Reflections and Stories | Page 17 | Student Christian Movement

A Faith Of My Own: Debbie’s Uni Story

3 Oct 2016

Growing up in the Church of England – both of my parents are Anglican priests – meant that going to church was part of the rhythm of life. Although my faith was a vital part of my identity and who I was, I often didn’t feel hugely comfortable expressing that outside of ‘churchy’ contexts.

Ecumenical MythBusters: Does the Catholic Church Desire Unity?

12 Sep 2016

On a day now called ‘Reformation Day’, 31st October 1517, Martin Luther hammers his ‘95 Theses’ onto the door of All Saints Church in Wittenburg, Germany. The theses were summarised by one of my friends recently as ‘gripes against Catholicism’. It is an action that has reshaped the direction of...

Keeping My Faith Alive at University: Gemma’s Uni Story

12 Sep 2016

My time at university has been the period where my faith has developed the most. At university I have encountered people from a far more diverse range of denominations and backgrounds than I ever had at school. Studying theology has made me aware of a broader range of different theological...

Saints and Politics: What Could Theresa May Learn from St Teresa of Avila?

17 Aug 2016

For only the second time in our political history, the UK has a female Prime Minister, Theresa May. Many have been quick to compare her to the first female Prime Minister and fellow Conservative leader, Margaret Thatcher. I would like to posit a different – and, dare I say, more interesting –...

Longing, Desire, and the Pursuit of God

15 Aug 2016

Today, as I write on 11 August 2016, marks 28 years of faith for me. In some Christian cultures, one might say that today is my “spiritual birthday,” marking my new birth, being “born again.” I have never quite felt comfortable with that terminology. One reason is the fact that birthdays are...

Finding my faith

8 Aug 2016

Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.” (Mark...

Success and Failure in the Eyes of God

27 Jun 2016

Maybe it’s the dour Scot in me, but personally I find ‘failure’ easier to discuss than ‘success’. I’m not a complete killjoy, but somehow I am often more at ease with commiserations rather than celebrations. I sometimes feel I have been so often reminded to look upon failures as blessings in...

Love Conquers All

15 Jun 2016

In the ancient Jewish book of wisdom Ecclesiastes, the teacher says that ‘there is a time for silence and there is a time to speak’. Somehow in situations like this, both feel very wrong. I know that the deeply flawed words of this blog may not bring the healing or justice so needed, but to...

Leadership is Offering Something, Big or Small

7 Jun 2016

'Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?' Jesus said, 'Make the people sit down.' There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there) Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and...

Rediscovering The Divine: Embracing an Open, Just and Honest Faith

18 May 2016

I grew up in the south-eastern United States, which is often described as the ‘Bible belt’ – a small, conservative town where I tried doing the whole ‘on fire for God’ thing. I was taught to ask friends if they were going to heaven or hell after they died. I attended youth group events and...