After Smyth, after Makin – how does evangelical culture need to change?
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 21 Nov 2024
The Makin Review into the horrific abuse carried out by John Smyth was always going to send shockwaves through the Church of England – and the evangelical world both within that denomination and beyond it. Smyth – QC, church reader and sadist – abused at least 115 children and young men over a period spanning some 50 years. Some later attempted suicide.
The report does not hold back. The victims’ accounts are harrowing; the failures of successive CofE leaders – including many evangelicals – from the top down are exposed. Makin could not be clearer: conservative evangelical culture facilitated Smyth’s abuse. His brutal proclivities were an open secret among a faction within the church who could have acted – but didn’t. The institution, its beliefs and reputation, were more important than the individuals being abused.
legal eye
Worried by the new Police Act? You should be
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 1 Jul 2022
Noisy and disruptive protests are, frankly, a nuisance to us all. At the time of writing, the prospect of serious disruption for many rail passengers with the planned June’s rail strikes is bad enough, but at least travellers can plan ahead and take a different route (or drive, if they can afford the fuel).
But try driving through a busy city and finding the road blocked with climate change protesters chained to their vehicles – all in a good cause, of course; but creating not merely a public nuisance but serious disruption.
Evangelicals warn over ‘shocking’ cost of living crisis
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 1 Oct 2022
Politicians have a moral duty to act, given
the
‘shocking’ rises
in
the energy price
cap – and the energy price guarantee for
consumers does not go far enough, Christian
charities have warned.
CARE – Christian Action Research and
Education – said immediate action is needed
to protect the vulnerable. It issued the warning
just before Liz Truss’ new government was
formed
in early September, and ahead of
another significant rise in fuel price.