Cris Rogers

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.

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, North West London.Not to be confused with Soul Survivor Church in Watford, a distinct church.

Rogers was ordained deacon by the Bishop of London Richard Chartres to the Anglican Church in June 2007. He was then ordained as a Pioneer Minister and a Priest by the Area Bishop of Willesden Pete 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 was Associate Vicar at All Hallows, Church[http://communications.london.anglican.org/ministrymatters/2010/08/clergy-moves-august-2010/ Clergy moves August 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721180557/http://communications.london.anglican.org/ministrymatters/2010/08/clergy-moves-august-2010/ |date=21 July 2011 }}, Diocese of London[http://www.london.anglican.org/PersonShow_60001339 The Revd Christopher Rogers], Diocese of London before being licensed as Rector to the same church in January 2015.

In 2020 Rogers became the Chair of the Spring Harvest Planning Group. Rogers has been teaching at Spring Harvest since 2002 joining the Planning Group in 2012.

Rogers is Planning Group Chair at Spring Harvest Christian Easter Conference where he has been involved in theological teaching and writing since 2011.

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 as saying 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."Christianity Magazine, May 09

The article describes Rogers as a dynamic preacher who is always coming up with new ways of teaching the Bible. Cris 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?"

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 October 2022, Rogers updated edition of The Bible Book by Book, won the CRT Bible Reference Award. {{Cite web|url=https://spckpublishing.co.uk/the-bible-book-by-book|title=The Bible Book by Book|website=spckpublishing.co.uk|accessdate=26 March 2023}}

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.

Rogers worked with Rob Peabody on a series called Kingdom Rise. A new way forward in Christian resources, this small group study combined Bible study with films and a worship album promoting issues of worship and justice.

Rogers worked with Peabody on The Pursuit conference,{{cite web|url=http://www.thepursuit.co.uk|title=The Pursuit|access-date=26 March 2023}} a four-day, 24/7 worship, prayer gathering discussing community and justice issues. It is a weekend of retreat for people to engage with God and people in a real and authentic way. The first conference was in May 2015 followed up in 2016.

Rogers and his wife, Beki, have two children and live in Bow, London. She is also Associate Rector at the church.

• The Bible Book by Book Updated Edition (Monarch, 2022) {{ISBN|978-1-8003-0041-5}}[http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/index.php/books/322-the-bible-book-by-book-by-cris-rogers Book review: The Bible Book by Book by Cris Rogers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707151843/http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/index.php/books/322-the-bible-book-by-book-by-cris-rogers |date=7 July 2013 }}, Baptist Times, 24 June 2012
• What if We Knew What God Knows About Us (Monarch Books; (20 Mar. 2018)) {{ISBN|978-0857219039}}
• Making Disciples(Monarch Books; 1st New edition (20 Mar. 2015)) {{ISBN|978-0857216373}}
• Immeasurably More: To a Dehydrated Church Jesus Has Immeasurably More to Offer. (Essential Christian (20 April 2018)) {{ISBN|978-1911237082}}
• 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}}
• The Bible Book by Book (Monarch, 2012) {{ISBN|978-0-85721-016-6}}
• The Rebel's Guide to the Good News (Elevation, 2013) {{ASIN|B00CEU8IQM}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.allhallowsbow.org.uk/ All Hallows, Bow]

{{cleanup list|date=December 2015}}

• [http://www.christianitymagazine.co.uk/reviews/books/a%20monkeys%20orientation.aspx A Monkey's Orientation] book review
• [http://www.streetbrand.com/20081221799/books/a-monkeys-orientation.html A streetbrand.com book review of A Monkey's Orientation]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100426172947/http://www.youthwork.co.uk/magazine/bible-teaching.html Cris Rogers speak on the future of the Church in Youth Work Magazine Aug 09]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081231181539/http://www.cofe.anglican.org/podcast/apr08/voices18.html Interview with Cris Rogers on C Of E website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110710203240/https://www.essentialchristian.com/cris-rogers Cris Rogers Teaching at Essential Christian]

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Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Pontefract

Category:Alumni of King's College London

Category:Alumni of Leeds Arts University

Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Bristol

Category:Anglican writers

Category:21st-century Church of England clergy