Useful theology from a Quaker-shaped Christian
'If we have come to Quakers for a quiet life, then the only sort of community we will find is a pretend one.' I've written a piece about the joys and challenges of being a faith community on the Woodbrooke blog. I think it's rather good! You can read it here. [Featured image by jean… Continue reading The cost of the ‘Blessed Community’
Every now and again I encounter a book that gives me such a jolt it demands to be talked about. I've just finished James Cone's 'A Black Theology of Liberation', first published in 1970, and it has stirred me up. I found it both exciting and disturbing, and I need to process what I've read.… Continue reading James Cone’s ‘A Black Theology of Liberation’ and white liberal Quakerism
In my work around issues of race and whiteness with Quakers, it’s not uncommon to hear white people express an overwhelming feeling of guilt. Learning about whiteness – discovering your nation’s history of colonialism, realising how you’ve benefitted from the privileges of whiteness , remembering the times you didn’t challenge a racist comment, facing your… Continue reading Setting aside white guilt
Living hopefully has never been more important. I say hopefully rather than optimistically. Optimism speaks to me of a bland sense that everything will be fine; an assumption that because things been alright for you in the past, things will continue to be ok; wishful thinking with no strong foundation. Hope, on the other hand,… Continue reading Living a truly hopeful story
I've written a short piece for the Woodbrooke blog on whether Quakers need to choose between mysticism or activism. You can read it here.
In May 2019, the annual Swarthmore Lecture was given by Eden Grace, a member of New England Yearly Meeting and Director of Global Ministries for Friends United Meeting (FUM). Eden’s lecture was entitled ‘On earth as it is in heaven: The Kingdom of God and the yearning of creation.’ I’m blogging my reflections on the lecture, chapter by… Continue reading Reading the 2019 Swarthmore Lecture – Ch 4 & 6: Now is the cool of the day
Within the British Quaker community, a painful conversation/debate/conflict (depending on your viewpoint) centred on the inclusion of trans and non-binary people is increasingly rising to the surface. As I see it, a big part of the disagreement is where we start from. I have recently heard some Quakers speak from a starting point of the… Continue reading Thank God for my trans Friends
I never know quite what to do with New Year. I love the Advent season of preparation (I generally read something from the Hebrew Scriptures, this time it was Ezekiel) and get all excited about Christmas, and then New Year muscles in and steals its thunder. There's something about New Year I always find anticlimactic,… Continue reading Thank you to my readers
I've written an article about how I, as a Quaker-shaped Christian, approach being in community with nontheists. It's been published in The Friend, and it's free to read. Do check it out! You can read it here.
In May 2019, the annual Swarthmore Lecture was given by Eden Grace, a member of New England Yearly Meeting and Director of Global Ministries for Friends United Meeting (FUM). Eden’s lecture was entitled ‘On earth as it is in heaven: The Kingdom of God and the yearning of creation.’ I’m blogging my reflections on the lecture, chapter by… Continue reading Reading the 2019 Swarthmore Lecture – Ch 3: Beginning, end, and new beginning
Jolly Quaker 