benedson

Gender in the Media

A couple of articles have caught my eye over the last 24hrs with regards to gender that have got me thinking about gender, so I'd be interested to hear your thoughts...

The first one was about the serial bigamist in Manchester.  Watch the news report, which contains this quote: 'Females are different they tend to obsessed by the ritual of the occasion, here they are the centre of attention'

The second one was from The Times yesterday claiming that Women are getting more beautiful: 'Scientists have found that evolution is driving women to become ever more beautiful, while men remain as aesthetically unappealing as their caveman ancestors'.

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Tags: BenEdson, Gender, Media

Hand-Gel, Antiseptic wipes and Communion.

Last week we were instructed by the diocese to implement 'flu protocols 2,3,45 and 6' meaning that the common chalice was withdrawn, the peace would not be shared with any touching on people and we were advised to avoid physical contact it at all possible. 

Yesterday morning I picked up my bottle of antiseptic hand-wash and if I shook hands with a person, not advisable of course, i would have to clean my hands before shaking another persons hand.  Most people within church looked perplexed and when told of the instructions everyone's hands seemed to go into their pockets or behind their backs.  It was somewhat surreal and communion was even stranger.

However, it was the antiseptic hand wash that I felt was the most dehumanizing and very much reminded me of being in prison working with the chaplaincy service.  Often within that context you would be given some anti-septic handwash and after shaking hands with prisoners you would spray it onto your hands.  Cleaning the dirt off.  I know that the context is different, I know that the situation is different, I know that we have to be seen to doing the right thing, but it triggered that memory in me and no-doubt it would trigger that memory in others. 

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Tags: SwineFlu, Ben Edson

Called to the Centre?

The rhetoric of this second phase of Fresh Expressions seems to place a large focus on embedding fresh expressions in the ordinary life of the traditional church. Fresh Expressions, as an institution, is moving towards the centre. My personal vocation has always been to the edges, and hence I personally react against this move towards the centre. It may be that the move towards the centre is correct for Fresh Expressions, but my question is whether this centripetal movement is missional suicide for fresh expressions.

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