BY JON KUHRT Once upon a time in the district of Northrun, there was a shepherd called Whistleblow. He was one of many shepherds who worked for Lord Northrun who owned most of the land in the area. Each shepherd had their own flock to look after. Whistleblow was loud and had strong opinions, but he… Continue reading Whistleblow and the sheep-guarders: a parable
How to encourage bullying in the Church of England
BY STEPHEN KUHRT The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis was first published in February 1942. The book is made up of thirty one letters from a senior demon called Screwtape to his nephew, Wormwood. Wormwood is a junior tempter assigned to lead a man who has recently become a Christian away from God. By viewing the Christian life from the perspective… Continue reading How to encourage bullying in the Church of England
A tale of two vicars: one exploiting the status quo, the other challenging it
BY JON KUHRT Jonathan Fletcher was the vicar of Emmanuel Church Wimbledon (ECW) and enjoyed a high-profile and influential ministry. But in recent years, his bullying, coercive and abusive behaviour has been exposed. A report by the Safeguarding Agency thirtyone:eight catalogued Fletcher’s long-running pattern of sexual and spiritual abuse. Much of the fall-out from this scandal has focussed… Continue reading A tale of two vicars: one exploiting the status quo, the other challenging it
Why Stephen Cottrell should resign as Archbishop of York
BY STEPHEN KUHRT Quoting Lady Bracknell has become a literary cliché, but her sardonic observation from The Importance of Being Earnest uncannily captures the current crisis in the Church of England. In the wake of the Makin report and Justin Welby's resignation, the statement that to lose one Archbishop ‘may be regarded as a misfortune, to lose… Continue reading Why Stephen Cottrell should resign as Archbishop of York
Why Justin Welby must resign as Archbishop of Canterbury
BY STEPHEN KUHRT Photo: Flickr The Makin Report, published this week, chronicles the appalling, sadistic and spiritualised abuse carried out by John Smyth and the abject failure of the Church of England to respond adequately to this. John Smyth’s abuse represents pure evil. But just as evil is the vast number of professing Christians who… Continue reading Why Justin Welby must resign as Archbishop of Canterbury
Safeguarding the Institution 