A talk I gave at Oasis Church Bath on reimagining/revisiting the ancient bible story of ‘David and Goliath’. This story is often misinterpreted and doesn’t mean what we think it does – let’s just say maybe we’ve got the identity of the underdog wrong. If you’re into Balearic slingers, singing resistance, creative activism, defeating ICE agents and finding a third way, you’ll enjoy this talk!
I always enjoy engaging with churches who are seeking to be more inclusive and affirming in relation to the LGBTQ+ community. Severn Church in Bristol (formerly Severn Vineyard) have made some courageous steps in seeking to ensure their church is a safe and affirming space, and as someone who was previously excluded from any form of leadership or meaningful participation in a Vineyard church due to my sexuality, it’s been a particular joy to watch their journey unfold! I recently visited the church on a Sunday to share my story and encourage the church as they continue to move towards inclusion and love.
Here’s what I originally wrote on Facebook to accompany the above image: “Well I’ll be honest people – speaking at a Vineyard church was definitely not on my 2025 bingo card. But you know what? Things change, people change, churches change, and sometimes that change is a courageous move towards goodness, inclusion and love. Posting this for the heartbroken younger version of me who was told they couldn’t lead, couldn’t speak or preach in a church because they were gay. Just look at us now kid.”
As part of my role for Oasis Bath as Community Director, I work a few hours a week for the wider group of Oasis Churches, primarily supporting Oasis Church Reading and also by engaging with groups and churches who are either interested in starting an Oasis Church, or becoming one if they’re already a church.
Growing up in Nottingham, I was very excited to hear from a group there who were asking questions about what church could look like in their city, keen to reimagine what church could be and build links with us having been inspired by the Oasis approach. To gage interest and gather others who are asking the same questions, they held an event in the city centre of Nottingham that I was honoured to attend and speak at. Nath Jones, Senior Minister of Oasis Church Waterloo, and I spoke on the Oasis Church four distinctives, which are the four things that we believe, when combined, make Oasis churches unique. They are…full inclusion, an open progressive theology, an informal church service style and a commitment to social justice. The event was absolutely packed out, and it was so encouraging to see so many people (in my home city!) asking these big questions and wrestling with what the church should and could be.
Nath and I spoke on each of the four distinctives, with me speaking on an open progressive theology and an informal church service style. You can listen to those short talks below.
Since the event the Church Reimagined team are continuing to gather regularly, digging deeper into what the distinctives might mean for them. If you’re in or near to the area and interested in being part of the conversation you can find out more by visiting their website at https://reimaginechurch.uk/
As part of a series at Oasis Church Bath called ‘What’s On Your Mind?’, I ask how we might reimagine what church leadership could look like in the light of a progressive theology. With failures around safeguarding and morality by prominent Christian leaders hitting the headlines recently, what can we learn and how should this change our approach at Oasis?
If we are born good and wired towards goodness, then how can we explain evil, and the choices we sometimes make that harm ourselves, others and the world around us? Is ‘original blessing’ just a way to avoid facing up to our mistakes, and how do we ensure it doesn’t stop us from continuing to seek wholeness and forgiveness?
Once a month at the church I currently lead we have a Sunday called ‘Sofa Sunday’ where we invite a guest to sit on our sofa on stage and answer some questions, as well as welcoming questions from those attending. In July 2023 instead of being the interviewer, I was the interviewee! It was fun being on the other side of the sofa and reflecting on my role, my faith and some things I’ve been thinking about recently.
In a talk for Oasis Church Bath, I talk about the concept of ‘reimagining’, drawing on biblical concepts and examples to inspire us as we think about how to reimagine our plans, beliefs and expectations when things in life perhaps don’t go as we’d hoped or expected.
This was a challenging collaborative effort, done with no budget, limited time and lots of wonderful volunteers! My former church – Vineyard Bath, wanted a short and simple film which communicated the overall vision and mission of the church. We decided to involve lots of different members of the church saying parts of the church vision statement to camera, with a nice white background created by a makeshift studio in the church office. We added text to introduce some colour and movement, and to make it more accessible. Here’s the final version…
We begged and borrowed a few different pieces of kit, but the film was shot using two Canon 5D Mark IIs, one with a 50mm prime lens and the other a 24 – 105 zoom lens. Sound was done with a Rode VideoMic Pro on a mic stand linked in to a Zoom H4 audio recorder.
One of my jobs is based in Bristol Baptist College, and this last year I’ve been working with the staff and students there to create a set of films called ‘Spotlight’. These films aim to tell the story of some of our students, and to provide a snapshot into life as a student on placement. Here are two finished films featuring congregational based students Anne Dunn and Luke Mansfield.
I am in hospital corridors.
White walls, white floors,
Dropped jaws.
Good news, baby born.
Bad news, treatment withdrawn.
First breath, last breath ever,
These are things that can go together.
I am in prison chains.
Blameless, the only one to blame.
I walk free but I’m crippled with shame,
That sticks and stains,
Despite life regained.
Righteous judgement, grace unmeasured,
These are things that can go together.
I am on battle ground.
Broken, beaten I will not back down.
Weakness is where real strength is found.
In failure, in loss, when enemies surround,
Mercy will come and justice abound.
Hard as a soldier, soft as a feather,
These are things that can go together.
I am in wooden pews.
Abusers seated beside the abused.
Unity, oneness, polarized views,
Wounded healers, beautiful, bruised,
Teachers, preachers, prophets, fools.
Honoured kings, forgotten beggars,
These are things that can go together.
I am under a broken tree.
A man hangs, bleeds for me.
He gives, I live, He dies, I’m free.
God and flesh, crushed seed,
Emptied, defeated, victoriously.
Death and life, now and never,
These are things that can go together.
