Until relatively recently a Church of England funeral was the default option of the majority of the British population. This is no longer the case. Today, in some urban areas, secular or humanist funerals now account for 40% of funerals. The numbers of Anglican funerals are in free-fall. In exploring what makes a good funeral, this practical guide aims to rebuild the confidence of clergy in their funeral ministry and to equip them for transformative, missional pastoral engagement. This book grew out of diocesan consultation with funeral directors who identified three essential qualities that only the church offers: a distinctive understanding of death continuing pastoral care hope, not just empathy. Building on this foundation, Robert Atwell suggests many practical ways in which the church can become better at conducting funerals and engaging with those who seek pastoral support at critical points in their lives.

The Oxford History of Anglicanism is a major new and unprecedented international study of the identity and historical influence of one of the world's largest versions of Christianity. This global study of Anglicanism from the sixteenth century looks at how was Anglican identity constructed and contested at various periods since the sixteenth century; and what was its historical influence during the past six centuries. It explores not just the ecclesiastical and theological aspects of global Anglicanism, but also the political, social, economic, and cultural influences of this form of Christianity that has been historically significant in western culture, and a burgeoning force in non-western societies today. The chapters are written by international experts in their various historical fields which includes the most recent research in their areas, as well as original research. The series forms an invaluable reference for both scholars and interested non-specialists. Volume three of The Oxford History of Anglicanism explores the nineteenth century when Anglicanism developed into a world-wide Christian communion, largely, but not solely, due to the expansion of the British Empire. By the end of this period an Anglican Communion had come into existence as a diverse conglomerate of often competing Anglican identities with their often unresolved tensions and contradictions, but also with some measure of genuine unity. The volume examines the ways the various Anglican identities of the nineteenth century are both metropolitan and colonial constructs, and how they influenced the wider societies in which they formed Anglican Churches.

Faithful and effective church leadership requires preparation in prayer, theological reflection and a wide range of pastoral, prophetic and practical skills in order to ensure that what the Church discerns as necessary the Church does. Faithful Improvisation? is both a contribution to a current and sometimes vigorous debate on how the Church trains its leaders and also a practical and theological resource for discerning what the Spirit is saying and then acting upon it in local church contexts. Part One includes the full text of the Senior Church Leadership report from the Faith and Order Commission. Part Two offers reflections by Cally Hammond, Thomas Seville, Charlotte Methuen, Jeremy Morris and David Hilborn, on practices, models and theologies of leadership in different periods of church history which informed the FAOC report. Part Three opens up a broader discussion about present and future leadership within the Church of England. Mike Higton sketches out a dialogue between Senior Church Leadership and Lord Green's report, Talent Management for Future Leaders; Tim Harle offers a personal reflection from the perspective of the community of leadership practitioners; and Rachel Treweek concludes with an exploration of the essentially relational character of leadership.

The classical Anglican understanding of a bishop is expressed in the Canons of the Church of England with the phrase 'father in God' - wording that remains unchanged by the decision to ordain women as bishops. This volume sets out, in a non-polemic way, the understanding of priestly and episcopal ministry from the biblical, historical and theological viewpoints of those who defend a traditional view of priesthood as male, while being fully a part of the Church of England. It incorporates elements of the landmark book Consecrated Women? and brings the discussion fully up to date in light of the General Synod's decision to ordain women to the episcopate in 2014. Leading figures explore the topic from a range of perspectives, including Martin Warner, the Bishop of Chichester; on living in love and charity with your neighbour; Jonathan Baker, the Bishop of Fulham, on consecrated women; Emma Forward, a member of General Synod, on feminism in a post-feminist age; Geoffrey Rowell, formerly Bishop of Europe, on mission, scripture, tradition and church unity; and Aidan Nicholls OP, a Dominican priest and academic, offers a Roman Catholic perspective.

Fresh From the Word gathers together Rosalind Brown's acclaimed reflections on the Sunday Lectionary readings which appeared in the Church Times every week for three years. Now expanded and arranged for use in any liturgical year, and with an additional section for saints' days and festivals, this comprehensive preaching companion provides an inspiring resource for worship throughout the year. Noted for their insightful, distilled wisdom and practical focus, these scripture reflections draw on the breadth of the Christian spiritual tradition to illuminate the Lectionary readings and open up their meaning for Christian living today, offering a trusted guide for all who share in the ministry of the word.

It was to George Bell, an English bishop, that Dietrich Bonhoeffer sent his last words before he was executed at the Flossenburg concentration camp in April 1945. Why he did so becomes clear from Andrew Chandler's new biography of George Kennedy Allen Bell (1883-1958). As he traces the arc of Bell's life, Chandler shows how his story reshapes our perspective on Bonhoeffer's life and times. In addition to serving as Bishop of Chichester, Bell was an internationalist and ecumenical leader, one of the great Christian humanists of the twentieth century, a tenacious critic of the obliteration bombing of enemy cities during World War II, and a key ally of those who struggled for years to resist Hitler in Germany itself. This inspiring biography raises important questions that still haunt the moral imagination today: When should the word of protest be spoken? When should nations go to war, and how should they fight? What are our obligations to the victims of dictators and international conflict?

Can simply bringing a young man to church incur the wrath of Satan? Although she believes in God, Joanna Sutton refuses to admit Satan exists until she begins to experience things he seems to be doing. Ball lightning hits her house, a demon appears at her doorstep, she falls asleep while driving and a benevolent ghost encourages her to open a small unused building behind the house she is renting. When the ghost disappears and she realizes that he not just a friendly neighbor, she calls Father Michael, the priest at her church. He helps her open the building and they find a tiny human skeleton inside. Father Michael and Joanna have a long talk, and she finally realizes that Satan is at work in her town and will try to destroy her and those she loves. Together they make plans to fight back.