Church in a post-Christendom society?

The next AI tool you use might not need a supercomputer—or even the cloud. It could run fast and locally on your phone or PC. Small language models are catching up, and they’re cheaper, leaner and apparently just as smart for many tasks. arxiv.org/pdf/2506.02153

Happy #YorkshireDay—where the tea is strong, the pews are hard, and the sermons last longer than the roast.

I don't know of any other profession in which it is quite as easy to fake it as in ours. By adopting a reverential demeanor, cultivating a stained-glass voice, slipping occasional words like "eschatology" into conversation …we are trusted, without any questions asked … Eugene H Peterson

Bishop Martin Gorick is mistaken: removing Issues in Human Sexuality does not mean same-sex clergy need not be celibate. The House of Bishops Pastoral Guidance on Same Sex Marriage (2014) upholds that expectation. observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

Congratulations to the eight newly appointed Honorary Canons of Manchester Cathedral, who have been recognised for their dedicated service to our diocese and the wider Church. You can learn more about them here 👇 www.manchester.anglican.org/honorary-can...

I’m delighted to have been appointed by bishop David as an honorary canon of Manchester Cathedral, ‘in recognition of my contribution to church planting’. If you’re near Manchester, do join the installation service during evensong at Manchester Cathedral on Sunday 5 October 2025.

Obviously I’m pleased, but a bit odd

The Japan-inspired strawberries and cream sandwich 🍓🥪, have you tried one? HMRC is investigating—if it counts as luxury finger food or a dessert, it could attract 20% VAT. Sweet treat or taxable snack?

Great to celebrate four new deacons in the Diocese of York today, or St Hild students

Interesting to see new HFEA data: 1 in 32 children—roughly one in every British classroom—now born via IVF. What was once ethically controversial is now normalised, raising questions about future technologies like gene editing and selection. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

I hear the Bishop of Manchester suggests that increasing stipendiary posts across the board could lead to a further ‘brain drain’ to the south. With vocations in decline, are there enough priests? www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

It’s become easier to plant a church, but harder to do effective evangelism. #churchplanting

A new word for our era: ‘p(doom)’—the estimated probability that superintelligent AI will destroy human civilisation.

This was a striking quote in this interesting article: “Western Anglicanism is, mostly, more comfortable with decline than growth. It tends to accept an ecclesiology of palliative care, in which shrinking Churches are seen as inevitable.” www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

Loved this tactile way to remember the 10 Commandments from Summit Church. www.instagram.com/reel/DIepzO_...

If you haven’t read Diarmaid MacCulloch’s ‘Lower than the Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity’ (688 pages), this 42 min podcast with the author is a good intro to some of the themes. creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...

‘Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes…’ Song of Songs 2.15. Each year, the same pair of foxes returns to nest near our garden. We often catch them on our wildlife webcam, and occasionally in daylight. This year, it looks like there’s just one cub.

Loved this talk by @richvillodas.bsky.social on ‘Resisting Racism’. His context is North American, which has its own story, but there’s so much in here that’s thoughtful, nuanced, and deeply rooted in the Christian vision. Well worth a listen. m.youtube.com/watch?v=YC1i...

Other than the small detail that I can’t surf, I’m tempted to apply for this! More seriously, it looks like a fascinating role for a surfer who loves Jesus and wants to share the Christian faith: networksuffolk.org.uk/2025/05/norf...

The 2023 killings and abductions of Israeli civilians by Hamas—many of them young adults—were horrific. So too is the current situation in Gaza, where children are starving and innocent civilians are dying in ongoing attacks.

What brilliant news: last year, over 2 million people participated in Alpha, run by 43,000 churches and organisations across 146 countries. I suspect this is part of the wider story of renewed interest in exploring the Christian faith that we are currently seeing. partners.alpha.org/yearinreview

The EA’s ‘Changing Church’ report strikes me as a more realistic account of church growth than the Bible Society’s. Church attendance among these churches rose by an average of 13% between 2020 and 2025, and churches are now seeing twice as many people coming to faith. www.eauk.org/changing-chu...

Car vs. bollard in Villanueva de Arousa, Spain. @worldbollardassoc.bsky.socia

The future is an uncertain country, but I’m fairly confident this is one of the few jobs unlikely to be replaced by AI. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Amanda and I are having a great time walking the #Camino de Santiago.

Clear communication requires eliminating verbal tics, yes? This article suggests they might actually play an important role. What do you think? knowablemagazine.org/content/arti...

Today, on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we remember all those who fought in the war, the peace that came at great cost, and the reconciliation in Europe that followed. But given the war in Ukraine, let today also be a new commitment to finding peace in Europe. #VE80 #PrayForPeace #Europe

Some thoughts from me on non-anxious leadership, inspired by a story over 80 years old that deserves retelling in the week of VE Day. open.substack.com/pub/selvarat...

RIP Skype. Twenty years ago, when I was working for Alpha International, it was a game changer — suddenly, international video and audio calls were free.

Fascinating to read in The Picturesque History of Yorkshire (1899) by J.S. Fletcher that St Michael le Belfry (sic) had, in the reign of Henry V, an annual value of £12, with the other churches from the centre of York also listed.

Wow—photo of the week!

I have concerns about the integrity of ‘The Quiet Revival’ report—its headline figures don’t align with evidence on the ground. Sadly, flawed methodology is obscuring the quieter signs of renewal we are in fact witnessing today. More here on my Facebook post: www.facebook.com/share/p/161Y....

I love AI—it’s both brilliant and terrifying all at once. Almost every area of life is being reshaped before our eyes by the integration of AI-driven systems … but today I’ve had a bad back and have been stuck on the sofa—so I’ve mostly just been playing with image filters.

For the last year or so, Amanda and I have made a point of finishing work on Friday at 4 pm, then heading out to a pub… As they say, a couple that drinks craft beers together… Anyway, happy Friday, everyone!

Available in shops by Easter.

Great to launch the new Grove Books series on church multiplication this week, starting with a first title on a theology of church planting from Bede and with titles from Stefan Paas and on Microchurches and other church planting topics coming soon. grovebooks.co.uk/series/churc...

A student just asked for a retrospective extension on his theology essay. The reason? A national earthquake knocked out his electricity and internet. Hard to argue with ‘acts of God’.

If you love a good spy movie, free from over-the-top tech gadgetry but driven instead by dry wit, a dinner party where you definitely shouldn’t have eaten the chana masala, and a fantastic—if somewhat eccentric—spy couple played by Michael Fassbender and Kathryn St. Jean, then you’ll love Black Bag.

An encouraging and inspiring day gathering a cross section of those involved in mission and ministry with HE or FE 16-25 year old students across @dioceseofyork.bsky.social Next step a taskgroup meeting through this year to take ideas forward…

My conversation with Dwight Zscheile and Terri Elton on the Faith+Lead podcast from Luther Seminary about leading from the middle, apprenticeship, and the craft of church planting is out today. Listen here: faithlead.org/pivot/season...

Join me tomorrow morning at 7:30 am on the Premier Radio Breakfast Show, where I’ll be chatting with Esther Higham about ‘church shopping, church hopping and church planting’. www.premier.plus/inspirationa... www.premier.plus/stations/pre...

A stunning projection on the side of @yorkminster.bsky.social.

I see you ‘Craft of Church Planting’!

The Craft of Church Planting by @selvaratnam.bsky.social draws on insights from the training practices of the English medieval craft guilds, a distinctive and imaginative perspective on the methods used to train future church planters. Intrigued? It's £12: scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk/books/978033...

#GeneralSynod begins tomorrow with prayers of lament, setting the tone for a significant gathering. The agenda includes a response to the Matkin Review, key decisions on safeguarding independence & debates on mission & ministry, amidst recent senior resignations & ongoing disagreements on sexuality.

So inspired to hear from Peter Dunn last night at Seedbed, speaking about Disciple Making Movements in the UK and internationally. Biglife has grown in 20 years from one small group to 80,000. A powerful example of how discipleship can multiply through simple, intentional obedience.

Fancy a missional tonic at General #Synod? ✝️ Join us for what will be a great short lunchtime fringe meeting presenting new, encouraging research on discipleship and pioneering mission on Tuesday (11 Feb) starting at 13.15. Details on the image; to book, email [email protected].

Two SCM books discussed here: New Churches: A Theology scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk/books/978033... and The Craft of Church Planting by @selvaratnam.bsky.social (currently £12, incidentally) scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk/books/978033...

‘… christian looks at guilds as a way of training for the craft of church planting and calls for imagination and improvisation. it’s really inspired and was what he looked at in his phd and written a book on so he has done a deep dive into it.’ Thanks @jonnybaker.bsky.social