Author Archives: Gerry Lynch

In response to Owen Jones: In Defence of the Establishment of the Church of England

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

Owen Jones’ appeal for the separation of church and state showed a deep respect for Christianity in general and the Church of England in particular. But he failed to explain how and why disestablishment would be an improvement. Throughout the … Continue reading →

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So You Follow Jesus? Are You Sure?

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

A common line in blogs and sermons these days is to call on people to be followers of Jesus and not just admirers of Jesus. There’s nothing wrong with that on one level. I like to think I do that … Continue reading →

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Russia, China, Crimea, Xinjiang and Putin’s Risky Gambit

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

Crossposted at Slugger O’Toole with a few amendments of no particular significance to improve the readability… A friend on Facebook led me to this Ambrose Evans-Pritchard article in the Telegraph on the possible impact of Putin’s Crimea gambit on Sino-Russian … Continue reading →

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No Simple Answers for Christians in Politics

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

I’ve enjoyed the series of posts hosted by Gillan on God and Politics UK, where guest bloggers associated with the three main GB political parties, as well as the Greens and UKIP, say they support their particular party from a … Continue reading →

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Anna Lo, and the Myth that Northern Ireland Politics is about the Border

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

Cross-posted at Slugger O’Toole… I very much doubt Anna Lo’s Irish News interview was in the Alliance Party’s 2014 elections gameplan. While almost all members of the party will remain loyal to her in public, I have equally little doubt … Continue reading →

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Some Thoughts on Tony Benn

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

Tony Benn was a lovely guy. I once got chatting to him on the Circle Line going home from work: I got on at St. James’ Park and said “Hey, you’re Tony Benn!”, and we chatted until he got off … Continue reading →

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Banish the Square Brackets! The Case for Reading the Ugly Bits of Scripture.

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

I have never been in any doubt that God has a wickedly playful sense of humour, and that it is most often deployed when he encounters the Church at its most institutionalised. During this month’s Church of England General Synod, … Continue reading →

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Address at the Memorial Service for the Revd Mervyn Kingston

Posted on February 8, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

This was one of three adresses celebrating the life of the Reverend George Mervyn Kingston at a memorial service held at St George’s Church, Belfast on 8 February 2014. Mervyn was a wonderful priest, a loyal friend and an unlikely … Continue reading →

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A Farewell Discourse: The Hard Truths That Set Us Free

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Gerry Lynch

Within a few days, I shall be subsumed the Church of England’s system as a loyal and obedient functionary. Having spent the last three years deeply engaged with the struggle for LGBT acceptance on the other side of the Irish … Continue reading →

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Bobbie and Dessie: Does a 1980s Photo Tell Us Anything About Anglicanism’s Future

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Gerry Lynch

Pictured: the Bobbie and Dessie show, I would guess around 1985. 28 years is more-or-less a generation, and the ’80s, the first decade I can remember in any meaningful way, are now starting to be a long time ago. The … Continue reading →

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