Cris Rogers

Christopher "Cris" Rogers (born February 4, 1979) was among the first to be ordained to the ordained pioneer ministry in the Church of England. He is currently the Vicar of All Hallows Church, Bow, London.

Biography

Early life and education

Rogers was born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire and attended Freeston High School, Normanton, where he gained 10 GCSEs. In 1996, he went on to study for a BTech in Art at Leeds College of Art and Design. In 2000, he received his bachelor’s degree in Theology from Trinity College, Bristol.

Christian ministry

After his Bachelor’s degree, Rogers went on to establish and lead a Christian Youth Congregation called The Gathering working with St Michael's Church Boldmere, Birmingham under the leadership of the then Vicar Peter Howell-Jones. Whilst leading the youth congregation, Rogers pioneered several creative ministry opportunities including a skate park ministry, which met on Saturdays involving young people around the area.

In 2004, Rogers went on to study for his master's degree in Theology from King's College London, and became the lead pastor of Soul Survivor Church in Harrow, northwest London.^[1]

Rogers was ordained deacon by the Bishop of London Richard Chartres to the Anglican Church on 30 June 2007, as an Ordained Pioneer Minister (O.P.M.) and ordained priest by the Area Bishop of Willesden Peter Broadbent in June 2008. Rogers was one of the first to be ordained to the role, which was seen as a breakthrough in creative leadership within the Church of England.

In September 2010 he moved to Devons Road, Bow in the East End of London, where he is Associate Vicar at All Hallows Church.^[2][3]

Other projects

Cris Rogers has been a featured speaker at Spring Harvest Christian Easter Conference where he has been involved in theological teaching for young adults. Rogers is also involved in teaching on a local London based theology course called 'Faith'. Rogers is becoming known for his dynamic bible teaching and was recently quoted in Christianity Magazine speaking about the future of the art form. Rogers was quoted to say that "Preaching has come to a desperate state where we now are on borrowed time. Communicating the gospel isn't dead but the traditional forms may well be. We need to put to death the monologue and be re-inspired with two-way communication. I don't think we have the liberty not to be creative anymore."^[4] The article describes Cris Rogers as a dynamic preacher who is always coming up with new ways of teaching the Bible. Rogers is creative through appealing to the senses, physically giving people some salt or water if that's what he's talking about, or cooking a bacon sandwich while talking about the food laws of Leviticus. "Jesus had illustrations right there where they were touchable. Yet when we preach so often we simply show a photo or describe a situation. What if we did what Jesus did and actually had the thing that was the illustration there for them to touch smell or taste?"^[4]

Rogers has also been a monthly theology writer for YouthWork Magazine writing for youth workers to understand the background to the books of the Bible.

In January 2004, Kevin Mayhew Publishing published Rogers' first book, Naked Christianity: Helping young people grasp issues of faith. Rogers undertook a speaking tour across the UK also titled "Naked Christianity" in the same year.

In December 2004, Rogers was also involved with Teachers TV when he was interviewed about how to communicate effectively in the RE class room while using one of Teachers TV’s discussion resources as an example.

Personal life

Rogers and his wife, Beki, have two children and live in Bow, London. She is also a curate at the church.^[2]

Books by Cris Rogers

• Naked Christianity: Helping young people grasp issues of faith (Kevin Mayhew, 2004) ISBN 978-1-84417-341-9 (out of print)
• Am I A Freak (Kevin Mayhew, 2005) ISBN 978-1-84417-480-5
• A Monkey's Orientation, A Book About Holiness (Authentic, 2008) ISBN 978-1-85078-782-2
• Practising Resurrection: The church being the hands feet and heart of Jesus (Authentic, 2010) ISBN 978-1-85078-860-7

Teaching by Cris Rogers can also be found on the podcast section of the Soul Survivor Church Harrow website or through Essential Christian.

Footnotes

1. ^ Not to be confused with Soul Survivor Church in Watford, a distinct church.
2. ^ ^{a b} Clergy moves August 2010, Diocese of London
3. ^ The Revd Christopher Rogers, Diocese of London
4. ^ ^{a b} Christianity Magazine, May 09

External links

• Information about Rogers on his church's website
• A Monkey's Orientation book review
• A streetbrand.com book review of A Monkey's Orientation
• Cris Rogers speak on the future of the Church in Youth Work Magazine Aug 09
• Interview with Cris Rogers on C Of E website
• All Hallows, Bow
• Cris Rogers Teaching at Essential Christian

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Name	Rogers, Cris
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Date of birth	February 4, 1979
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