Speaking of God in Public
Christians in parts of today’s church are wary about speaking of God in public for fear of offending or of appearing judgemental. The consequences of this are various, but include a loss of language with which to speak of God in today’s world, and declining churches that seem increasingly irrelevant to wider society. This series invited us to reflect on how and why we speak of God in public.
This year's series of monthly lectures named after the Methodist social pioneer Hugh Price Hughes have concluded - you can read about them below. We hope you will join us for the next series in 2018.
This year's series of monthly lectures named after the Methodist social pioneer Hugh Price Hughes have concluded - you can read about them below. We hope you will join us for the next series in 2018.
talks in the 2017 series
Tuesday 14th February at 7.30pm
A Mills and Boon Deity for the 21st Century?
Revd Dr Peter Phillips
A Mills and Boon Deity for the 21st Century?
Revd Dr Peter Phillips
Pete runs a research centre at Durham University exploring the interface between contemporary digital culture and theology. He’s looking at biblical literacy within modern culture and the shift from propositional to therapeutic faith. On Valentine’s Night, as couples wander the streets gazing wistfully into their partners’ eyes, Pete looks at the romanticisation of the gospel. Have we lost something by focussing so much on a bromance with Jesus?
Pete has a background in teaching New Testament at Cliff College as well as serving time as Methodism’s Faith and Order Secretary. He moved to St John's College, Durham in 2008 to take up the challenge of developing a cutting edge digital theology research programme exploring Biblical Literacy, Preaching, and Communication in a Digital Age. In July 2015, CODEC became a full Research Centre of Durham University.
Pete has a background in teaching New Testament at Cliff College as well as serving time as Methodism’s Faith and Order Secretary. He moved to St John's College, Durham in 2008 to take up the challenge of developing a cutting edge digital theology research programme exploring Biblical Literacy, Preaching, and Communication in a Digital Age. In July 2015, CODEC became a full Research Centre of Durham University.
Tuesday 14th March at 7.30pm
The Godlessness of Fake News
Ruth Gledhill
The Godlessness of Fake News
Ruth Gledhill
Ruth Gledhill has been writing and sometimes speaking of God in public life for three decades. She started on The Times in 1987 and three years ago, moved to Christian Today.
In this lecture, Ruth meditates on the fake news phenomenon, what it might look like to put God back into news, and how to 'seek truth in the white-out of the media blizzard'.
In this lecture, Ruth meditates on the fake news phenomenon, what it might look like to put God back into news, and how to 'seek truth in the white-out of the media blizzard'.
Tuesday 4th April at 7.30pm
Thought for the Day - Can God be broadcast in soundbites?
Revd Dr Jane Leach
Thought for the Day - Can God be broadcast in soundbites?
Revd Dr Jane Leach
'Yes and No’ says Jane Leach, regular contributor to Radio 4's flagship Today programme. Jane Leach is a Methodist minister who works in theological education, seeking to prepare Methodist people from around the world to speak about God in public and in private. She researches, publishes and supervises in the field of practical theology addressing such questions as, ‘What do we communicate about God through our practice? What constitutes effective pastoral care? And how do we speak of God in a post-Christian context?’
Tuesday 9th May at 7.30pm
Which God? Which public?
Revd Gareth Powell
Which God? Which public?
Revd Gareth Powell
Alister McGrath, in his book Mere Apologetics, says that the fundamental principles for Christians speaking of God in public are “what they always have been: 1. Understand the Christian gospel. 2. Understand the context within which you are doing apologetics. 3. Develop apologetic approaches that are faithful to the gospel and build on the ‘common ground’ or ‘points of contact’ with the cultural context”.
Gareth began exploring these three questions in the context of the Methodist Church in Britain today. What is our experience of God? Which 'God' are we speaking about? In what context are we speaking, and to whom? What are the ‘points of contact’? And how, in the light of this, do we speak of God in public with confidence and imagination?
Gareth began exploring these three questions in the context of the Methodist Church in Britain today. What is our experience of God? Which 'God' are we speaking about? In what context are we speaking, and to whom? What are the ‘points of contact’? And how, in the light of this, do we speak of God in public with confidence and imagination?
Tuesday 13th June at 7.30pm
What is the ‘Forward Movement’ today? How would Hugh Price Hughes face the mission challenge of 2017?
Revd Steve Wild
What is the ‘Forward Movement’ today? How would Hugh Price Hughes face the mission challenge of 2017?
Revd Steve Wild
The Methodist 'Forward Movement' aimed to reduce the distance between the Christian gospel and the poor working classes. In consequence, from the 1880s it opened many Wesleyan Missions as centres for reaching thousands of people. It was high risk, sacrificial gospel outreach marrying together Wesley’s emphasis on both personal and social holiness. This lecture explored how the principles of the Forward Movement might find form and tone today.
Steve Wild has had a life-time of mission experience. His Presidential year focused on mission and evangelism teaching him new and unexpected things. Serving the Cornwall District as chair he oversees a number of Fresh Expressions of Church. He is passionate about the mission challenges of today.
Steve Wild has had a life-time of mission experience. His Presidential year focused on mission and evangelism teaching him new and unexpected things. Serving the Cornwall District as chair he oversees a number of Fresh Expressions of Church. He is passionate about the mission challenges of today.
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