When I joined my current diocese there was a motion before the Diocesan Synod to abandon all sector ministry posts so that the money could be used 'where the need was'! This was one of those issues that drew a raggedy line between the two camps and left a few in the no man's land that appeared between them.
I, fortunately, didn't have anything to do with the discussion and watched with varying degrees of horror as slips (and prejudices) were displayed, often in the most unappealing and attractive of ways, leaving me dismayed and rather disappointed with the whole sorry episode. Since then I have seen the same awfulness inflicted on a number of occasions and on a number of issues (women in ministry, homosexuality, women with pointy hats - to name just three) and none of the three sides (for, against and 'who cares) have emerged unscathed or mentality secure!
But I digress, let us get back to the letter and the situation before us for in it I see a few interesting considerations:
i. There is a fair amount of duplication in that every diocese does the same thing. Is there potential for some of the core services to be amalgamated such that areas like personnel (which I'm told we must have because of Common Tenure) and many of the administrative and ministry areas to be removed to regional centres?
ii. Could we bring about the situation whereby those who are engaged in sector ministry might also be given a church to run too? Now this might be a bit of a challenge for those who find themselves out and about every week but some roles - Hmmm?
iii. What about reverse engineering it and making those who have jobs and are up to the task (and I mean 'up to' rather than desirous, for the church has many inept wannabees who seek positions of power) sector minsters?
iv. It does seem odd that in an apparently constricting organisation the senior management is left in the ivory palaces whilst those on the high street are reduced. Surely the answer is fewer, smarter (that means able and called), pointyhats and more people out there growing the business and bringing in the money and the members (I apologise for the commercial tone of this - I do think we're a spiritual entity really!!!).
v. If a pointyhat really equates to four 'on the ground clergy' do we need to ask ourselves how many we need to function effectively (and where we need them). Now this is an emotive issue because like the military who have realised that despite 'the Few' and the Dambusters, there might be less case for an Air Force than some might think, feelings run high. But the questions need to be asked - don't they?
Now forty-four diocesan bishops makes sense on the grounds that we have (I assume) forty-four areas know as a diocese. The sixty-nine suffragan (or area) bishops make sense if they are all doing valid and effective ministry.
BUT
Has the time come to rethink the diocesan boundaries and structures and the way that they are services and supported?
Clergy are judged by many things I'm sure (so why does everyone, including 'Rev' assume it's merely about the ability to pay?) and as the apparent attitudes amongst some of 'train up, train out' policies as found in ministerial development reviews seem to make me feel I'm back in the City of London I wonder who assesses and rationalises/shapes those top layer of the Church.
Goodness me, what a challenging piece of writing that letter is - I've only splurged for ten minutes but my head is buzzing with questions, thoughts and confusions.
How you doing with it?
Showing posts with label church politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church politics. Show all posts
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Vicars or Bishops?
I've been passed a photocopy of a photocopy that someone has photocopied and it makes quite interesting reading as it contemplates the question of the most effective disbursement of the churches' money. But I guess I'd best let you read it for yourself:
'The dispute over the residence for the new Bishop of Bath and Wells typifies much that is wrong with the senior management (if it can be described as such) of the Church of England. Crucially, no one seems to have asked if a new Bishop is even necessary.
According to the most recent Church Commissioners annual report, there are 44 diocesan and 69 suffragan bishops, costing £25 million a year. There doesn't seem to have been any significant reduction in their numbers since the mid-Eighties, despite the substantial fall in churchgoers. Conversely, the number of parochial clergy seems to be undergoing almost constant reduction.
The Commissioners support for bishops and cathedrals in 2012 was £34.9 million, while support for parishes was £42.5 million: arguably, far too much concentration on the 'chiefs' at the expense of the 'indians'. All these bishops incur office costs on top of diocese and support staff: why aren't these back office functions combined? What are all these bishops doing? Much of their duty seems to be administrative and can be done better at lower cost by people trained to such roles.
I'm a regular churchgoer and treasurer of my local church, which is served by a priest who has five other parishes. All Six have grade 1 listed church buildings with their attendant maintenance issues. The local communities over which the priest has responsibility for the cure souls are spread over 80 square miles, served by poorly maintained, unlit, narrow, rural roads.
Many churchgoers would gladly swap a couple of bishops for seven parochial clergy, which seems to be the exchange rate. A local priest, available and accessible to the community, is much more use than an occasional visit from a bishop who knows very little about local people and their lives.'
'The dispute over the residence for the new Bishop of Bath and Wells typifies much that is wrong with the senior management (if it can be described as such) of the Church of England. Crucially, no one seems to have asked if a new Bishop is even necessary.
According to the most recent Church Commissioners annual report, there are 44 diocesan and 69 suffragan bishops, costing £25 million a year. There doesn't seem to have been any significant reduction in their numbers since the mid-Eighties, despite the substantial fall in churchgoers. Conversely, the number of parochial clergy seems to be undergoing almost constant reduction.
The Commissioners support for bishops and cathedrals in 2012 was £34.9 million, while support for parishes was £42.5 million: arguably, far too much concentration on the 'chiefs' at the expense of the 'indians'. All these bishops incur office costs on top of diocese and support staff: why aren't these back office functions combined? What are all these bishops doing? Much of their duty seems to be administrative and can be done better at lower cost by people trained to such roles.
I'm a regular churchgoer and treasurer of my local church, which is served by a priest who has five other parishes. All Six have grade 1 listed church buildings with their attendant maintenance issues. The local communities over which the priest has responsibility for the cure souls are spread over 80 square miles, served by poorly maintained, unlit, narrow, rural roads.
Many churchgoers would gladly swap a couple of bishops for seven parochial clergy, which seems to be the exchange rate. A local priest, available and accessible to the community, is much more use than an occasional visit from a bishop who knows very little about local people and their lives.'
Michael Price,
Burstwick, East Yorks
Thursday, 5 April 2012
£1m on Abortion Clinic checks
I see shadow health secretary, Andy Burnham, is accusing health secretary, Andrew Lansley, of 'acting 'disproportionaely'' after the BBC put a freedom of information request revealed a cost of some £1m and a 'distraction' from its normal duties (and therefore a potential failing of required targets and challenge to funding) for the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Mr Burnham appears to be claiming that this was little more than a cynical attempt on Lansley's part to garner some sort of positive press after such a tough time with his NHS reforms and labels his action against abortion clinics as 'disproportionate'.
Now call me naive but when a minister is approached with information that some (or many) of the abortion clinics were failing to observe the law regarding their services then I would hope that the minister involved would take steps to evaluate and remedy this. Lansley has apparently done the right thing and it is surely made more right by the fact that breaches were found.
Mind you, not trying to be mean-spirited here but who was surprised to find that doctors were 'pre-signing' the paperwork required for approval of an abortion (a blank cheque against in vitro life) and that women were procuring abortion on the grounds of its sex. Next thing you know we'll find some have abortions to ensure that they can maintain financial lifestyles or even go on holiday!!
So, in my book it Lansley 1 - Burnham 0
Of course we have to see what the GMC does about any breaches in practice by the doctors who have been reported to them. I'd suggest that those of you out there who are pro-life don't hold their breaths.
And for those who are pro-choice, it's just an inconvenience that it has been made public I guess.
And the road to the cross is tainted by the legacy of David Steel (the Church of Scotland who advised him) and his 1967 Act. So how many less 'damaged' and 'non-viable' babies are there I wonder (rhetorical - answer is 'none' as the majority of the Act's legacy appears to be all about finance, social engineering and post-coital contraception.
A sad reflection upon our society and its values methinks.
Pax
Mr Burnham appears to be claiming that this was little more than a cynical attempt on Lansley's part to garner some sort of positive press after such a tough time with his NHS reforms and labels his action against abortion clinics as 'disproportionate'.
Now call me naive but when a minister is approached with information that some (or many) of the abortion clinics were failing to observe the law regarding their services then I would hope that the minister involved would take steps to evaluate and remedy this. Lansley has apparently done the right thing and it is surely made more right by the fact that breaches were found.
Mind you, not trying to be mean-spirited here but who was surprised to find that doctors were 'pre-signing' the paperwork required for approval of an abortion (a blank cheque against in vitro life) and that women were procuring abortion on the grounds of its sex. Next thing you know we'll find some have abortions to ensure that they can maintain financial lifestyles or even go on holiday!!
So, in my book it Lansley 1 - Burnham 0
Of course we have to see what the GMC does about any breaches in practice by the doctors who have been reported to them. I'd suggest that those of you out there who are pro-life don't hold their breaths.
And for those who are pro-choice, it's just an inconvenience that it has been made public I guess.
And the road to the cross is tainted by the legacy of David Steel (the Church of Scotland who advised him) and his 1967 Act. So how many less 'damaged' and 'non-viable' babies are there I wonder (rhetorical - answer is 'none' as the majority of the Act's legacy appears to be all about finance, social engineering and post-coital contraception.
A sad reflection upon our society and its values methinks.
Pax
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Abu Qatada - When Integrity fails
It seems to me that the furore over the the decision to release the wayward Muslim cleric and the ban by the European Court of Human Rights regarding him being deported to Jordan are all part and parcel of the same problems that led to the untimely death of Baha Musa some seven and a half years ago.
Now I know, having read many of the garment-rending and teeth-gnashing blogs that what I'm going to write might not be popular, but the truth rarely is! In both cases the root of the problem lies in the reality that when wrong things are done - bad things happen, and there is no doubt that Qatada's release and the ban on his deportation are not good. So who, or what, is to blame?
The blame lies firmly at the feet of those who cease to operate with Integrity and where this action occurs there is, as Newton observed, a reaction, and sadly this reaction is often greater in terms of outcome that the initial wrong act. The wrong act of gaining evidence by use of torture and coercion brings about the result that, as I understand it, a guilty and wicked man is afforded the protection that others have had denied because of his preaching and actions. This is a stern lesson for us as we realise that by acting wrongly the wrong are themselves protected and the modern mantra of the 'means justifying the end' is totally wrong.
Acting wrongly never brings about something that is right and this is echoed by the findings (and the realities) of the Baha Musa case as well. People who have been acted against, by acting wrongly themselves, are in danger of damaging the innocent if they lose sight of the need to maintain their integrity and throw discipline to the wind.
As I understand it there are ways and means of extraditing Qatada legally and these need to be looked at and acted upon. For those who call upon our government to 'do what is right' even though it is wrong are calling upon our nation to descend into the same pit as those against whom we contend physically, morally and spiritually. We need our nation, through the actions of our government, to show integrity and have the courage to do what is right even though other would have us merely engage in the act of revenge!
And those who call for our government to ignore the rule of law and deport Qatada are themselves in danger of leading us into a place where we become bedfellows with those whom we despise rather than being a people who obey the rule of law and act lawfully.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, my brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Hard (and perhaps unpopular) words - but words I feel we need to heed as a nation and in our own personal walk. If we act within the law all that we do will bear fruit and honour God. If we act against God we sow the seeds of despair and frustration. Perhaps this is what we get with an increasingly secular society (now that's a contentious thought too! - must be my day to tick people off)?
Pax
Now I know, having read many of the garment-rending and teeth-gnashing blogs that what I'm going to write might not be popular, but the truth rarely is! In both cases the root of the problem lies in the reality that when wrong things are done - bad things happen, and there is no doubt that Qatada's release and the ban on his deportation are not good. So who, or what, is to blame?
The blame lies firmly at the feet of those who cease to operate with Integrity and where this action occurs there is, as Newton observed, a reaction, and sadly this reaction is often greater in terms of outcome that the initial wrong act. The wrong act of gaining evidence by use of torture and coercion brings about the result that, as I understand it, a guilty and wicked man is afforded the protection that others have had denied because of his preaching and actions. This is a stern lesson for us as we realise that by acting wrongly the wrong are themselves protected and the modern mantra of the 'means justifying the end' is totally wrong.
Acting wrongly never brings about something that is right and this is echoed by the findings (and the realities) of the Baha Musa case as well. People who have been acted against, by acting wrongly themselves, are in danger of damaging the innocent if they lose sight of the need to maintain their integrity and throw discipline to the wind.
As I understand it there are ways and means of extraditing Qatada legally and these need to be looked at and acted upon. For those who call upon our government to 'do what is right' even though it is wrong are calling upon our nation to descend into the same pit as those against whom we contend physically, morally and spiritually. We need our nation, through the actions of our government, to show integrity and have the courage to do what is right even though other would have us merely engage in the act of revenge!
And those who call for our government to ignore the rule of law and deport Qatada are themselves in danger of leading us into a place where we become bedfellows with those whom we despise rather than being a people who obey the rule of law and act lawfully.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, my brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Hard (and perhaps unpopular) words - but words I feel we need to heed as a nation and in our own personal walk. If we act within the law all that we do will bear fruit and honour God. If we act against God we sow the seeds of despair and frustration. Perhaps this is what we get with an increasingly secular society (now that's a contentious thought too! - must be my day to tick people off)?
Pax
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
British Banking - We've got a scapegoat!
And the award for scapegoat for all the banking world's ills goes to:
Yes indeed the public has spoken and the 'We are their leaders, we must follow them'government has responded by removing the knighthood from the former CEO of RBS (wow - TLAs abound) because this man, single-handedly created the whole of the worldwide recession. We can sleep easy knowing that the culprit has been named and shamed and that everyone can rest assured that it's big bonuses in the boardrooms and AAA ratings all round!
So what of the honours and privileges of the members of the Labour party who were at the helm during the gestation period of this worldwide recession? What of those in the other banks, trading in the markets and the finance world as a whole; are their hands clean? Of course the answer is a resounding 'No' but as one telephone caller on a radio phone-in aptly put it, "We can't get them all, but at least we've got some revenge over the bonuses at RBS!" Whoa, stop the bus - sirless Fred is no longer a part and, realising that things in the market can go up as well as down, look at the whole of his working life and there are indeed things that can be considered to have been 'services to banking'.
But sadly those Daily Fascist readers have taken up the cry and followed the tumbrel, pitchforks gleaming, like the good little folk that they are. I wonder if we might be able to pin the 'illegal, benefit-claiming, immigrants' on Fred too, would be a real bargain bucket then. Mind you, I have to ask how many of those baying for Fred's blood are doing so in the comfort of their interest, dividends and other benefits from others who haven't been named and shamed? Still the good thing about being righteously indignant is the ability to not have 'hypocrite' in the vocabulary.
And so our government make a popularist gesture that sends the message that beneath it all something is very wrong in the way that it thinks and operates. If there were illegalities then there would be a case for the unknighting but I haven't seen the man in the dock and so assume that what we have is good old error - which is human. Seems that some just aren't divine.
As for me - doesn't really bother me whether the man has three letters in front and a few behind his name - but it bothers me when we legitimise mob rule and seek to pacify the masses by a ritual bloodletting of one man - I just hope Cameron or Clegg laid their hands on the man and passed on the sins of the nations before the scapegoat 'scaped!
Pax
ps. I found this quote from Unite's David Fleming which says it all:
"It is a token gesture to strip Fred Goodwin of his knighthood, but one which will be well received by the thousands of workers who lost their jobs during his rule.
Nonetheless this will do nothing to bring job security to the staff across the banking sector who continue to work under a culture of excess and greed at the top. Action from the government is needed in banking reform, not simply empty rhetoric on knighthoods or shareholder activism."
I'd like to live in a world were we see justice, mercy and humility not sheer bloody revenge :(
(Not Sir) Fred Goodwin!
Yes indeed the public has spoken and the 'We are their leaders, we must follow them'government has responded by removing the knighthood from the former CEO of RBS (wow - TLAs abound) because this man, single-handedly created the whole of the worldwide recession. We can sleep easy knowing that the culprit has been named and shamed and that everyone can rest assured that it's big bonuses in the boardrooms and AAA ratings all round!
So what of the honours and privileges of the members of the Labour party who were at the helm during the gestation period of this worldwide recession? What of those in the other banks, trading in the markets and the finance world as a whole; are their hands clean? Of course the answer is a resounding 'No' but as one telephone caller on a radio phone-in aptly put it, "We can't get them all, but at least we've got some revenge over the bonuses at RBS!" Whoa, stop the bus - sirless Fred is no longer a part and, realising that things in the market can go up as well as down, look at the whole of his working life and there are indeed things that can be considered to have been 'services to banking'.
But sadly those Daily Fascist readers have taken up the cry and followed the tumbrel, pitchforks gleaming, like the good little folk that they are. I wonder if we might be able to pin the 'illegal, benefit-claiming, immigrants' on Fred too, would be a real bargain bucket then. Mind you, I have to ask how many of those baying for Fred's blood are doing so in the comfort of their interest, dividends and other benefits from others who haven't been named and shamed? Still the good thing about being righteously indignant is the ability to not have 'hypocrite' in the vocabulary.
And so our government make a popularist gesture that sends the message that beneath it all something is very wrong in the way that it thinks and operates. If there were illegalities then there would be a case for the unknighting but I haven't seen the man in the dock and so assume that what we have is good old error - which is human. Seems that some just aren't divine.
As for me - doesn't really bother me whether the man has three letters in front and a few behind his name - but it bothers me when we legitimise mob rule and seek to pacify the masses by a ritual bloodletting of one man - I just hope Cameron or Clegg laid their hands on the man and passed on the sins of the nations before the scapegoat 'scaped!
Pax
ps. I found this quote from Unite's David Fleming which says it all:
"It is a token gesture to strip Fred Goodwin of his knighthood, but one which will be well received by the thousands of workers who lost their jobs during his rule.
Nonetheless this will do nothing to bring job security to the staff across the banking sector who continue to work under a culture of excess and greed at the top. Action from the government is needed in banking reform, not simply empty rhetoric on knighthoods or shareholder activism."
I'd like to live in a world were we see justice, mercy and humility not sheer bloody revenge :(
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
HS2 - NIMBYism or Political Suicide?
A while back I tried to organise a public meeting in the area in which I live so that we might get the churches involved in the 'No to HS2' campaign. Now although many around me will be affected, but will not benefit, from this new high speed route I wanted us to discuss the issue and hear the views and facts from all sides of the debate so that we might be engaged with the needs of those around us and have a balanced view.
My first problem came when I eventually managed to get someone from the 'No to HS2' group to talk to me about the issue, something that came about because they were dropping off petition forms not because of the five unanswered electronically generated message or two emails sent to one of the organisers or the two answerphone messages I left! I told them what I wanted to do, and why, and was basically told that they didn't need that, they were doing their own meetings! Hey ho - so now if your read my other HS2 post you will know why the meeting never happened.!
Better still, this concerned citizen basically put forward the views that it wouldn't have been so bad if the route had gone through Tamworth as it wouldn't make any difference to them but her pretty little place of residence would be subject to discomfort and five years of traffic and works!
Wow! Let's forget the financial benefits, the impact of the project on the natural, agricultural or community life in general, this was all about her and her pretty little cottage and the (rather well-heeled it seemed) community and, it appeared, that all would be well if it was placed nearer 'those people'!
So sadly the meeting never took place and I felt sad that regardless of how it might be masked, my only contact with the opposition had been some BMW driving, 'Let them eat cake' bimbag! (Thanks to Julie who many years ago told me that she and the other's in her group came in Bimbette, Bimbo and Bimbag - something that every time I think of it makes me smile :) ).
Better still, today all I have heard is many Conservative supporters burbling on about how they have withheld party funds, will not vote for Conservatives next time and many other mutterings and threats that make me think that come the next election (will the other brother be leading them by then having have the less adequate one keep the seat warm for him during the coalition days) Labour could win because of the 'make the Conservatives pay'brigade.
Seems that London will benefit from HS2 and that joining the North and the South might be a reality for the privileged few, but the rest will merely watch as a blur carrying the privileged passes them by - seems this is the reality for many and will never change (unless we start doing Gospel stuff of course for there is a spiritual side to this too).
Politics and the self-righteous, the self-serving and the plebs. Interesting stuff or what?
So the question, "HS2 - NIMBYism or Political Suicide?" I think it might just be both (now what of the price our natural world will pay?
Pax
My first problem came when I eventually managed to get someone from the 'No to HS2' group to talk to me about the issue, something that came about because they were dropping off petition forms not because of the five unanswered electronically generated message or two emails sent to one of the organisers or the two answerphone messages I left! I told them what I wanted to do, and why, and was basically told that they didn't need that, they were doing their own meetings! Hey ho - so now if your read my other HS2 post you will know why the meeting never happened.!
Better still, this concerned citizen basically put forward the views that it wouldn't have been so bad if the route had gone through Tamworth as it wouldn't make any difference to them but her pretty little place of residence would be subject to discomfort and five years of traffic and works!
Wow! Let's forget the financial benefits, the impact of the project on the natural, agricultural or community life in general, this was all about her and her pretty little cottage and the (rather well-heeled it seemed) community and, it appeared, that all would be well if it was placed nearer 'those people'!
So sadly the meeting never took place and I felt sad that regardless of how it might be masked, my only contact with the opposition had been some BMW driving, 'Let them eat cake' bimbag! (Thanks to Julie who many years ago told me that she and the other's in her group came in Bimbette, Bimbo and Bimbag - something that every time I think of it makes me smile :) ).
Better still, today all I have heard is many Conservative supporters burbling on about how they have withheld party funds, will not vote for Conservatives next time and many other mutterings and threats that make me think that come the next election (will the other brother be leading them by then having have the less adequate one keep the seat warm for him during the coalition days) Labour could win because of the 'make the Conservatives pay'brigade.
Seems that London will benefit from HS2 and that joining the North and the South might be a reality for the privileged few, but the rest will merely watch as a blur carrying the privileged passes them by - seems this is the reality for many and will never change (unless we start doing Gospel stuff of course for there is a spiritual side to this too).
Politics and the self-righteous, the self-serving and the plebs. Interesting stuff or what?
So the question, "HS2 - NIMBYism or Political Suicide?" I think it might just be both (now what of the price our natural world will pay?
Pax
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Diane Abbott - The political Suarez?
Perhaps following the Football Association's lead regarding Luis Suarez's racist comments to Patrice Evra the lovely ms Abbott needs to be given a ban and a fine too! The money could go to supporting the Professional Footballer's Associations's plan to give 'cultural awareness' training sessions to senior players so that they fall foul less often of being involved in racist comments (perhaps she could sit on them too?).
Seems that team captain, Ed Milliband, is pretty unimpressed and Assistant Referee, Nick Clegg, is calling for the lovely Ms Abbott to be given a red card and a ban too! Considering the Jeremy Clarkson debacle recently I'm a bit surprised the BBC hasn't been called to oust her from the 'Politics Show' too! Or have they?
Ho Ho - whoever said politics wasn't entertaining - wonder if she can drive? She might make it onto Top Gear ;)
Pax
Seems that team captain, Ed Milliband, is pretty unimpressed and Assistant Referee, Nick Clegg, is calling for the lovely Ms Abbott to be given a red card and a ban too! Considering the Jeremy Clarkson debacle recently I'm a bit surprised the BBC hasn't been called to oust her from the 'Politics Show' too! Or have they?
Ho Ho - whoever said politics wasn't entertaining - wonder if she can drive? She might make it onto Top Gear ;)
Pax
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Church - where crisis and failure take on flesh
Government and statutory bodies legislate over homelessness but it is, more often than not, Church that engages with the reality of it.
Public opinion pontificates about the state of society, the demise of values and standards and the breakdown of the family but is, more often than not, the Church that finds itself engaged in and with the places where the rhetoric becomes flesh.
When the tutting classes are unfolding their newspapers and talking cobblers about the homeless getting what they deserve and how there is always work to be found if someone really wants it, the Church, once again, is to be found dealing with the realities.
In a week where temperatures have soared such that we will see less homeless people die over the Christmas period (something that demonstrates how little 'those people' care for the sensitivities of nice people) we ill still be living in the reality that across the UK there ar still around a quarter of a million homeless people and although many of those will 'bed hop' or find some form of accommodation (albeit perhaps very temporary) there will still be something around five thousand people sleeping on the streets of our capital city!
The figures this week speak of a life expectancy of 43 for homeless women and 47 for homeless men.
Now I am sure some reading this will point to alcohol, drugs and other 'brought upon themselves' conditions fort such an early demise, but there are other influences and factors behind the obvious and if we were to but take just a little time to understand them we would find that the underserving homeless are often anything but.
As we pray in our churches this Christmas Eve perhaps we might care to think of those who are homeless. Those who are on the streets because of:
+ Abuse - mental, physical and sexual
+ Mental Illness - Homeless people present double the symptoms of mental illness than those who are 'homed'
+ Military Service - the Military Covenant is to become law, but for the many (almost 25% of London's homeless as an example) medals, combat experience and having served their nation makes no difference at all - in fact it is a major factor for where they are now!
+ Folly - There are people on our streets who have made the wrong choices (haven't we all at some time?) but in each one of these people the image of the invisible God is made visible and in each of them is the potential to show God's grace and effect, potentially, restoration - we just need to be wise about it?
And so, this Christmas as we speak of a Saviour born in poor circumstances, sleeping in a stable, let's remember those for whom a stable would be luxury.
Pax
Public opinion pontificates about the state of society, the demise of values and standards and the breakdown of the family but is, more often than not, the Church that finds itself engaged in and with the places where the rhetoric becomes flesh.
When the tutting classes are unfolding their newspapers and talking cobblers about the homeless getting what they deserve and how there is always work to be found if someone really wants it, the Church, once again, is to be found dealing with the realities.
In a week where temperatures have soared such that we will see less homeless people die over the Christmas period (something that demonstrates how little 'those people' care for the sensitivities of nice people) we ill still be living in the reality that across the UK there ar still around a quarter of a million homeless people and although many of those will 'bed hop' or find some form of accommodation (albeit perhaps very temporary) there will still be something around five thousand people sleeping on the streets of our capital city!
The figures this week speak of a life expectancy of 43 for homeless women and 47 for homeless men.
Now I am sure some reading this will point to alcohol, drugs and other 'brought upon themselves' conditions fort such an early demise, but there are other influences and factors behind the obvious and if we were to but take just a little time to understand them we would find that the underserving homeless are often anything but.
As we pray in our churches this Christmas Eve perhaps we might care to think of those who are homeless. Those who are on the streets because of:
+ Abuse - mental, physical and sexual
+ Mental Illness - Homeless people present double the symptoms of mental illness than those who are 'homed'
+ Military Service - the Military Covenant is to become law, but for the many (almost 25% of London's homeless as an example) medals, combat experience and having served their nation makes no difference at all - in fact it is a major factor for where they are now!
+ Folly - There are people on our streets who have made the wrong choices (haven't we all at some time?) but in each one of these people the image of the invisible God is made visible and in each of them is the potential to show God's grace and effect, potentially, restoration - we just need to be wise about it?
And so, this Christmas as we speak of a Saviour born in poor circumstances, sleeping in a stable, let's remember those for whom a stable would be luxury.
Pax
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Cameron and a 'Christian' Country
Despite those who will undoubtedly continue to tell me that being a 'Christian Country' is something that is no longer I have to say, faith position not withstanding, that indeed it still is. But only by its fingertips.
If our nation were to eschew the values and standards of Christianity like many of those in mainland Europe we would see intolerance, lack of social action an increase in extremely stupid court rulings and worst of all, the demise of religious freedom. Of course this is the road we are on and many of those who proclaim secular or humanist values do in fact seek the demise of 'religion' for the ascent of their own non-religious religion, a place that will benefit none, not even themselves if it were to become the dominance they so desire.
It's ironic that Rowan speaks out on so few issues and yet manages, as a rule, to say even less about faith issues. Advice to investors, bankers and an inaudible lead to those camped outside St Pauls and a strong lead to those who reside within. More ironic is that Cameron has indeed given the whole Christian community, Anglicans in particular, a challenge to maintain and even recapture the position of faith communities when not that long ago Rowan was accusing him (and his coalition) of acting without a mandate and yet here we are with the tables turned and Rowan being accused of having a mandate and failing to act!
A Christian country supports the right fr people to believe other than Christians.
It supports the right to live as one choses, within the law, but also reserves the right to not be forced to bless it and to show 'better' ways.
It protects the weak, enriches the poor and comforts the broken.
It is the 'Big Society' and always has been.
So here's a gift for Rowan from the Prime Minister of our nation - let's hope (and pray, you do pray don't you?) that he and the Christians of this land take it.
Pax
If our nation were to eschew the values and standards of Christianity like many of those in mainland Europe we would see intolerance, lack of social action an increase in extremely stupid court rulings and worst of all, the demise of religious freedom. Of course this is the road we are on and many of those who proclaim secular or humanist values do in fact seek the demise of 'religion' for the ascent of their own non-religious religion, a place that will benefit none, not even themselves if it were to become the dominance they so desire.
It's ironic that Rowan speaks out on so few issues and yet manages, as a rule, to say even less about faith issues. Advice to investors, bankers and an inaudible lead to those camped outside St Pauls and a strong lead to those who reside within. More ironic is that Cameron has indeed given the whole Christian community, Anglicans in particular, a challenge to maintain and even recapture the position of faith communities when not that long ago Rowan was accusing him (and his coalition) of acting without a mandate and yet here we are with the tables turned and Rowan being accused of having a mandate and failing to act!
A Christian country supports the right fr people to believe other than Christians.
It supports the right to live as one choses, within the law, but also reserves the right to not be forced to bless it and to show 'better' ways.
It protects the weak, enriches the poor and comforts the broken.
It is the 'Big Society' and always has been.
So here's a gift for Rowan from the Prime Minister of our nation - let's hope (and pray, you do pray don't you?) that he and the Christians of this land take it.
Pax
Friday, 25 November 2011
Governed by Children - Elastic Money
Listening to R4 this morning I was entertained and enraged in equal measure as those who occupy the House of commons put on an early season pantomime.
We had the Conservatives looking all too fixated on the trade unions and whilst we know that Milliband (whom I liked more when he was working with Grommit*) and his party owe their position and much of their money to these bodies, it spoke greatly of something sinister lying beneath the surface.
Better still we had plans unveiled to put young people (NNETs) into some for f training or employment. There was talk of funding apprenticeships and it was all sounding rather familiar until the source of funding was pointed out - it will come, in part, from the young person's family's Tax Credits being 'squeezed' i.e. they won't rise with inflation with the effect that there a family member might have a job, albeit temporary, and the family will suffer for the privilege!.
Wow, at last we are seeing Biblical from the government in that those who have will be given even more and those who have less will see it taken away! When I said I wanted to see Biblical stuff associated with the running of our nation, this wasn't what I had in mind!!!
Turning over there was a trade union representative who was bleating about the fact that the government was illegal and undemocratic as they, "Didn't vote for them!". What a plonker, the reason we have a coalition is because no party received the mandate to form a government! (PR isn't the remedy to this situation either). As the unionist continued it transpired that what they meant was, "The government isn't a Labour government!" A blinking good thing when you see the mess they made of their time in office.
The very bestest bit came this morning when we were regaled with, yet another, way in which the money that a 'banker's tax' will be used to aid those less well off. This was the seventh use of the same pot thus far and it made me realise that perhaps the monetary assumptions made by our younger children might not be as flawed as we assumed. After all, one gets a tenner as a birthday present and for the next month they ask if they can have 'mmm'? When asked how they can pay for it, the same old tenner is mentioned. Seems Gorgeous george (Osborne), Calamitous Clegg and Camaeron (the calamitous twins?) are all using the same mathematics!
So where are the Christian voices being raised over this nation and the way it is being run (reading the Daily Fascist perhaps?) and the fact that I meet families whose children are NEET (Not in Education, Employment of Training by the way) because they have lost £20-30 a week EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance). I wonder how much of that sum is now paid in JobSeekers Allowance and what the monetary cost to this nation will be when we take into account those who will be untrained or uneducated such that they swell the ranks of the unemployed (and receiving benefits) in the years ahead. I deal with children who eat once a day because they receive free school meals (so what happens on an INSET day or in holidays?) and no one even flinches. Shameful!
* QED
Pax
We had the Conservatives looking all too fixated on the trade unions and whilst we know that Milliband (whom I liked more when he was working with Grommit*) and his party owe their position and much of their money to these bodies, it spoke greatly of something sinister lying beneath the surface.
Better still we had plans unveiled to put young people (NNETs) into some for f training or employment. There was talk of funding apprenticeships and it was all sounding rather familiar until the source of funding was pointed out - it will come, in part, from the young person's family's Tax Credits being 'squeezed' i.e. they won't rise with inflation with the effect that there a family member might have a job, albeit temporary, and the family will suffer for the privilege!.
Wow, at last we are seeing Biblical from the government in that those who have will be given even more and those who have less will see it taken away! When I said I wanted to see Biblical stuff associated with the running of our nation, this wasn't what I had in mind!!!
Turning over there was a trade union representative who was bleating about the fact that the government was illegal and undemocratic as they, "Didn't vote for them!". What a plonker, the reason we have a coalition is because no party received the mandate to form a government! (PR isn't the remedy to this situation either). As the unionist continued it transpired that what they meant was, "The government isn't a Labour government!" A blinking good thing when you see the mess they made of their time in office.
The very bestest bit came this morning when we were regaled with, yet another, way in which the money that a 'banker's tax' will be used to aid those less well off. This was the seventh use of the same pot thus far and it made me realise that perhaps the monetary assumptions made by our younger children might not be as flawed as we assumed. After all, one gets a tenner as a birthday present and for the next month they ask if they can have 'mmm'? When asked how they can pay for it, the same old tenner is mentioned. Seems Gorgeous george (Osborne), Calamitous Clegg and Camaeron (the calamitous twins?) are all using the same mathematics!
So where are the Christian voices being raised over this nation and the way it is being run (reading the Daily Fascist perhaps?) and the fact that I meet families whose children are NEET (Not in Education, Employment of Training by the way) because they have lost £20-30 a week EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance). I wonder how much of that sum is now paid in JobSeekers Allowance and what the monetary cost to this nation will be when we take into account those who will be untrained or uneducated such that they swell the ranks of the unemployed (and receiving benefits) in the years ahead. I deal with children who eat once a day because they receive free school meals (so what happens on an INSET day or in holidays?) and no one even flinches. Shameful!
* QED
Pax
Thursday, 24 November 2011
OYLC - Issue the first: Poverty
Scanning various pages and talking to the ordinary people on the street I get the feeling that there is much dis-ease regarding the current situation facing our nation, Europe and the wider world. That noted, we must take care to ensure that we are looking at justice not revenge, for it appears that the majority (read and dialogued with) are generally seeking the latter.
So, this is an opportunity for the Church (universal) to get off of its behindside and take up the battle. There are so many areas to focus on and I think that we are best served, and serving, when we consider them intelligently and devise prayer and action relating to them, so let us begin with:
Poverty
The increase of FoodBanks, repossessions, redundancies, loss of support for those in post-sixteen education (i.e. EMA) and so much more.
Some food for thought (and prayer)
The current Housholds Below Average Income* (HBAI) (after housing costs) survey tells us:
That 13.5M people in the UK (22%) are income poor and of these:
53% are in families which include at least one child;
32% are in families of people of working age without children;
15% are in pensioner families.
People living below the poverty line are distributed around the UK as follows:
England - 11,615,000 (23% of the population)
Scotland - 969,000 (19% of the population)
Wales - 667,000 (23% of the population0,
Northern Ireland - 374,000 (2% of the population)
The road to this situation includes:
Unemployment - Low wages - Inadequate benefits - Educational opportunities
Child Poverty Action group (CPAG) puts forward these proposals to work towards ending child poverty in the UK:
1. Protect jobs
2. Mend the safety net
3. Move away from means tests
4. Remove barriers to work
5. Stop in-work poverty
6. Put in place a child-first strategy for childcare
7. End the classroom divide
8. Provide fair public services for those who need them most
9. End poverty premiums in taxes and services
10. Ensure a decent home for every family
Just some foor for thought and some spur to developing something coherent (and I am pretty disgusted at just how many church members I have met during my journeys who take up the 'Daily Fascist' view that the poor generally get what they deserve. Thank God that isn't true with us and His standards!! But in case you might think this a graph to savour as you start writing prayers and think of how you can open doors, hearts and engage those outside over this topic:
The poor by economic status (2009/10)
Pax
* HBAI 2009/10 figures
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Rowan Speaks for Us All
So says David Cameron. But of course he continues, "But we're not going to take any notice!"
That's subtext regarding the response from Messrs Cameron and Osborne. Then again I would have to say that this is no surprise as it appears to be a consistent response regarding Rowan. Regardless of the issue we usually have excellent thinking, fine words and a consistent ignoring of them. Sometimes because they are pitched too high, sometimes because you knew that some were never going to listen (indadba, more like insolence and intolerance!!) and sometime because, well - just because - and this is surely another of those occasions.
I was asked by people why Rowan hasn't taken control of the St Paul's situation. My response is that Chartres is doing this and Rowan is merely leaving the job to the man on the ground. "But when it gets to this level, surely the man at the top should be getting involved and should be making relevant comment about OLSX, the camp and ways of making the Church relevant," They cry. And you know what, as much as I like and admire Rowan (and I do - he's an intelligent and extremely gentle and humble man) I am stumped because it appears to me that there are so many with woolly ideas and fluffy notions regarding the situation. So many voices saying so many things - but Rowan isn't one of them, and if he was, with his brain and manner I'm sure he could bring something winning and positive for the Church (universal) and the CofE (in particular).
My problem with the 'Tobin Tax' and those who are sending me mails asking me to support it or canvassing me on Facebook with the same intent is that every one of them, to a man jack of them, isn't concerned with something positive but are acting only to extract some form of revenge. Much like the sad person who appeared to applaud the firebombing of a satirical magazine in France saying. "They got what they deserved!" Thank God we don't get what we deserve and what place does extracting revenge and hitting the financial world because of their excesses. We don't need revenge, we need responsibility and if this has to come through regulation because they can't de responsible, then so be it.
Personally I love the idea of two or three percent of the money made in the finance world being used to address world poverty, finance heath research, building and replacing lost social housing stock, paying for our children to attent university with a major award like we did when I was a lad and more besides. I welcome a financial world where people paid administration charges but saw interest reduced or even gone (isn't that usury?) and our nation living by the Judeo-Christian values that once dominated.
Come on Rowan - speak up - there hasn't been such a time of relevance and such a desire for the Church to be heard speaking since the last war!
Pax
That's subtext regarding the response from Messrs Cameron and Osborne. Then again I would have to say that this is no surprise as it appears to be a consistent response regarding Rowan. Regardless of the issue we usually have excellent thinking, fine words and a consistent ignoring of them. Sometimes because they are pitched too high, sometimes because you knew that some were never going to listen (indadba, more like insolence and intolerance!!) and sometime because, well - just because - and this is surely another of those occasions.
I was asked by people why Rowan hasn't taken control of the St Paul's situation. My response is that Chartres is doing this and Rowan is merely leaving the job to the man on the ground. "But when it gets to this level, surely the man at the top should be getting involved and should be making relevant comment about OLSX, the camp and ways of making the Church relevant," They cry. And you know what, as much as I like and admire Rowan (and I do - he's an intelligent and extremely gentle and humble man) I am stumped because it appears to me that there are so many with woolly ideas and fluffy notions regarding the situation. So many voices saying so many things - but Rowan isn't one of them, and if he was, with his brain and manner I'm sure he could bring something winning and positive for the Church (universal) and the CofE (in particular).
My problem with the 'Tobin Tax' and those who are sending me mails asking me to support it or canvassing me on Facebook with the same intent is that every one of them, to a man jack of them, isn't concerned with something positive but are acting only to extract some form of revenge. Much like the sad person who appeared to applaud the firebombing of a satirical magazine in France saying. "They got what they deserved!" Thank God we don't get what we deserve and what place does extracting revenge and hitting the financial world because of their excesses. We don't need revenge, we need responsibility and if this has to come through regulation because they can't de responsible, then so be it.
Personally I love the idea of two or three percent of the money made in the finance world being used to address world poverty, finance heath research, building and replacing lost social housing stock, paying for our children to attent university with a major award like we did when I was a lad and more besides. I welcome a financial world where people paid administration charges but saw interest reduced or even gone (isn't that usury?) and our nation living by the Judeo-Christian values that once dominated.
Come on Rowan - speak up - there hasn't been such a time of relevance and such a desire for the Church to be heard speaking since the last war!
Pax
Thursday, 14 July 2011
See how these Christians loathe one another
Talking about church and the business of factions, politics and division a while back with other church people recently, one of them came up with an interesting, yet earthy, summation of the business of church business meetings:
I don't often include such terminology because I don't want to offend, but having heard of some meetings, the collateral damage, the wounding of non-combatants and innocents this does appear to be an accurate and perhaps kind summation of some of the goings!
Too often we find people who engage in stuff that just isn't Church! Put any bunch of people together and we will find control freaks, tradtionalists, movers and shakers (they shake people up and they move away!) and more besides. Ordinary humans who need to be dealt with with grace and humility and need to be taught to do the same to others (by example, not just words).
Church needs to live within the Law of active Churchmanship (whoo hoo, kept the acronym LOAC) in that we remember in all our dealings with each other, these few simple rules:
Proportionality: We make the point but we don't kill the innocent, or the guilty, when we encounter a problem within our church setting. It appears that all too often the response of some in church is to make the punishment exceed the crime rather than fit it. Then again, having discovered what e consider error we are called to forgive (70*7?) not to crucify - only needs one act of crucifixion to redeem the whole world!
Collateral damage: If one innocent is taken out, the whole world dies. Now if Islam can get this right (although don't see it preached that often) how much more should those who claim to be Christians take note of, and live within, this? If by our actions, attitudes or responses we cause others to stumble then their blood (or lack of salvation in this case perhaps) is on our hands. We don't shoot their wounded and we most certainly don't shoot our own (despite the church's billing.
Restoration: Brothers, if you find someone doing it wrong, those of you who are spiritual should restore them 'gently' because if you don't then you have caused yourself to sin as well. What's the point of being right and making yourself wrong so that neither of you learn and the relationship is broken?
God calls us to live in relationship with each other, taking joy in the image of the unseen God made visible in the brother (or sister) who stands before you as a reflection of Christ, God incarnate. Words of peace and correction for errors made show us to be in possession of Christlike characteristics, for who is there to condemn others when we are told to go and sin no more?
Humility, justice and mercy are the hallmarks of a person who knows, loves and serves God and these, tinged with thanks that God doesn't treat us as we treat others, make for a body that accepts the weaknesses and errors in others, leads them from them into something better and builds a Church of living stones brought together by Grace and held together by Love.
I'll be extra careful next week when we have our Church Council meeting - can't preach it without practising it, can i?
Pax
Open in prayer - Close in prayer - Shit in between!
Too often we find people who engage in stuff that just isn't Church! Put any bunch of people together and we will find control freaks, tradtionalists, movers and shakers (they shake people up and they move away!) and more besides. Ordinary humans who need to be dealt with with grace and humility and need to be taught to do the same to others (by example, not just words).
Church needs to live within the Law of active Churchmanship (whoo hoo, kept the acronym LOAC) in that we remember in all our dealings with each other, these few simple rules:
Proportionality: We make the point but we don't kill the innocent, or the guilty, when we encounter a problem within our church setting. It appears that all too often the response of some in church is to make the punishment exceed the crime rather than fit it. Then again, having discovered what e consider error we are called to forgive (70*7?) not to crucify - only needs one act of crucifixion to redeem the whole world!
Collateral damage: If one innocent is taken out, the whole world dies. Now if Islam can get this right (although don't see it preached that often) how much more should those who claim to be Christians take note of, and live within, this? If by our actions, attitudes or responses we cause others to stumble then their blood (or lack of salvation in this case perhaps) is on our hands. We don't shoot their wounded and we most certainly don't shoot our own (despite the church's billing.
Restoration: Brothers, if you find someone doing it wrong, those of you who are spiritual should restore them 'gently' because if you don't then you have caused yourself to sin as well. What's the point of being right and making yourself wrong so that neither of you learn and the relationship is broken?
God calls us to live in relationship with each other, taking joy in the image of the unseen God made visible in the brother (or sister) who stands before you as a reflection of Christ, God incarnate. Words of peace and correction for errors made show us to be in possession of Christlike characteristics, for who is there to condemn others when we are told to go and sin no more?
Humility, justice and mercy are the hallmarks of a person who knows, loves and serves God and these, tinged with thanks that God doesn't treat us as we treat others, make for a body that accepts the weaknesses and errors in others, leads them from them into something better and builds a Church of living stones brought together by Grace and held together by Love.
I'll be extra careful next week when we have our Church Council meeting - can't preach it without practising it, can i?
Pax
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Rowan - Political Commentator or Priest?
And all along I thought he was supposed to be concerned with matters spiritual. Explains a lot and makes sense of the often shambolic and ill-focussed goings on that we have within the Church of England! He thinks he's Robin Day in a dog-collar.
Funny that when I read of Rowan's warning that the government is committing Britain to "radical, long-term policies for which no-one voted" I immediately was drawn back to the heady days of Tony Bliar's government. You must remember them, they were elected because they 'weren't Conservatives'.
The policies they brought in had little or no mandate, they just did what they wanted because they were elected purely and simply on the basis that they 'weren't Conservative'. Then, to put a cherry on the cake we had regime change as Brown was given the stick with the pig's bladders attached! And he brought in new policies which had never seen the light of manifesto or husting again.
There has been 'indignation' at the reforms brought in by the previous Labour government and the current coalition and for good reason. The problem is the Labour Party used the open mandate that was gifted to them for not being Conservative and the coalition have been gifted the same because of the totally inept actions of a party who lined the pockets of supporters through PFI, Quango and other 'favours' (including Adonis and his gifting of land, capital and the demise of state education that appears to be Academies) and handed over the right to do pretty much as they please because they made the nation a morally, socially and best of all, a financially bankrupt entity!
Rather than mumble about the 'Big Society' as something that is viewed with 'widespread suspicion' Rowan would do better to motivate and mobilise the troops (the Church) to take back the pastoral and caring birthright which it has handed over of a mess of social state pottage!
We are seeing some things happen far too quickly, but the spectre of financial peril (seen Eire, Greece and Portugal lately?) perhaps does justify some of this (but not all) and we need to be sure that we are not standing by as the Lib Dem acts as puppets to permit some 'evening up of the scores and wounds of old!'.
Speaking of democracy, people don't know what democracy means anymore because they don't understand what a majority is! Wanting everyone to have a voice and be making the decisions, mathematically manipulating results to overcome voter apathy and skewed ideas of what and who should be elected - this is not constitutional (or national) politics but the politics of Bedlam and displays something worrying about our nation as a whole (We are becoming Golgafrinchams in that "We're all bloody useless!").
Having read the piece I think it shows the mark of an intelligent man, for Rowan is no fool, but I wonder whether they are the words of a spiritual leader. It is for this reason I am saddened and more than a little downhearted, for as much as I get frustrated at politicians who spout on about faith and Christ in particular, leaving me with the wish that they'd stick to what they know, I feel with this that I wish he'd preach the Gospel rather than be yet another political (and the words could almost be those of an agnostic or atheist, couldn't they) commentator.
As it stands, a good piece and some great points - but where was the Christian influence? Where is the Christian outworking? Where was the Christian (soteriological) imperative, where is the 'Good News' (The Gospel)? Sadly not that evident here.
Now I know many will accuse him of merely attacking the coalition, but I don't think he is. He's knocking the sad situation of popularist and envy, score-settling politics. He's bemoaning the global issues that are handled in ways that leave us sighing. Valid and reasonable - but where is the Christ in his writings? He had more to say about Bin Laden's death than many of the Christian issues that need comment upon and he has before him a church that is divided and breaking for want of some leadership and shrewd assessment, much as he shows in matters secular!
Pax
Read the whole leader here
Funny that when I read of Rowan's warning that the government is committing Britain to "radical, long-term policies for which no-one voted" I immediately was drawn back to the heady days of Tony Bliar's government. You must remember them, they were elected because they 'weren't Conservatives'.
The policies they brought in had little or no mandate, they just did what they wanted because they were elected purely and simply on the basis that they 'weren't Conservative'. Then, to put a cherry on the cake we had regime change as Brown was given the stick with the pig's bladders attached! And he brought in new policies which had never seen the light of manifesto or husting again.
There has been 'indignation' at the reforms brought in by the previous Labour government and the current coalition and for good reason. The problem is the Labour Party used the open mandate that was gifted to them for not being Conservative and the coalition have been gifted the same because of the totally inept actions of a party who lined the pockets of supporters through PFI, Quango and other 'favours' (including Adonis and his gifting of land, capital and the demise of state education that appears to be Academies) and handed over the right to do pretty much as they please because they made the nation a morally, socially and best of all, a financially bankrupt entity!
Rather than mumble about the 'Big Society' as something that is viewed with 'widespread suspicion' Rowan would do better to motivate and mobilise the troops (the Church) to take back the pastoral and caring birthright which it has handed over of a mess of social state pottage!
We are seeing some things happen far too quickly, but the spectre of financial peril (seen Eire, Greece and Portugal lately?) perhaps does justify some of this (but not all) and we need to be sure that we are not standing by as the Lib Dem acts as puppets to permit some 'evening up of the scores and wounds of old!'.
Speaking of democracy, people don't know what democracy means anymore because they don't understand what a majority is! Wanting everyone to have a voice and be making the decisions, mathematically manipulating results to overcome voter apathy and skewed ideas of what and who should be elected - this is not constitutional (or national) politics but the politics of Bedlam and displays something worrying about our nation as a whole (We are becoming Golgafrinchams in that "We're all bloody useless!").
Having read the piece I think it shows the mark of an intelligent man, for Rowan is no fool, but I wonder whether they are the words of a spiritual leader. It is for this reason I am saddened and more than a little downhearted, for as much as I get frustrated at politicians who spout on about faith and Christ in particular, leaving me with the wish that they'd stick to what they know, I feel with this that I wish he'd preach the Gospel rather than be yet another political (and the words could almost be those of an agnostic or atheist, couldn't they) commentator.
As it stands, a good piece and some great points - but where was the Christian influence? Where is the Christian outworking? Where was the Christian (soteriological) imperative, where is the 'Good News' (The Gospel)? Sadly not that evident here.
Now I know many will accuse him of merely attacking the coalition, but I don't think he is. He's knocking the sad situation of popularist and envy, score-settling politics. He's bemoaning the global issues that are handled in ways that leave us sighing. Valid and reasonable - but where is the Christ in his writings? He had more to say about Bin Laden's death than many of the Christian issues that need comment upon and he has before him a church that is divided and breaking for want of some leadership and shrewd assessment, much as he shows in matters secular!
Pax
Read the whole leader here
Sunday, 8 May 2011
AV - Getting some perspective
So it's over and done and won't be back for another ten years or so (hallelujah). They didn't need to count the second choice votes as:
a.There weren't any, and
b. They weren't needed anyway!
So those who managed to turn out and exercise their democratic rights voted to maintain the status quo, which is the only success from the whole sad and sorry (did I mention costly?) episode. The only thing sadder than the vote was the fact that Clegg has developed and 'anti-Midas' touch in that whatever he appears to be touching is turning to something of much less worth than gold! I think that is a sadder than the fact that many of the Lib Dem types, not realising that they are at least in power (which is a minor miracle considering they're really only a 'protest and lobby group' within parliament at best) are now muttering about 'wicked' Tories and making the coalition struggle. Do that and they'll realise that not only aren't they fit to govern but they'll prove it in a splendid way such that the next election will make last week's polls look like a vote of confidence!
So, we move on and rather than engage in clever mathematical exercises or mutter about 'majorities' and point to 51% we need people to understand that the person who receives the most votes is the popular choice. What we need to do is look at how we can raise the turnout such that the percentage of the population who votes are the 80's and 90's.
We also need to see the parties stand for something other than all stand on the same bit of popular policy ground and claim imaginary differences based on historic traits. After all, Labour is no more the working man's party that the Conservatives these day, it's only the moronic masses who haven't realised that who keep voting because of the 'working class' fallacies! Tories aren't all monied 'yahoo henry' types with loadsamoney either. Liberals (or whatever they're called this week) are always the middle ground party who claim to support 'whatever the others don't' and oppose 'whatever the other support' and they'll raise the taxes!
How about some credible parties with some real policies such that people want to get out and support them. The weird and wonderful parties out there, like the Greens and others, stand for what they stand for and as a result they get people who believe in them vote for them, just isn't enough of them to make a difference! But it's a lesson the others might learn.
Pax
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Lessons I learnt at School . . .
Lord of the Flies!
The poor soul who tried to teach us English struggled to get us to see wider than the words as we worked through William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' and although I still wonder what Ralph thought when he saw Piggy's body, I think my teacher did a good job.
The word's of Lord Acton, which my teacher droned on about (endlessly), and also added to obviously stuck. "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, so we need to be careful in how we control the power we have!" His warnings about how the book taught us regarding "The thin veneer of civilisation which separates from the natives," ring true, especially as I watch the news following Bin Laden's death.
Seeing people waving the headlines:
Did nothing to convince me that what many were about was revenge of the most distasteful kind.
Meanwhile elsewhere, images were shown of images of Bin Laden being kissed and him being mourned over:
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction (Thanks Isaac) and one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter (unless we build bridges and convince him otherwise).
What we need now is to not gloat triumphantly, but to understand that Bin Laden has reaped the harvest of his wickedness, and perhaps to hope that we won't reap ours (before God, not at the hands of man).
I was blessed and touched to see one man at the site of the WTC with this placard:
He echoes my sentiments completely. We need peace, not revenge, not cries of vengeance (isn't that what brought Bin Laden here?).
We need to look at ways of bringing peace and justice to our world, not seeking to settle scores and not believing in the power that we, or our nations, hold. For it is folly to believe we can achieve anything, that we are all powerful and can conqueror all before us, only God can claim that. Only God can live up to that billing.
Let's pray that the dust settles and that those who might seek to bring their own brand of retribution have their hands stayed.
Justice - Mercy - Humility, this is the way that true power is handled, this is the means by which everything can be achieved and walls broken down.
Pax
The poor soul who tried to teach us English struggled to get us to see wider than the words as we worked through William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' and although I still wonder what Ralph thought when he saw Piggy's body, I think my teacher did a good job.
The word's of Lord Acton, which my teacher droned on about (endlessly), and also added to obviously stuck. "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, so we need to be careful in how we control the power we have!" His warnings about how the book taught us regarding "The thin veneer of civilisation which separates from the natives," ring true, especially as I watch the news following Bin Laden's death.
Seeing people waving the headlines:
Did nothing to convince me that what many were about was revenge of the most distasteful kind.
Meanwhile elsewhere, images were shown of images of Bin Laden being kissed and him being mourned over:
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction (Thanks Isaac) and one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter (unless we build bridges and convince him otherwise).
What we need now is to not gloat triumphantly, but to understand that Bin Laden has reaped the harvest of his wickedness, and perhaps to hope that we won't reap ours (before God, not at the hands of man).
I was blessed and touched to see one man at the site of the WTC with this placard:
He echoes my sentiments completely. We need peace, not revenge, not cries of vengeance (isn't that what brought Bin Laden here?).
We need to look at ways of bringing peace and justice to our world, not seeking to settle scores and not believing in the power that we, or our nations, hold. For it is folly to believe we can achieve anything, that we are all powerful and can conqueror all before us, only God can claim that. Only God can live up to that billing.
Let's pray that the dust settles and that those who might seek to bring their own brand of retribution have their hands stayed.
Justice - Mercy - Humility, this is the way that true power is handled, this is the means by which everything can be achieved and walls broken down.
Pax
Monday, 2 May 2011
Osama Bin Laden Dead
Today's news that Osama Bin Laden has been killed (and his body taken possession of so that there is no doubt it is him) in Pakistan by US forces is a triumph for retribution and justice. It is an act of revenge for the Twin Towers and the lives lost and spmething that will undoubtedly win Obama approval points.
What it will do for Pakistan, a nation who has been accused of hiding Bin Laden and training terrorists. What it will do for those who engage in terror and what backlash it might bring, remains to be seen.
Beyond the triumphalism the reality is that we need to be praying for:
+ Our forces on the ground in Afghanistan (and for all those engaged in military, NGO and charitable efforts there),
+ The nation of Pakistan, where for many Bin Laden was a hero, that the rule of law and peace is maintained,
+ For the peace of the world, that men will dialogue rather than destroy, build up rather than break down.
Those who live by the sword, die by the sword and the death of Bin Laden (and his son) demonstrates the reality of hatred - death. A good operation by the US apparently well done.
Please pray - this is more than a headline, it's potentially a lighting of a touchpaper as some will look to respond with wicked acts whilst (undoubtedly) others will seek to make capital out of it for their skewed theologies and distasteful utterances.
A time to remember those who have lost their lives and think of their friends and families rather than celebrate the loss of another life.
Pax
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Eclipse of the Son?
An eclipse occurs when a celestial object is temporarily obscured, either by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the observer.
It always amazes me that an object as bright as the sun can be made to disappear behind another object. The dull, almost otherworldly, light and temperature drop when it occurs always makes a big impression on me. Well it seems to me that the same is true of us and Christ in this post-Easter period in that we (or perhaps less helpfully but more comfortably 'the Church') often cause an eclipse of the Son!
Let me explain.
Here we are almost a week after Easter and the question has to be, what difference does it make? Are people seeing Jesus or are we putting stuff in the way such that he becomes obscured by 'the Church' and the issues of whatever we take it to mean?
Discussing this yesterday it seemed that people didn't see Jesus because issues like people losing their farms to pay for repairs to a church building on their land (a hang on from the glebe land and other laws) made 'the Church' look mean, heartless and money grabbing. The ownership of much of the land in central London (especially Soho where the brothels and sex industry is predominant) all served to show the 'Church' is a bunch of hypocritical, money-grubbing, duplistic (for how can 'the Church' claim to support marriage and own the very places sex is traded as a commodity from?) people.
Taking one of the readings for this weekend (Acts 2:14,22-32):
"But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.
‘You that are Israelites,* listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24But God raised him up, having freed him from death,* because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him,
“I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover, my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.”
‘Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
“He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.”
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses."
Seems to me that we don't do enough witnessing about Jesus but work hard to put objects in the way of Him such that He is eclipsed and unseen.
We struggle to raise issues that cloud the world's view of jesus, to bring into the public gaze objects that distract from the truth that we have just celebrated. It appears that where many people see 'the Church' they fail to see Jesus - and this is something we need to change. Shout about Him, praise His name and let's stop the politics, the weird theologies and the madness, eh?
Jesus is risen indeed. Hallelujah! (so get out of the way and let people see Him)
Pax
It always amazes me that an object as bright as the sun can be made to disappear behind another object. The dull, almost otherworldly, light and temperature drop when it occurs always makes a big impression on me. Well it seems to me that the same is true of us and Christ in this post-Easter period in that we (or perhaps less helpfully but more comfortably 'the Church') often cause an eclipse of the Son!
Let me explain.
Here we are almost a week after Easter and the question has to be, what difference does it make? Are people seeing Jesus or are we putting stuff in the way such that he becomes obscured by 'the Church' and the issues of whatever we take it to mean?
Discussing this yesterday it seemed that people didn't see Jesus because issues like people losing their farms to pay for repairs to a church building on their land (a hang on from the glebe land and other laws) made 'the Church' look mean, heartless and money grabbing. The ownership of much of the land in central London (especially Soho where the brothels and sex industry is predominant) all served to show the 'Church' is a bunch of hypocritical, money-grubbing, duplistic (for how can 'the Church' claim to support marriage and own the very places sex is traded as a commodity from?) people.
Taking one of the readings for this weekend (Acts 2:14,22-32):
"But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.
‘You that are Israelites,* listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24But God raised him up, having freed him from death,* because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him,
“I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover, my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.”
‘Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
“He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.”
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses."
Seems to me that we don't do enough witnessing about Jesus but work hard to put objects in the way of Him such that He is eclipsed and unseen.
We struggle to raise issues that cloud the world's view of jesus, to bring into the public gaze objects that distract from the truth that we have just celebrated. It appears that where many people see 'the Church' they fail to see Jesus - and this is something we need to change. Shout about Him, praise His name and let's stop the politics, the weird theologies and the madness, eh?
Jesus is risen indeed. Hallelujah! (so get out of the way and let people see Him)
Pax
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