Church Refugees

On one level using the term refugees seems weird. But on another level it's entirely accurate.

We're talking about people of faith who have fled the church. It's a place they'd perhaps like to come back to one day, but for now they've started a new life somewhere outside of churchland.

Josh Packard and Ashleigh Hope have written the book Church Refugees. You can download a sample chapter and you can hear Josh being interviewed about it.

One of the big takeaway points is that these 'refugees' are often the people who are strongly committed to faith, and who have previously done a lot of work in the church.

Even now, living away from the church they pray more than church attenders do. They also find that by not being part of church they can live out their faith more effectively.

It seems to me that these are committed Christians who are frustrated with a church that isn't. A church that is more about keeping the wheels ticking over than in following Jesus.

What's wrong with this picture

This photo was made public by the Uniting Church. The man on the left was being thanked and recognised for his contribution in role of what is effectively a 2IC of the church in this state.

Except for lingerie, at the moment I can't think of a more feminine and inappropriate gift to give the man. Particularly a man who is 6 foot tall with broad shoulders and a shaved head. At least he didn't get the pink flowers. But that's kind of like buying a man black lingerie and saying is masculine because it's not the pink set.

I think we can do better.