BY STEPHEN KUHRT September 2026 marks a year since the publication of Safeguarding the Institution: How the Culture of the Church of England Facilitates Abuse. The book begins with my experience of insisting that a historic safeguarding case at my church was properly addressed and refusing to remain silent about pressure from my diocese to… Continue reading The refusal to engage with ‘Safeguarding the Institution’
Tag: faith
Institutional investment and the safeguarding disasters of the Church of England
BY STEPHEN KUHRT A fascinating (non) conversation Some years ago, I observed a fascinating interaction on Facebook. Yet another safeguarding disaster within the Church of England had just been revealed — significantly, I cannot remember which one — and two church leaders were commenting on the general issue. One was Pete Broadbent, then Bishop of… Continue reading Institutional investment and the safeguarding disasters of the Church of England
What about the Women? A Story of Spiritual Abuse of a female victim in the Conservative Evangelical constituency.
BY ANONYMOUS This story begins in 2001 when I began medical school training to become a doctor. From that year until 2023 I believed that the emotional and spiritual torture I was enduring was part of the cost of being a Christian trying to follow Jesus. In summary I have now come to understand that… Continue reading What about the Women? A Story of Spiritual Abuse of a female victim in the Conservative Evangelical constituency.
The impact of ‘Captain Darlings’ on the Church of England
BY STEPHEN KUHRT Following its recent high-profile scandals, there is now an overwhelming consensus about the need for safeguarding reform within the Church of England. This includes a growing recognition of the role of culture. This, however, can be misunderstood. For some time, it was common to hear bishops solemnly declaring that the culture of… Continue reading The impact of ‘Captain Darlings’ on the Church of England
The most rewarding thirty minutes of my week
BY STEPHEN KUHRT The ‘Tales from the Bible’ team As a church leader, I’m incredibly fortunate to have a job that I love. After 22 years of ordained ministry, I still wake up each morning full of enthusiasm for the everyday tasks of being a vicar: planning services, writing talks, pastoral care, taking funerals and… Continue reading The most rewarding thirty minutes of my week
Turning Safeguarding Upside Down: Jesus started with the least – so should we
BY NATHAN LARKIN Photo by Arvid Knutsen on Pexels.com There are two ways to approach safeguarding in the Church: ‘top-down’ or ‘bottom-up’. The difference sounds technical, even semantic, but it’s not. It’s theological and it’s moral. It’s about where the Church begins its thinking, and where it draws the line when things get messy. A… Continue reading Turning Safeguarding Upside Down: Jesus started with the least – so should we
An Open Letter to Bishop Sarah Mullally
BY STEPHEN KUHRT Dear Bishop Sarah, Congratulations on your nomination to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury. The fact that you are a woman, educated at a comprehensive school and a polytechnic, worked as a cancer nurse and trained for ordination on a non-residentiary course are, for me, undiluted positives. More crucially, they can all… Continue reading An Open Letter to Bishop Sarah Mullally
‘Doing the Opposite of a Welby’: The cost of genuine safeguarding in the Church of England
BY STEPHEN KUHRT Photo: Flickr The phrase ‘doing the opposite of a Welby’ is not one I use lightly. It came to me in November 2024, when the Archbishop of Canterbury faced severe criticism over his handling of the John Smyth case. I realised that seventeen years earlier in my parish, I had made a… Continue reading ‘Doing the Opposite of a Welby’: The cost of genuine safeguarding in the Church of England
Whistleblow and the sheep-guarders: a parable
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
