Mark Woods

The Great Schism: Why it's taken 1,000 years for the Pope and the Patriarch to meet
The head of the Roman Catholic Church and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church are to meet for the first time in nearly 1,000 years tomorrow.

What can we learn from Elijah? #4: Small things can change the world
Even the smallest good thing is an emblem of the Kingdom of God, and a token of his power.

The story of the man who taught the English to sing hymns
Name the best Christian song-writers working in English today and we'd all have our own opinions.

What do the stories of Jesus' temptation tell us today?
Lent is modelled on the stories of Jesus fasting in the wilderness after his baptism and before the beginning of his ministry.

Can the Church save the planet? Green energy shows the way
Churches across the UK are being encouraged to swap their homes and churches to renewable energy.

Former homeless and ex-drug addicts lead new Church of England prayer campaign
Men and women who found faith at a homeless centre in Halifax are to feature in a series of short dramatic films for Lent and Easter launched by the Church of England today.

Love Lent? 5 ways to make it more biblical
I have, to be honest, always been a bit ambivalent about giving things up for Lent.

What can we learn from Elijah? #3: God doesn't need convincing
Elijah's encounter with the prophets of Baal teaches us the power of grace over works.

What can we learn from Elijah? #2: Death is not the final word
We should praise God for our blessings; but nothing gives us a right to expect that we're somehow immune from trouble and sorrow.

Sunday trading: Why it's back on the agenda, and why it shouldn't be
According to the Sun on Sunday, which has campaigned on the issue, at least 150 local councils have said they believe widespread opening will be good for them and create jobs.

Georgia's new 'blasphemy law' seeks to ban religious insults
The bill has been approved at the committee stage and will be debated on the floor of the parliament.

After Larycia Hawkins, what next for Wheaton College?
The professor who sent the evangelical world into theological meltdown by saying on Facebook that Christians and Muslims "worship the same God" and was facing the termination of her employment is indeed leaving, but with her head held high.

Which is most violent, the Qur'an or the Bible?
Comparing the eight major emotions â joy, anticipation, anger, disgust, sadness, surprise, fear/anxiety and trust â the Old Testament is the 'angriest' and contains the least 'joy'.

What can we learn from Elijah? #1: We're called to stand with the poor
Elijah was one of the greatest of all the Old Testament prophets, but one of the most memorable stories about him is small-scale and domestic.
Why do Anglican clergy spend five times as long on admin as on outreach?
The Experiences of Ministry Survey 2016 is a project of the clergy resourcing organisation Ministry Development.

Burkina Faso: Al Qaeda frees kidnapped missionary Jocelyn Elliott, but husband Ken still held
Jocelyn Elliot was released after Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) announced in a video message it would free her.