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John Churcher profile »
Rev John Churcher is an ordained Methodist Minister now operating 'Permission to Speak', a full time international internet pastoral and teaching ministry to those on the edge of Church life and those who have left the Church but who wish to follow a Jesus-based spirituality. He also works with those of other faith communities. John preaches, delivers seminars and workshops, writes articles and books. O Books published his 'Setting Jesus Free' in December 2009 and he is now working on a follow up book for publication in mid-2011. In 2008 he did a preaching / seminar tour in USA and Canada, and will return for an extended preaching / seminar tour in 2010 which will include being a Theologian in Residence in Boulder, Colorado. He will also be visiting and speaking in India later in 2010. John is the current Chair of the Progressive Christianity Network - Britain.
Posted at 12:00am Wednesday 14th March 2012
Posted at 12:00am Monday 13th February 2012
Two friends hiking...
Two lifelong friends were hiking through the Lake District. Maybe it was the scorching heat because, unusually, an argument broke out over some now long ago pettiness.
Posted at 12:00am Wednesday 8th February 2012
It’s now your call just as it is in mine….
The wisdom teaching and life style of Jesus was that God’s Kingdom was not a matter of future time or geographic location, but it was a realisation of the God within. Right at the beginning of his ministry, in the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus set down his marker – one that would lead him on a journey not only to the cross but that also would split later Christians and their churches even to this present day – is it possible for Christians to be involved in politics?
Posted at 12:00am Wednesday 28th September 2011
Posted at 10:17pm Wednesday 27th July 2011
It's never too late
Recently at our Church we’ve had a preaching series on the Apostle Peter, entitled: ‘Peter – a man like us’. Why like us? I recall in Italy, having seen both the painting of the Last Supper and the statues of the Disciples on the roof of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, when climbing the dome.
Posted at 4:22pm Friday 25th February 2011
Christianity and Politics
Our attitude towards money is a window into the soul. How we use our wealth is a fundamental component of our spiritual life. There are those who say that the pulpit and politics should never meet. In reply I quote Archbishop Desmond Tutu, “I don’t know which Bible you are reading.” With this in mind I am greatly concerned with the Prime Minister's recent statements that public services are to be put out to tender. Evidence over the past 15 years demonstrates that contracting out is not necessarily value for money: consider the London Underground and PFI failures in schools and road building. But my greatest concern is the policy impact upon democracy. If services are contracted out, nothing will be changed at election times. If I and sufficient others decide that we do not like the way in which the Government, local or national, or our elected representatives are performing, we can vote them out of office. But a public service contract with a business or charity will outlast any democratic election regardless of how badly such a contract is being carried out. Businesses have a primary concern for shareholder value: profit before the needs of the people supposedly served by the contract holders. At a time when democracy is being sought and fought for across the Arab world, we who are followers of Jesus have a responsibility to speak out on behalf of all who will be adversely impacted upon by such undemocratic 'out to tender' ideology.
Posted at 2:57pm Friday 26th November 2010
To follow Jesus is not...
“We do not need to think alike in order to love alike.” [Ferenc David, 1510-1579]
Posted at 5:39pm Monday 20th September 2010
Deeds not words
To follow Jesus is not so much concerned with ‘right belief’ as it is about what one does and how one lives. Jesus accepted people as they were and gave the outsider and the rejected both dignity and personal worth.
Posted at 9:32pm Monday 19th July 2010
Politicians make mistakes
Since 1992 I have had the privilege to travel regularly to former Soviet countries. Recently I have been trawling my archives of stories and rediscovered this one from Ukraine. It is very appropriate to the situation in our post-election Britain.
Posted at 6:27am Tuesday 16th March 2010
It's time to change
The politicians tell us that it is time for change but the Church continues to ladle guilt like treacle on a spoon:
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