The Church

On the six Sundays in Lent, eminent preachers – including two bishops and a judge – preached on the theme of Christianity and the Law. 

 

The development of modern political processes has embraced various notions of equality. Democratic principles, once accepted, can tend to become idealised. But equality is by no means accepted universally. How has the Christian faith enhanced the concept of Equality, and how has it become subject to a contrary idealism?

 

The Rev’d Canon Stephen Kirk, Vicar of Ystrad Mynach, qualified as a solicitor before being ordained. He serves the Church in Wales widely as a clerical member of the Provincial court and as a member of the Legal Sub Committee of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales.

 

Many people have become disconnected from institutionalised Christianity. Yet we speak of ‘charities’ with casualness and ease. How long can this Cross-less, Christ-less, way of philanthropy continue, and how is the Church to make Christ’s love known once more?

 

The Rt Rev’d John Davies, Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, also qualified as a solicitor and holds degrees in both civil and Canon (Ecclesiastical) law. After qualifying, he worked as a criminal lawyer before he was called to the priesthood. Having served in the Diocese of Monmouth, he was made Dean of Brecon and, more latterly, Bishop.

 

The desire to live in an ordered world and society requires people to subscribe to legal codes. In every generation the tension between political power, on the one hand, and what is right, on the other, tends to show. Yet the Bible speaks of God’s justice and righteousness at every juncture. This title is designed to draw our attention to these tensions, and to seek some enlightenment from the Gospels, and from the Passion of Jesus.

 

The Rev’d Mark John heads the Chaplaincy at HM Prison Cardiff, in a difficult and demanding environment. He understands well the culture of crime and is involved in very many initiatives which address the need to break that cycle of crime to which many criminals return after prison sentences.

All sorts of elements and contemporary views can be attributed to modern political correctness – aspects of regional autonomy, nationalism, social mobility, religious practice, terms-of-employment, even for clerics. To what extent has political correctness overwhelmed us, and has it undermined the activities and ideals of the Christian Church?

 

The Rev’d Canon Peter Sedgwick is a distinguished theologian who has taught in the Universities of Birmingham, Cambridge, Princeton (USA) and, now, Wales. he is Principal of St Michael’s College, Llandaff. He is a prolific writer and chaired the Churches Criminal Justice Forum, promoting voluntary action in the criminal justice system.

The basic tenets of a Gospel-based Christianity relate to forgiving, and being forgiven. In an increasingly angry world, how is this Good News to be sustained? What can the Church do by example?

 

His Honour Judge Nicholas Cooke, QC, is Recorder of Cardiff. He lives in the Diocese of Monmouth but serves the Church in Wales as Chancellor of the Diocese of St David’s.

 

“The last temptation is the greatest treason: to do the right deed for the wrong reason.” These words from Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral express the dilemma facing very many people over the course of history. As we contemplate the agony and passion of Jesus Christ, where do we derive both constancy and discernment as disciples today?

 

The Rt Rev’d Dominic Walker, OGS, Bishop of Monmouth, is a distinguished Canon lawyer and has served in both the Church of England and the Church in Wales. He is a member of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd and has served as our Bishop since 2003. He has in interest in the Ministry of Healing and Deliverance.