All Church articles
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OpinionInternalised misogyny prevents too many Christian women from seeking justice in the case of patriarchal abuses
‘My observation is that the power of the ‘equal sinfulness’ argument is compelling and can stop us in our tracks. It appeals to our knowledge that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That is why it is so effective in shutting down important conversations about abuses against women in the Church,’ says Michelle Tant.
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ArticleI was hurt in the very place that was meant to be a sanctuary
Today, Emilia Fuller is a PR consultant, life coach and pastoral counsellor. But five years ago, she was wounded and lost after suffering a prolonged period of spiritual abuse
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ArticleLet’s stop viewing marriage through rose-tinted glasses
Veronica Zundel believes that Christian marriage has become an idol for today’s Church
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ArticleChristian marriage is important for the Church
Kate Orson highlights how marriage is part of God’s original design, but believes we’ve become far too obsessed by it
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Article‘Me, a 24-year-old woman, leading a church? It felt absurd!’
Sasha Gerry was hesitant to accept when she was asked to lead a church in Brixton. Here, she tells our editor Tola-Doll Fisher about her journey away from shame and into leadership and why she believes honest discipleship and mentoring can help us step into freedom in Christ
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OpinionOne of the ways the Church can combat abuse is by considering its traditionally male hierarchy
‘Egalitarian leadership structures have been shown to combat the attitudes and beliefs that can lead to abuse, and to provide a protective factor when abuse does occur,’ argues Sally Hope.
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OpinionThere would be fewer church scandals if there were more female pastors...or would there?
‘Regardless of one’s stance on female pastors, the notion that increasing their numbers would resolve church scandals is misguided. Women’s hearts are no less prone to sin than men’s, even if the manifestation of that sin may differ,’ says Ann Louise Graham.
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OpinionThe Church is responsible for preventing abuse and protecting the vulnerable
“Safeguarding is not a mere tick box exercise but an extension of our Godly responsibilities as church leaders. If we fail in safeguarding, we fail in our Godly responsibility,” says Chioma Alade, Designated Safeguarding Leader at Living Temple Church.
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ArticleA man stepping down for a woman is a clear representation of Jesus
Katherine Chow, former lawyer and now Holy Trinity Brompton’s (HTB) first female and racially diverse associate vicar, spoke with our editor, Tola-Doll Fisher about her unexpected journey into church leadership and why she is passionate about intergenerational mentoring
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ArticleDo we have freedom of religion within our own churches?
Veronica Zundel shines a light on the impact of disagreements around beliefs and practices in the Church.
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OpinionJustin Welby has resigned, could the next Archbishop of Canterbury be a woman?
Woman Alive deputy editor, Jemimah Wright, considers what we know about four of the female bishops who could step into Justin Welby’s role as Archbishop of Canterbury.
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OpinionWhat Christians can learn from Parkrun
‘In both Parkrun and church, there’s something to be said for collective determination, driving each other on to reach personal goals,’ says Emily Bright, as she shares her experience of her weekly 5k run.
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ArticleWhy can’t women choose to be childfree?
With a recent survey revealing more women are deciding not to have children, Alex Noel looks at the Church’s attitude in response
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Opinion‘Domestic abuse can be a difficult subject for the church, and I am trying to change that'
Having grown up in the church as a pastor’s daughter, Lauren Seager-Smith, CEO of The For Baby’s Sake Trust, a charity that aims to break cycles of domestic abuse and give babies the best start in life, says, ’it felt and continues to feel like marriage difficulties and harm in relationships were difficult secrets.’
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ArticleChurch life should be about learning
Veronica Zundel believes the Montessori method provides a good example of education for adults as well as children
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ArticleThere are domestic abusers in our churches
Ann-Louise Graham unpacks the uncomfortable, disturbing and often hidden subject of domestic abuse among Christians and explains the misapplication of scripture by perpetrators
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Opinion'I studied Church abuse and this is what I think about the Mike Pilavachi allegations'
”When initially faced with allegations the instinct across denominations has often been to protect the leader first,” suggests Rachel Mataraki. She says that instead we must learn to bear witness to the suffering of those that come forward.
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ArticleAre we balanced?
The Engage Network is a collaboration of organisations, churches and individuals, with a vision to: “make singleness or marriage a genuine choice for all Christian women and men, through a church which is gender-balanced and teaches about healthy Christian singleness, dating and marriage”. Co-chair Annabel Wheeldon-Clarke explains how the male/female imbalance in Church affects us all
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Opinion‘I am a 27-year-old woman training to be a vicar and I have hope for the Church of England’
Although fully aware of the ’pitfalls and general sense of fatigue with the Church of England’, Hannah Stephenson-Kelly could not escape the call to become a priest and has some encouragement for those feeling disIllusioned with the Church.
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OpinionThe Church must learn to dismantle patriarchy’s power together
Liz Cooledge Jenkins felt uneasy discussing much of her experience as a young woman in church. She wrote Nice Churchy Patriarchy to highlight the issues she faced.
