Simon Says ...

A Sermon for the Feast of the Hallowing of Derby Cathedral Jeremiah 7.1-11 ; Luke 19.1-10 Nothing befits the solemn festivities of the feast of the Hallowing of Derby Cathedral more than a quotation from one of the foremost theologians of our age.   So let me share this as a theological gift to mark this feast: “I may not know much about God, but we built a pretty nice cage for him”.   “I may not know much about God, but we built a pretty nice cage for him”. The theologian, for those who did not spot it, is Homer Simpson, patriarch and star of the long running animated family saga The Simpsons .   In one episode, Homer becomes a missionary in the South Pacific, and builds a chapel for the natives.   As the final piece of the chapel is put into its place, Homer says “I may not know much about God, but we built a pretty nice cage for him”. Jeremiah would, I think, have recognised the satire behind Homer Simpson’s theology. ...

Synod began, more or less, in silence as we remembered the 21 Coptic Christians martyred in Libya for their Christian faith on the anniversary of their death.   An important moment.   There was little silence thereafter, as we moved into the normal pattern of debates and presentations.   February was a relatively short Synod, across three days.   It was the first meeting of the newly elected Synod other than the short gathering for its inauguration last November.   This means that there were lots of maiden speeches, lots of new voices to listen to. It means that we the newly elected Prolocutors of Canterbury and York (the chairs of the House of Clergy) and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the House of Laity were presented to us.   It feels like the new Synod is still being run in. Business started with the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Presidential Address .   This was mostly about the Primate’s meeting, and was clear and helpful.   He spoke of...

This is my initial response to the Report of the Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life .   There’s been a lot of fuss about it (though if it really is the worst report that Ruth Gledhill has ever read , it suggests she hasn’t been paying attention to the General Synod very well). Let’s start with the positives: 1.      It is good that this is being talked about seriously on the public stage.   Religion is going to be an important part of the life of the whole world, including Britain, in the coming decades. 2.      The emphasis on religious literacy is hugely important and welcome.   We need to be able to distinguish between different traditions within religions.   Put very simply, the current situation in the Middle East is incomprehensible if you only have one category for Muslim. 3.      Placing religion and belief at the heart of a national conver...