Julian Rivers on the European Convention on Human Rights

Cambridge Papers are published once a quarter (or thereabouts) and address a wide range of topics, offering ‘Christian reflection on contemporary issues’.

The latest paper is available online here (from where a pdf can be downloaded here):

Julian Rivers, ‘Should the UK leave the European Convention on Human Rights?’, Cambridge Papers 34, 4 (December 2025).

Here is the summary:

‘The proposal that the UK should leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is motivated at present mainly by the view that it represents an obstacle to the control of irregular migration. This paper argues that the ECHR was influenced historically by Christian political convictions, and that there are still strong grounds for Christians to support it. Far from being an obstacle, it provides a humane safeguard, offering valuable, if limited, protection against authoritarian state tendencies across Europe. Problems in its judicial implementation need to be addressed – not by leaving, but by more critical engagement.’

Vista 44 (November 2023) on Polycentric Mission

The latest issue of Vista looks at the topic of ‘Polycentric Mission for Europe’.

A brief excerpt from the opening article by Jim Memory sets the scene:

‘[A] new word has emerged in recent missiological studies to describe one of the features of the spread of Christianity in today’s world: polycentric. Whilst not as ubiquitous as the word “missional”… the terms polycentric mission and polycentric leadership have been popularised by a number of authors… and have featured as the theme of conferences…

‘This article, and by extension the whole of this issue of Vista, seeks to explore the meaning and use of the word polycentric in Christian mission studies today and, more specifically, consider its implications for mission in Europe.’

The entire issue can be downloaded as a pdf here.

Evangelical Review of Theology 45, 4 (November 2021)

The latest Evangelical Review of Theology, published by The World Evangelical Alliance, is now online and available in its entirty as a pdf here.

Introduction: Articles with a Long Shelf Life

Thomas Schirrmacher

Paul Was a Religious Extremist Too

Andrew Messmer

The Inspiration, Authority and Inerrancy of Scripture in the History of Christian Thought

This article traces attitudes towards the Bible amongst leading Christian thinkers from the early church to the present, showing that (with some change in how the concepts have been understood) the church has generally affirmed the Bible’s inspiration, authority and inerrancy ever since the formation of the New Testament canon. Organized into four major time periods, the article should be a valuable resource for all who wish to uphold the Bible’s credibility.

Glenn N. Davies

The Relation between Biblical Law and Christian Faith

This article masterfully, through parallel sections with ample scriptural support, depicts the continuity of God’s dealing with humanity across both Old Testament and New Testament times with regard to law, grace and obedience.

Dennis P. Petri

Christians in Cuba: Dealing with Subtle Forms of Repression

The restrictions on religious freedom imposed by the Cuban state – a direct consequence of the authoritarian nature of the regime and its atheist and anti- religious ideology – are well-known. Much less understood is the subtle nature of the vulnerability of Christians, especially after the changes that have occurred since the 1990s. This article examines their situation in depth.

Peirong Lin

Building the Kingdom of God in Europe: Reflecting Theologically on One’s Self-Understanding

In this short essay, the WEA’s Deputy Secretary General, a Singapore native now working in Europe, reflects on her experience as a foreign woman in a male- dominated, sometimes unfriendly context and develops an understanding of how she – and, by extension, all of us – can build the kingdom of God each day, wherever we are.

Ebenezer Yaw Blasu and Joshua D. Settles

The ‘Surprise’ in Mission History: Prospects for African Cross-Cultural Mission to the West

The Christian mission enterprise has grown greatly in multi-cultural understanding since the famed Edinburgh World Missionary Conference of 1910, but in some ways, Western Christianity still strains to open itself to the empowering influences of the burgeoning church in Africa. This article reviews historical developments, through a fascinating comparison between 1910 and 2010, and offers concrete suggestions from an African perspective.

James Reiher

The Letter to Philemon: Its Background and Enduring Significance

Philemon is a short letter with a compelling – but implicit – story line. This article carefully investigates the main theories as to what lay behind the fascinating interaction of Paul, Philemon and Onesimus and identifies the contemporary applications we can make regardless of which theory is true.

D. Apostle

Locust Attacks in India and in the Book of Joel: Are They the Same?

COVID-19 and other natural threats have intensified speculation amongst various Christian groups as to whether ‘the end is near’. This article responds to one recent set of speculations, following the severe locust attacks of 2020 in India and parts of Africa, and suggests a more reasoned response to the question of whether they fulfil Joel’s prophecies.

Book Reviews

Jim Memory on Europe in 2021

The Lausanne Movement has just posted a piece by Jim Memory on ‘The Extraordinary Re-Evangelization of Europe’.

It’s an excerpt from a recent report he has written, which Chris Wright has called ‘essential reading for all those who, in any part of the world, are concerned about mission in, from, and to the continent of Europe’.

The report, which is well worth checking out and reading, is available via Vista, with more information available here.

‘The report identifies the crucial issues and trends which are shaping the context for Christian mission in Europe today. It provides an analysis of the key political, economic, social, environmental, and technological trends; of the most important spiritual challenges; and of the shifts in mission thinking that are impacting the practice of Christian mission today. And in every case, it considers how the Covid-19 has impacted these trends.

‘The report concludes with an exploration of the implications that each of these trends has for those of us who are involved in Christian mission in Europe today.’

The Report is available to download here, and an accompanying Discussion Guide can be downloaded here.

Centre for Public Christianity (September 2016)

This month, the Centre for Public Christianity has posted an audio interview with Elizabeth Oldfield on ‘the growing numbers of those who identify as “no religion” – and what that does (and doesn’t) mean’. Also posted is a video interview with Trevor Hart on ‘what it means to be both material and non-material creatures – and how art can help us negotiate that reality.’

European Union Referendum Resources

Friends and colleagues in several organisations are producing some helpful information and resources on the forthcoming EU Referendum which seeks to engage with the issues from a Christian perspective rather than perpetuating the battle of ‘fear’ narratives that seems to typify much of the debate elsewhere.

See here for a short post by the Joint Public Issues Team (representing The Baptist Union of Great Britain, The Methodist Church, The United Reformed Church, and The Church of Scotland). They have a page on their website devoted to the referendum here, with a short pdf booklet downloadable here, aiming ‘to encourage individuals and churches to think through Britain's membership of the European Union in the light of the gospel command to love your neighbour’.

Theos, the public theology think tank, have produced some helpful material...

Ben Ryan, A Soul for the Union (London: Theos, 2016) – a Theos booklet, with information here and downloadable as a pdf here.

Ben Ryan, ‘The EU Needs Its Soul Back’.

Ben Ryan, ‘Does Europe Need to be a Christian Continent?’

Nick Spencer and Ben Ryan, ‘Putting Principles Back into the EU’.

As has the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics, with a special page here, with (to date) the following individual pieces...

Jonathan Chaplin, ‘What is the EU for? Introducing KLICE’s Referendum Coverage’.

Jonathan Chaplin, ‘“It is not so among you” – The Transformative Power of Powerlessness’.

Michael Schluter, ‘Brexit Unless... Three Fundamental Conditions for Staying in the EU’, Ethics in Brief EU Referendum Series 1 (April 2016).

This article sets out five biblical principles for political and economic life and finds that the EU currently breaches them significantly. It proposes three conditions for remaining within the EU but, in the absence of other EU countries supporting such conditions, argues that British people should vote for Brexit. The article represents the views of the author and not of KLICE.

Ben Ryan, ‘Rejecting Project Fear for Project Hope: Creating the Moral Case for the Remain Campaign’, Ethics in Brief EU Referendum Series 2 (May 2016).

The European Union has spent years staggering through a crisis with political, economic, theoretical and practical elements. It has been, in many ways, a disappointment, failing to live up to the standards that were set for it in the 1950s. It stands in need of some redemption. Despite all this it remains the best hope for a genuinely international, voluntary and moral model of governance. This article makes that case for the EU as the body with the potential to be the moral force the 21st century world needs and, therefore, an organisation for the UK to help save, not leave.

Then there is the Jubilee Centre, with a collection of pieces, including four briefing papers, here.

In addition, Christians in Politics have a page here with several links to short articles.

Andrew Goddard has revised a Grove booklet on the European Union first written nearly 20 years ago. It’s available for purchase from here, with some additional resources available here, and a helpful summary gist here.

Finally, here are a couple of friends who have offered their own reflections:

Eddie Arthur, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’.

Mark Meynell, ‘Brexit Schmexit: Some (VERY) Random Bremainer Thoughts’.

Theos Report on the European Union

The latest report from Theos has recently been published:

Ben Ryan, A Soul for the Union (London: Theos, 2015).

Here’s part of the summary blurb:

‘The specific debate in the UK over the European question has been illustrative of a general trend across Europe, with arguments focusing almost entirely on technical issues, and with an underlying assumption that the single real measure on which to measure Europe is economic. This approach, though particularly prevalent in the UK is one that has been growing across Europe for some years, and is quite unlike the priorities and assumptions that shaped the earlier European project.

‘This report charts the development of the European project, from its origins in 1950s Christian Democracy, with a strong focus on solidarity and peace, through to its current period of crisis. It argues that today’s EU has lost sight of its founding principles and instead placed excessive focus on a particular conception of national economic performance.

Ultimately, this report argues that this is a weak basis for political union. A union worth saving would be on stronger ground if it could develop a clearer, explicit moral purpose that resonated with its citizens. Perhaps more simply, if the EU is going to be worth saving it needs to discover a soul.’

A pdf of the full report is available here.

Ethics in Brief Volume 17, Nos. 3 and 4 (2011)

The next two issues from Volume 17 of Ethics in Brief, published by The Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics, are now available online:

David John Sandifer, ‘Is Christian Forgiveness Conditional?’, Ethics in Brief 17, 3 (2011)

The duty of Christian forgiveness has traditionally been understood to extend to all offenses. Recently, however, an interpretation has arisen to challenge this, arguing that Christians are only called to forgive those who demonstrate genuine repentance. This article argues that this view is based on a fallacious analogy between God’s forgiveness and ours, and that it runs counter to both the direct teaching of Scripture and the thrust of Christian discipleship.

Christopher Orton, ‘UKIP and the Common Good’, Ethics in Brief 17, 4 (2011)

This paper addresses the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and its call for Britain to withdraw from the European Union (EU). The paper does not argue for or against withdrawal but aims to help Christians reflect theologically on the question. The first section briefly considers two of UKIP’s 2010 General Election policy statements. Whilst UKIP demonstrate some openness to the theological tradition of ‘common good’ thinking, Christians will still find their basic policy commitments problematic. The second section explores the kind of ‘common good’ argument for withdrawal that Christians might find persuasive. It suggests that British trade policy might provide a basis for such an argument, but insists that more research is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn.

Encounters 36 (March 2011) on Faith in Europe

The latest issue of Encounters from Redcliffe College is now available, this one devoted to ‘Faith in Europe’, in part opening up the extent to which the European Union is shaping the lives of ordinary citizens across Europe.

The pdf of the full issue is available here.

Urban Mission in Europe

‘European Mission’, the blog for the Nova Research Centre (based at Redcliffe College, Gloucester UK, focusing on researching and innovating mission in Europe) draws attention to a recent survey of life in 75 European cities - ‘Perception Survey on Quality of Life in European Cities’ – conducted by The Gallup Organisation, Hungary.

European Mission summarises some of the findings of the report here, noting that the three things that concerned the citizens of seventy-five major cities were job creation and reducing unemployment (64 cities), improving the quality and availability of health services (54 cities), and improving education and training (39 cities). Other important issues were the availability of housing, urban safety, air pollution, and road and public transport.

Nova suggests that the report contains a lot of information ‘that fills out the contextual background for urban mission – suggesting potential entry points and ministry emphases’.