Virtual Methodist

Following the recent hair-brained decision of the Church of England not to permit woman bishops whilst allowing women priests, I thought that we might have a week or two without further gender-related stupidity making the church out to be "Taliban Lite". But then along comes the intelligentsia of Bristol University Christian Union and their decision to ban women teaching  in certain contexts (unless their husbands are with them) for the sake of inclusivity. Well, I suppose in scripture the women are largely there to bear children and cook, although at least one was also deadly with a tent peg... (See Judges 4: 14-21). Deborah, mentioned in that passage famously sang of the victory she played a part in (Judges 5), and at this time of year we remember that Jesus' mother liked a wee sing song too... I wonder whether women are allowed to teach using the medium of song in Bristol CU, because there is as much theology in Mary's Magnificat as I heard in many of the CU t...

Last weekend there was a whole hoo-haa about the injustice of 50 year old Dublin Tesco employee Mary Byrne getting axed on the X-factor ... Even prestigious Anglican bloggers have been vexed by it... However, I'm not convinced that the X-Factor being unjust is particularly newsworthy... Indeed, whether the decision as to who stays on is decided by a democratic phone-vote, or by a Cowell-dominated cabal, justice is unlikely to play a huge part in it all. But today, my thoughts are not primarily with a 50 year old singing Mary from an unprestigious area of Dublin, but a somewhat younger singing Mary, from an equally unprestigious village in northern Palestine. Carrying on the story from yesterday's annunciation, we turn to Mary of Nazareth's song of praise to God in the light of his promise of pregnancy to Elizabeth, her elderly cousin being fulfilled. This familiar song of praise, read or sung in various forms not only in advent, but throughout the year, should resonate powe...

A song to be sung in response to the Annunciation... whether the coming one is McCain, anointed by the religious right, or the quasi-Messianic Obama, let's get our priorities right and our loyalties straight: Hail to the Chief of Chiefs! Glorify God alone, with all that you have and are. Rejoice in God, for he alone is our salvation. He remembers the humble when others forget, Bringing blessing for a single mother When others only offer shame. Doing great things for and through the accursed. That’s why he is different from others. That’s why his name is in a class of its own. Holy. He is merciful to all who truly bow before him… Who recognise his power and authority… Pouring out blessings on their children and their children’s children. He never stops performing miracles; He still scatters the arrogant like the men of Babel of old. He looks behind worn out words of faith to see thriving thoughts of pride. He topples thrones and casts kings down into the dust from which they came. B...