What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Knowing Me, Knowing You – Monday evening

    I’m doing another Knowing Me, Knowing You evening on Monday evening and there’s still a couple of places free. (I limit this one to 20 people in order to keep the conversation flowing).

    Here’s the official notice:

    ————

    Knowing Me, Knowing You – Monday 23 September 2013 at 7.30 pm in the Synod Hall.

    An evening of conversation with the Cathedral Provost, the Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth. This is limited to 20 people to ensure the converation flows and there are still a few places left. Kelvin will be speaking about what brought him to St Mary’s, what his vision is for the congregation and is prepared to answer any questions.

    This is an ideal event for anyone new to the congregation but is also open to those who have been around for a while but who have not previously attended one of these evenings.

    To reserve a place, please contact Jo in the Cathedral Office using this online form: Book a place

    ———–

    I try very hard not to model this on An Evening With Dame Edna Everidge, really I do.

    Always a good opportunity to get to know me a bit better and ask some questions. (Really, I’ll take questions about anything…). Particularly good for anyone who is finding a way into St Mary’s. Also open to old stagers who’ve not been to one of these evenings before and also those who read this blog and are provost-curious but have not quite made it to church yet.

     

4 responses to “Book Review”

  1. Peter O Avatar
    Peter O

    I think you miss the point of the book Kelvin. It’s meant to be a guide to listening to *all* sides of the debate, not just those you agree with. That’s what makes the last section so good, because it forces us to deal realistically not just with the genuine evidence on the causality of homosexuality, but also the fact that some people *do* see remarkable change in their sexual orientation (and that others don’t).

    I wrote my own review here.

    Reply
  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    We were not called by the last Lambeth Conference to listen to all sides in the debate.

    Reply
  3. ryan Avatar
    ryan

    Ruth Gledhill has posted a PDF of the whole thing, for those interested:
    http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/files/Final.pdf

    Reply
  4. Rosemary Avatar
    Rosemary

    I’ve now read the ‘scientific’ section – thanks for the link ryan – and I thought it was mixed. I thought Glynn Harrison made a serious attempt at dispassion. I think it is a fair point that any person must decide their own priorities, and the final argument must be between theologies, not sciences. I was not so impressed by David de Pomerai – though one could hardly quarrel with his conclusion that we simply do not know exactly what makes one person homosexual and the next heterosexual. However his whole argument was bedevilled by assumptions that, e.g. homosexual men will be more effeminate than straight ones. Anecdotal evidence instantly produces examples where it is the straight male siblings who are drama queens and run from spiders, while gay ones take it all in their stride.

    It must be accepted that both gay and straight people live with voluntary or enforced celibacy with no ill effects – and that some people can change their sexual orientation and live happily with the change. What I found truly heart rending were the desperate attempts and the high cost to those who actually did succeed in changing orientation – however much Harrison denies the skin colour analogy, it reminded me painfully of those endless jars of skin lightener which encrust Sri Lankan chemists, where beauty is measured in skin tone. Because whether or not genetic, orientation is not a simple free choice. But I suppose the answer would be: ‘And what is?’

    The final point, though, is always the same. Is Christianity a religion of an authoritative book, or an authoritative Person?

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Posts

  • Poetry Break

    Let us have a little break for a poem – as heard in the Archers on Thursday… The Bargain My true love hath my heart, and I have his, By just exchange one for another given: I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss, There never was a better bargain driven: My true love…

  • The Advent Wreath Candle Controversy

    I was just in conversation with my American correspondent in the Diocese of Argyll about Liturgical Matters. It transpires that there is schism between us. It is my belief that the candles on an Advent Wreath should be red, with the possible addition of a white one in the middle at Midnight Mass. It is…

  • Preparation

    I’m just about getting my head around the services to come over the next few weeks. An office day yesterday sorted out a lot of the questions and the Great Printing can soon begin. The presses will roll next week, when I am safely out of the way in Sweden. I’ve no idea who thought…

  • Book Review – Inspires

    Rabble-Rouser for Peace – the authorised biography of Desmond Tutu by John Allan (Rider Books – £18.99) Episcopal biographies are a very specialised form of literature. I remember during one of the many (over 50) interviews that formed a part of my selection for ministry being told that all that I needed to do was…