And then they explained how both definitions fitted and my goodness me, was I depressed!
The sentence was this,
"Gosh, the parochial church council was really worked up by some of the goings on around them this week but when we started to scratch the surface they were so parochial I understood why some had rung their bell and got them going!"
The first use of the word 'parochial' in which it relates to the Parish (a geographical area served by a church) and the word 'parochial' which in this sense means being in possession of a rather limited or narrow outlook or understanding.
The big problem when we are parochial (in the limited sense) is that we can become rather myopic and limited in our understanding and engagement as Church (which means universal or much bigger than the limited geographic parish entity). This manifests itself in a number of ways:
Sometimes, where a parish consists of more than one church there is an attitude that is one church is preeminent or predominant and that all, and any, others within the geographic patch are much less than them. This is sometimes found where there is one historic church from which the others in the area have come about (in this case the preeminent church is called the patron or 'Mother' church) and this church, being the eldest or the biggest or being in possession of some attribute considered to make it of worth to those within in, decides that it is therefore also the most important. This is sometimes found where, being a team, there is one church that is home to the 'Team rector' and the attitude that says. "We must be important because we have the senior cleric in our church," applies.
Sometimes it occurs when one church in the parish is well off, pretty or in possession of some other trait which those who attend it consider to be enough to make them the star.
The bottom line is that regardless of the reason for the attitude the attitude is ALWAYS wrong! From the youngest to the oldest church building, the richest to the poorest, the nicest to the most awful patch served these truths apply:
There is ONE Church and this is the Church of Jesus Christ!
In a parochial system there are many parishes but regardless of how many buildings, or how rich (or poor, they are - each is equal and and equally important!
'Daughter church' is not, and must never become, a negative! Neither is it a statement of rank and never is it a putdown - it just means that it was planted from another (which we call 'Mother') church. Regardless we must never regard the 'Mother' church as the preeminent or most important church in the patch either to the detriment of any of the others in the locality - they are just different and that's all there is too it.
The same applies to those churches that abut our parishes or reside within our Deaneries (a collection of parishes within a geographic area such as a town) or dioceses (a collection of parishes across an even wider geographic area) - regardless of where they are: posh, poor, urban, rural, suburban, estate church or cathedral - each has it value and its merits and is to be considered of equal merit but different!
Sadly the person I have been speaking to has had their fill of the one true church and its battle with the poorer, and of much less merit than them, other churches and has decided that they are going to throw in the towel and seek pastures new (apparently they've seen it and applied already). This is a shame because they've been doing (if what they tell me is true) some really good stuff where they have been. It is a shame because those they are leaving will probably never change their views regarding their ancient pile with its diminishing numbers and increasing financials demands and will never support the younger upstarts who are doing the stuff and being effective where they are monumentally ineffective.
Sadder still is the fact that they aren't moving sticks to somewhere near me (would have loved to have them nearer) and that they are wounded and broken by their experience thus far.
So here is a plea:
PLEASE pray for those clergy who struggle in divided parishes.
PLEASE pray for unity in parishes and between all churches in our towns and cities praying, as Jesus' prayed in John 17, that this might be seen and made real in each and every church and between each and every church:
"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
As someone who is out there trying hard to get people to do stuff together I struggle with churches (meaning the building) and those who inhabit them who seek to pull down others and exalt their pile of bricks to the detriment of the Gospel.
Can I just say:
STOP IT!
No comments:
Post a Comment