9 August 2024
An Urgent Appeal to Keswick

Dear Team and Trustees of the Keswick Convention

Since 1875 the Keswick Convention has been held with the primary purpose of helping attendees to know God better and to grow in godly living. Keswick is known around the world for its missionary zeal and desire to see Christians operate as “all one in Christ Jesus”. It is out of appreciation for these foundations and out of concern lest these should be eroded that we the undersigned Pastors and Christian leaders write.

On Wednesday 24 July, CBRUK and its church-focused project Brephos, having informed Keswick Convention leaders of its plans held a public education display showing the beauty of life - portraying a stunning picture of a 9 week living embryo. Due to the unashamedly pro-life nature of such a display - one that testifies to the fearful and wonderful way in which God makes each of us - some non-Christians took exception and not only sought to cover the display up, but behaved in an aggressive and violent way toward the CBRUK team. You will have doubtless seen CBR’s report on the day.

We write you in the spirit of “all one in Christi Jesus” - mourning that the Keswick Convention saw fit to align itself with non Christian people who are in favour of destroying pre-born human life, disowning the Christians of Brephos (who were never identified as part of the Convention anyway) and publicly expressing “sadness” at their important ministry endeavour. With over 200,000 abortions carried out in England and Wales every year and with our churches increasingly faced with the personal and pastoral ramifications of these, ministries like Brephos play a critical role in equipping God’s people in applying Biblical theology to practical day-to-day scenarios. It has therefore shocked many - including regular Keswick attendees - to see fellow followers of Christ operating in a lawful, approachable, and Christian manner on something of such import disparaged by the very ones who should be of most encouragement.

We urge you the Keswick Convention Team and Trustees to repent of your words against brothers and sisters in Christ, to affirm your own conviction of the Biblical, orthodox, and historic belief in the reality of life made in the image of God from conception, and to seek direct contact with Brephos and CBRUK for the purpose of reconciliation.

With sincere concern

285
signatures
250 verified
  1. Regan King, Pastor, The Angel Church, Angel, Islington, London
  2. Neil Richardson, Pastor, Penge Bible Church, Penge
  3. Angus R. Cameron, Elder, Reformed Baptist Church plant, South Glasgow, Glasgow
  4. John-William Noble, Pastor, Grace Baptist Church Aberdeen, Aberdeen
  5. Josh Fortune, Pastor, EFCC, London
  6. Sam Kavanagh, MD, KB Trading, Glasgow
  7. Jennie Sutton, Mother, also work part time within NHS, Cambridgeshire
  8. Clare M McCullough, Counsellor, The Good Counsel Network, LONDON
  9. Aaron Edwards, Theologian, author, preacher, Sheffield
  10. Eleanor Pabari, Full-time mum, East Street Baptist Church, London
  11. Duane Elkins, Church Leader, New Hope Christian Centre, Norwich
  12. Stephen Horton, Ass Pastor, Crystal Peaks Church, Sheffield
  13. Iain Clements, Minister, Latimer Congregational Church, Beverley
  14. Tim Boulton, Independent Non-Executive Director, CHESHIRE
  15. Joy Wilson, Home maker, Mother , wife , carer for my mother, Wareham
  16. Sam
  17. Rachel Low, Volunteer, HOPE Pregnancy UK, London
  18. Steve Deadman, Retired, Follower of Jesus, Southampton
  19. John Betts, Christian leader, City Ministry, Norwih
  20. Geoff Low, Elder, Mosaic Multicultural Church, London
...
210 more
verified signatures
  1. Sarah Davis, PA, Leeds
  2. Ruth Clemence, Writer, Cardiff
  3. linzi ogilvy, Norwich
  4. Daniel Mihet, Pastor, Bethany Evangelical Church, DUMFRIES
  5. Niel Deepnarain, Director and Founder, Unite for Education, Edinburgh
  6. James Wright, Retired, Bethany Evangelical Church, Dumfries
  7. Joseph Campos, Film maker, Halifax
  8. Kym Reeves, Housewife, CBRUK Sussex TEAM LEADER - volunteer, Hove
  9. Sylvia Hills, Retired Nurse, Gravesend
  10. Christina Eastwood, writer, Aberystwyth
  11. MARTHA LINDSAY, Chipping Norton, Fin
  12. Phil Peake, Chartered Engineer, Peterborough
  13. Alireza Ghazi-Torbati, Lawyer, Colchester/London
  14. Alan Dibden, Stamford
  15. Alfie Jones, Student, Exeter
  16. Russell Goulding, Retired, Itinerant Preacher, Grantham
  17. Juliet Goulding, Retired, Christian, Grantham
  18. Adele Pilkington, Physician, SCHB, Preston
  19. anonymous
  20. Mrs B E Redmond, Retired Christian, Taunton
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