Ekklesia | Columns | The Jonathan Bartley Column

Banking on the NHS

Jonathan Bartley — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:56:06 +0100

The bailout of the banks has left old assumptions about public finances behind. It's time to decide what our priorities are and look around for the money to fund them, says Jonathan Bartley

Churches and the rejuvenating of democracy

Jonathan Bartley — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:46:36 +0100

Churches could have a vital role to play in rejuvenating democracy, says Jonathan Bartley. But it needs to be through a faith-engagement with politics based on openness and change.

Christian values in schooling means ending discrimination

Jonathan Bartley — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:33:47 +0100

The Church of England has at last set out what is means by a "Christian ethos" in schooling, says Jonathan Bartley. Its espoused values are very positive. So now is the time to end discrimination in schools run by the church but funded by the general taxpayer.

A challenge to the church's integrity

Jonathan Bartley — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:41:25 +0100

Some Church of England leaders are complaining that others are stealing their opinion space in the media, says Jonathan Bartley. The answer is to act with integrity, rather than to demand attention.

Responding to the BNP over 'What Would Jesus Do?'

Jonathan Bartley — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:17:04 +0100

Given all the previous pronouncements about the BNP, why did the Archbishop of York and the Church of England refuse to answer the BNP when it asked what Jesus would do, asks Jonathan Bartley

We need mediators not agitators

Jonathan Bartley — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:47:27 +0000

Some Christians are crying 'persecution' when conflicts over belief arise in public life, says Jonathan Bartley. The way to halt this juggernaut of paranoia is to bring a lot more mediatory light, and far less antagonistic heat to the situations involved.

Hearing what children are saying

Jonathan Bartley — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:47:57 +0000

The whole point of the Children Society’s latest project was to hear what children were saying and to give them a voice, says Jonathan Bartley. But the world of adult decision-making does not really want to know.

We need a different way of doing politics

Jonathan Bartley — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:01:51 +0000

Following Obama's advent, there has been debate about whether Britain might one day get a black Prime Minister, says Jonathan Bartley. A better question is whether we will ever be able to make our political system truly representative

The politics of Thought for the Day

Jonathan Bartley — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:29:59 +0000

Former presenter of Thought for the Day Jonathan Bartley lifts the lid on the politics behind Radio 4's prime time slot

Subvertising (not advertising) on the buses

Jonathan Bartley — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:35:49 +0000

The Christian response to the atheist bus campaign makes faith into a commodity says Jonathan Bartley

Christmas means compassion not crusading

Jonathan Bartley — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:59:34 +0000

Those who 'crusade for Christmas' will end up losing the very festival they would defend, says Jonathan Bartley, because they miss its true meaning.

The default politics of Remembrance

Jonathan Bartley — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:30:22 +0000

This Sunday 9 November, churches up and down the country will make a political statement which will be widely covered across print and broadcast media, says Jonathan Bartley. But it is likely to pass without so much as a murmur of criticism.

Forward to church - not back

Jonathan Bartley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:54:51 +0100

Much church self-promotion misses the point, says Jonathan Bartley. the church to which church-leavers return must be different from the one they left. In other words, the solution is moving forward, not going back.

Why we need a prince of Peace

Jonathan Bartley — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:46:06 +0100

Why Prince William should carve out a new role for himself as peacemaker. As the recent focus on the growing death toll in Afghanistan brings into sharp relief, the best way to honour those affected by the disfigurement, maiming and killing which accompanies all wars, is not to glamorise those who do it.

Are Christians facing discrimination?

Jonathan Bartley — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:42:43 +0100

Constant Christian claims of discrimination don't hold water, says Jonathan Bartley. They are used to excuse privilege, and evade the more demanding self-giving dynamic of the Gospel.