Vicar's Letter from the Magazine
for July and August

Dear Friends

DOING THINGS

A few months ago I attended a clergy teaching morning at the cathedral
with the bishops and other colleagues. It was rather goo. Fr Mark Ireland
talked with us about gift and ministry, and reminded us that within our
parishes, people took on roles and tasks by default because nobody else
would, and that more often than not, the tasks taken on were ones for
which the person was not gifted – which means to say they were far the
best person to be doing it, but did so because otherwise this would not
happen. He reminded us that the worst offenders at this are the clergy.

            At that point I went through a mental check list of the things that I
do that could be done by others, and felt quite ashamed. Then I went
through another list and thought of the folk I know with particular gifts
and qualities, but who feel unable to perform certain duties, because they
have not been part of the congregation for too long, or because they
don’t yet feel able to juggle family commitments and their working life
with other things.

            Franciscans are taught that there is a kind of false humility involved
in shying away from things that we are invited to do because we feel
unworthy or ill-equipped. And it is true that for any task to which
churchpeople are called there is always training available either locally
 or in the diocese.

            It’s when it comes to things which I take for granted, that I have to
remind myself that it can be a terrifying experience until someone gets
used to it. Greeting people at the door as a sidesperson, for example, or 
reading a lesson during Mass. Or perhaps even writing and reading the
intercessions. We can think even about serving at the altar, or singing
in the choir.

I’d just like you to think (particularly if you are a regular attender
at any church) about what a service would be like if the priest did
absolutely everything, and there was no musical accompaniment. What
would it feel like if all we did was walk into church, pick up a book or two,
sit down and go through the service where the only voice was that of the
officiant. Personally, I think not too many people would attend, and it
would not be the uplifting, spiritually affirming affair that a service is
designed to be.

            When there is a need in the scout group for more leaders, I always
have to remind the families of the young people  that Scouters and Helpers
 do not appear out of thin air at will – they emerge from out of the parents
 or their friends, and as a result of one-to-one contact and persuasion.

            Servers, readers and intercessors, as well as chalice assistants and
others emerge from within the membership of the church, and all of us
can be trained to perform any role provided we are willing to take up
the challenge and learn. No one of us already involved in the organisational
part of the churches life has a monopoly on the roles we perform, or on
how they are performed – each of us brings our own abilities and qualities
 to what we do, and like the workers in the vineyard, whether we have
been doing something for one hour or twelve, one year or twelve
 or twenty, we each have an equal voice and equal vote.
What can you offer to do for your church?

 WOMEN BISHOPS

 As I write these words I am conscious that General Synod is beginning to
meet at York, and that they will be discussion how to be generous and
accommodating to those who do not agree with the consecration of
women as bishops.

            There is nothing against women as bishops save that of us not
having had them before, Synod has already passed the measure for their
appointment so that is no longer the argument. What is at stake is
the soul of the National Church, which is compromised by a call for male
bishops to share jurisdiction with any woman diocesan bishop who is
appointed.

            Now way back in the early centuries of Christendom, S Clement
of Rome and others of the early Fathers wrote the Apostolic Constitutions
which among other things established that one bishop has jurisdiction over
a particular geographical area.

            The suggested solution to those who are upset about the women
issue is to give another bishop equal rights, with the woman having no
power of veto. It appears to me that Synod is going to go against historical
catholic faith and order in giving two bishops equal juridical power in the
same city. Nightmare. Pray that they do not do so, or the CofE will set
itself beyond the Church Catholic, of which it has been a faithful (if not
turbulent) member for 1500 years or more.

Fr Alan

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