SCM's blog

When I was a teenager, I remember walking through Birmingham city centre and passing two groups of religious evangelists. One group were shouting at passersby, talking about hellfire and brimstone. The other group were engaging people who approached them in conversation. 

Guess which ones were Christian? 

“Are you saved?” the street preacher asked, looking suspiciously at my glittery nails. After I said yes, we both looked at each other in awkward silence: he couldn’t believe the glitter-man was a Christian, and I couldn’t believe people still do the whole turn-or-burn on the streets. Whilst the whole encounter left me a bit uncomfortable, I think the reason evangelism is considered a taboo subject in certain circles is simply a matter of method (how) and content (what), rather than reluctance to commit to the great commission.

Ellen reflects on the new trend of turning cathedrals into tourist attractions, and the Church of England's reluctance to call a spade a spade when it comes to evangelism. 

Annika recounts her ecumenical experiences, and reflects on her work towards promoting receptive ecumenism in the Anglican and Methodist traditions. 

Being part of an ecumenical community is an invitation from God to see our differences as enriching, rather than as an obstacle. A journey to global love and peace-making, which is what we are called to do in our Christian life, starts with valuing the differences of those next to us. Father Tonino Bello highlighted this when he said,

Molly shares her love of ecumenism with us, exploring how it doesn't lessen her identity as a Baptist, but rather strengthens it.

Growing up in an Anglican tradition, I got to know the service styles of a few local churches over the years, gaining some sense of what a wonderfully eclectic concoction the Church of England is. However, aside from a couple of visits to Methodist or Catholic churches, I had little practical experience of services within other denominations nor of ecumenical worship.

For all of my life so far, I have been a Methodist. I was baptised in a Methodist church and I was confirmed in a Methodist church. My mum is a Methodist minister. And yet I found myself, inexplicably, attending an Anglican church whilst at univeristy. 

Don’t worry. I’m still a Methodist! But the local Methodist church was few in attendance and those who did attend were of a certain age. What was I to do? Give in and start attending the local C of E church where my friends went? Well, yes, actually.

Catholic convent culture to secular study settings; Shanika's journey towards understanding and practising ecumenism.