Monthly Archives: November 2009

COTA trip

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A number of you have asked me whether my Seattle trip which I blogged about here is going ahead.

Apologies for not saying earlier. The trip is happening, the flights are booked, I have my ESTA authorisation and am getting excited at the thought of sharing with the COTA community in January. I fly to Seattle on Jan 13 and will land at Heathrow on Feb 4th. All I can say is ‘cooooolm and big big BIG thank yous to all the people that have helped this to happen – you are stars!!

It’s not that far away timewise as Christmas will speed things along …. I’ll say more as we get closer, and no doubt a lot more on my return!

more on women bishops

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Maggi points to some petitions supporting women bishops. You can sign these if you, like me, want to see this happen as soon as possible, and as equal bishops with the other bishops that already hold office – rather than the ridiculous idea thought up by someone who though it acceptable to have women bishops on a different (lesser!!) level than men bishops. A bishop is a bishop, male or female, is equal in the sight of God and as soon as people get to grips with that then the better for us all!

Anyway to sign go click a link below depending on who you are:
you will sign something like: ‘we ….support having women as bishops on the same basis as men are bishops and we urge the Revision Committee to prepare the draft legislation with a code of practice, as requested by General Synod in July 2008, in time for General Synod in February 2010.’

For women clergy sign here

For men clergy sign here

For the laity (male or female!!!) sign here

I guess this is a good place as ny to answer those people who have shown surprise that I have not commented on this offer from the Roman Catholic church. I guess I have not commented because, to be frank, I’m not really that interested. If people wish to leave a church that embraces diversity and welcomes discussion and join one where one person is allowed to make all decisions unchallenged then so be it.

The reason I mention it here is because it is my honest hope that this will enable General Synod to go back to its original decision which agreed women bishops without alternative arrangements. The pope has made this offer to help out those who oppose the move … so I don’t wish to be insensitive but can we please move on now to what the overwhelming majority of Synod voted on after due though, discussion and prayer.

I look forward to our first woman bishop … be great of it was in Rochester!!! Shame it won’t be 😦

running like sparks through the stubble

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This morning I was on the rota to lead matins t 8.00am and the Eucharist which follows at 8.30. Today, being All Souls day, meant the Eucharist included a ‘commemoration of the faithful departed’. For the last week or so the cathedral has had a book of remembrance available for people to write the names of loved ones that have died. Today was an opportunity for people to remember them as I read out each of the names after the Eucharist.

This type of service was a first for me (a year and a bit into cathedral/a bit more traditional life and I thought I would have stopped saying that!), and something that I thought would be another privilege to be involved in. I was particularly struck by the first reading which was from the Wisdom of Solomon in the Apocrypha.

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster,
and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.
Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
and will run like sparks through the stubble.
They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them forever.
Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect.

I found the words particularly helpful as I remembered those I know that have died and love the language of ‘running like sparks through the stubble’. I am not sure I entirely understand this; what does ‘the time of their visitation’ mean? To me, this does not speak of death, but speaks of energy, creativity and is quite evocative in its vibrant imagery. This has challenged me today in my theology of how I view the ‘saints departed’ and widens my understanding of ‘joining with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven’ which we say quite often in Anglican Eucharistic prayers.