Grey care: perspectives on ageing

By Rod Benson This article presents biblical, psychospiritual and pastoral perspectives on ageing and older people.  It demonstrates the magnitude of the cultural shift from biblical culture to our own, summarises key gerontological theories, and examines problems and issues relating to older people in the context of pastoral care within the setting of a Christian …

Principles for Christians in politics

By David P. Gushee March 30, 2000 The religious bickering between candidates John McCain and George W. Bush and their respective ministerial allies during their primary battles requires careful reflection. There are lessons to be learned here that transcend the politics of the moment. The immediate context of these bitter arguments was the white-hot contest …

Growth in grace as a control belief for theological method

A paper by Rev Rod Benson for a meeting of the Commission on Christian Ethics, Baptist World Alliance Annual Gathering, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, 3 July 2013   This paper examines the need for ethical control beliefs for theological method, outlines options suggested by Stanley Grenz and Brian Harris, and commends “growth in grace” (2 Peter 3:18) …

On the demise of Exodus International

I heard overnight of the decision by Exodus International to wind up its operations and cease ministering to people wishing to be rid of same sex attraction (see, for example, here and here).  The spiritual and pastoral needs of the LGBTI community have never been greater.  People of same sex attraction are often misunderstood and at …

The moral case for sustainability

Broadcast on 2CH, Sunday 27 Jan 2013. A recent study has found that encouraging people to adopt ecologically sustainable behaviours based on the moral rather than economic case may be more effective. The Guardian newspaper reports that in an experiment conducted at a Dutch petrol station, researchers compared two messages aimed at persuading people to get …