A Few Good Vicars

So here we are, it's the end of the year and the new man at the helm of the Anglican Communion has an opportunity to say stuff and make a state of the Church (of England) speech. How do you think he did?

Some of my colleagues are sighing, one has 'gone shopping', and others are bemoaning and bewailing Justin Welby's BBC Radio Four appearance this morning.  Aside from that 'good Vicars' comment, some are pointing their toes and holding their breath (and they can, believe me!) over other things that he (Justin) did, and didn't, say. So let's consider what some have told me represents the end of the honeymoon and makes Justin fair game:

'I think there sometimes is a disconnect, we sometimes give the impression at the national level that we are obsessed with a small number of issues whereas the reality that people experience in the church is of communities that are messy and untidy because society is messy and untidy, but which get on with the job that they're there for. Of course there are churches that are doing better and churches that are struggling more - depending upon area and leadership and that comes back to something Antony Jenkins has been talking about - but the reality is that where you have a good Vicar, you will find growing churches.' 

I have to say that I have to applaud the acknowledgement that we, the Church of England, have indeed become so bound up with a few issues that whilst obviously important to some are truly nothing to do with communicating the Gospel. In fact there are some clergy whom I have met, heard of (and avoided) who are so taken up with their cause of choice that they appear to have totally forgotten that we are called into the diaconal, and subsequently the priest ministry, to ensure (in addition to our baptismal calling):

That the people of God may be better equipped to make Christ known,

That we exercise a sacrificial, self-giving, ministry, washing the feet of others in humility,

The leadership of God's people in the offering of praise and the proclamation of the gospel,

That the people of God are shepherded and sustained by the ministry of word and sacrament,

That they are also taught, disciplined, discipled, equipped and released (by example and teaching),

To preach the Gospel in and out of season, when it is popular and when it is not.

You know what? I think Justin has hit it on the head with his first part of that which is above. He has noted that some do better than others and you know something else that's interesting? Those who are doing well do, generally speaking have good Vicars at the helm (of course there are always the 'comfortable' churches where numbers remain fairly static because it's one of 'those' areas where people are comfortable enough to 'do' church!). Then again, some churches that are fairing less well would look even worse if it wasn't for the fact that they too have good Vicars (so smile - without you it could be even worse!).

 The reality is that there are many clergy out there who might have fuller churches if they put as much energy into preaching, living and proclaiming the Gospel as they do over the issue of __________ (add the issue your dogcollar is passionate about in the space provided and if it's isn't the reconciling love of Jesus and the Gospel then they, and you, need to get up and do something about it).

I think Justin's words will sting (I know they do for me) and yet I thing the reality is that sometimes it has to sting to let us know the medicine has been applied.

End of the honeymoon? No WAY!

Merely me getting ready to celebrate out first anniversary and to look forward to a year of challenge and growth.

Thank you Justin - timely and essential words!

Most people aren't gay - live with it?

I was most saddened and more than little appalled at the interview surrounded a response by some to Stonewall's bus advert campaign which saw the statement, "Some people are gay. Get over it." appear on some of London's buses.

The response was, "Not gay, ex-gay, post-gay, and proud. Get over it," which seems to be a statement of fact as realised by the opposing view to Stonewall. Mind you, "Most people aren't gay - live with it!" would have perhaps been a more accurate statement of the reality.

Still, I listened (with growing disinterest) and thought poor Revd Linda Rose (Angican Mainstream) lost the conversation when she dug in and used terms like 'rebellion' - something that is always likely to find the other side personalise the issue into how they (being gay) are 'nice people'and how wicked the opposing side are to vilify them. So the discussion ticked the first two boxes nicely. Could it get any worse?

Of course it could.

Having sought to personalise it (isn't that how the gay gene got his job?) the discussion took the next available and (over used ) position which entails declaring how the other side is 'being abusive and intervening/interrupting'. This is designed to divert from having to engage in any real way and shows everyone else how wicked and nasty those who oppose their view is!

And, of course, having the brains to realise what was going on, the other two played the game and interrupted at the right places to deny discussion and win points for the other side (unless of course the listener expects that gambit to be present I suppose).

And so we can thank Colin Coward (CA), Linda Rose (AM) and Mike Davidson (CIT) for a waste of broadcasting time and thank Lichfield Cathedral for an extremely well-timed and life-saving morning service.

As ever, what might have been informative and perhaps positive descended into the same old same old.

Some people just aren't interested anymore - get over it!

Quote of the Week - Rowan Races

This morning the Radio Four continuity man had me marvelling as he announced:

"The Archbishop of Canterbury will do the Sunday Worship in ten minutes!"

That must be why he's the Archbishop - takes me at least forty-five minutes to do our morning service!

Running the race

It was good sermon too!

John Bell needs to get a life!

Radio Four 'Thought for the day' this morning appeared to be a partly political broadcast on behalf of the 'let my people go party' as he spoke about having history books written in a foreign place and accents being the source of humour and mocking. Still it's nice to know that he's concerned with the lives of Brummies (whose accent came top in a 'worst' UK accent poll),  Scousers, Geordies and Cockneys.

Divine rights and pops at 'Rule Britannia' served neither man or God - just Bell. Mind you he did give me a thought for the day - I just have to try to forget it and repent of having had it!

Still it was fun to hear an MP get taken apart by Countryside Alliance's David Taylor regarding shotgun licences for youngsters and (non-existent) crime, challenging to hear that the cuts in the numbers of redundancies amongst the Gurkhas might be the result of the changes in their pay, conditions and pensions thanks to the Gurkha Justice Campaign and mildly amusing (and applause-generating) to hear how (the other) Milliband is set to face down the unions (remember them, they put him in) and make a stand for commonsense. I was beginning to worry that without Grommet he was going to be in a weakened state but obviously not.

Lots to think about and load of prayer fodder.

Happy Wednesday!

April Fool? Sadly Not!

Listening to Radio Four this morning, I kept an ear open for the prank that makes the Today programme such an excellent piece of radio news, views and current affairs.

I listened as they reported on the fact that as from today women in Wales can visit their local chemist and be given the morning after pill, free of charge. The pill is to be made freely available to all who ask, even those who are under the legal age of consent. The move will hopefully stop teenage pregnancies.

Of course it won't stop unprotected sex bringing the spectre of sexually transmitted diseases and speaks volumes about the decline in ethical practice in the areas of medical and social care.

But this wasn't the April Fool!

we moved on to the fact that today prescription fees are abolished in Scotland. Not only that, but the same prescription fees in the Uk were raised today (by 20p to the princely sum of £7.40). To rub salt into the wound (for which the cream will cost you £7.40 of course) there's also no car parking charges in the other homes nations now either.

But this wasn't the April Fool either!

Then the coup de grace. An item on the cutting of housing benefits. They interviewed a twenty-one year old single parent who explained that the cutting of something like ten pounds a week from her housing benefit would see her lose her flat. Following her we had a government minister telling us that they were employing many more advisors to help with the changes.

It was expected that the landlords, realising that the game was up, would reduce their rents to ensure their continued income streams and that everyone would be happy in the end.

Surely this was it. Cutting benefits and employing 'many more advisors' to help with the situation caused by the cuts? Subtle, wonderfully ridiculous and yet, this wasn't it either.

Made me wonder if we weren't just fools all the time these days, not just today?

Pax