Category - scripture

Listening and learning in the sexuality debate

Savi Hensman — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:15:38 +0000

As part of the 'listening process' in the Anglican Communion over the extensive disagreements about human sexuality, Ekklesia associate Savitri Hensman has prepared a paper on Learning, Listening, Scripture and Sexuality which seeks both to take the conversation forward and to affirm the role of lesbian and gay Christians as active and baptised members in the church, in accordance with a faithful and interpretatively sensitive reading of its the texts and tradition.

Savi Hensman

Binding the church and constraining God

Savi Hensman — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:40:17 +0000

In a paper carefully analysing the popular use and misuse of biblical and doctrinal language about God and Church, Savitri Hensman shows that inflexible, one-sided, naïve or ideological conceptions of God in sections of the Christian tradition can reinforce domineering models and practices in the Church – which is in fact supposed to be a creative vehicle of Jesus’ broken body in the world, not a defensive fortress. God is not confined by rules set by humans and our institutions, she argues, however powerful they may be by earthly standards. In the biblical tradition, God is at work outside as well as within institutions, including those that claim to be about God’s business. Liberation, reformation and healing will continue to happen even if, at first, they are not acknowledged by the authorities (ecclesial and otherwise); and in time truth will break through our illusions. This paper is highly relevant to issues being discussed in and beyond Anglicanism, concerning its disputed future, and in other sections of the worldwide Church. It makes specific reference to the debate about an Anglican Covenant in the run-up to the Lambeth Conference 2008. It may also give those outside the Church a better understanding of how language and tradition is being applied and misapplied within very diverse Christian communities during a time of considerable upheaval and anxiety, both inside and outside the Church.

Savi Hensman

Leading Evangelical bishop calls for fresh approach to sexuality row

staff writers — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:35:29 +0000

Bishop of Liverpool James Jones has called for a change of heart among Evangelicals in the bitter argument about sexuality, Scripture and authority. But he has not fully sanctioned same-sex relations, as some media reports have suggested.

William Blake liberates the Bible for the people

Christopher Rowland — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:22:49 +0000

William break was an imaginative and liberating exegete of the text of Scripture, says Chris Rowland. He did not make a god out of Bible and he defied those who misused it for oppression, heralding instead a Sprit-driven people's theology.

Struggle, surprise and sainthood

Simon Barrow — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:58:07 +0000

Christian faith is about sustaining faith in face of the knowledge and reality of death, says Simon Barrow. The feasts of All Saints and All Souls put us in solidarity with a host of people who have struggled to see right prevail.

Pastor shows bottle in spreading his message litter-ally

staff writers — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:00:03 +0000

A church minister in Norfolk is facing a possible fine for dropping litter after he put Scriptural messages into bottles and threw them into the sea in an attempt to spread the gospel to the corners of the earth - or at least, other bits of Europe.

Making Manga out of the Bible

Deirdre J. Good — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:32:43 +0000

Manga Bible fever is hitting the shops this month. New Testament professor Deirdre Good explores the cultural and interpretative values involved, particularly in relation to the presentation of 'family'.

Tragedy and scripture

Simon Barrow — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 04:50:09 +0000

Both fundamentalist believers and hardline anti-theists say that the Bible is a declaration of dogma that must either be accepted or rejected wholesale.

Religious leaders urged to combat gender-based violence in Africa

Ecumenical News International — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:15:06 +0100

African religious leaders have heard that gender-based violence is increasingly becoming a weapon of war in the continent's trouble spots, with some saying sacred scriptures are being used to justify violence in general.

Re-writing History: the Episcopal Church struggle

Savi Hensman — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:18:35 +0100

In the global intra-Anglican 'wars' about sexuality, biblical interpretation, authority and church polity, The Episcopal Church (TEC) in the USA has been singled out from other Anglican provinces and subjected to harsh criticism and threats of expulsion. Why is this? What are the underlying issues about the use of Scripture and other questions which explain why TEC is such a bone of contention? Can Christians learn to handle differences in more creative ways which honour the life-giving Gospel message they are supposed to exemplify?

You can read a new report and analysis from Ekklesia associate Savitri Hensman in *.PDF form here

A nine point summary is given below.

Savi Hensman