never accept …

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The blog has been quiet because I have been writing other things as the deadline for my long thought about, much spoken about but little written about portfolio was due in today. I gave it in yesterday with a big sigh of relief..

Partly I feel I have failed with this as my battles with those in authority to submit something creative (portfolio??!!) and at the end of the day the deadline was there and something needed to be submitted as, at the end of the day, I need to ‘pass’ the year and get started on coming up with a title for my masters dissertation.

I’m not entirely happy with what I have submitted as essentially it is an 8000 word essay whereas when we originally spoke of portfolio I was thinking of something a little more creative that reflected in quite a raw way the journey I have been on. I do like my title page though so there is a mark of my shallowness for you!

The task is now done though and I can breathe a sigh of relief … and feel a bit guilty of feeling pleasure that someone has to read it and plough through 8 appendices of ‘raw’ accounts of my last 2 years.

The great thing about drawing stuff together has been the remembering stuff from the earlier days that I have forgotten. I am quite often told that I am never satisfied and part of what makes me ‘tick’, I guess, is that I am always looking for and asking ‘what next?’, or wondering how something can be developed, or question where thinks are linking, or not linking. As I thought more on that I found this quote from Vincent Donovan, which I have recorded in a few places and blogged previously about here, which I guess both resonates and challenges me on a regular basis:

‘Never accept and be content with analysed assumptions, assumptions about the work, about the people, about the church or Christianity. Never be afraid to ask questions about the work we have inherited or the work we are doing. There is no question that should not be asked or is outlawed. The day we are completely satisfied with what we have been doing; the day we have found the perfect, unchangeable system of work, the perfect answer, never in need of being corrected again, on that day we will know that we are wrong, that we have made the greatest mistake of all.’ (Donovan p146)
So … here’s to more of not accepting, not being content …. isn’t that basically saying I am to continue being a pain in the a…!

eyes wide open

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This opens today and looks like it is well worth a visit … I’m lucky in that I can see it a few times.
If you visit why not look me up!

nothing more radical …

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“There’s nothing more radical, nothing more revolutionary, nothing more subversive against injustice and oppression than the Bible. If you want to keep people subjugated, the last thing you place in their hands is a Bible.”

Archbishop Tutu, September 2008. 

quote thanks to TSK!
(Archbishop Desmund Tutu ‘retired’ this week from public life.)

not ashamed … but quite confused

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I’ve been asked to sign up for the Not Ashamed an initiative of Christian Concern for our Nation (CCFON).

At first sight the campaign looks good and states:
‘NOT ASHAMED’ is an opportunity for Christians across the UK to stand together and to express our confidence that Jesus Christ is good news not just for individuals or for the church but for our nation as a whole. He is the only true hope for our society.’
I can and do agree with that. That should not be a surprise to you … after all I am a priest in the Church of England. If I did not believe Jesus Christ was good news for all and the only true hope then I should be looking for another job!

But as I look at the campaign I am a little concerned. Christians are being called to show they are not ashamed by wearing some symbol on a wristband, a t-shirt, baseball cap or by wearing a badge. While that is not bad in itself, (that common outlook can encourage people) I am concerned at the lack of practical good news action that is suggested here. Christians are being called upon to ‘explain to friends, neighbours, colleagues, family and others why Jesus Christ is such good news for individuals and for our society.’ But Surely it would be far more fitting with gospel values if we spoke and explained less and acted practically a lot more by actually being good news rather than just talking about it. Explaining why Jesus is good news is one thing, but if we can’t back that explanation with practical action that makes a difference then I would argue that those words do not really have any value.

Sadly as I look further intio the campaign I am saddened by the second claim which I can’t agree with (and so ultimately cannot sign up to this campaign … and I guess that means some will think I am ashamed of my faith, but nothing could be further from the truth!)

The second claim, or more accurately a demand, cannot actually be found on the website. To find this you have to download the pdf leaflet which adds:
‘WE CALL on government, employers and other leaders in our country to protect the freedom of Christians to participate in public life without compromising biblical teaching and to promote in our society the values that are revealed through Jesus Christ and that have so shaped our nation, for the good of all.’    
I don’t understand the reasoning for this call. As I have said before here on SHP I do not believe Christianity is marginalised in our nation. I’m actually quite sickened by the claim and thought. I don’t understand what Biblical teaching is being undermined, apart from our clear commands to help the poor and marginalised, but I suspect that is not the Biblical teaching this campaign is talking about. Sadly my fear is that people will see this as a demand from all the church serving our own interests when in fact it is only from a particular section of the church.
Most of all, I want to know where this teaching and idea comes from.
Where in the gospels does Jesus say campaign for your own rights?
Where in the bible does it say we should campaign to make things better for ourselves?
Is this campaign going to speak out for the poor, the marginalised and those who will be suffering more after benefits cuts as time progresses …. or is it only going to speak out for those that can’t wear their chosen jewellery even though their employers have always had a no jewellery rule?
I’m very open to being shown I am wrong … at the moment I am just very concerned and confused!

gathering: simplicity

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the gathering got together again today in the crypt. There were around 15 of us that looked at the topic of Simplicity; partiularly delving into what it meant and how it applied to our lives.

Our bible passage to look at was Luke 12:22-34 and then Howard got us to think about linking that with Fosters 10 statements on simplicity:

1. Buy things for their usefulness not their status
2. Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you
3. Develop a habit of giving things away – deaccumulate
4. Refuse to be propagandanised by moden gadgetry
5. Learn to enjoy things without owning them
6. Develop a deeper appreciation of creation
7. Look with healthy scepticism at all buy now pay later schemes
8. Remember Jesus’ injunction about plain honest speech
9. Reject anything that will breed the oppression of others
10. Shun whatever will distract you from your main goal
I struggle with a number of those if I am honest!
The time together was good. It was different again today and there was some good interaction and engagement. I enjoy meeting with this group of people even if I have no idea what God is doing and where he is leading us as a group. 
I guess a concern for me on reflection is that we had a number of people, again. who visited us for the first time. It is fair to say that some today were visiting out of curiosity. This does, however, show up an issue in what we are doing and a hard thing to think about as we have a lot of people who we only seem to see once. In the last 5 months I can remember 7 people who have gathered with us but not returned. 
What should we draw from that? Should we be worried? It certainly shows there are a number of people searching, and they may well not be looking for what the gathering is at this point in time. Does it mean we should be doing something different? I firmly believe this is not a numbers game, and yet on the other hand I see a number of people searching, engaging but not returning. Is even my concern a valid concern to have? 

simplicity

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the gathering gets together on Sunday and this month our theme is simplicity. I have a funny feeling we are going to be challenged about our 21st century consumerist lifestyles … but I may be wrong.

this particular gathering has been the hardest to plan, the email and facebook page have been the quietest they have been since we started like this and so, again, this makes me wonder whether this is a topic that we are going to find quite a difficult one to cope with.

After all … what is simplicity all about? Is it about stripping back to the bare essentials? Is it about being naive and a bit dim? Or is it simply (see what I did there?) a brand of sanitary towel?

Simplicity is a word that has been banded around, but a word that I am not sure we get to grips with properly.

I have the video below emailed to me today from breathe … so it may make an appearance on Sunday.

alone … but connected

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Been doing more reflecting and writing today on my two years as an OPM. This has resulted in more stories and more remembering!

An issue I have looked at today has revolved around the inevitable and necessary loneliness of this role and maybe of all pioneer roles in particular.

My YFC roles were always as part of great teams. I loved the teams I worked with because I love working as part of a team. I think a team approach is best as you learn from each other and grow together. The creativity of a team, in my experience, is far more than the sum of its separate parts. Something just ‘happens’ amongst a group of people who share a common aim but see the way ahead very differently from each other.

The bulk of the last two years, however, has seen my role as being one of working alone. I have the support of a great team of people behind me: my family, my prayer team, my colleagues and particularly Adrian, Ian and Jean … but I have still been ‘out there’ sitting alone, reflecting alone and searching alone. Although this is not my preferred way of working I have seen how God has used this, is using it and how things seem to happen as a result of my vulnerability in being alone.

One example: Yesterday I had Liz on placement with me. Liz is a curate who was ordained a year after me and as part of her (new) KCME course she gets to go on placement somewhere. I heard from Liz that while I went to the bar someone came in and asked the blokes ‘Is Rob here today?’ They responded that I was but that I was ‘with a lady’ and so the guy left.

To be available for people means I need to be alone and vulnerable and I wonder if there is something in my vulnerability matching that of others. Sometimes people share with me some quite deep stuff and the fact I am alone allows that to happen. It’s hard enough to share something with one person, but to share with two would be nearly impossible.

In addition to this I wonder whether a pioneer necessarily and inevitably needs to be alone in new environments so that they can immerse themselves in what they are doing. AS I look back over the last 2 years I can honestly say that I would not have noticed stuff going on around me if I had been with someone else. When things got difficult or quiet we would have chatted. Instead, I have not had that option … so I have observed and prayed and then observed a bit more. The amazing thing is that still, after 2 years of daily visits, I still see things that I have not noticed before and as I do I start to feel that I understand just a little bit more of hat is going on around me.

So I work alone, but not isolated. I work alone but feel very connected. I work alone so that I can have the freedom to respond to what happens around me.

(I also realised today that I am pleased that I have not lost the team approach totally and love the opportunity we have to plan be creative together as the gathering. In the last few months it is great, and a big relief to me,  that this working alone is becoming more balanced with a team approach … but that’s to be the topic of a later post!)

sacred stuff

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I met up yesterday with Richard in London at Sacred Cafe, a place I used to joke about when I worked in YFC of being one of my London offices. It was great to have the opportunity to meet up with Richard and hear what is happening in YFC and share what was happening with ourselves and families – just a great catch up session with a good friend … oh yes and VERY good coffee!

I really miss the ‘vibe’ of London and one part of my old job that I really miss is connecting with lots of other people on the same wavelength and chatting over mission and other stuff!

On my journey home I found myself reflecting on the hundreds of conversations that I have had with other great people in Sacred Cafe.  I thought back to very special ‘epiphany’ meetings, meetings of tears and meetings of great laughter and joy. Because of that, for me, it’s not just the coffee in this special place that is sacred! Sacred Cafe is one of those special places where I have both connected with God and seen God work in some amazing ways …. maybe even more of a church than some churches I have experienced over the years!

Burma update

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Please find below an update on current events relating to Burma.
Speculation About Aung San Suu Kyi Release
Under Burmese law, Aung San Suu Kyi should be released on 13th November, just days after the generals’ fake elections on 7th November. Some media recently reported comments from a junior official from the dictatorship that Aung San Suu Kyi will be released. While we hope she will be released, we have had too many broken promises before, and we will believe it when we see it. You can view our media release here.
NLD Leader U Win Tin Calls For More Help From The International Community
U Win Tin is one of the most senior leaders of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy. He has spent almost 20 years in jail for his peaceful pro-democracy activities. He has published an article, smuggled out of Burma, in the International Herald Tribune newspaper. He says the election in Burma on 7th November won’t solve the problems in Burma, and more international action is needed. You can read it here.
Burma Campaign UK Active Across Europe
In the past week activists from Burma Campaign UK have spoken on the main stage at the Labour Party Conference, at the Greek Parliament, at two meetings in the European Parliament in Brussels, at a meeting at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, met with Foreign Ministers from the UK and Greece, and been on national television. Every day we are working tirelessly to mobilise the international community to support the people of Burma. Please support our work. You can make a donation here.
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Thank you for your support
Anna
Burma Campaign UK

why?

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It’s been a bit if a busy Sunday with 8am BCP and a talk from the BCP lectionary and preaching at the Eucharist, with a talk from the Common Worship lectionary. Why can’t these two lectionaries tie up??

So this morning at 8 I preached on the greatest commandment and at the eucharist I preached on Psalm 137 which has an ‘interesting’ ending to preach on. Although I went down the ‘memory’ route of this psalm, believing it to be about remembering our heritage and we are called to as Christians, I felt quite strongly that too often we avoid the difficult and tricky parts of the bible and so we looked at what this end verse might be about.

In all honesty …. I’m not sure! I mean why is such a Tarantino horrific verse in the Bible – and why in a song to God!? I wondered whether the venting of such angry stuff to God was therapeutic in some way, but I’m still unsure why this is in a psalm of worship? I guess there is an argument saying that shouting out our anger to God may act as a vent and that will be it, but I’m not sure. I guess today I am confused curate wondering why this is there!

Today, though, is a strong example of why a different method of teaching other than sermon would have been great. To discuss this in different groups and learn from each other would have been a much more interesting and valuable use of time. I have thought for a while that the sermon has had its day …. not there’s another post to rile people!!