Dear Vicar - Comments

Having sought to answer the questions I will now turn my attention to the comments:

"You appear to be very frustrated by many above you and even more alongside you."

Well I suppose this is true to some degree but isn't this true for everyone regardless of what they do wherever it is that they do it? I am frustrated by those senior types who miss the pastoral, evangelistic and grounded theological opportunities and am even more frustrated by those who fail to pastor because they are otherwise distracted, but they are few and far between (and so even more frustrating when they turn up). Of course we all get distracted, tired, disillusioned and negative at times I guess and so this is probably a weakness in me as much, if not more, than them.

"It would seem from the way that you write that you are very much a polymath in that you have myriad strands to your ministry and your experience both prior to ordination and since appears to indicate great width and almost multiple-lived lives."

I guess a polymath is someone who knows stuff about a lot of different and so I can but plead guilty as charged as long as I don't have to be an expert, or the authority, that is. I have indeed lived a number of lives and have a pretty wide-ranging ministry thanks to my inability to never say the dreaded word 'No' that is. I have a number of chaplaincy roles and do a fair few deanery and diocesan type roles as well and these add up to something rather different I guess. Thus far I've been a techie, scientist, IT person, flyer, sporty type, embryonic theologian, musician, poet, trainer, pastor, Anglican dog-collar (apologies if this offends, not my intention), soldier and much more besides. All this conspires that even when the life has passed the memories carry on and their resonances colour the rest of the portrait in progress.

"I hope you do not think this communication offensive or too pressing but I am confused as you write as if you don't want to be quoted, as so many do, or seen to be an authority, the last word' or from a place of fame (sought or gained)."

As I have said before, I don't write to be the authority but for myself in the hope that others may glean something of worth, and am happy to leave the task of writing for the sake of being whatever they seek to those who seek it. I am happy to be quoted and am equally happy to be challenged because either act brings further thinking and dialogue, internally and externally, and this can only be good. I don't write sound bytes or take up a topic to be noted and quoted, but good luck to those that do, I hope it works for them and they achieve whatever it is that floats their boat - but it's not me.

"You don't quote yourself like so many with their tiresome 'best of nnnn' or a 'my greatest blogs' link and do not mention those who have quoted you either. Is this some self-effacing part of your personality or is it intended?"

I guess I have answered this but I can't post, "As quoted by Ruth Gledhill," or claim to have been the specialist source for the Guardian, BBC or anything else as, as far as I know Ms Gledhill and all the other media don't know I exist and have never quoted me either. So not false pride, just living in the reality that few know who I am and more probably wouldn't care if they did. As for producing lists of my best post, comment or whatever - don't suppose you can have a list with one or less items in it and this explains my reluctance to so do this :)

"I look forward to hearing your response and wish you and your family a Happy New Year for 2012."

Well here it is and I hope it has explained enough about me to answer your questions and to give you some the desired insight, understanding and whatever it is that you were looking for and a very Happy New Year to you and yours (and those who read this) too!



Pax