Reel Issues

Reel Issues authors

Our experienced writers and group facilitators on film and faith include ...

Duncan Strathie. Duncan is Ministry Training Officer with the Diocese of Winchester and is always looking for opportunities to use film in training programmes for both lay and ordained ministers. He is particularly interested in the impact of cinema on spirituality today and how people use film to try and find meaning. He regularly lectures on film and theology and leads courses and retreats exploring different themes in film. His MA explored the character of Neo from The Matrix as a type of Christ figure.

Jeremy Clarke. Jeremy is a journalist covering film, animation and related media. He has contributed to numerous magazines over the last three decades, among them Third Way, What's On (London), Manga Max (formerly Manga Mania), Starlog (UK) and Films & Filming. Work has also appeared in such books as The BFI Companion To Horror, the Aurum (Overlook in US) Film Encyclopedia/Gangsters and Film Review Annual 2007-8. He runs a network marketing business in his spare time.

Ian Maher. Ian is Multifaith Chaplaincy Co-ordinator at Sheffield Hallam University. Ian is a Church Army officer who has used Reel Issues approaches in evangelism and church settings. He regularly lectures on film and faith and is author of Reel Issues (Bible Society, 1998) and Faith and Film (Grove Books, 2002).

Stephen Brown. Stephen is a part-time Anglican parish priest, group trainer and an internationally known authority on feature films. Stephen is chaplain to Yorkshire Television, a broadcaster, film festival jury member, film critic for The Church Times and contributor to the recently published Encyclopaedia of British Film. He is currently writing a book on movie locations in Yorkshire.

David McCoulough. David is Chaplain to Commerce and Industry, based at St Peter's in Nottingham city centre. He has worked in partnership with Broadway Cinema and Nottingham City and County Councils in showing films in churches and teaching Faith and Film courses. Previously Chaplain at Ripon and York St John College, David was involved with the Theology through Film and Literature course for undergraduates. His MA examined the humanity of Jesus in movies and humour and theology in film.

Matt Adcock. Matt is a film reviewer for an award winning group of regional newspapers and for the national Baptist Times. He watches 200 films a year, has interviewed several leading Hollywood actors and is a house group leader at Stopsley Baptist Church in Luton. When he isn't munching popcorn, Matt is PR and Marcoms Manager for an international marketing consultancy.

Gareth Higgins. Gareth is a freelance writer and author of How Movies Helped Save My Soul (Relevant). He is the director of the zero28 Project, a post-sectarian initiative in Northern Ireland, seeking to pursue peace, justice and care for the earth with some popular culture thrown in for good measure.

Joanne Appleton. Joanne is a freelance journalist and Communications Officer for Redcliffe College, Gloucester. Before fulfilling her ambition of becoming a writer, she worked as a physiotherapist and then a full-time mother. Joanne and her family are part of Jacob's Well, an "emerging" church aiming to journey alongside spiritual seekers. She also leads a weekly group where women can explore spiritual issues in a safe environment.

Anthony Clarke. Anthony was born on the mission field in Brazil and grew up in a manse. He trained at Regent's Park College, Oxford to be a Baptist Minister and has served churches in Dagenham and Oxford. He is currently Tutor in Community Learning at Regent's Park College involved in both the training of ministers and wider training in local churches. He is author and editor of several books including Flickering Images: Theology and Film in Dialogue.

Barry Taylor. Barry is our Englishman in LA. He teaches theology and pop culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, Advertising and Creativity at the Los Angeles Art Center College of Design and composes music and songs for movies. In cyberspace, Barry is online editor for Shuffle, a discussion site for emerging culture and spirituality, WWW.OSBD.ORG/SHUFFLE In real space (does he have any?), he loves a good cup of PG Tips.

Lindsay Shaw. Lindsay is editor of Reel Issues and Creative Resources Officer at Bible Society.