*** DEBUG START ***
*** DEBUG END ***

In defence of the Alpha course’s content

by
07 March 2014

iStock

From the Revd Neil Britton
Sir, - I was deeply shocked by Canon Angela Tilby's comments in her column "Strategy or truth in mission?" (Comment, 21 February).

My first concern was her dismissal of the contents of the Alpha course as "banalities". She must know that these courses have been the means whereby thousands of people have come to faith in Christ and commitment to his Church? She is presumably reacting to goings-on at "Holy Spirit days".

I can testify, however, that many of those who responded to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives on such days are still, despite many challenges, active members of congregations. The Alpha leadership at national level is constantly reshaping Alpha so that it may continue to be used by the Spirit for the evangelism of this country.

My second concern was her statement that "there is almost no worthwhile Christian apologetic on offer to wrestle with questions of truth." Has she not read anything by, among others, Bishop Tom Wright, notably his questioning of some writers' arguments about whether the St Paul wrote the epistles attributed to him?

NEIL BRITTON
Rose Cottage, 7 Newbury Road
Kingsclere RG20 5SP


From the Revd Dr Catherine Shelley
Sir, - With reference to Canon Angela Tilby's article "Strategy or truth in mission?": recent statistics from the University of Birmingham may be instructive. It is notable that the highest attendance at an Anglican Society meeting this year was for a discussion on suffering; and the lowest was for an evening experiencing Messy Church.

Students very clearly stated that they wanted resources to be able to discuss their faith with others, a position that was also affirmed by the Christian Union's recent campus campaign.

CATHERINE SHELLEY
Anglican Chaplain
Multi Faith Chaplaincy
St Francis Hall
University of Birmingham
Birmingham B15 2TT

Browse Church and Charity jobs on the Church Times jobsite

Letters to the editor

Letters for publication should be sent to letters@churchtimes.co.uk.

Letters should be exclusive to the Church Times, and include a full postal address. Your name and address will appear below your letter unless requested otherwise.

Forthcoming Events

Women Mystics: Female Theologians through Christian History

13 January - 19 May 2025

An online evening lecture series, run jointly by Sarum College and The Church Times

tickets available

 

Festival of Faith and Literature

28 February - 2 March 2025

tickets available

 

Visit our Events page for upcoming and past events 

The Church Times Archive

Read reports from issues stretching back to 1863, search for your parish or see if any of the clergy you know get a mention.

FREE for Church Times subscribers.

Explore the archive

Welcome to the Church Times

 

To explore the Church Times website fully, please sign in or subscribe.

Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month. (You will need to register.)