COP 26 has made the headlines frequently over the past two weeks. As Christians we have a duty to tend our God-given environment that has been so badly compromised by human greed and exploitation.
Join us in praying that the pledges made will be honoured, and that many will respond to the call to live more simply for the good of all.
There will be more information about COP 26 in the next issue of our magazine, but until it reaches you don’t forget to keep praying!
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) report on the Anglican Church, released 6 October 2020, makes an important contribution to the CofE Safeguarding debate. You can find it here:
To read the conclusions and recommendations scroll down to internal page 108 of the report.
It is far from the end of the story for a number of reasons. The case studies which were considered were important, but far from new. Problems continue and there are independent reviews into the abuses of John Smyth and Jonathan Fletcher which address more recent abuse and cover-ups which were happening after IICSA began its work. Those reports are delayed to next year as so much new evidence has been coming forward. This is unfinished business.
IICSA itself has yet more recommendations to make and have already indicated that they will report on the important issue of Mandatory Reporting when they have finished reviewing all the faith communities. They will also address the issues of the confessional, having received expert evidence.
The CofE had already begun practical responses, not least restitution, especially to victims of some litigation strategies employed by the Church’s lawyers and insurers.
Victims have offered a qualified welcome to the report, but understandably await tangible proof of change. They are encouraged by the purposeful response of the three Safeguarding Lead Bishops
LLMs and Readers wanting accessible background reading might consider the following: Letters to a Broken Church which collated short essays from survivors, lawyers, priests and theologians and set the agenda in advance of the report:
Sally Kerson is an LLM in the benefice of Ampworth, Chilworth and North Baddesley in the Diocese of Winchester, she sent her reflections on these uncertain times through our contact form- available on any page of the website.
The Prime Minister has set out his road map for ending the lockdown in the UK and people are looking forward to more restrictions being lifted as the weeks go by. The church also waits for the time when she can fling open her doors to everyone.
Meanwhile most of us have had to learn, very quickly, how to be a Christian presence on line. Sunday mornings are now spent at home taking part in services or pre-recording sections, working together to keep everything interesting, informative and engaging to a congregation that we cannot see.
In some ways it feels that the church is on its own journey with the scenery completely changed. However, there are times when it is difficult reading the map in front of us and we wonder if we will ever reach our destination through a crisis that grips the world.
One of the post resurrection readings was from Luke Chapter 24 v. 13-35 The Road to Emmaus is when two companions are walking together, and they are joined by Jesus, but they do not recognise him until they share a meal together. Both these activities of walking and sharing meals with friends have been denied to us for over two months, so this truly is a story of deep meaning, reminding us in particular of the breaking of the bread and sharing together Holy Communion in our churches.
The fact that these two companions on the road to Emmaus did not recognise Jesus only highlights the fact that we often do not recognise who is walking beside us on our journey of life. But one of the most important parts of this story is the fact that Jesus listened to those on that road. There can often be the temptation when people are sad or low, to try and cheer them up without giving them space or time to talk first. But Jesus listens, he values the experience of these two companions and he helps them to reflect on what they have experienced over the last few days in Jerusalem, his death and the women witnessing an empty tomb.
During the time of lock down we have been called to listen to many people over the telephone and via the internet and in particular the bereaved. Sadly we have been unable to meet with families in person before funerals have been conducted, but have listened to their stories and attempted to travel with them on the path of grief.
The pandemic has certainly given the church and its people a great deal to think about over the months. It has challenged the way we see and everyone else sees the church. We have had to discover through prayer and and reflection, different ways of hearing God’s voice. Hopefully as ministers we have become more outward looking in the way we have spread the word of God in our communities. Now is the time to perhaps work out our own route map for the future of the church and all God’s people, without any restrictions.
Sally Kerson
St.John’s and All Saints, North Baddesley St.Denys church, Chilworth St. Marks, Ampfield
Submit your reflections via the ‘Contact Us’ form at the bottom of this page.
Raylia Chadwick is the Reader Emeritus and Hon. Chaplain of Manchester Cathedral, she sent her reflections on these uncertain times through our contact form- available on any page of the website.
It is an idyllic spring day in the garden, my journal lying idly open before me – with closed eyes that feel the warmth of a noon day sun, and ears that take in the buzzing of the bumble bees and sweet singing of birds so tiny I could enclose one in the palm of my hand. As others have said before me nature is an open book, full of consciousness and knowledge, the Glorification of God for all to see.
Everything works by itself according to its Divine nature, moved by the Joy of the Spirit.
And what am I doing?
Absolutely nothing.
Not quite true. I pray for all affected by this terrible Covid Disease. The world is falling apart. And I ponder. It is the nature of a Reader to ponder.
Fragments of Gospel reflections flit in and out of mind …snatches of this and that never fully understood. Normally, on this day, I would be in the Cathedral chatting with visitors, delivery the Cathedral mid day prayers, facilitating a group, leading evening prayer…But to day is not a normal day. The Cathedral remains closed and silent, its clergy streaming daily prayers from their home setting on Facebook.
Yet what an opportunity this enforced isolation is! Oh the Joy of the Spirit unfettered by liturgy, truly accessible in the gentle stirring of a warm spring breeze – The Hebrew word for Spirit is ruach, the spirit of life itself, for the same word is used for breath, for wind. Surely the joy of the spirit – this ruach- moves in this garden; the Living Christ in whom you and I dwell and have our being. During Lent, just before ‘lock down’ in fact we had the Gospel account of the Samaritan woman at the well.
I am reminded of some of Jesus’ words to her…
‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem…but the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth…’ (John 4:21-24)
The locked Cathedral, sadly isolated in the heart of the city, is deserted, telling its own 21st century story. Yet it looks like a relic from a bygone age. But Spirit and Truth will move where they will and somehow it is easier to ponder that, to experience its gentle movement, in a garden.
Ruach moves here, Divinely Ordained from the beginning of time, the phases of the seasons, Shakespeare’s ‘darling buds of May in next door’s garden, the gentle stirring of leaves, and the certainty of human goodness that the Neo Platonist Plotinus tells us is more beautiful than the morning and evening stars.
Are we on the verge of a new form of church where Spirit and Truth will shine in ever greater glory? A church for a different world? Where Resurrection will not seem a future Hope but a very Real Here and Now? What will Reader Ministry look like then, I ponder?
Of one thing I am certainly this warm and sunny day at this difficult time in all our lives – Let God prevail bringing us the Joy of the Spirit in Christ. There is no need to search for Him.
Raylia Chadwick Reader Emeritus and Hon. Chaplain Manchester Cathedral
Submit your reflections via the ‘Contact Us’ form at the bottom of this page.
The Church of England have created a series of free webinars to offer practical ideas for Church leaders at a local level in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They hope the sessions will provide access to individuals, information and resources that will help to make a difference.
Webinars will take place on Zoom, lasting an hour. They will focus on a specific theme, featuring speakers from the National Evangelism & Discipleship team, and will include a Q&A.
Spaces are limited and registration is required in advance.
Full details, including sign-up links, are included below.
CPAS have put together some material to help contact, welcome, minister to and integrate the large numbers of people accessing online church materials.
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