Steve Chalke
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Steve Chalke is a prominent, and often outspoken, Christian leader in the UK, and an ordained Baptist minister. Steve Chalke set up Oasis Trust in 1985, while serving as assistant minister of Tonbridge Baptist Church, Kent. In 2001 he founded Faithworks, a movement for Christian social action. He is also the founder of Church.co.uk, based in Waterloo, London. He is the author of over 40 books and is a regular presenter and contributor on television and radio programmes. In 2004 he was awarded a MBE for his services to inclusion by the Queen.
In 2005 Steve became the official holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest amount of sponsorship money ever raised by an individual through a single event. He broke this record by raising £1.25 million (previously it had stood at £1.13 million) for Oasis academies through running the London Marathon.
Chalke is the Chair of Stop The Traffik, a global coalition of over 600 charities that is working to stop the buying and selling of people.
Chalke's latest book, published in March 2006, is called Intelligent Church and is published by Zondervan.
[edit] Controversy
A recent book written by Steve Chalke, The Lost Message of Jesus (published in 2004) by Zondervan, provoked large amounts of controversy, including several critical reviews as well as huge support around the world. The Evangelical Alliance organised a symposium in July 2005 to discuss issues arising from the publication of the book, particularly over the doctrine of the atonement. Two books have been written in response to Steve Chalke's position on the atonement. [1] [2].
Steve Chalke has been criticised by some producers within the chocolate industry for his stance on their policy of harvesting cocoa from farms where, they claim, it is impossible to guarantee that no 'chocolate slaves' or bonded workers are forced to serve.
Steve Chalke and Faithworks are at the forefront of the ongoing debate about the provision of public services in the UK by faith based groups.
