The Church of England have today issued their formal response to the government’s consultation on same-sex marriage. They had a great opportunity to acknowledge the diversity of views within their own ranks and to move on from the defensive tone that characterises so many Christian contributions to debates over sexuality. It is an opportunity that they have completely missed.

Last-minute changes have complicated the Church of England’s slow progress towards allowing women to be bishops, says Savi Hensman. Attempts to placate opponents are unhelpfully stalling the process further.

The Bible says more about money than about almost any other ethical issue. In a world where critics of capitalism are described as "unrealistic", Christians can point to a greater reality than the dominant values of our own time and culture. We can recognise that capitalism depends on faith in the idols of money and markets.

Simon Barrow's speech on the need for an official government media inquiry, made to the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), meeting in Inverness from 23-25 April 2012. See notes and NUJ resolution below the text for further details.

At present the symbolism of the Royal Maundy service in York ritualises economic inequality, the subservience of the Church to the Crown, and the sanctification of an unjust order, says Simon Barrow. Maybe a ritual re-ordering of it could help remind Christians, and the Established church, that we are called to oppose injustice and who who "act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus" (Acts 17.7)?

The God whom Christians worship is no stranger to suffering and defeat, says Savi Hensman. The cross is at the heart of the faith, with all its richness of meaning, including the divine willingness to engage at the deepest level with a flawed and broken world, for love’s sake to confront the forces of death and destruction and pay the price.

Rowan Williams' archbishopric was and is far from perfect, says Simon Barrow. Of course. But if we too readily dismiss the attempts of humane, spiritual and thoughtful people like Dr Williams to point out that our difficulties are not just about someone else’s blockheadedness, we may be nearer the idiocratic realm and further from the hoped-for realm of God and of reason than we think.