The Church Times Podcast

The Revd Mark Meynell is Europe and Caribbean Director for Langham Preaching, part of the Langham Partnership. For nine years, he was on the senior ministry team at All Souls Langham Place, in London. His latest book, published by IVP, is called When Darkness Seems My Closest Friend. It explores the shame, confusion, exhaustion, isolation and despair of living with depression, especially as a Christian minister. It seeks wisdom from the Bible – especially the Psalms, which he describes as his “oxygen tank” in darkest times – although it does not pretend to offer easy answers. Ed Thornton spoke to Mark Meynell about the book.

This week, our reporters Madeleine Davies, Hattie Williams, and Adam Becket discuss the key debates and highlights from the General Synod in York, which finished on Tuesday. Plus, a survivor of clerical abuse, Gilo, tells us about a Synod fringe meeting on safeguarding, last Friday evening, and gives his thoughts on the debate on the House of Bishops report, which took place the next day. In this podcast, Gilo is joined by Martin Sewell, a retired child protection lawyer who represents the diocese of Rochester on the General Synod.

Guy Stagg spent 10 months walking from Canterbury to Jerusalem, following medieval pilgrim paths across 5,500 km. He began the journey after several years of mental illness, hoping that the walk would heal him. A non-believer, he wanted to understand religion by taking part in its rituals. The Crossway, published by Picador, is an account of his journey, a mix of travel and memoir, history and current affairs. Guy came into Church Times offices to talk about his extraordinary journey. The Crossway is available to buy from the Church House Bookshop. Subscribe to the Church Times Podcast on iTunes

On this week’s podcast, how can church investors step up pressure on corporate polluters to combat climate change? Ed Thornton talk to the Chief Investment Officer of Epworth Investment Management, Stephen Beer, who manages the investments of the Methodist Church. And we hear about GA Studdert Kennedy, or Woodine Willie, the World War 1 Chaplain. A new critical edition of his book of theology from the trenches, The Hardest Part, has just been published by SCM Press. Its editors, Professor Thomas O’Loughlin and the Revd Dr Stuart Bell, talk about his significance and influence. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

For this week’s podcast, Madeleine Davies spoke to Vicky Beeching, who was given an award last year by the Archbishop of Canterbury for her outstanding contribution to contemporary worship music. Her new memoir, Undivided, tells her story of coming out, becoming whole, and living free from shame. You can read the interview in this week’s Church Times.

Rob Bell was once the pastor of a megachurch in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was saluted by one newspaper as “the next Billy Graham”. Today, he is more likely to be found on stage at a stand-up comedy club in downtown Los Angeles than in a pulpit. Ed Thornton interviewed Bell for this week’s issue of the Church Times, and we post the full interview here, much of which didn’t make it into the paper. Rob Bell brings his Holy Shift Tour to the UK and Ireland from 2 to 14 of July. The tour is being organised by Greenbelt – for tour dates and to buy tickets, visit www.greenbelt.org.uk/rob-bell. Tickets are only available from the Greenbelt website in advance, not from the venues or on the night. You can subscribe to the Church Times Podcast on iTunes

This week, Madeleine Davies fills us in on the Archbishop of Canterbury's speech on Europe - a story the Church Times broke on Tuesday that has provoked outcry among Brexiteers. Plus, the Bishop of Derby, Alister Redfern, talks to Hattie Williams about the C of E's a new app to help people spot signs of slavery at car washes. And, an extract from a fascinating conversation between the former President of South Africa, F.W. de Klerk, and Lord Finkelstein, recorded at the 75th anniversary dinner of the Council of Christians and Jews. You can subscribe to the Church Times Podcast on iTunes.

This week, the Bishop of Burnley, Philip North, tells us why it is time richer dioceses shared their wealth with poorer ones; Madeleine Davies fills us in on the story of whether priests in Canterbury are being advised to betray the Seal of the Confessional; and Adam Becket goes to an interfaith Iftar meal in St John’s Wood Synagogue in London, where he speaks to the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan

This month sees the publication of Phoebe, Dr Paula Gooder’s first foray into fiction. The story of the Deacon and Patron mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Romans, it invites us into the world of first-century Christianity, in some respects, not so different to our own. In an interview with Madeleine Davies, Dr Gooder talked about the power of the imagination, women pursuing their calling then and today, and whether, as a Church, we’ve got any better at arguing with each other. The interview is published in this week's Church Times. Don’t forget that you can get 10 issues of Church Times for just £10. Go to churchtimes.co.uk/subscribe You can also subscribe to the Church Times Podcast on iTunes.

The political philosopher John Gray is the former Professor of European Thought at the London School of Economics. His best-selling books include Straw Dogs, False Dawn: The delusions of global capitalism, and Black Mass: Apocalyptic religion and the death of utopia. His new book, Seven Types of Atheism, is published by Allen Lane. We asked Nick Spencer, research director at Theos and author of Atheists: The origin of the species (Bloomsbury), to sit down with John Gray to talk about the new book, and about his philosophical and political journey. The conversation was recorded in a hotel bar in central London, so there is some background noise. An edited version of the interview is published in the 25 May issue of the Church Times, and an extended version on our website. You can subscribe to the Church Times Podcast on iTunes