Bishop of Leicester on the intercultural lessons for Living in Love and Faith
On this episode, the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, is interviewed about his new booklet, Can We Imagine a Future Together? Intercultural lessons for living in love and faith, in which he attempts to chart a way forward for the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process. Bishop Snow is the lead bishop on LLF.
“The Church of England is in a season of discernment as it seeks a way to honour and accommodate differing theological and pastoral responses to Living in Love and Faith and to find a way to remain united despite sometimes profound disagreement,” the booklet's description says. “Martyn Snow offers further practical resources for this season of listening, prayer, patience and kindness.
“Drawing on his experiences of working in the UK’s most culturally diverse diocese to explore how best to live together well across difference, such that all church members — especially those who have been historically marginalised — flourish, he finds helpful models in the in the field of interculturalism and in the concept of gift exchange. These models are expressed in generous giving, radical receptivity and transformative thanksgiving — all of which can contribute positively to today’s pressing questions.”
Can We Imagine a Future Together? is published by Church House Publishing and is available to buy at https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/books/9781781405130/can-we-imagine-a-future-together.
Bishop Snow is interviewed by Francis Martin, Staff Writer for the Church Times.
Try 10 issues of the Church Times for £10 or get two months access to our website and apps, also for £10. Go to www.churchtimes.co.uk/new-reader
--------
35:08
Reflections on a long and difficult General Synod
Staff writer Francis Martin spent all of last week in the press gallery of Church House, Westminster, reporting on the latest meeting of the General Synod. He reports back to the editor, Sarah Meyrick, about some of the most significant debates and votes, including on the future of safeguarding and proposed changes to the Crown Nominations Commission.
Francis was also out and about talking to Synod members. Watch a video of some of the interviews here: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2025/14-february/audio-video/video/watch-church-times-reports-from-the-general-synod-in-london
Read coverage of the Synod on our website: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/topics/general-synod
Synod digest will be published next week (28 February issue)
Try 10 issues of the Church Times for £10 or get two months access to our website and apps, also for £10. Go to www.churchtimes.co.uk/new-reader
--------
26:24
What is the right way forward for safeguarding in the Church of England?
In 2023, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York asked Professor Alexis Jay to develop proposals for a fully independent structure to provide scrutiny of safeguarding in the Church of England. Her report, published the following year, concluded that not only scrutiny, but operational safeguarding, should be independent, necessitating the creation of two separate charities.
But while there is widespread demand for action to prevent further failings, opinion on taking up Professor Jay’s recommendations remains divided.
Next week, members of the General Synod will gather again to discuss the way forward. The task before them is a weighty one, with the debate taking place against a backdrop of widespread horror at the Church’s record to date.
On Wednesday (5 February), the Church Times hosted a webinar to discuss the right way forward, in response to Professor Jay’s recommendations. This podcast features contributions from the panel below. A video of the full webinar, including the panel’s discussion and responses to questions, will be available soon.
Panel
Jane Chevous, co-founder, Survivors Voices
Colin Perkins, diocesan safeguarding adviser, diocese of Chichester
David Greenwood, Switalskis Solicitors
Jim Gamble, INEQE Safeguarding Group
Chaired by Madeleine Davies of the Church Times
New to us? We are currently offering a £5 digital subscription, giving you full access to our website and archive, for 2 months. This best-ever value subscription offer is available until 14 February, so subscribe now to avoid missing out.
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/subscribe
--------
28:29
Bishop of Chelmsford on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal
The Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, was in Jerusalem last week when the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal was agreed.
Shortly after returning from the Holy Land, she spoke to Francis Martin about the reaction to the deal on the ground; the prospects for long-term peace in the region; and more widely about the visit, which included meeting Layan Nasir, a young Anglican woman from Birzeit who was released in December, after eight months in “administrative detention”.
“As a Christian and as a person of prayer, I have to continue to hope that people of peace, people who want to see reconciliation, people who believe in justice, will find a will and a way to work together eventually to lead to a peaceful solution,” she said.
The interview was recorded on Sunday (19 January).
Picture: Dr Francis-Dehqani with the Archbishop in Jerusalem, Dr Hosam Naoum. Credit: Diocese of Chelmsford
Limited-time digital subscription offer (until 24 January): £10 for 2 Months Digital edition PLUS 2 month free app subscription to Reflections for Daily Prayer: www.churchtimes.co.uk/subscribe
--------
40:57
Barbara Brown Taylor at the Festival of Preaching
This week’s podcast brings a sermon preached by Barbara Brown Taylor at the 2024 Festival of Preaching in Cambridge last September (Features, 20 September 2024).
She considers how the Church can bear witness to good news “in a world so full of the other kind”, such as global warfare and climate change, political divisions and churches closing, the loneliness epidemic, and systemic racism.
Barbara Brown Taylor is an Episcopal priest and best-stelling author, whose books include Holy Envy (Books, 14 June 2019) and Always a Guest (Books, 18 December 2020).
The Church Times Festival of Faith and Literature runs from Friday 28 February to Sunday 2 March. For more details and to book tickets, visit https://faithandliterature.hymnsam.co.uk
Photo credit: Tom Perkins
Limited-time digital subscription offer (until 24 January): £10 for 2 Months Digital edition PLUS 2 month free app subscription to Reflections for Daily Prayer: www.churchtimes.co.uk/subscribe
Portugal