The Winter 2023 edition of the Social Issues Bulletin is available

The Affinity Social Issues Team publish a Bulletin three times a year that aims to inform the church on matters of social, ethical and legal concern for Christians. Each issue is free to download.

This Winter edition of the Social Issues Bulletin opens with a very practical article written by Dr Julie Maxwell which seeks to help Christian parents navigate the confusing world of gender identity. Dr Maxwell guides us through the terminology and provides insight into what is happening in UK schools, she also offers practical advice and resources for churches. Next James Mildred, from CARE, asks and answers the very relevant question, ‘Will assisted suicide laws ever be compatible with a Christian worldview?’ It’s well worth reading this concise and informative piece on this topic which is regularly in the media. Following on we have a connected article on a biblical perspective on adult social care, Stephen Hammersley from Pilgrims Friends, shares how individuals, churches and society can engage with this often forgotten group of people. Next we have a helpful update, ‘What happened with the “online safety bill”?’, this follows on from an article we published in the June 2022 Issue of The Bulletin. Jeremy Peckham then continues his series of articles on AI with the second titled: ‘Made in His image: Implications for our use of AI’. Dr Calum MacKellar again then helpfully provides us with a short summary on the current bioethical issues we’re facing and we are then provided with a summary of the current individual Christian legal battles the Christian Legal Centre are confronting. We close this Issue with a review article and two book reviews: Dr Carys Moseley takes an in depth look at what Professor Steven Greer’s hounding for Islamophobia teaches us and how Christians might to respond; we have a review of Iain McGilchrist’s 1,500-page book, The Matter With Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World; and close with a review of Chris Martin’s practical book, The Wolf in Their Pockets: 13 Ways the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead.

We’re grateful for the contributions to this excellent Issue of The Bulletin and believe you will find it insightful and practical.

Download the full Winter edition of the Social Issues Bulletin for free here:

The Social Issues Bulletin 54