Last month, yet another prominent Christian leader stood back from his role due to allegations relating to safeguarding and abuse. We await the outcome of ongoing investigations, but we all know that this is just the latest in a long
“The things that make for peace”. A reflection for Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday sermon, based on Mal 3:1-5; Luke 19:35-45, by the director of the CSBV, Helen Paynter.
The Blessing of Ishmael

CSBV Research Associate Ashley Hibbard invites us to read Genesis 16 and to consider the place of Ishmael in the Old Testament story and beyond.
A Violent Fast

This sermon on Isaiah 58 was preached by CSBV director Helen Paynter during Lent of 2022.
Bibliolog and Bibliodrama – an approach to playing with sacred texts

In this guest post David Tatem introduces Bibliodrama and Bibliolog, two ways of engaging with biblical texts which could be used to explore texts of violence.
Book review: Texts After Terror: Rape, Sexual Violence, and The Hebrew Bible

Alexiana Fry reviews Rhiannon Graybill’s new book Texts After Terror: Rape, Sexual Violence, and The Hebrew Bible
King Saul & Moral Injury

Research Associate Peter King suggests that we might look at King Saul in a new light, finding new insights in his story for preaching and pastoral care.
A review of ‘The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill’: On Mark Driscoll, intimidation, and power

This author highlights the importance of power literacy, the role of intimidation in the culture of Mars Hill, and the centrality of gender in Driscoll’s teaching.
Abuse and its angles of power

A script from a Keynote event with speaker Helen Paynter on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Nov 2021.
A Prisoner of War Opens The Door

This Remembrance Day we share this personal family story from Revd Glen Robins. There has always been something enigmatic about my Uncle Roy. I wore his winter jacket when I was in high school. And his pictures were always faithfully