Topic: News

It’s been a hard day and energy levels are low. I feel like that sometimes when people are not bringing into the open what really matters.  Perhaps it’s something about so much energy going into people hiding what really matters, that they cannot be fully present in the room. Yet, when I was interviewed by Radio Surrey last weekend and was asked what I hoped for during Synod, I answered that I wanted Synod NOT to turn down dead ends, NOR go over old ground.  Well, we’ve managed not to make those mistakes – so that is quite an achievement.  The big debates happen tomorrow.  Supporters remain anxious but buoyant.

There was a moving service in Westminster Abbey this evening with the United Reformed Church.  For the Church of England 1662 is a year to remember with pride, for that is the year that the final version of the Book of Common Prayer was adopted. Many people love the poetry and language of that prayer book, so 1662 is looked back on with fondness.  Yet, for others, this was the year of the Great Ejection: with the return of King Charles 2^nd, legislation was passed so that many priests and bishops were forced out of office.  Around 20% of the clergy left, with many lay people. Though the traditions of the United Reformed Church have brought much benefit to England (let alone, the Church) since then, the year 1662 remains one of great sorrow and pain for the URC. This is salutary – to remember that what we celebrate may cause pain in others, and vice versa. 

The most moving and invigorating part of Synod business today was a presentation by the Chief Executive of the Anglican Alliance. This is the body that carries forward Overseas Development work (relief work in times of crisis, advocacy for the poorest, health and education in Africa).  This is the sort of work we are familiar with through our support of Kwasa and the Diocese of the Highveld.  But it is wonderful to hear about a large variety of such courageous work happening throughout the world.  While I am involved with matters of minute drafting of legislation tomorrow, I will keep in mind our friends in need, who have much to teach us, and who support us with their prayers.

3 inspiring moments from the first day at General Synod:

Well over 200 turn up, in spite of the snow, to the pre-meeting in support of Women Bishops at St Margaret’s Westminster.  Good support from the parish – it’s always heartening to see friends at such times.  The mood is anxious yet buoyant.  Everyone is determined to be gracious.  Bishop Gerry Wolf, from Rhode Island USA, is tremendous.  One thing she said (as she became the bishop, in order to care for those opposed) was that she asked parishes opposed to her ministry to invite her once each year to something – a jumble sale, supper, a PCC meeting or a service.  In return, she agreed to arrange a visiting bishop (who was acceptable) to take confirmations, for example, in the parish.  Both made space for each other – both articulated what they wanted – both stayed in relationship, meeting face to face each year.  I wish the Church of England could have taken such a personal and simple route – but we are what we are, and so we wade slowly through legal agreements this week.

Secondly, Archbishop Rowan, of course, was wise and gentle.  The first item on the Synod’s agenda (having sung the National Anthem) was for Rowan to ask Synod to make a Loyal Address to her Majesty.  Surprisingly, but showing great sensitivity, Rowan began by paying tribute to King George 6^th– for this is the 60^th anniversary of his death, as well as the 60^thanniversary of the Queen’s accession.  I reckon that will be well received in the Palace.  Great leaders have sufficient calm to say what needs to be said, even in the midst of turbulence.

Thirdly, I read on the train on the way up to London and come across these words: “We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions”.  Each of us can make the journey to the middle ground where we can understand others in the way we want to be understood – and we are more realistic about ourselves.

A gentle start to a tense week.  But signs of grace abound.

Two catholic priests went together to see the Pope to ask for some advice.  They were good friends, as they both smoked frequently and so met up every time they had to go outside for a cigarette.  The Franciscan (known for his gentleness) went in first to see the Pope.  After a few minutes, he came out looking very sad.  His friend, a Jesuit (known for his cleverness), asked what had happened.  “I asked the Pope whether I could smoke while I prayed.  But the Pope said no”.  So, the Jesuit goes in and emerges a few minutes later smiling.  His friend asked what he had heard to make him so happy.  “I asked the Pope whether I could pray while I smoked.  The pope said yes”.

It is important to ask the right question.  I say this (and tell you that silly story) because I am about to go to General Synod for most of next week.  Always on the first evening there is Question Time, when Bishops and other senior people have to answer questions on any topic for which they are responsible.  There is usually time for about 80 question and answers: some are informative, some are merely a matter of point-scoring, and some are potentially significant.  In all this it is very important to phrase the question precisely.

But the major topic for this group of sessions will be the ordination of women as bishops – there are four debates scheduled for this topic.  The context is that, over the last nine months, each diocese has had to take its own vote on the proposed legislation – and the vast majority are in favour of pressing ahead, with this legislation, and without further amendments.  But the opponents will be using all sorts of procedural tricks and mechanisms this week to divert the church, to seek for more provisions for themselves, or to re-consider options that have already been rejected.  What do I hope for?  That we will emerge unscathed, with no publicity blunders, and that progress can be made towards the final vote which happens at York in July this year.  (And remember: there will then be another two years needed to get this through Parliament….)

The fundamental question, in my view, is: do we truly believe that God created all human beings in God’s image, replete with potential and talent, each one of whom is called to serve God as fully as possible in the church and in the world?  I reckon the answer is “yes”.  I will be standing firm against those who say “yes, but women can only….”  On this matter there can be no qualifications – no “yes but…”s.  To deny that women can be fully bearers of the divine image is to say something appalling about God.  That I will resist.

I went bird-watching on Friday in Sussex as part of a group, with an expert guide.  He acknowledged that bird watching is largely about being in the right place at the right time, though his expert informative knowledge made the day far more pleasant.  The morning passed slowly as not much seemed to be showing itself.  But that did not matter too much as the day was brilliant, sunny and crisp – and the Sussex Downs give a wonderful sense of spaciousness.

Later in the afternoon we had two precious moments.  We saw a Hen Harrier and a Short Eared Owl.  Both are quite rare birds.  We were fortunate to have very good sightings: they were in clear view for 3 or 4 minutes.  The sun was on them so we could see their colours clearly.  They were hunting for prey which made their behaviour fascinating to watch.  That was a wonderful end to the day.

Memory is a great filter.  In a few days time I won’t recall the hours that we saw nothing.  I will remember for many years to come with clear detail those few minutes when we saw the harrier and the owl.  That’s how memory works.  But I am not sure that that is how morality should work.  Discussions about morality often focus solely on the special moments of difficult choice.  That’s how it is taught in school: students are asked to consider the problems of euthanasia, abortion, or terminal care.  But hard cases make bad laws; and hard moral situations can distract us from the daily matter of moral living.

Becoming a deeply moral person who is upright, trustworthy, wise and courageous, day in day out, is required of all people.  Yet Christians have a particular interest in how we learn to do this.  We are committed because of our faith to want to know

·         what it means to live well alongside our neighbours

·         how to respect ourselves, our bodies, our friends and our enemies

·         how we can use our gifts and our money wisely

·         how we can bring a positive influence to bear on situations that are beyond our control.

Of course there is a link between the 99% of our lives, when nothing out of the ordinary happens, and the crucial instants when fundamental decisions are made.  The better prepared we are to live well in mundane times, the better choices we will make in crisis.  That is what happens in bird-watching.  Prepare well, and you are likely to find yourself in the right place at the right time, and you will see what is in front of you.

Some of this I want to explore in the New Start course that we will be running during Lent.  Details of this course will be appearing in the newsletter and on the website over the next few weeks.

Four valiant Street Angels led a discussion after worship on Sunday which is still stimulating me.  They told us stories about what they do – all of this is moving and heartening.  They face tricky situations and defuse possible fights.  It is a shame that alcohol plays such a large part in creating the problems they face.  But, as someone commented, sometimes problems simply need to be engaged with – rather than discussed.  Ideally, Guildford would not be as it is on a Saturday night.  But this is not an ideal world; since people get themselves into bad situations, they need help.  That is what Street Angels offer.

We all felt encouraged and ready to continue to support with our prayers.

In the second part of the discussion we were invited to think with the Street Angels how best to respond to those who ask “so why are you doing this? ”  It’s clear that what is needed is a range of responses that are easily understood, that don’t use religious jargon and that are personal and honest.   Together we came up with five possible approaches:

1.       “I do this because I believe that God sees each one of us as loved and special.  I am special.  You are special to God” ….. and so you can lead the conversation into how they feel about themselves.

2.       If challenged about “Why does God let bad things happen?” (a fairly common outburst), the Street Angel acknowledges that this is quite a puzzle, and that truly bad things happen.  By this time, the person is likely to want to tell you about the bad thing that he/she has experienced recently.  This approach is not ducking the issue – but people more often than not want to express their sadness more than argue theologically about “the problem of evil”.

3.       If asked “why do you do this?”, the response can be “Friendship and kindness”.  This seems a particularly good approach because the Street Angels tell us that they are often recognised as being kind people.  Moreover, the Street Angels often pick up people who have been abandoned by their group of friends.  Saying that there is a sort of friendship that does not abandon others is appropriate for what is happening on the streets of Guildford, and is true about God too.

4.       One good response to “Why do you believe in God?” is Beauty and Joy.  This is a similar answer to number 3 – that is about human relationships; Beauty and Joy is about the natural world.

5.       The final response we devised is more about the way of carrying on the conversation, rather than the content.  Respect is the key ingredient.  And this can be particularly important when people are starting to cause trouble for each other.  To model respect by being patient and understanding can be very influential.

None of this is spiritual ‘rocket science’.  But the Street Angels were able to admit that in all their training they had not received guidance about how what to say in these circumstances.  It’s easy to feel that the answers given above are naïve and inadequate.  But in reality I reckon that they are good ways of taking forward these conversations …. at least, such a conversation will be as good as is possible on Guildford High Street at 0300 on Sunday morning.