Jude Smith

This happy little typo is stuck to the front door of a local house here. As I delivered Christmas publicity the other day I was in part amused and in part intimidated by the sign. These things are often accompanied by a large hound waiting to eat anything that dare to venture beyond the rubber seal of the letter box. As I've reflected on the last few days, and as I caught the last episode of the BBC Nativity, its all hit home a bit harder. When Mary and Joseph sought somewhere to stay this was the response they got. The BBC producers and directors have hit on something in their sense that Mary and Joseph were too scandalous to receive welcome. And so as John pens; the light had come into the world but the world could not receive Him. Arriving in scandal and misunderstanding the Christ child is told to, well I refer you to the picture. This Christmas, Christ comes to us, still mired with the controversies of those who bear Him into the world. My prayer is that somehow He may ...

I think I was funnier this morning..

Now normally in my role the word kettle would be used in a sentence that goes something like: "shall we put the kettle on?". However, that would be far too dull to blog about so as you may have gathered this is about 'student' protests and kettling. It seems to me that kettling has to stop. As much because it doesn't work as any issue of human rights. To use a tactic that was I suspect finely honed in dealing with football fans, really is not going to work. Some students broke off the official route because they didn't want to be kettled. As to the violence. Not acceptable or helpful full stop. Unwise but instructive as to an underlying tension. What became clear to me is that we actually have two issues. The media, because it reminds us of our own student days?, will major on tuition fees at higher ed level. But the anger I want to suggest is among those who have already had their EMA cut. EMA helps poorer kids to be subsidised through further educat...

Given that I will be so caught up in Royal Wedding joy (sense the irony) nearer the event, I thought I would chuck in my thoughts on AV now.. I'm anti. It seems to me that AV gives an excuse to not reform constituency boundaries which is something which the country needs. It still bases an entire system on constituency MP's, which whilst honourable is actually somehow unworkable.. (its very difficult to be a good constituency MP if you have Government duties: not impossible.. my MP does it but its hard). However my fundamental objection to AV is that its a validation of the notion that we should the least repulsive. Ultimately in AV the middle wins. It becomes safe and dull.. In any kind of tight race it will be the the person who gets most second choices who will win. And that is a triumph of mediocrity. I don't think it bodes well.. I could refer to the era when the Church of England was run by the second choices, second sons who were safe and all that.. We still bear...

Its 7.15am, and I'm in the midst of my most productive time of the day. 6.45- 7.30 seems to be my administrative high point just now. I'm wondering what it says about me and life. There's something about working in the dark. There is something about working when no-one else is up. There is something about the space and peace and knowing that very few people will be returning emails at this time of day. And somehow there is a small and sacred space for me where I hear God's whispers more clearly. Perhaps thats the product of all the other factors but there is a closeness in the work I do at this time of day.. The challenge is staying non tired enough to be able to be up this early..

The cuts are upon us. As a church leader in an area where 86% of people receive benefits I feel a bit stuck. This community, which is I think 80%+ social housing, will have budgets cut around it. There may be a little bit more money for the school but only if it buys into the idea that poor people are not capable of looking after their children (extra nursery hours).. or that everyone wants the upper middle class work an family set up. In my church I am aware that a quarter of my folk could face their benefits (incapacity) disappear even though they are not fit to work. This will be tough. But I'm not going to just moan and complain.. I'm hoping that we can do something about it. Yes, I will follow the long tradition of Christian socialism and will campaign and be civilly disobedient if necessary. But I will also subvert, and I will ask the church to be involved. So people I am asking you to consider unofficial redistribution. Remembering this gospel is about the other, I ...