Let’s call a spade a spade
Date posted: 12 Nov 2024
Dear Editor,
Have you noticed how people like to find fancy names to make ordinary things seem more special? For example, I have seen a window cleaner described as a Transparent Wall Maintenance Engineer, and did you know that the role of Education Centre Nourishment Consultant refers to what I once knew as a dinner lady!
Trump dismay
Date posted: 4 Nov 2024
Dear Editor,
What a helpful set of articles you gave us for the UK general election earlier this year – thank you!
Spiritual abuse
Date posted: 3 Nov 2024
Dear Editor,
Over the years, I have read with great interest the articles you have published covering the issues of abuse and spiritual abuse in the evangelical context.
Causes of poverty?
Date posted: 26 Oct 2024
Dear Editor,
Iain Taylor’s disturbing report on poverty, in the October issue of en, highlights rocketing rent and energy costs as major factors. Would surging immigration and panicking net zero driven by a progressive but comfortable middle class have anything to do with this?
Inclusion of people with special needs
Date posted: 24 Oct 2024
Dear Editor,
I was heartened to read Kay Morgan-Gurr’s recent article on inclusion on the en website (‘Churches and accessibility: time to change’). How the church welcomes, cares for, and disciples those with additional needs is, in my view, one of the great challenges of this generation. It’s personal for me as a parent of three children, two of whom are neurodiverse. But it’s also a pastoral concern.
7th October anniversary
Date posted: 23 Oct 2024
Dear Editor,
On the anniversary of the Israel/Gaza slaughter of Jews [by Hamas] and, learning that 9% of the 18–24 year olds in the UK are sympathetic to the Gaza/Hamas/ Hezbollah regimes, I am surprised how quiet pulpits have been on the topic, explaining why [some] Muslims turn to the cruellest of violence.
Evangelical civil war
Date posted: 4 Oct 2024
Dear Editor,
The article on page 17 of the August issue of en is most timely. It relates to ‘avoiding evangelical civil war’ and, as well as being based on Biblical teaching, is intensely practical as to how we relate to each other.
Keeping Sunday special
Date posted: 2 Oct 2024
Dear Editor,
I have followed with interest the Christian media coverage of the story of Eric Liddell – e.g. Graham Daniel’s article in the August issue of your paper as well as his enthusiastic lecture at Keswick, BBC Songs of Praise, BBC4 Sunday Worship as well as extensive comment on Chariots of Fire. It seems that all are agreed in their admiration of this ‘man of Christian principle’.
Enlightening articles
Date posted: 26 Sep 2024
Dear Editor,
I have just been reading your September issue on the aeroplane travelling to speak at a mission in Kosovo. I am so pleased I have done this. Two articles especially have spoken to me directly as I prepare to share the gospel.
Songs and meditations
Date posted: 20 Sep 2024
Dear Editor,
My name is Heather Cowan. My husband and I have raised four children and most of the last forty years were either members/supporters of Above Bar Church, Southampton.
Abuse hidden in darkness: damaging trust
Date posted: 3 Sep 2024
Dear Editor,
I could not agree more with your correspondent on hidden abuse (July en). It is the cover-up, lies and deceit that follow the original abuse which damages our faith and trust in the Christian church most.
Training men for ministry: encouraging 'one man ministry'
Date posted: 22 Aug 2024
Dear Editor,
I am encouraged by the response to my Open Letter which you recently published [en June]. I have received considerable feedback personally, all of which has been entirely in agreement and supportive, and which comes from across the spectrum of the generations. This is not an issue on which older men are criticising the younger generation, as has been presented. I am also encouraged because it has, at least, stirred up a discussion, something which can only be good.
Training men for ministry: in a post-Christian nation
Date posted: 22 Aug 2024
Dear Editor,
I read John Brand’s letter June (en 2024) concerning training men for pastoral ministry with interest. The Church of England have recently reported that those seeking ‘vocations’ are 40% down on the 650 they had hoped for – I suspect en’s regular readers will have a good idea why that is, but I doubt that the CofE will publicly recognise the reasons! I only foresee that shortfall increasing as they continue in their apostasy.