Julie Wood reports that, “his current group is made up of
people half from the care home and half from St. Georges', the local church So
far they have talked about prayer, that it gets difficult and sometimes stops
and have come up with suggestions and been generally supportive about that.
“They have talked about their lives and the changes in being
a Christian that have gone on for them, such as transitioning from being Roman
Catholic to Anglican. They've also talked about the fact that the early churches
were building-free, but the church nowadays -- at least the mainstream church
-- is slave to buildings. Ken’s church is really struggling with maintenance
costs.” – Conversations that we in North America can certainly resonate with as
well!!
Ken is on his way soon to Perth, to address a meeting of the
Retired Anglican Clergy in Scotland.
“Apparently, Julie says, “he was going to talk about 'My
Future' but is now more inclined to talk about his autobiography and
different ways of being a Christian, as life has led him. However he says he
does all these things on the hop and might change his mind completely when he
sees people's faces.”
Ken is also resuming some speaking activity in England. He
is scheduled to go to Oxford to talk with the Christian Socialist Group, on how
Christianity impacts socialism, and vice versa.
“Ken says he thinks this is tricky since he thinks Socialism
is a goner in the UK,” Julie says. “On current affairs he thinks Cameron and Osborne [to us in North America those are
the Tory Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor of the Exchequer George
Osborne] are mad to continue austerity and there is an alternative and the
churches should say so but he can't see it likely to happen much. On the
new war against ISIS, Ken thinks the UK should leave NATO but says he has been
saying that forever.
“As for me," Julie says, “I'm in the Green Party for England
and Wales and active in my local party and am on the national conferences
committee. We are busy with demonstrating for alternative economies and are
optimistic that we will win a few more seats in the General Election and are
putting up a 75% slate around the country.
“We think that even though we don't expect to win we will
influence the currently major parties. For example in our conference we
announced a £10 minimum wage and then Labour announced an £8 one.” Here in the
US, for the Republicans to jump on any alternative bandwagon is unheard of, so
from our point of view that sounds like solid political progress.
And in conclusion? “Ken says he hasn't read any good books
lately; he's run out.”
Which sounds to me like those of us who are “Friends of Ken”
should send him some suggestions of what we have been reading!!
