Jane Williams

GodPod turns 50! The original team celebrate to the sound of popping champagne corks. (Well, sparkling wine, at least.) And while sipping on their bubbly, Graham, Mike and Jane discuss their vision for theology at the heart of the church, one of the core values of St Paul’s Theological Centre. Plus... is there any humour in the Bible? And is there anything that God cannot do?

How should the contemporary church engage with postmodernism? And what constitutes a successful church? Is there any encouragement for churches with small congregations and limited resources? Jane, Mike and Stephen discuss the church and mission, and also ask if there can ever be forgiveness without repentance.

Nick Spencer, the author of 'Darwin and God', joins Graham, Mike and Jane, to discuss the relationship between Charles Darwin's ideas about evolution and the Christian faith. On the 150th anniversary of the publication of 'On the Origin of Species', Nick explores Darwin's own faith and the impact of Darwin's theories on Christian theology. [Recorded 18 June 2009]

Mike, Jane and Chris explore the strengths and weaknesses of different translations of the Bible, including the King James Version, the New International Version, and The Message. The team also addresses the question of what we are to make of apparent contradictions in the Bible. Can all such passages be reconciled with one another? Or are they reflections of the different concerns of their authors? And, finally, did the Holy Spirit reveal truths to the Church Fathers that hadn't been revealed earlier to the apostles? [Recorded 21 May 2009]

What do we understand by the 'unconditional love of God' for ourselves and for others? Does it affect how we live? And does the good news of Jesus Christ mean that everyone will ultimately be saved? [Recorded 23 April 2009]

Nicky Gumbel, vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, joins Graham, Mike and Jane to discuss the use of the Bible in public preaching and in personal spirituality. How are our different personality types suited to various approaches to spirituality? How can church leaders use the Bible in preaching and pastoral ministry? And what is the place of interpretation in our approaches to the Bible? [Recorded 19 March 2009]

GodPod’s resident theologians are joined by Dave Bookless and Will Campbell-Clause from the Christian environmental organisation A Rocha. What might it mean for us to be stewards of creation? [Recorded 26 February 2009]

Graham, Mike and Jane discuss prayer with Pete Greig, a founder member of the 24-7 Prayer movement and Director of Prayer at HTB. Covering the history of the movement, they look at the growth of new monasticism and the uniting of prayer with social justice. And what are we to do with unanswered prayer? [Recorded 22 January 2009]

Nigel Biggar, Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at the University of Oxford, joins the GodPod team this week. How might Christians approach debates about ethical issues, such as euthanasia and abortion, in the public square? And what about the place of forgiveness and reconciliation between communities in troubled areas like Northern Ireland?

The resident theologians are joined by Luke Bretherton, Senior Lecturer in Theology and Politics, and Convenor of the Faith and Public Policy Forum at Kings College, London. Luke explores what contemporary urban spirituality might look like, and the team discuss the relationship between church and state in US politics, in the light of Barack Obama’s victory in the American presidential elections.