Church ahead

A new series about Jesus kicks off with Bob Dylan. What do these 2 Jewish men have in common? What is the difference? What if Jesus had won the Nobel Prize for Parables? What might Jesus have said in his 40s, 50s,60s...? Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

This is 4th and final episode about sexuality. Congratulations to those who campaigned for Church to make this change. I am confident it is coming soon. What is Rev L nervous about? What is the best hope for what this change will bring? 3 pieces of advice for the winners ; 1. Smile more 2. Be nice to the losers 3. Don't turn on your own. Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

This is 3rd episode looking at sexuality in the Church of England. After the Living in Love and Faith process who is going to win and who is going to lose? What makes the reform movement like a juggernaut?  What do the naysayers have to defend themselves against it? How are the losers like a foolish virgin? Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

This is the 2nd episode about sexuality. Living in Love & Faith is the Church of England consultation process about sexuality and more.  Is it any good?  Yes it its good enough for Rev L.   Jaw jaw is better than war war. How do you get Christians out of their silos? Bottom up is better than top down. Have you tried the Archbishop mind reader app? Next time RevL's own view on this issue a...

This new series on sexuality begins with Rev L reflecting on how ignorant he was.  We had no idea about the gay people around us. Church was not very different from general society on this. If you v'e heard enough of Rev L talking about himself you might prefer to skip this one... and dive into the big issue next time. Trigger warning ; if you are not used to hearing 20th century views about...

RC National Eucharistic Congress at Liverpool.   The last and best of 3 episodes on the conference trail. Who is Bishop Barron and what did he say about John Lennon? Why was the end of this conference so beautiful and memorable? How can you take God's presence out of church onto the street? Next time on Church ahead... Sexuality.   Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

This is 2nd of 3 conference trips.  Why was today a non event for Rev L? Which part of the Christian church puts on the best events?   And which part runs the worst events? Why does Heart Edge propose 4 c's whilst Church ahead wants to see just one? Please join us next week in Liverpool... Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

This is the 1st of 3 weeks on the conference trail.   Today we are surrounded by mountains in Keswick for the Convention.   Richard Coekin's bible reading on Psalm 67 in July 2022. Did he handle scripture well? Was it as inspiring as climbing Skiddaw mountain? Is the Convention well run? Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

What can clergy offer an old man who wants a memory? What do clergy have in common with a bar pianist? How good does church have to be to thrive? What is the standard we need from our church? Billy Joel gives  reassuring answers.   The most positive episode to get you feeling alright... This is the 3rd of 3  episodes about clergy. Next time we hit the conference trail... Please send any comments t...

STOP PRESS IF YOU ARE GRIEVING THE LOSS OF THE QUEEN YOU MIGHT LIKE TO GO BACK TO EPISODE 13 Clergy  normal? is the 2nd of 3 episodes starting this series about...the clergy.    How do they signal they are normal?   Rugby ball or tattoo?  Spouse, sprog or dog? So yes they are normal.  But so what? For next week please listen to Piano Man by Billy Joel so we can glean his profound insights into the...

Welcome back to series 2.  Meet Henry Faithful, Henry Hurray & Brilliant Bob.  These 3 fine clergymen trained Rev L in ordained ministry.  Other than taking on Rev L what were their mistakes? How does ministry training compare with medical training? Are the current crop of curates loyal? This is the 1st of 3 episodes on the clergy, kicking off series 2 which promises to be spicier and face som...

Summer pop festival week 2.  On stage today we have Every Day is Like Sunday by Morrissey. Watch him sing it on You Tube at the Move Festival Old Trafford 2004.  Can you see Rev L in the crowd?   Last week the Bangles sang about Sunday as their funday.  What is Morrissey's take on the Christian holy day?  Why does he use Christian symbols to trash Christian symbols?  Why are so many Mancheste...

Welcome to LA for our 2 week summer pop festival.  On stage today it is The Bangles' song Manic Monday.  Is it about Monday?  Or is it really about Sunday? How does this song capture the spirit of Isaiah? Is Sunday still relevant? What do you think of this podcast so far?  Please send any feedback by email to revl20c@gmail.com Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

Church is broken, beyond its own repairs says one theologian.  Church is not safe to work in says another.  These are not maverick fringe voices but 2 top mainstream people.   What is the right tone for talking about abuse problems?  We look at 2 bishops - one who gets it wrong and one about right.   This final episode about the subject of abuse in church never really finds a neat conclusion.   Pl...

We step into the shoes of a church youth group leader trying to get a bunch of teenagers home. Is the minibus the answer to our problems? Do the safeguarding rules guarantee to keep children safe?  No but they guarantee to make youth work harder. If this is all too depressing then just 2 weeks to go to Church ahead summer pop festival. Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

10 effects of abuse on the church. How has Premier League football got off so lightly? What would CS Lewis' Screwtape say about abuse? Have we seen the whole story yet? Trigger warning ; if you have been affected by abuse you may find this episode distressing. Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

Have you been as naive as Rev L about the reality of abuse in church? What is the scale of the problem? Who are the culprits? What made the clergy of 1995 drop their smile towards their bishops? Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

Church versus world ; which way does the influence flow? Who is the greatest English Christian leader in our lifetime? What did the princess do in the bishop's sermon? Why do Christianity's cleverest cheerleaders not go to church themselves? Meet the 18th century church people who changed the world for the better. Do today's social change movements find their energy in church? This...

2nd of 3 definitions of church decline. We look at church through the Marxist lense of power. Which part of the Archbishop's body saw off the amorality of Cole Porter? An organisation that used to control almost everything now controls what? Is a weaker church truer to itself? Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

What is church decline? Here we get to a definition of decline and we put some numbers on it. What does the RC priests' reunion at Midland Hotel tell us about the priestly pipeline? How much has  church declined in the past year, decade & century? Have we missed something?  Are some churches bucking the market? Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

Is church like a public bus with a clapped out engine? This is the 3rd of 3 analogies of church decline.  Does your faith get you through the journey of life or have you broken down? Why does Rev L want to be called a dysfunctional theologian? Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

Church is like a house with a few building problems. There is no shortage of builders wanting to sort it out.   Harold Heritage of Conserving Churches offers one approach.  Louise Liberal from Modern House offers the opposite view. And Demolition Dave from Raging Radicals can't be bothered with any of it... How big are the cracks in your church? Is the roof leaking? Is the electrical wiring s...

Is your church like a restaurant that serves food people no longer want? We are starting to warm up to the theme of church decline with 3 analogies of church decline.  Restaurant is the 1st of 3 analogies. People are  hungry and they need to eat.  But they don't have to come to our restaurant! Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

What have you got out of church? Quite a lot if your experience is like Rev L. "So many good things have come my way through church". Don't be like Ali G. But some people have a terrible experience... Fed up of hearing Rev talk about himself?  Good - this is the last autobiographical introductory episode. Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com

How wrong I was about the biggest church issue of the day. Why did I get it so badly wrong? What does it feel like to be on the wrong side of history? Will Rev L ever finish introducing himself?  Yes actually - nearly there! Please send any comments to revl20c@gmail.com