Category Archives: ministry

the authority of Nazareth

Posted on by
2

Adrian gave me an excellent article to read a while ago as part preparation for my ordination to the priesthood. The article is comprised of two talks given under the title of ‘Authority of Ministry’ given at the Dean’s conference in Chichester earlier this year by Revd Dr Sam Wells.

The talks are excellent and Wells looks at the different kinds of authority represented in the priesthood which I found very interesting. I got particularly excited, however, towards the end of the speech when Wells starts to talk about we restore authority where authority has been lost due to being abused or misrepresented.

He argues that there are three approaches to restoring some form of authority.
One way is by working for people. This is quite common in all areas of professional life where we train and get good at what we do and then use our skill to try to resolve problems on the behalf of others. This may make us feel good, but it quite often leaves the recipient feeling deskilled and devalued in some way.

Wells says the second model is working with people. This can make for good partnership as long as the agenda is set by the person in need. This is more a relationship based on equality, recognising that the journey is as important as the destination.

Wells suggests a third model, which resonates with me in a significant way. Wells calls this being with which acknowledges that some things are not problems and some problems simply can’t be fixed. ‘It means having the patience not to search around for the light switch, but to sit side by side for a time in the darkness’ and ‘learning to be with people is learning to treat people as if every day were their birthday. Being with is just that – spending time being with people not to fix them, or to instruct them, but being with them for no other reason than wanting to hang out with them.

He looks at these models and compares them to the shape of Jesus’ life. I find this illustration particularly powerful:

‘So Jesus spent a week in Jerusalem working for us, doing what we can’t do, achieving our salvation. he spent three years in Galilee working with us, calling us to follow him and work alongside him. But before he ever got into working with and working for, he spent 30 years in Nazareth being with us, setting aside his plans and strategies, and experiencing in his own body not just the exile and oppression of the children of Israel, but also the joy and sorrow of family and community life’.

Wells calls this the Authority of Nazareth. May we both experience and develop more in the way of the authority of Nazareth.

does a break cause new growth?

Posted on by
2

I returned yesterday to my ‘normal’ ministry after what seems like a little disruption after interviews, writing and holiday.

As is always the case, I felt some fear as I ventured onto the streets of Rochester wondering what, if anything, would happen. The one plus was that the day was glorious with fantastic sunshine and so the walking itself would be a pleasure.

I was surprised at how long it took me to get to my normal morning coffee location due to the number of people who stopped to speak or share stuff with me. Even when I got to the door of the pub I chatted for nearly 10 minutes outside with a great guy before actually getting inside to order my coffee. Inside I then had a couple of other long conversations.

When I reflected on this I could not make sense of what had happened. This was far from a normal day where I would expect to chat with one or two people, rather than the 6 or 7 decent conversations that did happen. Quite often after being away it seems that things take a backward step and I have to be patient again.

As I was praying around this the idea of a broken bone came to my mind. Specifically that when a bone breaks, new growth occurs to fill the gap that has opened out in the break. I am not sure how medically sound that is, but it does make some sense to me.

For me, I wonder whether taking a short break from my ministry has now started to leave a gap. In some places I am becoming part of the furniture, which I think is a good thing, and so now sometimes my not being there is noticed. I wonder if this causes growth in the sense of questioning. I guess a disadvantage of always being there is that if people have questions or want to talk they can easily put it off thinking ‘he’ll be here tomorrow’. People being away for a while may remind us of our fragility and a need to take opportunities.

More importantly, though, I think taking a break, forcing a gap in my routine and approach, may have been a cause of new growth in how I view things and what I notice and don’t notice. This type of growth causes me to take a fresh outlook, to view differently and re-new my expectations.

The pressure of ministry can lead us to think we always need to be present, or that we must not miss this or that opportunity. It seems to me that we need to continue to trust God and give God more control. Sometimes, God works in ‘the opportunity’ that we are fortunate enough to be involved in, whereas other times God generates growth in the gap that is left when we break away or moved along for a time. If that break did not occur, the growth, whatever growth in this case may be, just would not happen.

the right question

Posted on by
2

Quite an amazing thing happened in ‘Spoons today. I have noticed a guy who has been wary of me, not giving eye contact even when we were sat near to each other, never returning the good morning I offer. Recently we were sat in a meeting together and his facial expression gave no hint of recognition.

Today I asked him one question about the meeting, which was around something he and his wife are amazingly involved with and a conversation started which lasted for a good 30 minutes. The guy shared where he lived, his other hobbies, where he worked before he retired, what he did before then and so on.

It struck me again that people don’t know how to relate to the ‘church’ or what are seen as professional church people. As a wearer of a dog collar I am seen as ‘the church’ and I wonder whether the avoidance is uncertainty, or maybe even embarrassment, about what to say or maybe what my response will be to what they say. Some see it as a sign of holding some power or authority.

A few days ago someone suggested to another guy that he should talk to me. His immediate response was ‘I have nothing to confess’ and so closing the conversation as if to say that is the only way I know how to relate to church. Persoanlly it was quite a painful moment with a clear rejection forcefully called across the pub. I don’t believe the guy was having a go, or even that he was avoiding me but that this was more of an uncertainty of how to act or behave or what to say. Limited knowledge of what church is about results in limited options of how to relate and understand it. Sometimes I really wish I could be present without my dog collar … but if I did the anonymity of that would achieve very little to my mind.

Today’s conversation was great and interesting and hopefully will go some way to showing that I am not there to hit people with religion, but merely to be there for people, whatever that may mean.

It seems to me that we need to break down barriers and be available to people. I am wondering more and more whether this is done by finding the right connection, whether that is a similar interest or finding the right question to ask or right comment to make. That certainly seemed to be the case today. I think I am seeing more and more that is is up to me to be proactive in this by observing what is happening and taking opportunities if they come.

Another thought is that my pro-activity results in making myself publicly vulnerable and giving all the power to the other person. If I greet, ask a question or make a comment the other person has the power to answer, ignore or ridicule. I think it is right to give the power to the other person, but its only recently that I have come to understand that this is in fact what I am doing. By stepping out I become vulnerable and I wonder if in some way by doing so I give the perceived power of the dog collar away.

waiting to stdy

Posted on by
Reply

Today has been a study day which has forced me to reflect on some stuff differently, and maybe even in quite a false way. In a few weeks time I need to hand in an assignment of 4000 words which is not too tall an order. I am struggling, however, to decide what to write about. The task is called the ‘critical incident’ assignment where I choose something that has happened (the critical incident) that has caused me to reflect and has challenged me in my ordained ministry.

There have been many such incidences. The way I have been received by people in the public places I inhabit. The conversations that I believe have happened purely because I am wearing a dog collar. The challenges and threats that people have fired towards me. My experience of perceptions even in the church such as needing to robe and process to read the gospel in the closing Eucharist at the diocesan conference. All of these things have been a challenge and all of them have caused me to consider the transition I am going through, or sometimes feel I am being dragged through, as I develop in and within my ordained ministry.

It’s all very strange, but the wide remit of the assignment is in itself quite a challenge. Essentially I can write about anything as long as I can show that reflection upon the incident has helped to develop a new understanding of my ordained role. The lazy part of me wants to be given an assignment title and book list so I can choose and get into it. The more adventurous side of me is looking forward to the challenge of developing a question and finding information to support and challenge my thinking.

After a rough start, and quite a lot of coffee causing me to buzz around an empty house, I think I now have an idea that I think will be fun and a challenge to explore. I think I will be considering the whole waiting thing and how that links with identity and what I feel I am called to do, and how that calling is perceived by others, even those that are closest to me. It’s annoying that by the end of my study day I actually feel like doing some study!

Surprises by God again!

Posted on by
Reply

I went to a meeting last night that I was not really looking forward to but was surprised that I actually enjoyed the meeting.

The meeting was the Dickens Christmas Festival Wash Up meeting run by the council for all people involved in the festival (traders etc. ) to come to. I assumed this would be one of those dreary meetings where people would moan at the council about this, that and the other. I went in place of someone but was quite surprised by the meeting itself.

There was some moaning as you would expect, but the overwhelming majority of the time was spent in positive dialogue revolving around making a good event even better. I was also surprised by how much the cathedral is respected by the council and people and has a key role in such events.

After the meeting I got chatting to a great gentleman about his involvement with the festival and he may even have partly convinced me to think about a costume for further Dickens events in Rochester – maybe a Victorian priest – now I’ve started dressing up and do so when the majority of people are in civvies in the congregation it does make a lot of sense to dress up Dickensian style when hundreds of others are …. maybe!

I have returned home energised by the meeting. I guess I had forgotten how much I enjoy this kind of local authority/community gathering uniting around a common purpose and seeking a good way forward. It was great to be thinking in that way and in those circles again.

enter the sanctuary

Posted on by
Reply

Being in the cathedral over the Dickens weekend has been an amazing experience.

I have chatted with people. Prayed with people. Wept with people.

I have been amazed by how people needed to be invited to enter the sanctuary and approach the high altar. Even with an invite many felt they did not wish to, but instead stayed behind the invisible rail (the rail had been removed to allow access).

In the waiting installation I have left two books with no instructions other than a title of ‘I am waiting for …’. Some of the writings have been ‘gifts from santa’, ‘the end of term’ which are important. Others have been deep and moved me to tears.

This weekend I have wept with and been moved to tears by a number of situations, and ask you to join me in prayer for:
the Portugese woman who is feeling lonely, missing home and feels God has abandoned her
the retired lady who did not wish to go home, but stay with God where she felt ‘alive again’
the young boy who wrote ‘I am waiting for my daddy to come home because I miss him so much’
The retired gentlemen who cried because he felt he was not ‘good enough’ to go near the high altar
The new dad who was ‘gobsmacked by God’ just by walking into the sanctuary

The last two days have been exciting and a privilege. There is a lot for me to think about. How do we support people such as this – should we support them? How can we enable people to share what they need to share. The big question for me – why were people so reluctant to walk into the sanctuary, why did they need an invite?
The young woman who wrote ‘I am waiting for my cancer treatment to end’

Medway school carols service

Posted on by
Reply

Being at the cathedral is a privilege and today one of those privileges was to be the member of cathedral staff present at one of the Medway Primary Schools carol services (there are 4 in all with 9 or 10 schools at each).

My role today was to introduce each item, start with a bidding prayer and end the carol service with a blessing. The Mayor attended and so I also had to welcome and escort him and his wife to his chair.

As I sat amongst the children and saw their faces signing with delight I felt God reminded me how special this story of Christmas is. After hearing carols year after year, and the same readings, it is very easy to lose sight of what we are celebrating, what we are remembering, and what it is that we are hoping for.

The enthusiasm of the children today brought that wonder back to the Christmas story.

As a pioneer I may n ot have expected to be robing and being involved in such things – but as I was I could not help but remember what a sheer joy and privilege it was to be part of this wonderful event.

the egg cracks a little …

Posted on by
2

Yesterday was about as mixed as a day as I think I can get as a pioneer curate in the establishment I love called the Church of England.

The day started as normal, with matins at 8.00am. I am finding starting the day in this way, sat in the almost silent but always calm Quire of the cathedral, in sight of the High Altar and Sanctuary light and surrounded by saints watching and in stained glassed windows, to be quite powerful. The slow repetition of Psalms, listening to scripture and prayer is, for me, a good way of reminding me what this is all about and that God is, and needs to remain, central to all I do.

Afterwards I met with Gary and Doug who are two local priests who worship at the cathedral every Friday morning at the Eucharist and then move to the Cathedral tea Rooms for breakfast. I chatted and listened as they shared their knowledge and understanding of the area I seem to be called to work in. They, particularly Gary, have lived and ministered here for a good time and will always understand more than me, so it was good to meet with these guys.

Following that I assisted another local priest, Paul, with a funeral. For a little time I felt like a ‘real vicar’! It was a privilege to join these people and share for a little time with them. I cam away pretty struck at what a privilege and honour it is to be able to stand with people at this incredibly painful and emotional time. Despite the tight timetable from the Crematorium (which is more generous in time allocated than other places) I learned a lot about how to still manage dignity and respect for both the deceased and those paying their respects.

Later on in the evening I became pioneer again as I met with a couple who wanted to talk about the community I am trying to gather. We chatted well and I came away quite excited about what we had covered and shared over the last hour. I would love these people to join and journey with us and I have left it with them to pray more and discern more of what God is saying to them.

A mixed day – but a day where I feel a little light from the Kingdom has seeped through into my consciousness in a mass of ways, from scripture, talking, peoples grief and dreaming of what may be.

circle of collaboration

Posted on by
Reply

Yesterday was quite an incredible day.

In the morning I said goodbye to a great pastor who has left a wonderful legacy and although not at the end of his ministry has finished the part of his journey with the church in Gillingham.

In the evening I attended AngelSpace and brushed shoulders with young people who are right at the start of their ministry with some not even believing that they could possibly have a ministry or be used by God in any way.

As I look back over the 24 hours, it is as if God is saying the cycle continues. There are times of sadness when things come to end, but if we look around us these are balanced out with times of excitement too.

An event I had to miss yesterday which I really wanted to get to were some of the Southwark ordinations in Croydon. More people, more friends, starting out on a new ministry and excited and daunted by the prospect.

The cycle continues and has been continuing for centuries. This thinking connects with The Long View poem I quoted last week as well as my trip to the cathedral roof. If we think we are going to do major stuff and see lots of things through to completion we are going to be incredibly restricted and disappointed in what we do. If we take that long view and realise we are working in collaboration, not just with our present team colleagues and associates, but also with Christians that have died before us and those that come after us we can start to understand that our role is to simply play our part.

It hit me as I was going to sleep that we talk a lot about ‘sowing seeds’ and ‘others seeing the fruit’ or ‘we don’t know what the spirit is doing’ – but in reality a lot of language we use is that of great expectation. Sometimes we expect to sow, water and plant all in one quick swoop!

I just wonder whether this can put people off of becoming involved in mission or ministry. ‘Come and be part of something exciting’ sounds good, but may be the thought scares people off. ‘Come and see how your individual gift can be used’ may be more attractive. I’m not so sure either way?

We have been called to use our gifts, to play our part, in the great master plan of the creator. Some of it may not make sense, some of what we do may not even be seen by anyone but God, but all of it contributes, all of it is valid, and all of it would be missed at some time if it was not there.

When we understand we play but a part we then grasp how unimportant we are because of our dependency on each other and upon God. If we realise this we start to be concerned that we do our thing well, which stops us looking nto ‘check’ to see if others are working as well as us! As we grasp and focus on our part, we allow others to grasp and focus on theirs. The whole process releases us to be what we are called to be – nothing more and nothing less.

This cycle of collaboration puts all in perspective and really does liberate us in our expectations of ourselves and of others.

As I move out this week to join with God in his community, I want to be conscious that I am riding on the prayers of those that have gone before me, sowing in areas that have been prepared well for others to see fruit from while I see the results of seeds sown and nurtured by others.

The Long View

Posted on by
Reply

These words were shared with me recently – they are amazing!

The Long View

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation
in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.

Attributed to Archbishop Oscar Romero

(thanks to Jonnie Parkin)