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Religion and Society

  • 31 Oct 2006
    Religion and Society

    Much of Ekklesia’s media work is in the area of the relationship between religion and society. In 2006, Ekklesia’s director Jonathan Bartley published the book; “Faith and Politics After Christ

  • 23 May 2013
    Does the Kirk need to be constitutionally enshrined?

    The 2013 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has voted for what is effectively “establishment by the back door” in any new constitutional arrangements for an independent Scotland, says lawyer and commentator Carla J Roth. She questions whether this is helpful or appropriate either for the church or for the nation.

  • 23 May 2013
    Fraternity, propaganda and transformation: thinking about 'welfare'

    The government is using many of the clasic tools of propaganda to influence our thinking about 'welfare' and those who receive it, says Jill Segger. She argues that we need to turn again to the real meaning of Jesus' transformative relationships with the despised.

  • 23 May 2013
    Welfare and benefit reform justice forum held in Oxford

    A Justice Forum on welfare and benefit reform, the first of a series organised by the Diocese of Oxford,took place today (23 May) at the Wesley Memorial Church in Oxford.

  • 23 May 2013
    Ekklesia daily e-briefing resumes

    We are pleased to announce that as of yesterday, 22 May 2013, Ekklesia's daily e-mail briefing service (covering news, events and comment) has resumed.

  • 22 May 2013
    Kirk pushes forward 'Go For It' community innovation fund

    The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has been urged to help people ‘Go For It’ through its recently launched community innovation fund.

  • 21 May 2013
    Only communicate: how the church addresses the world (or not)

    Given that the Church of Scotland, like all major Christian denominations, conducts a good chunk of its internal business in public these days (with the boundary between what is 'internal' and what is 'external' increasingly stretched), media and communications can no longer be thought of - if it ever could - as a specialist function alone.

  • 21 May 2013
    Church 'issues' are about people, not abstract ideas

    Ask anyone reporting or commenting on the 2013 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and they will tell you that proceedings this year are being dominated by two 'issues': the reception, or otherwise, of same-sex persons in the life and ministry of the Kirk; and later this week 'The inheritance of Abraham: A report on the promised land' (which has provoked a substantial preemptive assault by the pro-Israeli government lobby, on account of its advocacy of justice for Palestinians and Jews alike).

  • 21 May 2013
    Kirk opens a door it will be very difficult to close again

    The Church of Scotland vote to allow civil partnered gay and lesbian ministers, despite no change in the official teaching on sexuality, shows that the drift towards accepting gay people in the Kirk is continuing, says Simon Barrow. Indeed, while seeking pastoral sensitivity towards their opponents, the advocates of change believe that full inclusion is now inevitable.

  • 21 May 2013
    Church of Scotland votes to allow partnered gay and lesbian ministers

    The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has voted to permit an individual Kirk Session to call a minister in a civil partnership if it so chooses.