, due to lack of belief workplace. Health professionals going home exhausted, in God! But is this because of the way God is portrayed? not with the satisfaction of a job well done but They way God is defined by the Church? If I had to fretting about care too hurried, and patients neglected. believe in the God portrayed in most churches on an Yet, amidst the storm, some remarkable health average Sunday then I’d be an atheist too! If we can professionals create a circle of calm. They go about their start to open the idea of God up, and be more vocal, work in an unhurried way, finding time to greet their outspoken, and even subversive about that opening up, patients, put them at ease, listening deeply and then perhaps the world at large would see something of offering kindness and compassion. They don’t neglect value in the Church and in Christian faith rather than their clinical tasks, indeed they seem to get the work seeing merely a caricature. I go along with what Dave done with quiet efficiency. These inspiring workers go Tomlinson says in his book ‘How to be a Bad Christian’: home with satisfaction and joy in their hearts. How is “I’d say you don’t even need to believe in God to love that possible? God! …. we love God when we relish our many human The art and science of making time to care: gifts and live life with gratitude. We love God when we 1. Remember that compassion and caring have no fill our lungs with fresh air and just feel glad to be alive… dimensions of time When we forgive a wrong done against us. We love God when we take action to make the world a fairer place…. 2. Invest time to save time We love God when we help others, with simple acts of 3. Find out the patient’s concerns before you begin your kindness, compassion, and care.” clinical agenda For me this is what the Jesus message and the Christian 4. Learn how to serve your patients, rather than always life is all about and the Church (the Church universal and fixing and helping local congregations) can, and should, help with this. I 5. Don’t worry if you are junior or inexperienced – you think people generally might start to look again at the have a fully formed heart Church and the Christian faith if they saw more of this 6. Compassion is for your team-mates and your boss too message in the lives of its adherents and heard more of this message from the pulpits and even in the public 7. Compassion begins with self-compassion statements made by the Church on world issues. PCN helps the Church to move in this direction, and if it moves fast enough, the Church may even have something life-enhancing to offer to this wonderful, dynamic and freethinking generation.

Mo Wills works in Homelessness

Prevention for a Cornish charity and For the full article: is a Probationer Methodist minister in West Cornwall. https://heartsinhealthcare.com/practising-compassion- in-an-uncompassionate-health-system/ 7

Children and the Bible Why take a progressive approach to the Bible with children? Because any other approach is both dishonest, and potentially toxic. My experience of talking about the Bible will always be affected by my encounter with a 9-year-old girl (I’ll call her Alison because that’s not her name, and she’s still young). Alison was having problems with the Exodus story: she had been taught it devotedly by a well- meaning teacher in an RE session, who had faithfully reproduced the plagues and the crossing – I think there John Martin [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons was paint involved, and perhaps some modelling. It https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martin,_John_-_The_Seventh_Plague_-_1823.jpg might even have been papier-mâché. But this bothered my little friend Alison: why, she their fairy tales from their books about snails and wondered, would God do this? After all, this was a God insects. They understand the difference between who, she had been told, loves everyone. And yet, here Shakespeare and Horrible Histories, she was in home that same God was mercilessly slaying children, and territory again. doing other violent things to the people this (male) God We talked about some of the key questions that would was supposed to love. Alison seemed genuinely upset help her make sense of the story: ‘Who was the story and concerned about this, in a way that I hadn’t written for, and what was the point it was trying to expected from a child – after all, most children seem to make?’ When you take that approach to a Bible story, take gory stories in their stride. the most hideous tales can begin to make sense to the But as she explained her worries about this story, I most traumatised of people. remembered Alison’s context. She and her brothers live So, Alison taught me, in a roundabout way, to help with her mum. Her youngest brother’s dad used to live children see that Bible stories are not simply depictions with them, and that was an unhappy relationship – he of God’s character. They are stories of human got very violent with Alison’s mum, something that experience, they are intended to convey messages. Alison personally witnessed. Here was Alison’s There is a reason that liberation theologians love the experiential model: a man who said he loved them, but Exodus, because it takes the side of the oppressed. We then proved himself capable of acts of cruel violence. need to recognise that the gory bits don’t reflect the This experience directly impacted her reading of the sense of who God may be said to be, as much as they story, of course. She could see the direct relevance, and reflect the culture and context of the way in which the in a flash, so could I. That was the point when I realised story developed. that I couldn’t just leave Alison with the same old Post-script. Some years after this original incident, I got reading of the Exodus story. Which meant that I needed in to something of an argument (on social media, a bad to unpack it to her in the way I would read it myself. habit I know) with a priest who didn’t share my opinions. When I was thinking about how I might do that, I asked I’ll call him John, because that’s his name, and he’s old some friends who are on the progressive side of the coin enough to know better. John didn’t (still doesn’t) accept – one guy was unintentionally unhelpful: ‘I wouldn’t that there’s any way of telling the Exodus story except teach about Exodus at all, just teach about Jesus’ he ‘the way in which it’s written’. That God visits violent suggested… Well, yeah great Doug, but they learn about punishment on innocent children when their parents’ Exodus at school, it’s not exactly an obscure story... political leaders don’t comply with his will. I’m not with Another was a bit more helpful, but only a bit: ‘The John on that one, much though I respect him in many Exodus is really important part of a liberation theology ways: the story is much more complex and subtle than approach…’ Yes Johnny, but we’re not quite at that he says, and that’s why it’s good news even to 9-year- stage yet. She’s a nine-year-old English girl who likes old girls who have regrettably experienced domestic watching cartoons on TV, I’m not going to get all violence. Which is a good thing really. Gutiérrez on her. But still, he had a point, I needed to be honest with her Simon Cross is a Chaplain about the text, and so I went back to basics and asked working for Oasis UK in Grimsby, and her the question I now routinely ask of all Bible stories a PCN trustee. when I look at them with children. “What sort of story is [email protected] this?” Kids are used to this sort of decoding, they know 8 Finding space Joining in My upbringing was in the Roman Catholic Church, but I Nick Shepherd in the Church Times (12 Jan) suggests never fully understood it’s religious practices. I clung to that, because religious literacy and church connections some sort of semblance of a faith and in my early 30s my are on the decline in the UK, younger generations don’t eyes were opened after reading a book by Michael carry the baggage of earlier ones. PCN attracts those of Forster, ‘Let God be God’, which challenged what I had us seeking to shed such baggage, so do younger been taught. This led me to question things more but I generations need us and why would they seek us out? was left in a void when it came to church, and I grew Well, perhaps they do, because the article also suggests particularly tired of others trying to convert me to their they are open to exploring faith and are intrigued to truth. (Which even included some ‘dates’ with people know more. We also know Religion isn’t on the decline determined that I must have the same beliefs as them.) worldwide, and with the rise of extremism there seems I thought to myself, maybe that’s it for my Christian to be an acknowledgement that religious literacy is faith. After another bruising date, I decided to look more important. But who should decide how and where this is into Liberal Christianity and took a shot at seeing if there taught and by whom? What should it include? More were any churches or groups which didn’t present such television programmes addressing religious belief are entrenched and literal views. Thankfully, after a few also likely to be commissioned, and when done well they attempts of searching on the internet, I was presented can enable people to explore together what is important with the Progressive Christian Network and I discovered to them, and also what unites or divides. the North East PCN group which meets in Newcastle. Perhaps this is an opportunity to make Progressive I plucked up the courage to email the chairperson, Pat Christianity more familiar both in schools and the media, Fuller, who warmly welcomed me along. From first time so there isn’t an assumption all Christians interpret the I attended I was met with a hugely warm, friendly and Bible the same way and believe the same things. It is inclusive welcome. They were keen to share their own also an opportunity for members to articulate what it is experiences, to hear of mine, and it was incredibly about their religious understanding that still makes insightful to hear the wisdom they had gained over the sense and motivates them to continue the journey and years. I have now been attending for over 18 months. live the questions with others. Perhaps the challenge though, is how to make our thinking more familiar and The meetings have proved particularly encouraging in incorporated into the churches? This does not have to my spiritual nourishment which, I admit, that prior to mean accepted, but at least included in dialogue. attending my spiritual well had run pretty much dry. Within the meetings the environment allows for open There will be opposition to what we say, which I suspect and frank discussions, watching thought-provoking video will be portrayed as false Christian teaching by those clips, and having regular guest speakers. Within all of who see things very differently and claim to know this everyone’s views are welcomed and valued. exactly what ‘God’s plan’ is for the world. Young people are perhaps more inclusive and valuing of diversity than It has been a fascinating journey. At times opening me previous generations, because they have had different up to more doubts and voids, but in doing so allowing a cultural influences. They may therefore question and real period of growth and exploration. An exciting reject any teaching that seems exclusive, and welcome journey which is continuing and never feels static. and seek out alternative spiritual and religious Living this out in my daily life it has not only given me worldviews that are inclusive and seem just. It is the tools to share alternative ways of looking at the important for us to support all those who seek to Christian faith. But free from the constraints of dogmas provide a safe and welcoming space for people to and beliefs, it has enabled me to explore more the heart journey together in an open and questioning way. of Jesus’ message, a message of love and compassion, Despite the challenges, I am hopeful that there is new and what it means to be fully human and to try and energy around to stand up for the common good in incorporate this in all areas of my life. these dire times where resources are stretched and This has enabled me to be much more confident in there is an urgent call for more funding for essential sharing my experiences with others. A number of those services. Concern for our planet from a wide spectrum of that I have shared with have shown a real interest and people and age groups is remarkable, and we can only are intrigued about what Progressive Christianity is, and applaud that and join in to keep the momentum going. I am proud to say that I am part of a thriving PCN group.

Rob Meldrum is 40 years old, Nicola Phelan is a founder born in Wallsend and lives in Whitley member and convenor of the Rugby Bay. Main passion in life is the group which is organised with the beautiful game, Football. help of others. 9 Engaging with schools Nearly fifty years ago, as a young man, I spent two years drug taking or even suicide?” Questions like these in India doing voluntary work. Much of that time was prompted deeper thought, and enabled discussion on spent with Indian university students. These were often what the students felt is important to them. intelligent, well-educated young people. What struck me Our sessions were ‘interactive’, not prescriptive, in the though was whether, in the future, they would use their spirit of enquiry which is needed to get the modern abilities and training primarily to just have a nice life for generation involved. Teachers commented on the themselves or in some way to serve others and the importance of questions like these which enabled community. What inspires this deeper motivation? ‘lateral thinking’. Some years later, as an A-level mathematics teacher in a “The sessions finished with a brief time of silence to UK Comprehensive school, I also became responsible for reflect on these questions. Teachers often remarked Sixth Form Current Affairs. Once again, I became aware about the effectiveness of these, as much for themselves of the importance of motivation and purpose in the very as for the students. One teacher said of the whole able young people I was working with. session, ‘You were speaking directly to me.’ In 1995 this awareness led to my stopping formal In the five months starting in September 2006 I was teaching to be free to develop a programme in Sixth joined by Chris James (Australia), Roshan Gul (New Forms all round Britain, doing interactive sessions to Zealand) and Vlad Oleatovschi (Moldova). Much of the provoke thought about purpose in life and motivation. present atmosphere of society, such as advertising, This was under the umbrella of the NGO, Initiatives of appeals to self. But does this really satisfy? And does this Change. During the years following that the focus was limited purpose address the needs of our times? So the on small teams of younger people who spent the theme of discussion was: Beyond Satisfaction. autumn and spring terms together. Countries A highlight of Roshan’s sharing was her holding a candle represented in these teams have been Australia, Brazil, which was lighted when positive experiences were Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Honduras, India, shared and extinguished for negative ones. This also Japan, Latvia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, focused the need to not be blown around by outside Russia, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri influences but to be true to the light from within. That Lanka, Sudan, UK, USA, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. gives a deeper sense of fulfilment. We used themes such as ‘Moving Out Of Your Comfort Zone’, ‘Being My (better) self’ & ‘Freedom isn’t Free’ to focus the inner struggle which we all experience. Rather than talking about specific subjects like ‘drugs’, our themes aimed to create a broader context from which all issues could get a perspective. Our teams facilitated about 800 sessions in Sixth Forms, often with groups of about 60 to 100 students for an hour. We went to tough inner-city state schools and to privileged independent colleges, interacting with some 50,000 students. As an example, a few years ago, two people aged 18 and 20, from Latvia and Russia joined us. They told the sixth formers, “We have had momentous changes in our Pixabay CC0 License https://www.pexels.com/photo/light-love-lights-night-80461/ countries since the fall of the Soviet Union and are now looking at what sort of society we would like to build. Following the London underground bombings, Musa We are attracted by some things we see in the West, but Aliyu (Nigerian student), Amina Khalid (Somali refugee) are interested to see the impact of your society on you. and I facilitated sessions in about sixty Sixth Forms. Our Would you recommend your society in the UK for our theme was “Raising a generation of trust-builders”. We countries to aspire to?” wanted to present a different narrative to the divisive We also often quoted someone as saying, “In the West, one which had been generated by the bombings. Musa in the UK we have everything to live with but nothing to led the sessions and started by asking why the students live for.” After asking the students if they agreed with thought that two young African Muslims and a relatively this statement (some did and some didn’t) we then old English Christian would want to work together to asked, “What do you live for if you basically have all you visit schools like this. need? Is it ‘more of the same’? Or is it something else?” When Amina was introduced, she shared something of And “Why is it that in our society, when many basically her experiences as a young person in Somalia, growing have what they need, there is so much depression, up in a civil war zone. For instance her uncle was shot 10 dead by a neighbour who was an ‘enemy’. Also at the age of eight she was playing outside with her four-year- Introducing old cousin, when he was shot in the arm in front of her. Her family had ended up as refugees in London, where she was sent to school at the age of 13 hardly speaking Pat Fuller any English. She was bullied and racially abused, partly because of wearing a headscarf. She went to four PCN Britain trustee different schools, and had a torrid time. She asked the I was born in Cumberland in students for feedback on what she should have done in 1946. My parents died when that situation, try to fight back or to walk away? they were in their forties, so Questions like this led to some thoughtful discussion. early life was not easy. I It is clear that schools greatly appreciated the married John when I was contribution we made to the education of their young and we divorced in students. However, to my mind, that is less than half the 1997. I married Peter in 2014 value in doing this programme. It has been a wonderful and we have four children training vehicle, towards gaining experience, for those of between us, 3 grandchildren us involved in teams giving the sessions. As well as and 2 great-grandchildren. fostering our presentation skills we are forced to think My interests include family, deeply about the topics we discuss. It also challenges us two dogs, travelling in our motor-home, philosophy to live what we talk about. I know from my own training lectures, being a Green Party activist, gardening, to be a teacher that the most valuable part of the course voluntary chaplaincy, and project managing a scheme to was when we trainee teachers were sent into schools to build a labyrinth in a local park. put into practice what we were supposed to have been Educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith, I learning. The Schools Programme fulfilled that role for was very good at athletics. I went on to teacher training, us participants. then for ordination with the East Midlands Ministry Course, and an Open University Degree once retired. My main focus in life has now changed to bridge- building in a wider context than schools. But I still Ordained deacon in 1990 at Lincoln Cathedral, curacy in sometimes get invited to facilitate sessions in Sixth Scunthorpe, and ordained priest in 1994. I went to be Forms and value the opportunity to have this interaction priest-in-charge in the Wragby Group with half time with the younger generation. This currently involves College chaplaincy in Lincoln. I was an Industrial Chaplain sessions around the film Beyond Forgiving, of which I’m in Scunthorpe, and have always been a volunteer the executive producer. chaplain in the Hospice movement. In 2001 I had a breakdown and resigned from full-time ministry. I now Sometimes people have asked me whether this schools work as a Volunteer Chaplain to the residents and staff programme is Christian. I wonder sometimes what Jesus in a local care home in Morpeth where I now live. would have done had he been facilitating school PCN member for several years, set up and convene the sessions in the twenty first century. When he lived, two Newcastle group, and beginning my third year as a thousand years ago, it was largely accepted that people trustee. I am part of the PCN Liturgy Group and am believed in, and had a particular image of, God. So, his organising the members’ residential weekend. mission was basically to challenge/inspire them to obey God. In the present day, the great majority of students I live in a beautiful part of the world and my life is full don’t think that way. So, would Jesus primarily try to and interesting. ’I m still up for standing on protest lines persuade them to ‘believe’ in a particular perception of and preaching with a progressive Christian approach. God. Or would he engage in a way that inspired them to There are some really appreciative comments when I be true to their deeper inner leading, with integrity and preach in this way. I love being part of PCN and find compassion? That is my aim. People can judge for encouragement and support from PV and meeting up themselves whether that is obeying God, or makes it a with other members. My work with the elderly gives me Christian programme. chance to be creative with liturgy especially geared for the lovely residents of the care home. To me this is a fundamental question for Progressive Christians to ponder if we wish to engage with young My life has had its dark times but the love and support people, many of whom are turned off by attempts to of family and friends and now my new husband has convince them about religious beliefs. meant I have come through. I believe that all our experiences add to the richness of who we are and we should never stop questioning the answers we are given Howard Grace is a member of by others. That is what PCN has encouraged me to do the Newbury PCN group, he is a and I give thanks for all who work to keep us on the teacher, and executive producer of road. Long may we journey together as we work out the film ‘Beyond Forgiving’. what following Jesus means in our lives in the context of our world today. 11 Building our hearts Recently I had the honour of attending the renewing of new and fresh ways to outwork this wonderful thing marriage vows by some of my closest friends. It was an called the Christian faith, we would never be talking and intimate event that was different to a lot of the other feeling about the Church in such a negative way. Instead vow renewals I had been to, or heard about, before. As always building it and correcting it with love. we all gathered around a barbecue, which doubled up as Since starting this article I have rewritten it a few times, a fire pit, in a garden made pretty by fairy lights and as the writing process wasn’t coming from a place of homemade bunting, we stood with the couple and heard building the church with love, but one out of bitterness their vows to each other. We all shed tears over such an and just having the chance to have my say. It took me emotional and moving moment between a husband and sitting down with a trusted friend over a coffee in a wife. The couple was then prayed for, and powerful manky, wet and warm marquee and talking things words were spoken over their future and their through to actually map out the right way, with a correct relationship. There was a real sense of something special tone of what I was feeling and wanting to say. It wasn’t in the air: it was as if the group of people gathered there done in a glamorous venue, it wasn’t done out of an that night, and their openness to the intimacy of the emotional altar call, it came from a very normal event, created a Church-like moment. The presence of conversation. We were both honest with each other, my God and sense of community were potentially the wonderful friend was able to correct my heart and strongest we had all felt in a long time. This precious attitude with love, to allow me to view the Church and moment was created by an authentic and genuine the local church differently. Like the night of the vows, openness to the power of God. No emotional music, no we were authentic and open and not closed and lights, no powerful video or chanting and shouting, just defensive. We knew that God was there, and when love authentic openness to God and to each other. NO HYPE. and truthfulness were welcomed we were able to That night, as the vows were renewed, there was no correct, build and glorify the work of the Church. Again, church building in sight, no order of service or voice no hype or religious attitude, and that conversation was saying this is what we always do. There was an able to build the momentum that is created by a group atmosphere of openness, honesty and a strong of people who share a mutual love of God and a mutual recognition of the importance of this being something to passion for seeing the Kingdom come. It is a powerful be done in front of God. Whatever the individuals, or the force, with or without the bricks and mortar. By group opinions were about their own church, we were belonging to a community built on integrity, honesty, able to live it out as a verb in that special moment. We and commitment, the momentum of a movement can were a frontline, grassroots, intimate body of Christians, endure with or without a trending hashtag, the coolest responding to the fundamental and foundational needs band or biggest amount of hype. If we were doing our of the loved ones around us. We made it simple, there job right as Christians would we find ourselves in the was no religiosity, dogma or political agenda. Everyone precious position of being committed to the local church who attended realised that they could still respond to a for all the right reasons? holy moment and interact with God with a simple You see what I learnt on that night of the vows, and opening of their hearts. from the chat with my friend, was that I was part of a For some of us, this feeling couldn’t have come at a friendship group that is prepared to ask me in a genuine better time. We were certainly at a point of asking way ‘how’s things?’, ‘how’s business?’, ‘is money okay at questions about how we do life and church together. I the moment, can you pay your bills?’ This isn’t in a nosey personally had become someone who sat in the same way, but of us being a body of people and knowing we seat, talked only to the people I knew, and made sure are all okay. Thus, if one of us wasn’t okay, if a business that I did what I needed to do to get through each wasn’t good, if money struggles were ripe, then there is Sunday morning. Every week I complained about the power in letting each other know that help and hope are same things, and built nothing but an unhelpful intrigue real. We don’t always need a communication strategy, a and bitterness towards my church. It is easy to become good public speaker or a well-timed, practiced worship religious and dogmatic about your Sunday routine, this is team. We need a raw, unadulterated connection, and relevant for everyone whether in the congregation, willingness to respond to the need in front of us and worship band or leadership team, serving coffees or recognise the uniqueness of any event. locking up, we all need to watch our attitude in our I will certainly see the words “local church” in a different Sunday routine. way moving forward. I don’t think it’s about an actual This vow moment truly opened my eyes to the power of location that you have to attend or you’re a “bad people working in relationship, with no other motive Christian”. As soon as you put a geographical zone to it, I than to be there for one another. I can’t help but feel feel it restricts you and brings you back to a stripped that if we really opened our lives to everyone, spoke out back version of what your life can be. By trying to put the gospel, lived out the love of God, and discovered God into a box you also risk restricting the work of the 12 divine. But even keeping your eye on the box will also restrict you, as we are all still using that as the Can’t Sing! barometer of what’s right and wrong. Instead, when you start to see the local church as a place where your feet There is a particular contemporary hymn which I believe are, you no longer see a road filled with uncertainty into progressive Christians cannot, in all honesty, sing with which you tentatively walk, but an empty road where all any conviction. (Although on ‘Songs of Praise’, where it we are tasked with is running into God’s promises. is sung with a fair degree of frequency, congregations A few years back I had the pleasure of travelling to L.A. seem to sing it with great gusto, probably because it has One day we were out for a meal and we ended up a catchy tune.) The hymn is ‘In Christ alone’ which chatting to the waitress. As the evening went on we offends my progressive susceptibilities for several ended up sharing with her who we were, what we were reasons: doing in the USA, and we welcomed her into a small and 1. It is exclusive. The words ‘In Christ alone’ cannot be honest pocket of our lives. Then all of a sudden out of sung with integrity in a multi-faith, multi-cultural society. nowhere she completely opened up about her life, she Possibly the author had in mind the text ‘I am the way, talked through what had been happening, how lonely the truth and the life’ when writing the hymn. But we she’d been and how actually she needed to work on her cannot believe that Jesus, when he supposedly uttered faith more and return to Christ. We then saw a chance these words, did so in an exclusive way (leaving aside to be a church to her, so we arranged to meet up with the critical questions associated with John’s Gospel!). her and introduced her to a great community of people. Jesus preached an open and inclusive message which That was the local church. We weren’t restricted, but we rejected no one and welcomed every one of whatever were open to love. We weren’t distracted by her past or race or beliefs. Also, truth may be found in all the theology, or put off by her sexual-orientation and style. world’s faiths and in all academic fields, even in secular We were there seeing a person, who needed to find her humanism. Truth is truth from whatever source. place with God. 2. It ignores contemporary theological developments. Like the beautiful vow night with my friends, when we The way the hymn views the cross has to be questioned strip back to why we are here, who is in front of us, we too. It is said to be the place where ‘the wrath of God come to the conclusion that wherever we are, we can be was satisfied’, a crude view of the atonement in which Church. We don’t need liturgy or laws, we need to Christ’s death was pre-determined in order to pay the practice LOVE. price for our sins, being deliberately sent by God so to I hope we can look past the glitz and glamour, to give do. What loving Father would ever send his son to our Sunday mornings the time they deserve whilst death? It demeans God to think that God would, and consistently focussing on the moment, the present, the denies the reality of the Gospel stories in which Jesus is imperfect, needs of now. That’s when we find ourselves crucified because he is rejected by the ecclesiastical and stood in a position where grace and peace are renewed political establishments as a threat to their power and daily. Acknowledging that truly, where the spirit of the position. Furthermore, the hymn, in its views of the Lord is, there is mind-blowing, awe-inspiring, eye- resurrection and the return of Christ, shows no opening freedom. awareness of contemporary theological thinking. I love my church. I love my Sundays. I also love 3. It still accepts gender bias. Sexism is implied in the tomorrow. I love the fact that when we are open and words ‘scheme of man’ which of course excludes half authentic we can grow the church. Be that in a friend’s the human race. These days many hymn writers and garden, a damp marquee or a restaurant. Pastors need compilers of liturgies do make the effort to use inclusive to pastor. Leaders need to lead. Teachers need to teach. language. Indeed where possible traditional hymns are And we as people need to love. But let us all choose to often revised to be gender neutral. This is not merely a explore the power found in changing our routine and matter of political correctness, much derided by those of let’s become aware of the opportunity that can be found a conservative mind set, but a recognition of the equality when we are fully open to God and let us be authentic. of status and the full acceptance of women. We are the church, warts and all. We don’t need more I have to conclude therefore that this particular hymn is bricks we just need bigger hearts. not one to be sung by progressive Christians, which raises the question, what do we actually look for in the hymns we sing? Have readers any views on the matter?

Thom Law is a creative Richard Firth is an active retired communicator, designer, lecturer and Methodist Minister in Tynemouth, writer based in Lincoln. His projects who believes that theology is an have included ‘Segment’ magazine. ongoing adventure. 13 What do we tell the children? We live at a time of declining church attendance, and have been highly significant learning about Charles the Good News with which we may have grown up is Darwin and evolutionary theory– so it was no longer either ignored or has never been heard by those living in necessary to continue to believe in God and His way of our own street. We are also living in an increasingly salvation– what a relief! Nobody ever really could walk materialistic age, yet some still feel that there is a on water; Old Isaac Newton too had made such beliefs spiritual side to life which they lack, and even try to find unnecessary! Going to university with a very agnostic and follow it. However, in many cities, particularly in frame of mind I met some grand Christian friends and university towns, we may find churches that are thriving, was taken to hear Billy Graham – and for some years I some meeting great social need, with a congregation of tried to be an evangelical but not with the assurance younger families and students, often with a strong that many of them talked about! Hearing about the conservative evangelical basis. While we may envy the medical needs of the developing world I contacted a size and age-range of those attending perhaps we feel missionary society and after further training left for that such a basis is not for us! Zambia (then North Rhodesia) where my wife and I I have been very influenced by the writings of Marcus spent eleven years. There we met with wonderful Borg, especially his book ‘Meeting Jesus again for the colleagues of different faiths and experienced much that First Time’. On the first page he pointed out that most of challenged my rather narrow views - and this challenging us have heard of Jesus before, obviously if brought up continued after returning to the UK and to life in General within a church-going family, but many of those growing Practice in Norfolk. up in western culture today may not even know the Five years ago, I read a review of ‘Setting Jesus Free’ by name. He goes on: ‘For many, the childhood image of John Churcher. In the office of the reviewer half of her Jesus remains intact into adulthood. For some, that colleagues approved of it, to the others it was image is held with deep conviction, sometimes linked anathema! There was included in it on page 14 a PCN with warm personal devotion and sometimes tied to Statement of Belief – compared with that of the rigid doctrinal positions. For others, both within and Evangelical Alliance – and this was what I was looking for outside of the church, the childhood image of Jesus can – particularly item 6– ’ we find more grace in the search become a problem, producing perplexity and doubt, for understanding than we do in dogmatic certainty, often leading to indifference toward or rejection of the more value in questioning than in absolutes’. religion of their childhood. Indeed for many Christians, There are children in some of our churches being taught especially in mainline churches there came a time when ‘dogmatic certainty’ and the approach is to get them their childhood image of Jesus no longer made a great young and it will stick for the rest of their lives. This deal of sense. And for many of them, no persuasive could of course be called ‘indoctrination’ and occurs in alternative has replaced it.’ other non-religious aspects of life too. But what happens He described his up-bringing in a Lutheran church which a little later when those turbulent teenage years was the centre of family life and he grew up with a very approach? Some, perhaps a few, will hang on to what conservative theology. As an adolescent he began to they have been taught to believe, growing up amongst have doubts about the existence of God, tinged with similarly-minded friends, but, for what I think is a large anxiety and guilt-feelings. He understood this was a the majority, most or all of what they had been taught collision between the modern world view and his will be rejected. Indeed, today this is happening at an childhood beliefs. He left college, having heard a lot of ever-earlier stage of primary education with the modern theology, feeling very agnostic, not knowing what to curriculum becoming increasingly more searching and make of it all! In seminary and later he learnt a wider, exploratory. Yet modern physics and quantum theory, more liberal view of the gospels, and the background of about which I know very little, seem to be more and 1st century Christianity against which they were put more about uncertainty, improbability and the together. Some years later he had many experiences of intangible! ‘radical amazement’, experiencing that the earth really Another approach is to wait until they are old enough to was filled with the glory of God, shining with a radiant make up their own minds in the hope that they will presence. He realised that ‘God’ does not refer to a believe later – does this often happen? Most will drift supernatural being ‘out there’ but the very centre of along in a spirit of indifference, saying what you or I existence, and he was able to see the centrality of God/ believe is our affair, not theirs, although the occasional the Spirit in Jesus’ life. family or personal crisis, that can happen to us all, may For many of my generation and younger this story will lead them to think more deeply. ring true. We may have grown up in a church-going Another interesting phenomenon is what happens at family, with a varying degree of following the Christian Christmas time. How many young parents, themselves way including Sunday School attendance. At school, for agnostic, point out the characters of a manger scene as those pursuing an A level science pathway, it would 14 though they believed it as being factually true? Most of the nation sings carols for a week or so – then it is off to the January sales! Then they would say it was all a fairy story! Borg and Crossan in the book “The First Christmas” point out that to the first Christians these stories were not important – the earliest writers, Paul and Mark do not mention them- but they are metaphorically true as parables. What matters is that the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us, God in man, and that light shines into the darkest corners of life. If I was a parent of young children growing up today, what would I want for them? I’d want them to grow up with a deepening knowledge and love for the Creating Spirit

(that we call God) and an increasing By SAS Scandinavian Airlines (http://images.flysas.com) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons awareness of divine activity in our wonderful universe, and that divinity is best seen in the the rest of the session aims to be Christ-centred. Model- life and teaching of Jesus. I would want them to treat making (messy!) and team games are important. So is a others as their own brothers and sisters, to grow up to proper sit-down two course meal, with tables large understand and love nature and care for the enough to share with others. It is during these meal- environment, and that there is so much that cannot be times that new relationships can develop and sometimes purchased with money which is much more valuable. quite a deep discussion. Parents and children who perhaps have never heard of God/Jesus may be touched In conversation with a young mother recently she told by the Spirit. We have a number of single mothers and how her two boys, age 8 and 6 years, had been part of foster parents bringing various children with their the sharing of one minute’s silence in memory of those behavioural problems – and they listen and partake in suffering from the Grenfell Tower disaster at their various activities, even helping to clear up afterwards. It school. How good, you may think, that children are is good that they are forming a little community of their learning to empathise with others through school own within the church. assemblies! That weekend the mother had to go to London and spend a night there. The elder boy was The Messy Church organization is a product of the Bible terrified that she might have been killed in a fire while Reading Fellowship and so for most of us their material sleeping. The younger child had no anxieties at all! What would seem to be too conservative, but the general do you tell the children, for they are all young, with principles have much to offer churches seeking to be different impressionable personalities and at different relevant for children and families of today many of stages of development? We all need to be ready and whom realise we live in a messy world. able to get alongside the child at an appropriate level I believe there no longer much place for the kind of when the opportunity arises to point out the spiritual in teaching with which many of us may have grown up. But any circumstance. children remain inquisitive and keen to learn, and each Messy Church was set up more than 10 years ago and at of them different from one another. We have to be Aylsham, Norfolk we have been running pretty well since flexible enough to adapt to this. Messy Church of course it began, and now there are more than three thousand is just one such attempt. Do we know of other materials branches around the world. It is one way to inform that we would consider suitable for use with young younger generations about God/Jesus in a completely children in our church settings? fresh context. It is for families, not just for children – and With each individual may we encourage their appetite if an adult wants to leave them and come back to collect for knowledge of a truth that is open, and not so them later, they are not admitted! But it is difficult to get dogmatic that it inevitably ends in rejection of all things this emphasis over to them, that it is for all ages spiritual before many more years have passed. together, not just a kids’ thing. Why the name? Everyone likes doing ‘messy’ things, but ‘church’ is not just boring, it is for the neat and tidy, the prim and proper, and for many of us, our lives would still Paul James is a retired Norfolk GP, be very messy if the Spirit had not sorted us out. a Methodist Local Preacher, and a There are four constituents – it must focus on creativity, member of Norwich PCN group. hospitality, be fun and a simple Celebration which like 15 The Virtue of Queerness One of the queerest stories I know begins not in a fabulous city, not on a glittering dance floor. It begins in a tiny backwater town. This story starts in a barn. A young woman is traveling with her husband to be. She is very pregnant, and were it not for the generosity of her fiancé – who is not this child’s father – she would face a perilous future as an unwed mother. A lot of people are on this same road, and the inn where they try to get a room is booked up. Or so the innkeeper says. Maybe he just takes one look at this woman, knows she is about to go into labour, and doesn’t want to deal with the bloody, fleshy, wet https://pxhere.com/en/photo/667824 mess that her body is about to churn out. CC0 Public Domain But the guy has a heart. Gesturing with his thumb, he offers, “You can stay the night in the barn out 1. Queer people possess virtue according to terms that back.” She gives birth that night in a stall, surrounded by Christianity itself sets donkeys and sheep, and her afterbirth will land in hay, 2. Christian communities could learn a lot from queer easily swept up in the morning along with whatever the people about how to live our faith – how to BE the animals have excreted in the middle of the night. church more effectively and with greater consequence. This is how the Christian story begins. We proclaim that To Queer = To Rupture this baby, this bloody, illegitimate bundle of quivering My work draws on the academic discipline of queer flesh, is God incarnate. We preach that the power of theory, which involves the rupturing of false binaries. God infused a human form, while violating the most Particularly, LGBTQ people constantly rupture – disrupt, basic sexual conventions of the day. The essential or queer – the idea that male and female are two premise of the faith is that in this extraordinary mix of distinct categories. flesh and spirit and scandal lurks the promise of ultimate What I see in Christianity is a relentless rupturing of false spiritual health for the human race. binaries. For instance: Was Jesus divine or human? Well, I am a queer priest. What draws me into this faith Christians say he was both. In his resurrection, Jesus tradition is precisely this story, this God who doesn’t disrupted basic human understanding of life and death. hesitate to enter into a body just like mine, just like In the healing narratives, Jesus constantly disrupted yours, rupturing everything we might tend to believe conventional notions about what was sacred and what about how bodies and souls relate to each other. What was profane. draws me into this faith tradition is precisely the fact One of Jesus’s most famous parables is the story of the that I am queer, that I have lived my life among people Good Samaritan. A lawyer asks Jesus, “Who is my who understand that we are carnal beings, called to neighbour?” Jesus responds by asking the lawyer to make transcendent beauty visible to the world. imagine that he is traveling down a road and is robbed In recent decades, many progressive churches have and beaten nearly to death. Two of his colleagues see made strides toward celebrating the lives and ministries him and cross the road to avoid dealing with his crisis. A of LGBTQ people. What those of us on the religious left third man comes by - a man that the lawyer would have have seldom done is explain to the world why, identified as his inferior, and worse, as a moral theologically, we know this is right to do. This creates degenerate. Of course, it’s the third man who helps him. the appearance of theological dissonance. It makes our So, Jesus turns the question back to the lawyer: "You tell proclamation of the Gospel sound tepid and weak, and me who your neighbour is." worst of all, boring. I tell you: the church would not be in One of the biggest binaries Jesus challenges his followers decline if we were more often preaching a gospel that is to rupture is the one between Self and Other. Jesus exciting, robust, and that speaks truthfully to people’s constantly demands that we upend simplistic notions of real lives. My work is an attempt to address all of this. I who “I” am in relation to“ you”, or to that person over am convinced that a theology that is good for the queers there who is despised, or the wrong sex, or sick, or will also be good for the church. ritually unclean. I refer to this theology as “Queer Virtue.” It has two In his letter to the Galatians, Paul continues this business basic premises: of rupturing the binary of Self and Other. He writes: 16 “ There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. “ These rupturings – these queerings - are not peripheral to Christianity. Both theologically and ethically, they are the very heart of the Christian movement. Therefore, I argue that authentic Christianity is, and must be, queer. It is clear to me that the Church could learn a lot about its mission and purpose by looking to queer experience. To understand what I mean by this, let’s take a moment to consider what queer experience entails. Queer experience often, not always but very often, looks something like this: • Queer people discern an identity that affects how we perceive ourselves in the world, how we relate to other people, and how we will navigate our most intimate relationships. • We have to tell the truth about that identity even when doing so puts us at risk. • We have to touch others – by which I mean we have to connect with others who have discerned a similar identity. This is a touch that can be physical or spiritual or both. • We have to build community with others, creating what is essentially an adopted family. • And then queer people have a strong record of looking to the margins to see who is still struggling, and doing something about that. This is the path of Queer Virtue. It is important to note that these steps are not in a fixed order and are not once and done. I call this a path of “virtue” because, in Queer experience offers daily lessons in how to do the the Aristotelian sense, this is something that people get most essential work of Christian ethics. Queer people better at the more we have to do it. BUT - none of us know what it is to discern an identity and find a healthy walks it perfectly, and some queer folk flat out refuse to kind of pride in it. Queer people know how to come out, walk parts of it at all. Still, it constantly impresses me witnessing to our identities and to our dignity. Coming how dedicated my community is, overall, to this path, out could be an extraordinary model for Christian and how hard we work to stay on it and make it evangelism: telling the "good news" not by threatening accessible to others. people with damnation but by witnessing to something that is actually good. Christians could learn a lot from What I have long observed is that this path bears a queer people about how to foster power dynamics that freakish resemblance to the ethical path that Christians allow all of us to be our full, authentic selves, facilitating are supposed to follow. Christians also have to discern healthier relationships, and breeding stronger, more an identity– an identity as people created by God who vibrant communities. Christians could regain enormous depend on God for our very being. We are supposed to credibility simply by opening our eyes to see the virtue tell others about that identity– that’s what evangelism that queer people model every day. But we could gain so is supposed to be. We are supposed to engage with much more if we truly value the gift that queerness is, others, build community, and look to the margins to see celebrate it, and determine to learn from it. who is struggling and do something about that. It is no accident that these two paths are so resonant. Once you understand the extent to which Christianity is about rupturing false binaries - about queering - it makes perfect sense that queer and authentic Christian Liz Edman is an Episcopal priest and ethics are so similar. What is perhaps noteworthy is that the author of Queer Virtue: What LGBTQ what this priest knows about Christian virtue, about People Know About Life and Love and Christianity as a path, I have learned primarily from How It Can Revitalize Christianity walking this queer path every day of my life. (Beacon Press, 2016) 17 News from local groups Please contact group convenors or Methodist Churches. At a recent Harrogate (HG1 1PP) at 2.30pm see the relevant PCN Britain web Circuit Meeting it was decided to (2.15 coffee) on the first Thurs each page for further details. start a monthly worship gathering month. 16 to 20 attend. Newcomers are always welcome. reflecting an open and progressive We have had a presentation of ch12,

approach to faith. We held our first ‘The Law of Religion’ from Yuval Abingdon Cliff Marshall one in Jan and 22 of us (including 3 Noah Harari’s excellent “Sapiens” 01235 530480 [email protected] Methodist Ministers) gathered and which traces our evolution from We have been continuing our we have another in Feb. As of Mar it Homo to Sapiens – a mind stretcher! examination of insights for 21st C will appear on our Plan which lists all A view on ‘Revelation’ referring to a Christianity. Watching DVDs of our regular Circuit services. 6.30pm lovely book ‘Some Day I’ll Find You’ Robin Meyers’ Marcus Borg on the 2nd Sunday each month at by Harry Williams; an impromptu Memorial Lectures, leading to a Hove Methodist Church. discussion on ‘What do we tell the discussion of what the future Church May 13 will be a big day for us as we children’. We tried to define exactly might be like and how it would welcome Dr Roger Ray, organised by what it was we were indeed wanting work. Our 6 Mar meeting, at St Rev John Churcher, into our Circuit. to tell them, avoiding anything of Peter’s, Drayton, will feature the Roger is the Pastor of Community the orthodox view of ‘God’. This experiences and hopes of a recently Christian Church, a Progressive decided the next topic - what life trained ‘progressive’ clergyman. On Interfaith community in Springfield experiences give us a sense of 16 Mar, we shall be hosting Dave Missouri USA. He and John will each spirituality, a sense of ‘the other’? Tomlinson talking on ‘Black Sheep preach in one of our churches in the We cherish conversations in an open and Prodigals: An Antidote to Black morning and then we are going to atmosphere where personal and White Religion’. His talk will be gather in the afternoon at Hove opinions, beliefs, un-beliefs, doubts given at 7.30pm in Trinity Church, Methodist Church for more talk and and questioning can be freely Conduit Road, Abingdon, OX14 1DU. discussion followed by tea and then expressed and shared. Tickets for this event are available a service at 6.30pm. Contact: Sandra Griffiths from Cliff Marshall or on the door. [email protected] Leeds 0113 258 2652 [email protected] Our group meetings will resume at Liz Vizard Exeter We meet monthly on a Sat between 7.30pm on 3 Apr and 1 May at St 01392 668859 [email protected] Michael’s Church Room, Abingdon. 10.30am-12 at Chapel Allerton No doubt there will be plenty to We have two meetings planned so Methodist Church/Centre, Town discuss about ways to go forward as far. On Sun 3rd June, Grace Davie, Street, Leeds LS7 4NB, with coffee/ progressives following Dave’s talk. Professor emeritus of Sociology at tea and mini-library from 10.00am. the University of Exeter will speak We feel privileged to have enjoyed Bolton Jim Hollyman about her recent essay ‘Religion in meetings led by John Churcher and 01204 456050 [email protected] Public Life: Levelling the Ground’, Paul Onslow in the months before We thoroughly enjoyed sessions in based on her Edward Cadbury Christmas - and also to have had which we shared brief statements of Lectures at Birmingham University. Gretta Vosper and Scott Kearns for a what we believed today and why we On Sun 14th Oct we welcome back weekend programme in Oct. still went to church. A lively and The Very Rev Dr Jonathan Draper, We have looked at the meaning and creative discussion. former Dean of Exeter Cathedral, challenge of Christmas today, and Next we will return to viewing “The now General Secretary of Modern discussed, after a request ,‘ Can we Historical Jesus” - concentrating on Church. Both are at Southernhay stop polarising and demonising? “The Last Days of Jesus” and “The URC Hall, Exeter from 2.30-4.30pm. Stop talking about sin, original sin Death and Resurrection of Jesus”. We were very disappointed that and sinfulness? Stop talking about We look forward to hosting the PCN Terry Eagleton was unable to come Sin and Evil as if these personified AGM and the sessions of singing due to illness, we wish him well. abstractions were real entities?’ hymns which are planned for Sat Padraig O’Tuama, Leader of the We will be joining with the two 17th Mar at the United Reformed Corrymeela Community, will be Harrogate groups to hear Dave Church of St Andrew and St George coming to a conference at Exeter Tomlinson on 19 Mar in Harrogate. in Bolton town centre. University, 17-18 Nov. Dave will be talking about his new book Black Sheep and Prodigals: An Brighton Sue Harrington Harrogate (Aft) Philip Goodwin Antidote to Black and White 07943 401608 [email protected] 01423 563 990 [email protected] Religion. As if in anticipation, we Some people involved in Progressive Our ‘Journey Group’ meets at spent our Feb meeting considering a groups in our area are attached to Wesley Chapel, Oxford Street, small section of ‘The Bad Christian’s 18 Manifesto’. One of us had read it audience and in Apr a member of and acknowledged. Poetry as soul- and been greatly enthused. the staff at the West End Refugee language and its power to resonate We hope to have Jo James, a Leeds Service will share some issues about was outlined in an article by Mark Unitarian minister, with us at a being refugees in Newcastle and Oakley discussed this Jan, this meeting, telling us how he came to how their Centre works. Our May resonated with all present and we be where he is. This type of meeting group will be led by Richard Firth, continue this theme in March. always encourages us to get to know drawing attention to the political call one another better. within the Lord’s Prayer. Tunbridge Wells Sandy Elsworth [email protected] The group of about 15 has not NE Lincolnshire John Sharp grown over the past few months but At our most recent meeting, we 01472509857 [email protected] we hope that by hosting more followed up a letter written by one We meet on the first Sat of every ‘progressive thinkers’ we may affect of us about homophobia in the month 10am-noon at the Oasis the Newcastle area scene. The church. It questioned how openly Academy in Grimsby. In addition to university chaplains are helping to churches share their commitment to these meetings, we are hoping to spread the word about the Dave inclusivity and diversity (see Adrian devise a course of weekly evening Tomlinson event, so who knows? Alker’s PCN blog of 27th Nov 2017.) meetings during the Autumn to We addressed why it is that gender introduce some of the big questions Rugby Nicola Phelan and sexuality has caused untold which “progressive Christians” raise 01788 562562 [email protected] upset and controversy in the history to a wider public. This is an attempt We meet bi-monthly and discuss of the Church. And why it still at outreach whilst preserving the Sat topics, often circulated in advance. persists in the 21st century. group as a safe space where we can ‘Cruelty, Christianity and the Gospel We considered that Jesus’ life and feel confident that they can share of Love’ looked at the negative and teaching were radical and their insights and doubts in an often devastating impact of church ‘scandalous’ and how totally empathetic environment. We do not teaching about sexuality, and the removed that is from the average regard ourselves as missionaries but difficult reconciling of differences church congregation today. We felt some of us have a genuine concern over biblical interpretation with the that surely there are infinitely more that we may be too inward-looking. hope that this will change. The pressing issues that we Last month, we discussed Steve importance of political engagement should actively be involved in Chalke’s short online musings on the was discussed at election time, and addressing - real scandals such as theme of why Christianity must why voting matters. The PCN leaflets polluting the planet. Also, the change or die - my plagiarism not were the basis of a talk on how the inequality of society, with the his! They proved a stimulus for organisation emerged and, as not all world’s wealth frequently being discussion, not least because we did are members, there was some lively manipulated by unscrupulous not agree with everything he said. discussion about the purpose of the financial institutions. http://openchurch.network/chalketalk eight points. We did not all agree, Dividing into groups, we probed Next month, we are holding a but leaflets were taken to be shared. deeper into self-examination, conversation with local Quakers. Recently we have focussed on the owning what personally makes us experiential. One member who has draw back from people, and what Pat Fuller Newcastle had to become a care home resident prejudices or fears get in the way of 01670 519800 [email protected] provided valuable insights from daily whole-hearted engagement with We have been given a donation of observations. The process of ageing, those who may not fit identically £300 from Breathing Space, which impact of dementia and the into our own individual moulds. It has disbanded after several years of challenges of caring were explored, proved to be a challenging and hosting excellent speakers and along with ethical discussion about thought provoking evening. discussions. We are very grateful to end of life care. Marcus Borg’s receive the money and it will act as description of his mystical Mid-Wilts Janet Tanner 01380 738155 [email protected] seed funding for inviting speakers to experiences in the book ‘Days of Newcastle under the banner of PCN. Awe and Wonder’ inspired the Nov 1st Thursday each month in St. But we have not needed a bank exploration of how common this James Church, Devizes. We are account, we have held petty cash in sense of the numinous might be and currently using You–Tube: watching a tin. We are in the process of what impact it may have. Some Robin Meyers’ address to a setting up a bank account and would welcomed the opportunity to share progressive church in the US on the be grateful to hear from others as to experiences which had been subject ‘Saving Jesus from the how they manage their money. profound, while others had an Church’. Some of our discussion has In Feb we will consider the last honest reluctance to do so about inevitably reflected the frustrations chapter of ‘Grounded’, by Diana something often beyond of our experience, but we are a Butler Bass. In Mar Dave Tomlinson description. The possibility of resilient and supportive group of is coming to speak to an open physiological causes was also raised people! 19 Reviews Matthew in Your Pocket by Martin Alzheimer’s missing the point in one of his sermons. Shaw, Saunton Press Society is seeking The listener rattled off ‘a seemingly I found this an to raise awareness, endless list of things that were inspirational book to help people happening in the story, background and which led me on better understand hints and meanings, innuendo and an exploration of the condition, and humour, tension and history’ that Rob my life. It is a study encourage us to be was unaware of. He needed to book with a warm understanding of recognise more fully that Jesus was invitation to love, people and carers ‘Jewish, living in a first century Jewish live and pray more who are living with world of politics, economics, common deeply through it. Communities stories and insider jokes.’ He realised accompanying the and businesses are being encouraged to that the more he knew about that author and St become dementia-friendly. world, the more the Bible would come Francis on a pilgrimage. The message is Fay has used her own experience of alive for him. This is the result of his to “come as you are”, to focus on living living with her husband, who has discoveries. your life. “Pilgrimages are about the dementia, as the basis for this book. It He concludes that the Bible is a library present moment, here, now, what’s sheds light on many aspects of the of books about what it is to be human. going on”. This gives a sense of condition, the problems of living with it, Written by people with different immediacy which draws you in. and the fact that a diagnosis isn’t an perspectives grounded in their times It felt is as if he was speaking directly to instant tragedy. It encourages us to live and cultures, showing the development me. He understands the human positively with it. Despite the enormity of human understanding of the divine. condition, and in his dialogues with of the subject, Fay has written the book Rob covers many issues including the Francis he reflects a wide-range of in language accessible to all. I like the violence found in the Old Testament, emotions. They are illuminating and structure and the presentation - the left sacrifice and the Bible’s many often challenging, and always delivered -hand page has a quotation, a Bible inconsistencies. Always, he says, we with boundary breaking compassion. verse, a question or an appropriate must be aware of what is going on Each part is focussed on a passage from piece of information, and the right-hand under the surface and we should always Matthew, followed sequentially. The side has a suggested prayer. ask questions of the story - particularly same structure is used throughout – a The prayers are divided into three we should ask ‘why did the writer feel brief dialogue between Martin and St. sections: for the use of or on behalf of the need to write this?’ What did they Francis, a Gospel extract, then a someone with dementia, for carers, and believe the story revealed about God? reflective piece with a sentence that for family, friends and the community. I often wonder how can I know what it captures the essence of what is being Fay describes situations authentically, is I don’t know - if I don’t know it? He explored, a focus for some quiet time. revealing her deep understanding, and set out to discover all he could about This then leads into an exercise, carrying her practical advice is given in a clear, what he didn’t know about this questions and suggestions as to how to concise way. Her compassion and desire essentially Jewish set of books. ground what you have read, “living the to support those affected, and her If you can cope with his style of writing, humdrum with the best of you”. encouragement to be sensitive, helpful this book is full of real gems that make Although this is designed to be used on and aware towards those actually living the Bible come alive. The reading list at your own, it would lend itself to study with the condition, is evident the end is a bonus - which will certainly groups and as a tool for transformation throughout. I would have found it a very help me to know what it is I don’t know! in spiritual direction. comforting, supportive resource as I Chris Clasper

It carries within it an air of authenticity, cared for my mother some time ago. Exploring Doubt: Landscapes of Loss an honesty which is very engaging. Half of the royalties will be given to and Longing by Alex Wright, DLT He has a light touch but is never light- Alzheimer’s Society. I found this a weight; there is great depth but no Christine Holmes moving and

heaviness. He has the gift of ‘the What is the Bible by Rob Bell, powerful common touch’ in his writing style. William Collins experience of The essence is “Inspiration to help the In many ways this listening and Reader integrate life as it is, and is an easy book to thinking. existence as it is, with God who is.” This read, the tone is This is a personal is immensely helpful. conversational - and beautifully Jenny Penson account of his perhaps overly so. Prayers for Dementia and how to live But I did find the journey through well with it by Fay Sampson, DLT frequent bracketed loss and As more people live longer, an jocular asides uncertainty. Facing the breakdown of increasing number are being diagnosed irritating. In spite his marriage and all that entailed, Alex with dementia. Most of us will know of this I learnt a embarks upon a journey. The steps are individuals or families whose lives have lot. his chapter headings: Certainty, Doubt, been affected by such a diagnosis. A It is the result of Rob being challenged Endurance, Revival and Return. The nationwide campaign run by the by a Jewish listener who thought he was journey is a raw and a powerful one. 20 We know and experience that doubt, for the survival of said, because all that is now past its sell not just in God but in the meaning and the Church there is by date – nor by jazzing up the old value of life, is likely to accompany loss. a desperate need paradigm in a new suit of clothes. There is a rush to return to ‘certainty’. for a new I find it to be unhelpful, but in saying Our world has been rocked and we seek paradigm. that I in no way wish to deny the a stable base on which to stand. Having said that experiences of those who will find For many people of faith the certainty there are aspects Roberts and his Fresh Expressions of religious belief provides the answer. of the book that I approach helpful and encouraging. We This is the key to life and to and life find helpful and all need to work together to build the eternal. However, in making certainty with which I do not community of God whatever direction override questioning and doubt, he have fundamental we approach it from. argues, is to miss the point. Doubt and disagreement. For example, p19, I agree For all these reasons, and many more, I questioning, especially at times of with the comment “disciple” being cannot commend this book for serious challenge and sadness, are powerful about learning as we follow, but I have a reading by progressive Christians. tools for learning and for living. very different understanding to “I John Churcher

In exploring his experience of separation cannot claim to be a disciple of Jesus if I Unbelievable by John Shelby Spong, and divorce he challenges himself, and read all the books, know all the theory HarperOne those he calls ‘Certaintists’ - atheist or but do not actively claim to be a disciple Following his unquestioning believer, to open their of...” Roberts accepts this without stroke in 2016 this minds and hearts. In particular he question as meaning the post-Easter is Spong’s final addresses believers or seekers who look Christ of the Church, when I mean book, and what an for meaning in and beyond daily life. following and learning from the pre- achievement it is. The starting point is a divorce, but that Easter Jesus. A brief review can is not its main focus. The landscape, Also, I agree with his interpretation of only give a taste; which plays a big part in the reflections, the historical context of the writers of this is the book for is Norfolk - and it could be any the Christian Testament, but I fail to 2018! landscape of meaning to any seeker. understand how he can ignore the Spong recognises He quotes extensively from a range of hundreds of other gospels, letters, that Luther’s poets and writers, past and present, as apocalypses written pre-385 CE. Roberts theses led to changes in the form of he seeks to crystalize his thinking. He ignores all of this wealth of historically religion and he offers 12 more leads us to a place of mystery, valued in important contextual material. comprehensive ones. They provide his some religious traditions, but so often For me there is a very important point understanding of: God, Jesus and his rejected in simplistic ‘Bible-based’ made by Roberts: “A challenge to birth, sin, miracles, atonement, Easter Christianity. Just as atheists, in Wright’s rediscover a healthy sense of passion and Ascension, ethics, prayer, life after view, miss the point so do the religious and adventure in responding to Jesus’ death and universalism. literalists. In seeking simple certainty, call to follow....” Which I find in my In his first thesis, the most substantial, the hard-line believer sits in a understanding and on-going he is most innovative. He sets out the dangerous place of closed-minded experiences of the pre-Easter Jesus. changing understanding of theism and certainty and lives with a conviction that Roberts offers an unquestioning his quest for a new form and definition there is a ‘Truth’ and that others need acceptance of words of belief that lead of God. He is clear that all definitions to learn it. Wright tells us: ‘The capacity to action, when I am coming from the are ‘human creations’ rather than to doubt implies the capacity to believe, opposite direction in that action is ‘divine revelation’, we experience but just as the capacity to believe suggests following the Way of Jesus. Roberts cannot explain God. Humanity is ‘bound the capacity to question.’ assumes that the four Gospels are ‘true’ together and part of something greater From a personal tragedy and loss, because there are many similar than any of us can be’. Attention is given though engagement with a changing accounts, without acknowledging the to Jewish concepts and he suggests God landscape of nature and the human research into source material. Roberts is not a category of existence but ‘Being heart Alex gives us a powerful and also largely ignores the political, social, itself’ where time and space exist. beautiful vision for a life and faith which economic, religious contexts of the The following sections cover less not only allows but celebrates questions writings of each of the synoptic Gospels. ground. For Spong Jesus’ incarnation and doubts and which welcomes He also ignores the differences / means ‘the human became the vehicle mystery and ambiguity. contradictions between the synoptics through which the divine … was met’. Christine King that reflect the places and events in His summary of Christology becomes a Holy Habits by Andrew Roberts, which each Gospel was written. mantra through successive chapters: Malcolm Down Publishing I know from where Roberts is coming, Jesus is ‘the life of God calling us to live I do not dismiss this book entirely, but the old paradigm represented by fully, the love of God freeing us to love because it has reminded me of all the Roberts is killing the Church, and most wastefully, and the being of God giving reasons I started a journey based upon churches are now simply keeping the us the courage to be all that we can be’. the pre-Easter Jesus of Nazareth rather cemetery warm. I know that there are Spong suggests it was Christian than the post-Easter creation, the Christ exceptions [Cathedrals and evangelical misunderstanding of Jewish forms that of the Church. Much of the book is charismatic churches] that are bucking led to the widespread ‘destructive quoting from other writers of a similar the trend regarding church attendance, theology of the atonement’. The great old paradigm ilk, and anecdotes from but the collapse in church affiliation and commission is then reinterpreted, less Roberts’ own faith journey. However, membership will not be arrested by convincingly, as a call to go beyond continuing to say what we have always 21 personal boundaries. Positively prayer is are banal or seem forced, such as “Dear Church ...” expressing his love for the practice of God’s presence with us, Princess Diana’s desire to be ‘queen of the Church and his grief at the way it leading to transcendence. hearts’, but a few are more thought treats him and others like him. The penultimate thesis about the provoking. It could be an occasional There is some good theological afterlife shows some development in his source for starters for a prayer or reflection and biblical exposition which thinking. His experience affirms how sermon but progressives will find the might help some people to think about human beings pass on healing love to predominant fundamentalism difficult. the issue in general, but my feeling is others. He now offers ‘a new Peter Varney that this could well have been left out.

perspective on eternity’ and follows Our Witness, edited by Personal, honest testimony has a far Jung into a collective unconscious Brandan Robertson, DLT better chance of influencing people’s where eternal life is ‘a dimension of Some years ago, I thinking than any argument, and this transcendent reality and infinite love’. heard a talk at book contains many fascinating and May we welcome Spong’s conclusion Greenbelt by John moving examples of it. ‘there is something real which draws me Ray Vincent Bell who in his own beyond myself’. The Christian life is ‘a brilliant and witty Finding a Way Ahead by Angela Harper, journey into the mystery of God’. We way, demolished John Hunt Publications are called ‘to live fully, love wastefully all the biblical and Angela studied and be all [we] can be’. theological theology in Peter Varney arguments against Spurgeon’s Towards Jerusalem by Steve Brady, homosexuality. I College and has BRF 2018 Lent book was so impressed served in two Steve is principal by it that I bought the recording. I chaplaincies, of Moorlands played it to a gay friend who, to my although she does College, and an surprise, reacted negatively. He not say where or evangelical. I was questioned what was the point of all what role she had. disappointed that this argument about the Bible, Christian She says she has whereas the title is tradition and so on. His believed that ‘written a faith treated the best thing for a gay person to do is connected, devotional, self-help, metaphorically – simply say “This is me, this is my story; if motivational and inspirational book, so that there is you don’t like it, that’s your problem”. helping people to hold on to coping little about the Much as I admire John Bell and enjoy strategies and to their faith while physical listening to him, my friend had a point. encountering hard times, illness and topography of Jerusalem – the biblical Our Witness broadly takes this approach loss.’ A bold claim. texts are treated literally. His summary and includes short articles by 24 very The book has ten short chapters, each of atonement theology, ‘a ransom has different people. The introduction tells averaging 10 pages, with headings such been provided and paid’, will colour something of Brandan’s own dramatic as ‘Caring for You’, ‘Our Inner Wounds’, how we receive his other views. There is and moving story. Stating that Christians ‘Your Future with God’ and so forth. unquestioning reference to Sarah’s 127 have always been a people of story and There are copious extracts from The and Jacob’s 130 years, and no attempt testimony, expressing the hope that we Message and extended reflections upon to acknowledge hyperbole and will find courage, reassurance or passages which serve to help each exaggeration in the Hebrew. Similarly, challenge in the ‘authentic, raw stories particular spiritual condition. he refers to the ‘slightly different ways of LGBT+ Christians’. I was hoping to find insights and the four [gospel] writers tell the story’, There is a rich variety of contributors of contextual examples of illness and ignoring the quite fundamental different religious traditions from coping strategies borne out of her differences of place and time. He Roman Catholic to Jehovah’s Witnesses, experience as a chaplain. Instead I soon declares the text insists the ascension and of ages ranging from well-known realized that I was reading a devotional involved sight, so no other veterans of the struggle like Bernárd book, pleasing to those with a understanding is possible. There are Lynch to the 25-year-old Ryan conservative evangelical approach. occasional challenges, for example, to Macmillan who describes the deep Throughout she presents us with a God the prosperity gospel and more sense of shame with which he grew up who ‘always has the final word’, where obliquely to justification by grace. as a Methodist in Northern Ireland, illness and suffering are somehow There is no exploration of spirituality, no reminding us that for many young serving God’s purpose, where Jesus is attempt to suggest contemplation might people today it is just as bad as it was always accompanying us and whatever have a place, as the reader is invited to for those of earlier generations. happens ‘God is on the case’. make this Lenten journey. Instead Brady There is variety too in the kind of The preface and principal endorsement considers the organisation of church expression the contributors use. Lauren comes from Canon Michael Cole, Editor congregations, criticising those who Ileana Sotolongo’s contribution is more of Living Light Bible Reflections, dilute their message to the prevailing like a poem, reflecting on her Nationwide Christian Trust. That stable culture. There are some practical relationship with the members of her of conservative religion would find few passages on prayer, but they start by family who love her but cannot accept enthusiasts amongst us. The whole criticising ‘spirituality that is strong on what she is. “The foundation of our ethos is to bring comfort to those who meditation but weak on supplication’. family is firm”, she says, “set and dried find security in the words of scripture Each day’s refection begins with an in cement. I am a crack in the cement”. and an uncomplicated trust in God’s anecdote or short story. Sadly, some Brandan Robertson writes a letter: redeeming purposes. As such I am sure 22 the book will be of benefit to many but particularly interested in discussing the she explained that she wanted the not for this particular reviewer. None of kind of challenges which PCN members images to speak for themselves. She the most demanding and complex pose to the Church, i.e. a thorough thought my reaction, to search out questions of illness and suffering are assault on so much of the unbelievable more information, was a good result as addressed here, nor are the more taxing doctrines of the Church. I get the it made me an active reader rather than theological issues which arise. impression that the authors prefer being spoon-fed. Adrian Alker highlighting the comical absurdities and Many of the images do indeed speak for

That Was The Church That Was by hoping for a return to a comfortable themselves, such as the sign on a wire Andrew Brown and Linda Woodhead, 1960’s liberalism, than a thorough fence which reads ‘We refuse to be Bloomsbury radical re-examination of the whole of enemies’, or the contrast between a The sub-title is the God business. photo of Susya Jewish Settlement and ‘How the Church ‘That was the week that was – it’s over one of Susya Palestinian village. As with of England Lost the let it go’, was the lyric – should the the paintings, she has linked Biblical English People’, same be said of the Church or is it messages to many of her photos. For but the title is a redeemable? example, a photo of a young Israeli Adrian Alker soldier with his automatic weapon is clear reference to the 1960’s TV Jesus by Joanna Brown, with paintings linked to a saying loosely derived from a political satire by Nebiyu Assefa, Jozart Press combination of Luke 22.49-53 and John ‘That Was the This is an image 18.36: “My kingdom is not of this world: Week That Was’, led book with few otherwise my followers would use hosted by David words. We are swords”. She has been creative with her Frost. And indeed, this journalistic–led given 17 scenes quotes, in good Biblical tradition. account of the demise of the Church of from the life and Having complained about the lack of England has more in common with the death of Jesus information, I should point out that naughtiness of the Frost approach than painted by the there is a particularly useful resource at serious ecclesiological analysis. Ethiopian Artist, the back - a list of organisations working Brown, Church Times and Guardian Nebiyu Assefa, for peace and justice in Palestine along columnist, has clearly enjoyed each accompanied with their web sites. recounting the tittle tattle and a short sentence Another admirable fact about this book ecclesiastical gossip which frames the drawn from the Bible. The paintings are is that such words as do appear are in book’s account of the CofE from those in vivid colours reflecting the baked Hebrew, Arabic and English. This must 1960s liberal days through the Runcie, earth of a hot land. surely add to peace efforts in the Carey, Williams and Welby years. There Interspersed among these images are Middle East as it can reach an audience are chapters examining the gay debate, over thirty monochrome photographs of on all sides of the conflict. For us womens’ emancipation in the Church, Palestinians and Israelis, many taken in progressive Christians it breaks no the charismatic revival, with Toronto the occupied West Bank, but also in ground theologically, taking a fairly Blessing, the Anglican Communion and Nazareth and Jerusalem. It is almost traditional line on the Biblical narrative. the unforgettable 1998 Lambeth pocket sized and I wished it was bigger But it is the kind of book one might risk Conference and much more. In some so I could relish the images more. giving to an evangelical, pro-Israeli ways it does seem strange that Joanna is a fine art graduate. She has friend in the hope of encouraging a Woodhead, a respected academic, has made several journeys around the “Holy more balanced approach to the plight of chosen to co-author but she does add Land”, once as a member of a peace the Palestinians. That is something I feel some sociological meat, alongside her delegation. Her preface makes clear passionately about. But to get the full own digs at the establishment. that the subjects of her photos include message of the book, it helps to have I am unsure who would enjoy the book. special people who have demonstrated your favourite search engine at hand. Certainly Anglican clergy like myself, sad kindness, forgiveness, perseverance and Andy Vivian readers of the Church Times, and those hope in the pursuit of peace. But with familiar with the stories of intrigue and three exceptions, we are told nothing of plot might find it a good read. But those the story of these individuals and their who require serious study of why the families. The subjects include CofE is in such a perilous state would do Mordechai Vanunu who leaked secrets better to read Woodhead’s research or about Israel’s nuclear arsenal and who, indeed her former husband, Alan despite having served a long jail Billings’ recent books on the church and sentence, is still not permitted to join its need to recapture the hearts of the his wife in Norway. However, none of English by returning to its sensible this is explained in the book. There is a approach to pastoral care. section at the back which lists the Only at the very end do the authors names of those photographed, and with (presumably Woodhead) really mention the help of a search engine I have the theological failures of the Church discovered the nature of their ‘kindness, and hint at the possible reason why forgiveness, perseverance and hope’ many belong to the Church Alumni and wonderful stories they are. It is a Association, to quote Jack Spong. shame they are not told in this book. Neither Brown nor Woodhead seem When I challenged Joanna about this https://thehereticmovie.com

Singing Hymns Again For the First Time!

Saturday 17th March

St Andrew and St George United Reformed Church, Bolton BL1 2BS

Under the musical direction of Andy Thomas and Ann Padget Cost: Free Tired of some of the outmoded hymns with their dubious theology? Unimpressed with some of the happy-clappy songs on offer? You enjoy a good tune and an inspirational hymn? Well this day is for you! The day starts with PCN’s annual meeting.

Sarah Guilfoyle: 01594 516528 [email protected]

Available from Chris Avis at 37 Clifton Road, Exeter, Devon, EX1 2BN. Cheques payable to C. Avis. A blog for students, by students, on the ups Or order via Paypal using [email protected] for and downs of being a Christian at university. your payment (no Paypal account needed). https://thechristianstudentguide.com