Partners’ Bulletin: December 2015

• Sexuality, Struggle and Saintliness
• The Upside-Down Bible,
• The Commission into Religion and Public Life,
• Annual Appeal,
• Other ways you can help Ekklesia

‘Sexuality, Struggle and Saintliness: Same-Sex Love and the Church’ by Savitri Hensman

Our first Ekklesia book is now in production and will be available by the end of December. Please contact the office if you would like to order a copy by emailing [email protected]. The book will be officially launched at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, on the 5^th January 2015, 7.15pm-8.45pm. All welcome.  

‘The Upside Down Bible’ by Symon Hill

This challenging new book from Ekklesia associate Symon Hill takes familiar Bible stories and asks non-Christians for a response. The results are unexpected, surprising and of great benefit to Christians wanting to look at the Bible in a fresh and challenging way. We are delighted to be hosting a leg of Symon’s book tour at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church on 20^th January 2015, from 7.15-8.45pm. There will be special pre-drinks for Ekklesia partners from 6.30pm-7.15pm. Please email the office, [email protected] if you would like to come.

The Commission into Religion and Public Life

There has been considerable media publicity attention to the Woolf Institute proposals, fronted by Baroness Butler-Sloss. Several Ekklesia friends are cited in the report, which addresses issues we have been tackling for some years, including reform of the faith schools, collective worship in schools, second chamber revision, and more. We will be responding further as part of the ongoing debate, and highlighting some crucial features of the post-Christendom context which continue to be overlooked or bypassed.

Christmas Appeal 2015.

This year’s Christmas Appeal is on the theme ‘Make Room at the Inn’. Our focus in 2015 is the huge numbers of people displaced and on the move both at home and abroad, for whom there will be no room at the inn. Whether it is refugees fleeing wars in Syria and Iraq, families forced to move due to the benefit cap, or disabled people unable to afford the bedroom tax. You can find out more here . We really appreciate all the support you give us throughout the year. If you are able to offer us a little more to help us reach our funding target of £5,000, we would be immensely grateful. Our Paypal form is here.

Other ways you can help Ekklesia

Advertise with us: If you have a book or event to promote, or a job to advertise, why not advertise with us? We are offering reduced rates throughout December and partners could also receive further discounts. Please contact  Henrietta at [email protected]

Become a Church Partner: Encourage your church or meeting to become a Church Partner. More details here

Seeking your views

We are always keen to hear from you about what you value about our work and what we could be doing better. Please your send ideas by email to: [email protected]

Thank you for your continuing interest and support in our work. This means more to us than we can say. Please feel free to come back to us on any of the issues we have raised in this newsletter, or other matters of concern.

Simon Barrow, Jonathan Bartley (co-directors) Henrietta Cullinan (administrator), Virginia Moffatt (chief operating officer)