Living Water
THE READER
Summer 2013
£2.50
Vol 110 No2
Readers’ Robes
from J&M
By Appointment to
Her Majesty The Queen
Manufacturers of Clerical Robes
The manufacture of Readers Robes has
always formed an important part of the
range of Clerical Clothing offered by Joyce
and Maureen, and after 33 years (and
having held Royal Warrant since 2007) we
are highly recommended by Clergy and
other Readers.
The cost of our garments varies according to
style and fabric choice – but a Reader’s
“full set” (Lined Cassock + Surplice + Scarf) in
washable fabrics, can cost less than £240.00 –
including VAT and Postage within the UK.
Contact us for more information on other
costs depending on choice of fabric/style,
or for more information about other items in
our range:
•
•
•
•
Cassocks & Surplices
Albs & Cottas
Clerical Blouses
Clerical Shirts
•
•
•
•
Stoles & Vestments
Choir Robes
Vergers Robes
Banners & Frontals
“Everything we make is manufactured in our Newcastle Workshop”
Order on-line at www.jandmsewing.com
or e-mail jandmsewing @ btconnect.com
J & M Sewing Service Ltd, I Charlotte Square Tel 0191 232 9589
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE1 4XF
Fax 0191 230 1215
Established by Joyce Davison & Maureen Waterston in 1980
The Reader aims to assist the ten thousand Readers in the British Isles and Europe in the exercise of their ministry by stimulating them
theologically and encouraging them to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively in their dioceses. The Reader reflects the work of
the Central Readers’ Council and the Church of England generally, while being aware of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
THE READER
The Central Readers’ Council of the Church of England
Chair: The Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Rt Revd Robert Paterson
Vice-chair: Mrs Chrysogon Bamber
Secretary: Dr Alan Wakely
Associate Secretary: Mrs Jenny Macpherson
The Reader production team
Editor: Heather Fenton
Reviews Editor: Mark Hurley
Advertising Manager:
Designer: Wild Associates Ltd
Editorial Committee Chair: Marion Gray
The Reader is available from
the Central Readers’ Council,
Church House,
Great Smith Street,
London SW1P 3AZ
General enquiries: [email protected]
Tel: 01353 775132
Circulation enquiries: [email protected]
Tel: 020 7898 1401 or 020 7898 1417
Editor: [email protected]
Please send information for Gazette and In Memoriam to the General Enquiries address.
The Reader is available in the UK for £8.00 for four issues a year.
Cheques should be made payable to The Central Readers’ Council.
ISSN 0300-3469
Charity commission number 271916
Norwegian waterfall © Heather Fenton 2012
© Copyright of The Reader is held by the Central Readers’ Council. Material is accepted for publication on the basis that it may need to be edited or shortened. The views of contributors are their own
and do not necessarily reflect those held by the Central Readers’ Council. The acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement.
Permission to reproduce material that appears in The Reader must be sought in writing.
Summer 2013
2 The Bible in pictures
Vol 110 No2
Liz Pacey
4 Ineffably Sublime
Tony Phelps-Jones
6 Speaking out for God
Richard Woodward
8Creative ways of looking at the Bible
Matt Page
9An Open Learning programme
that Opens the Scriptures
Dr David Ball
10 Bible reading in church
Bishop Robert Paterson
12 Mission-shaped ministry
Karen Carter
14 Quotable quotes
15 The Jewishness of Jesus?
David Spriggs
16 Need to know more?
18Work-life balance
Michael Glenn
20 Keep on doing what you know
God is calling you to do
Avril Chisnall
22 World mission is changing
Nigel Wildish
24 Seeking Gold – A pilgrimage way
Lavender Buckland
26 Licensed Lay Ministry – a broad perspective
Bishop Robert Paterson
28Water – a poem
Heather Fenton
29Still missing the triumph
of style over substance?
Adam Pope
30A story for telling and a song for singing
31‘What made me think’
32Prayers for praying
33The Reader magazine – A survey
33Gazette
34 Book reviews
37 In Memoriam
37 Last word
Margaret Harvey
David Fewster
Carol Jerman
Welcome
CONTENTS
‘Living Water’ is the title of this
issue. I saw plenty of this when
on holiday in Norway last year
and the cover picture is one of
the many waterfalls we saw.
Coach loads of people were
attracted to these places, and again and again I saw how
people responded to the presence of such powerful and
life-giving water. The bible is a powerful source of living
water for the life of the world, and as Christians we need
both to drink of this water ourselves and to draw others
to what we have found.
‘Living Water’ has a wide spectrum of resources, and in
fact they are so numerous that I have included ‘Need to
Know More’ in the main part of the magazine because
of the treasures mentioned there. Amongst the articles
is a contribution by Bishop Robert on reading in church,
and another by Richard Woodward, a professional voice
coach, who helps us to think about ‘Speaking out for
God’. Tony Phelps-Jones works for a Christian organisation
which focuses on people with learning difficulties and his
curiously named article ‘Ineffably Sublime’ challenges us to
use vocabulary which actually communicates to everyone!
These are only a small cross section of the content this
time and there is plenty more to use to enable your own or
someone else’s ministry.
I like to add new things to the mix which appears in The
Reader, and I hope that we can have a small new item
entitled ‘What made me think’. This idea came from the
fact that David Fewster, a Reader, sent me a very short piece
under this title. It is actually a book review but I would like
to broaden ‘What made me think’ out to include anything
which made you think. So if you fancy writing about 300
words, please do email it to me for possible inclusion.
Other Readers have made contributions and these give us
insights into the way their ministry works out in the diverse
contexts in which they find themselves. I would like more
articles that tell of how ministry works out in all sorts of
different ways so that we can enable and encourage one
another in our call to serve the church and the world. Six
articles in this issue have been written by Readers or those
considering Reader ministry. If you think you could follow
their example another time please get in touch with me,
preferably by email. (See inside front cover.) Forthcoming
themes are: ‘Evangelism’ and then ‘The Arts’. For spring 2014
the theme will be ‘Dying and Living’ and I hope, amongst
other things, to include material to help us prepare to
reflect on the events surrounding the First World War.
Last but not least, many thanks to all those who took
the trouble to respond to the survey about The Reader in
the spring issue. Marion Gray, the chair of our editorial
committee, has written a short piece about this.
Marion Gray
Heather Fenton
Editor
www.readers.cofe.anglican.org
1
Feature
The Bible
in Pictures
Liz Pacey
is a Reader and a
professional writer
I breathed a sigh of relief. My studies in
English literature were over. Now, for a
change, I could read what I liked…
Funnily enough, my flatmates seemed
to think that was exactly what I had just
spent the last four years doing.
Perhaps there are people in our congregations
who think we do not need to read much at
all... after all our knowledge is so great!! Or that
we are indeed spending all our time reading
what we like. The Bible. Well, yes, true up to a
point. But if our Bible reading only goes as far
as the next sermon, and we see it as another
text book alongside the commentaries, we
are in big trouble. Not to mention missing
out on so much that God has to offer. We
need to take the time to explore the Bible for
ourselves, to deepen our relationship with its
author. Of course we know that, but when
yet another busy day has fled by... Perhaps
we just might need a new way to connect
to God’s word so that our whole being is
receptive, and we do not become stale.
I am rather fond of an advertisement for a
certain chocolate Eastertide goody (O.K... it’s
the actual goody I am fond of!) – ‘how do you
eat yours?’ This article is rather: ‘how do you
read yours?’ However, the things I am going
to describe are absolutely not methods of
reading the Bible. Rather they are comparisons
that just might open our eyes to seeing things,
especially God’s word, in a new way.
A Magic Eye Picture1
Isaiah 43:18-19
Do not remember the former things, or
consider the things of old. I am about to
do a new thing; now it springs forth, do
you not perceive it? I will make a way in
the wilderness and rivers in the desert.2
2
Do you remember when some years
ago these pictures were all the rage and
appeared everywhere? All you had to do
was stick your nose right up to the page of
apparently meaningless colourful splodges,
and focus as though you were looking
through the picture into the distance. Then,
as you very slowly moved the page away
from you the hidden image would magically
appear. The longer you looked, the clearer
the illusion became. I can still remember,
after many failed attempts, and practically
standing on my head in the process, the
thrill of actually seeing the image I was
meant to see. A real eureka moment!
It wasn’t something anyone else could do for
me. They could tell me how to do it, but the
actual experience had to be mine. I had to
not only believe that there was something
amazing in these splodges, but more than
that I had to be prepared for them to
become even more indistinct and confused
before light would be able to dawn. Recently
I had another go and because I was out of
practice I had to brush up on the technique
again. When I was successful the thrill was
still there. I must admit I don’t understand
how it works, but I am delighted, with a
childlike sense of wonder, that it does.
There are of course principles here that we
can apply to our Bible reading. It is all very
well having our nose stuck in the book,
apparently with great concentration, but
we have to be able to see beyond that. The
longer we focus, the clearer things will
become. We need to see the big picture.
We need to feel the excitement when
something new is revealed to us.
An Artist’s Date
Mark 6: 31-32
He said to them,
‘Come away to a deserted
place all by yourselves and rest
a while.’ For many were coming and
going, and they had no leisure even
to eat. And they went away in the boat
to a deserted place by themselves.
I am in the process (egged on by a dear and
very adventurous friend) of compiling a list
of 60 things I should really like to achieve in
the year following my upcoming significant
birthday. One of them is to recultivate the
habit of the artist’s date.
In her book The Artist’s Way3 Julia Cameron
suggests that to renew creative energy
everyone should take themselves off once a
week on an artist’s date. You have to be on
your own, and it has to be something just
for you. It does not have to be anything at
all to do with formal art, but I have decided
my first one will be to our local art gallery. I
will make the effort to get there; will spend
time just choosing a picture, and more
time sitting quietly getting to know it.
There is nothing quite like the anticipation
as you actually put on your coat and make
the journey to see and spend time with a
beautiful big picture. The visit will not only
be about the picture though. It will be about
place, feelings, and atmosphere.
Then there might be the coffee, and, dare
I suggest, cake afterwards. The drinking in
of the different atmosphere of the busy
gallery cafe. People-watching and just
quietly listening to the buzz of conversation.
Perhaps recalling other visits, other
experiences or visiting the shop and taking
a postcard of the picture viewed or other
memento of the visit back.
Reading the Bible is not just about the
written word on the page but the whole
experience of our lives that we bring to it.
As we reach out towards it it draws us in.
A Painting in
Whether we read a whole chunk of the
Bible at once, or perhaps only dwell
on a sentence, God will speak to us
through it if we allow him time. We
might see something in a new way.
Tiny, almost hidden details can suddenly
become clear. And we can share what we
experience with others, and learn from
their experiences.
An Empty Canvas
Isaiah 55:11
t goes out
So shall my word be tha
not return
ll
sha
it
;
from my mouth
accomplish
ll
sha
it
t
to me empty, bu
d succeed
that which I purpose, an
t it.
sen
I
ich
wh
in the thing for
a
Gallery
Matthew 11: 28
-29
‘Come to me, al
l you that are
weary and are ca
rrying heavy
burdens, and I
will give you
rest. Take my yo
ke upon you,
and learn from
me; for I am ge
ntle
and humble in
heart, and you
will find rest fo
r your souls.’
To some extent my mood will determine
the picture I choose today. Perhaps a
tranquil scene. Perhaps a lot of action.
Perhaps a portrait. A picture has so much
to say to us. It is good to look at it first
without trying to think about it too
much, to see it as a whole. Then allowing
ourselves to focus, to be gradually drawn
in. The stiller we become, the more
sensitive we will be to the movement
in the picture. Or to the movement
between us and the picture. We might
find ourselves drawn to one of the
characters. We might feel we become
one of the people in the picture. One
of the main ones perhaps, or someone
with a less obvious role. We can allow
ourselves to ponder.
After reflecting in this way we might feel
we need the interpretation of another.
We might want to find out more about
the artist. What he was actually trying to
say. We can see so much ourselves in the
painting but we know that is not the end of
the meaning. We can still learn from others.
On an extremely cold day at the beginning
of February this year several members
of our knitting group went to York
to see and take part in the yarn bombing
of their art gallery. The gallery was being
closed for restoration and this was to
be a fond farewell to the way things
were. The building had been stripped
bare and everyone was encouraged to
write a message on the empty walls.
Can you imagine the thrill of writing ‘St
Columba (Hull) Knitwits were here’ for
all to see? Coffee was drunk, pompoms
were made. Some people decorated a
bicycle and an umbrella with knitting.
Our contribution was more modest and
we left a teddy and ribbons in a sheltered
spot, hoping that Ted, who had been very
brave leaving his brothers and sisters who
were bound for warmer climes, would be
rewarded for his faith and find his own
new special home.
As we leave our signature on the world
around us we are writing God’s word to us
and to others.
A Tapestry
Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, beloved, whatever is true,
whatever is honourable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing,
whatever is commendable, if there is any
excellence and if there is anything worthy
of praise, think about these things. Keep
on doing the things that you have learned
and received and heard and seen in me,
and the God of peace will be with you.
Above my mantelpiece hangs a charming
cross stitch picture. It shows the bedroom
of a wealthy young woman of days gone
by preparing to go on a journey. Beautiful
dresses are laid out next to a waiting trunk.
Open French doors invite you into the
world she is about to discover.
For me though this is only part of the
story. Some years ago my friend, a keen
needlewoman, saw this embroidery in a
charity shop at a ridiculously low price.
She didn’t fall in love with the picture
immediately as I was later to do. But she
appreciated the hours of work and love
that had gone into its creation. And she just
could not leave it there. She took it home
with her to await its new owner.
That turned out to be me. I spend many
happy moments imagining the story of the
girl in the picture. There is such a sense of
her even though she is not there physically.
But perhaps even more I think about the
person who made this beautiful picture
with so much love.
The Bible is made up of so many small
threads and colours, going far beyond
what we can see with our eyes. It truly is a
tapestry of God’s love for us.
A prayer
Lord God, we thank
you for all the wonderful
and often unique things
around us that point us
to you. May we never
become blasé
about your word
but to always
be looking for
new ways to access
it and share that
experience with others.
Amen
1Magic Eye http://www.magiceye.com/faq_
example.htm accessed 19 February 2013
2 All Bible references taken from NRSV
3 Julia Cameron The Artist’s Way Pan Books 1995
3
Feature
Tony Phelps-Jones
works for Prospects for People
with Learning Disabilities
Ineffably Sublime
‘Let us stand to sing.’ We rise obediently
as the organ strikes up, our voices lift
to the stirring tune and poetic lyrics.
By verse four we hardly notice that
we haven’t a clue what we’re singing
about. ‘Crown him the Lord of years, the
Potentate of time, creator of the rolling
spheres, ineffably sublime.’ Few people,
and I’ve asked hundreds, can explain
what the words mean, but they know it’s
a good hymn!
I hope you’re smiling at least a little by now.
There is something here that’s universal. If
we read, or hear, or sing words that are very
familiar we may pass over them without
grasping the significance, without taking
in and responding to the truth that has
been expressed. But think about this: what
if hardly anything you heard or sang made
sense to you, the words and ideas becoming
a meaningless jumble? Would you find that
frustrating? I certainly would.
Prepare for a shock. There are thousands
of people in church every Sunday for
whom that is their regular experience; they
simply don’t understand what’s being said.
How then will they know about Jesus,
find salvation, receive the Holy Spirit and
grow in grace?
They are known collectively as people with
learning disabilities and number 1.5 million
in the UK. But they are all different from
each other in temperament, ability and
character. They are all uniquely made in the
image of God, each one valued and loved by
him. Because of limited vocabulary, intellect
or memory, many people with learning
disabilities find the language used in church
a barrier to understanding, an obstacle too
great to overcome.
For people with learning disabilities, the
big issue is access to truth.
4
‘What is truth?’ Pilate famously asked. The
gospel message is essentially a simple one.
God wants us to be part of his family. Our sin
keeps us away from God. Jesus died so our
sins can be forgiven. The Holy Spirit gives us
the power to live in a way that pleases God.
It’s all there in the scriptures. What people
with learning disabilities need is that someone
takes the time to explain the truth in ways
they can understand, and supports them as
they take it in and respond.
here it is in the ETRV ‘Through Christ, God
made peace between himself and us. And
God gave us the work of bringing people
into peace with him’.
The concept of finding peace with God is
much easier to grasp than reconciliation.
The format of the ETRV here offers
something else. In its repetition of the
word peace it provides in its first sentence
an alternative statement of the Gospel,
and in its second, of the great commission.
And so to the Bible. There are numerous
In 1976 a pioneering couple, David and
translations; which is your favourite? In
Madeleine Potter, started a Christian Charity
selecting a Bible suitable for people with
whose aim was to provide long-term homes
learning disabilities there are several criteria
for adults with learning disabilities, the sons
to bear in mind. Long words and complex
and daughters of Christian parents. These
sentences are difficult for lots of people.
homes would not only provide quality
Romans 5:17 (NIV) says, ‘For if, by the trespass support, but uphold the Christian values
of the one man, death reigned through that
and way of life they’d been used to. At
one man, how much more will those who
that time there was nothing comparable
receive God’s abundant provision of grace
outside the big institutions. Madeleine
and of the gift of righteousness reign in life
started leading Bible studies with some
through the one man, Jesus Christ!’ Perhaps
of the people supported in Reading.
like me you’ll be joining the queue in heaven Finding no suitable teaching material she
to ask Paul about some of his letters.
wrote her own, learning what worked by
trial and error.
Metaphor and simile can also be confusing.
Why would we deliberately call something
The Bible, of course, is full of symbolism
something else, as Jesus does in John 15:1,2?
and metaphor. In John 8:12, Jesus said ‘I
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the
am the light of the world.’ As part of the
gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that teaching, Madeleine placed a candle on the
bears no fruit, while every branch that does
coffee table and lit it. Afterwards a young
bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even
man asked ‘Is Jesus a candle?’ People with
more fruitful.’
learning disabilities often take things literally,
and if a word has more than one meaning,
What this points to is that most Bible versions they may select the meaning they are most
target an audience with a sophisticated grasp familiar with. It’s easy to see why words like
of the language. One translation that presents hail, rain/reign or even bottom might be
truth in more easily understandable English is misunderstood.
the Easy-to-Read Version in which vocabulary
is limited and sentences kept shorter. One
Love is a central focus in the life and
example of this is in 1 Corinthians 5:18. Read
ministry of Jesus; it’s at the heart of the
it first in the NIV ‘All this is from God, who
Gospel. Scripture reminds us (1 John 4:10)
reconciled us to himself through Christ and
This is love: not that we loved God, but that
gave us the ministry of reconciliation.’ And
he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning
sacrifice for our sins. Preachers will tell us
that God loves us not as we will be or should
be, but as we are now; and not because we
deserve it but because he is the God of love.
touch that can be explained by its colour, size
or weight. Of course, even God is abstract.
We say he’s a person but you can’t shake his
hand, hear him speak or admire his jumper.
I wrote a song that starts off, ‘God loves you
just the way you are, and he knows everything
about you.’ We sang it on the first evening of
a holiday weekend for people with learning
disabilities organised by Prospects. Mary
didn’t join in. She couldn’t believe the words
were true for her. She knew what had been
going on in her life, and concluded that God
could not possibly love her just the way she
was. The following day one team member,
then another, spent time with her and
explained that God had made her, and that he
did indeed love her just as she was. Whatever
her view was of herself, God’s view was that
she was wonderfully made and was dearly
loved. By the afternoon she was persuaded,
and committed her life to God. That evening
she asked to share something, and led us
singing the second verse of the song: ‘God
loves me just the way I am, and he knows
everything about me.’ On her face was a smile
from ear to ear; on mine, a tear to wipe away.
Forgiveness requires significant
understanding and a leap of faith. You need
to recognise that something you did or said
upset another person, and follow that up
by saying sorry to that person. They forgive
you; you are forgiven. End of story? Sorry,
no; there’s more. What you did or said also
made God sad. You need to say sorry to
God too. Why? Because making God sad
like that is called sin and it forms a barrier
between us and God. If we say sorry to God
he will forgive us. Well, that’s very nice of
him, but why and how is that possible? And
so to the cross...
Mary understood that she’d been forgiven.
Forgiveness is something that many people
struggle with. Unforgiveness can blight
people’s lives when bitterness over past
wrongs is allowed to linger and grow like
a cancer. It poisons and ruins relationships
and can lead to serious ill-health. Christians
have a wonderful pattern and motivation
for forgiveness. Jesus died so that we can be
forgiven, and Jesus calls us to forgive those
who sin against us, as in the Lord’s Prayer
(Matt 6:12) and the parable of the unmerciful
servant (Matt 18:35).
The reason I’m labouring this point a little
is to illustrate that some of the basics of
Christianity are quite involved. We may be
so familiar with this process of forgiveness,
for example, that we take for granted that
people will understand it. The fact that it
was God’s plan that his son Jesus would die
on the cross will be shocking for people
hearing about it for the first time, and
they may become upset or angry about it.
Because forgiveness involves several stages,
it’s wise to take it slowly, one step at a time,
and check people’s understanding on the
way with questions.
Metaphor and simile can also
be confusing. Why would we
deliberately call something
something else
But forgiveness is a difficult subject; it is
In common with many Christians, the
abstract and people with learning disabilities
often struggle with abstract concepts. It’s much final stage is often the hardest to achieve –
easier to understand something you can see or receiving the forgiveness. The understanding
may all be there, the facts quite clear. The
only thing left is to accept the forgiveness.
The message needs to travel the eighteen
inches from brain to heart. The issue is
one of faith: believing that God really has
forgiven, and will never mention or think
of that thing again. And we can forgive
ourselves too; no remaining guilt or
shame. It’s a journey people need to take
at their own speed. Mary’s story shows
the importance of walking that journey
alongside people with patience and grace.
Death and dying; it is no longer the taboo
subject it once was. Yet in my experience,
it still remains a topic many fear to raise
with people with learning disabilities. Some
people may fear they will not be able to
explain adequately and the person won’t
understand. People may not be taken to a
parent’s or grandparent’s funeral as ‘they
might get upset’. Grieving begins with
facing reality, and tears are part of the
healing, restoring process. Agreed, it may be
difficult for people with learning disabilities
to understand that someone they knew,
perhaps lived with, is not coming back.
Where are they? Was it my fault they’ve
gone? But we do people a disservice if we
will not even try to tackle these issues and
support them through difficult times.
The charity Prospects exists so people with
learning disabilities can enjoy life to the full.
They have developed a range of resource
materials that help to achieve that. Among
them is a bereavement pack, a series of
accessible daily Bible reading notes based on
the Easy-to-Read Bible, and several albums
of worship songs specially written to make
them easy to join in with.
Tony Phelps-Jones is Director of Ministry
of Prospects for People with Learning
Disabilities. For more information see
www.prospects.org.uk
5
Feature
Speaking out for God – is
Time to bring in
communication training
to our churches?
Richard Woodward
is a voice coach
Recently Frank Skinner and the former
Bishop of Oxford, the Right Reverend
Lord Richard Harries, commented on the
poor quality of reading and speaking in
churches. They both felt that the delivery
of the Word is not as captivating as it
should be. Is this true and if so, why?
Well, a worrying fact is that public speaking
is not a compulsory part of theological
training and very few courses include the
subject. Readers are undoubtedly called
to serve but that does not mean they
necessarily have the technical expertise ‘to
speak out’. Presumably the current training
schemes set their sights on higher, more
spiritual matters leaving the students to
preach without learning the foundations for
effective communication.
Surely the potential consequence of this
is that congregations are left uninspired
and, even worse, God’s Word is being
short-changed?
In fairness the problem is not only
one relating to Readers; experienced
professionals are known to mumble. But the
ability to ‘deliver the word’ well applies to
us all whether we front services, preach or
lead prayers as paid employees, Readers
or members of the congregation.
Of course worship is important, but far too
often there is disappointment at the quality
of communication. What is more frustrating
is that probably it would not take much
time and effort to sort out the problem or
at least make the situation better.
Richard Harries, speaking at the Hay
Literature Festival last May, quoted
Bonhoeffer, the German Lutheran Pastor
and theologian, as saying ‘the Bible is a love
letter from God’. He added ‘if only more
people read it so’.
6
So why is so much reading, leading and
speaking during church services just not
hitting the mark? In consequence of this
the word of God is not being sent out
onto the streets. Congregations are left
disappointed and the further consequence
of this is that new people are not being
encouraged to go to a service at a time
when so many churches are trying to
increase their attendances.
Perhaps members picked from the
congregation to read have some excuse;
they are probably neither trained nor
professional speakers but feel perhaps
they should do something. A more likely
scenario is that they have been persuaded
by the rota leader to ‘have a go’. The sad
thing is that so much of the lacklustre or
just plain incompetent speaking could be
so much better with a little help.
the failure to make the reading come alive in
a meaningful and memorable way.
Why do these things happen? Well, lack of
any training may be the answer. There are
those who resist advice feeling that they do
not need assistance or if all else fails God will
help them. Sorry, but God may have called
them but He does expect the reader to put
in some effort. As the saying goes ‘God helps
those who help themselves’.
Secondly there are those and yes, even
among the professionals, there are those
who believe that it is irreverent to speak
above a quiet tone and no drama should be
put into the storytelling in case this smacks
of ‘actorish insincerity’. In the case of
Readers perhaps they have taken too much
heed of the words ‘plainly’ and ‘reverently’
quoted in the Readers’ Canons about the
nomination and admission of Readers which
So what are the main faults? Five spring to
states that ‘No person shall be admitted
mind immediately. These are inaudibility, the …except it be found…that he is able to read
inability to be understood, lack of eye contact, the services of the church plainly, distinctly,
the voice fading at the end of sentences and
audibly and reverently’.
his Word getting through?
And then there is probably the biggest sin of
all – complacency! But naturally no-one will
admit to that but it does creep in. It is natural
once someone thinks they have sufficient
experience to go merrily on their way with less
thought and practice put into it than there
ought to be.
thought is retained will assist the breath
and voice on their travels to the outer reaches
of the congregation.
Lack of clarity may be caused by nerves which
force the speaker to gabble, but too frequently
it can be a sign of the rush of the modern age
where everyone speaks in a kind of shorthand
So what can be done to improve
that cuts off syllables in words. The answer
communication? With regard to complacency, is to take the speech slower and to open
perhaps everyone needs to pause a moment
the mouth wider. It is helpful to imagine an
and consider their own abilities. However
opening large enough to insert two of your
experienced, do we regularly monitor our
fingers sideways.
performance and is it a case that we are
so experienced that others would not dare
Eye contact can be very difficult for some
to correct us? If we speak regularly and
people as they either worry they will lose
particularly if it is the same church, we
their place or actually witness the boredom
probably don’t give a second thought to
on the faces of the congregation and then
‘how we are doing it’. The ‘what’ we are saying go to pieces. The ability to use eye contact
is a different matter; the preacher will have
can lift a reading immeasurably as each and
agonised for hours about content and even
every member of that congregation will feel
spent sleepless nights waiting for inspiration
included in the communication. At the very
and hoping to find the right words and tone.
least it is possible to make eye contact at the
However when it comes to the delivery the
start and at the end.
same person sub-consciously will be saying
‘I have spoken from this pulpit dozens of times
‘Surely these were delivered in
so at least I don’t have to bother about my
a breath-taking, inspiring and
projection’. Yes, a person who has preached
many times and has the vocal equipment to
charismatic way’
be heard and yes, really does know how to use
it can develop bad habits. For example, things
such as allowing the voice to die away at the
And then there is the problem that Frank
end of sentences can creep in. Concentration
Skinner has spoken about and that is the
and energy must be maintained to the end
lack of dynamism coming across from the
of every sentence.
pulpit. Some people may feel that too much
‘liveliness’ can be irreverent or sound insincere
Inaudibility is a no-no. There are no two ways
but they should go back to the Bible and
about it you must be heard otherwise the
read the wonderful stories that Jesus told.
whole point is lost and much time has been
Surely these were delivered in a breath-taking,
wasted. A thought to remember is that it is
inspiring and charismatic way. Well, most
not just the ten minutes the preacher has
people may lack charisma but if they really
wasted. Multiply that ten minutes by the
feel and believe what they are saying and
number in the congregation and work out the they really want to pass on this message then
wasted time. That doesn’t take into account
their brain will help to bring the speech or
the preparation, rehearsal and fretting time!
reading alive. By practising their storytelling
If someone is inaudible they must be told that and letting their enthusiasm and love shine
they need to take in extra breath, open their
through – they may just be surprised!
mouth wider and think where their voice
must reach. Never think the microphone
A lot of church communication could be
will do the work for you.
improved with some little guidance. Regular
training and independent feedback can
There is a well-known saying ‘The brain is a
ensure a church maintains its reputation as
marvellous instrument it starts working the
a lively communicative church, not one where
moment you are born and stops the moment half the congregation (usually sat at the back
if Church of England) are regularly saying
you stand up to speak in public’. The brain is
‘What did they say?’
a marvellous instrument because if a speaker
pauses a moment and scans the congregation
Seeking the help of a voice coach can pay
to see exactly how far the voice has to reach
dividends to all involved and it need not be
the brain will take this in and provided that
costly. A good teacher will be constructive,
give encouragement where needed
and ensure that everyone will feel more
confident about their ability to such an
extent that they may even enjoy standing
up in front of a congregation! If the speaker
is clear and confident then the congregation
will feel confident, both speaker and listener
will enjoy the experience and the words
will have the desired effect whether they
are designed to inspire, comfort, instruct
or provoke thought.
Secondly, a voice coach will leave the
speakers with enough information to
maintain good communication and to
eradicate any problems.
Courses can be as short as half a day or a
series of weekly sessions can be arranged
tailored to the experience of the students.
Whilst the money spent is a lasting
investment it has been known that careful
church treasurers have recouped the money
spent by offering places at a small charge to
neighbouring parishes.
Churches up and down the country want
people to come to services and want them
to be inspired in the hope that they may
carry out from the experience the Word
of God. But if those leading the services
and preaching have not been fired up,
how can anyone expect them to pass on
the message? Even worse, new people may
not bother going coming back if good live
communication is not taking place.
Of course an inspiring experience cannot
happen every time at every service by
every speaker but everyone involved has
a duty to make their words reach out.
Communication is two way; the speaker
must deliver the goods in such a way that
the hearer takes in what is being said.
So, let’s hear it for the work of voice
coaches so that everyone in turn can hear
the word of God – loud and clear. And I
think everyone, including Frank Skinner and
the Rt. Revd. Richard Harries can say Amen
to that.
Richard Woodward is a voice coach who
specialises in delivering courses for places of
worship and theological colleges. He can be
contacted at [email protected]
website: www.voicecoach.me.uk (see menu
‘Delivering the Word’)
7
Feature
Creative ways of
looking at the Bible
The author of Hebrews described the word
of God as ‘living, powerful, and sharper
than a double-edged sword’. Yet often the
only danger we face from wielding a Bible
is a paper cut. So here are a handful of
creative ways to look at the Bible that
might offer you a new perspective on it.
Kiss Goodbye to the Bible Voice
Most of the Bible was written to be read out
loud. I’m not sure why people tend to adopt
a dull monotone when reading the Bible but
even something as simple as reading the Bible
in the same way as you would say anything
else can make a difference. So experiment
with reading it out loud, emphasising the
bits you would stress if you were saying those
words for real, pausing occasionally, and
expressing the emotions in the passage –
be it love or hate, joy or anger.
Imagining Being There
A simple, but effective way to explore the
Bible more is to imagine being at the place
when the events unfolded. Picture being
there and then ‘look around’ to see what you
see. So if looking at the raising of Lazarus,
picture being in Bethany. What was the
atmosphere like? What did you feel when
Lazarus died? What were the sights, smells
and sounds? What was the temperature like?
How did the atmosphere change when Jesus
arrived? Did you expect him to cry? Did it
smell when they rolled away the stone?
How did people respond? How did your
feelings change? It’s worth thinking your
way around the five senses and the different
stages of the story. Sometimes it’s also
helpful to pretend to be one of the characters
and discuss it afterwards if in a group.
Imagining the Speaker
For the parts of the Bible that aren’t stories
try imaging what the author would have
been like. Paul is passionate, excitable, very
black and white, and loves to debate. He
probably dictated his letters marching around
the room. Jesus also had a very exaggerated
form of speech. ‘If it causes you to sin, cut it
off!’ He wasn’t a nice middle-class accounts
manager from Basingstoke, he was a Jewish
peasant unafraid of authority and frequently
in the middle of an argument.
8
The Bible and Film
Whilst no film about the Bible gives you
a ‘how it really was’ by coming from
different angles, they can open our eyes
to things we might otherwise miss. The
best films actually challenge some of the
(often un-biblical) notions we have about
Jesus, as well as fleshing out the look and
feel of what it was like to be there. It’s
always worth comparing the films back to
the original text and sometimes you have
to get past bad hair or clunky dialogue.
But watching a handful of clips or films
gives you a range of new perspectives.
Study
Academic study is not always quick
to produce results, but it has been
significant in making the Bible more
accessible. The last 200 years have seen
things move on a great deal. We have
found out how Revelation, whilst very
bizarre for us, fitted a very conventional
style of its day. We’ve also realised just
how diverse Judaism was in Jesus’ time
with several major strands and opposing
viewpoints. This kind of information helps
us flesh out what was happening in the
Bible, as it was written. Commentaries,
Bible handbooks and dictionaries, and
study Bibles are all useful here.
Matt Page
who usually reviews
films for us
Mediation on a passage
or verse
Either think through a passage seeing
what jumps out what God is saying etc.,
or concentrate more on a particular
verse or phrase.
Memorisation
There are loads of methods for
memorising passages such as repeating
them over and over or writing them
down and crossing out a word at a time,
thinking of acronyms etc. As scripture
becomes part of you and ingrained in
your memory, so it comes to mind at the
relevant time.
Contemplation
Repeat the same passage over and over
again. Gradually the emphasis should
shift from the words to the God behind
them. Repetitive dance beats might help
you do this as well.
Speaking out in worship
Many parts of the Bible such as psalms
were written to be spoken out in
corporate worship. How does it feel to
be using the Bible in this way rather than
learning propositional truths?
Retelling the story
Work out ways to retell a particular
passage. You could be an eyewitness or a
journalist, or writing a letter to a friend.
This makes you re-work the story looking
at it from a different angle.
Acting it Out
Most people, inside church as well as
outside it, are used to a huge range of
dramatic forms such as films, serials,
news broadcasts, soap operas, miniseries, musicals and sit-coms So next
time you’re in a group that’s going to
be reading a passage why not take a
role each? You could even print it off
beforehand in script format so everyone
has the same translation and can see
when it’s their turn. Alternatively write
some form of drama based on the
passage you are studying.
Sensory Exploration
Read a passage and then get hold of
things that make the five senses feel
the same way as they would have done
then. Read Jesus’ describing himself as
living water when you’re hot, sweaty
and thirsty. Have a glass of wine whilst
reading the wedding at Cana.
Pictures and Maps
To help you get your head around what
is going on where, it can be helpful to
get hold of a map of the relevant area
or building (if there isn’t one to hand,
try drawing your own). Or you could try
and make time lines or family trees when
it all gets a bit complicated. Or just find
pictures of how it might have looked
when you read a passage.
Dr David Ball
is Director of Open Learning
to God speaking through the other
members of their local groups.
We are in the process of developing courses
that will broadly cover the Old and New
Testament while allowing people to interact
first hand with the text of the Bible. There are
already seven courses available to study:
Discover God’s Ancient Story:
A Study of Genesis
Trinity College, Foundations –
An Open Learning programme
that Opens the Scriptures
The story of Mary Jones, the 15 year old
Welsh girl, walking 28 miles barefoot with 6
years’ savings in order to own a Bible in her
own language, challenges us all in an age
when we can access the Christian scriptures
so readily in many different languages.
What was it that made Mary so desperate to
acquire a Bible that she could understand?
I believe that Mary, among so many in
previous generations, recognised that the Bible
was foundational not only to our Christian
faith but to our whole lives. In it God had
provided everything that was needed for life
and godliness (2 Peter 1:13). In a previous
generation, the Scriptures were equated with
that divine power that Peter tells us is granted
to us by God. The Scriptures had the power to
transform us as individuals, churches and as a
society into what God wanted us to be. This
was the conviction of William Wilberforce,
of William Carey, of Amy Carmichael and
countless others. Of course, we know that the
scriptures are a diverse set of books written by
a wide range of authors from many different
centuries, and yet these scriptures have been
the means by which our society, families and
churches have been nurtured and equipped
by God for his mission in our land and in the
world for centuries.
How is it then that many of us have lost the
confidence we once had in the scriptures?
Perhaps it is because we have seen the Bible
undermined by people outside the Christian
faith and we feel that we do not have any
answers. Perhaps it is because, like the time
before the Reformation, we have fallen into
the belief that they can only be interpreted
by an expert. And so, the interpretation of
the Bible has again been removed from the
Foundations of God’s Covenant Community:
A Study of Exodus to Deuteronomy
Encountering Jesus and the Kingdom (1):
A Study of Mark and Matthew
Discover Life:
A Study of the Gospel of John
people of God and placed with the expert,
whether this person is ordained or is an
academic theologian. I believe it is time for us
to challenge such attitudes and to encourage
ordinary Christians that they can, with a little
bit of training, learn how to interpret the
bible (2 Tim 2:15) and that they can have the
confidence that these Scriptures are ‘useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness’ (2 Tim 3:16).
Foundations of Love and Hope:
A Study of the Epistles of John and Revelation
At Trinity College we have set up an Open
Learning programme called Foundations.
Building on expertise gained by other Christian
institutions in the UK and around the world,
we provide interactive workbooks for people
to study the Bible as part of a local group. We
believe that if our churches are to grow, they
must be learning communities and that at the
heart of that learning must be the ability to
grapple with the Scriptures in a mature way
that takes notice of their original setting and
seeks to apply them in appropriate ways to our
own discipleship as well as to the ministry and
mission of the local church.
Pastor Dia Moodley, of Spirit of Life Church,
Bristol, has taken the decision to use our courses
for the mid-week Bible study at his church. The
members of his church are now on their fourth
course. Dia says: ‘The courses… are of huge value
in building up our church by helping members of
the congregation to get to know the Bible, a vital
tool for ministry.’
How is it, then, that many of us
have lost the confidence we once
had in the scriptures?
We presently have groups in around
20 places in the country meeting regularly
with local tutors to engage with the Bible
and to learn from God and each other. It
has been a great privilege to see people
from diverse backgrounds, ages and cultures
encounter God in the Scriptures. It has also
been wonderful to see people grow in their
respect for others and in their ability to listen
Discover Christian Living (1):
A Study of Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians,
and 1 and 2 Corinthians
Discover Christian Living (2):
A Study of Romans, Philippians, Colossians,
Philemon, Ephesians, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus.
Gay Carpenter, who has been tutoring similar
courses in Hertfordshire for 20 years, states: ‘I love
seeing people… get excited by the Bible, learn how
to interpret and apply it, and find the particular
ministry God is calling them to.’ Gay has seen
members of her groups grow into their calling
in secular employment, in prisons and youth
work, as well as follow a calling into recognised
ministry in the church as Readers or clergy. Gay
presently tutors several people who have been
recommended to study as part of the discernment
process towards possible ordination.
David Wenham, Tutor in New Testament at Trinity
College, has been a keen supporter of the courses
over several years. He states ‘What a fine course! I
wish all theological students had the chance to do
something as thorough, interactive and valuable.’
Dr David Ball is Director of Open Learning at
Trinity College Bristol
9
Feature
Bible reading
in church
Bishop Robert Paterson
is chair of the
Central Readers Council
Why is it important to read
the Bible well in Church?
The Anglican Communion is ‘the greatest
Bible-reading Church in the world. In
no other Church anywhere is the Bible
read in public worship so regularly,
with such order, and at such length, as
in the Anglican fellowship of Churches. …
Anglicanism is a form of the Christian faith
that demands and expects a great deal
from ordinary people.’ Bishop Stephen Neill:
Anglicanism, (1958-1977)
and ourselves. It is an act that requires the
greatest care from those who do it. It is
never to be undertaken casually yet, of all
liturgical acts, it is probably performed least
well. We can do something about it.
Preparation
b
ecause the Bible is the basis and test of
all Christian teaching;
Anyone who reads the Bible in church
should be reading the Bible regularly
at home. Good Bible-readers (sometimes
called ‘lectors’ to avoid confusion with
licensed ‘Readers’) are those who are
familiar with the Book, as every Christian
should be. If you hear the Bible only in
church on Sundays, you are bound to
have difficulties with reading it in church.
b
ecause it is the reliable expression
of the Word made flesh and therefore our supreme guide in matters of faith
and practice;
Know what you are to read well in
advance of the service. You cannot
prepare for what you are expected to do
unless you know what it is.
The reading of the Bible in Church is
extremely important
b
ecause it helps to form the Christian
character of worship and worshipping
communities; and
b
ecause it is the foundation upon which
the Sacraments are built.
Reading the Bible in church is an act of
spiritual importance: through it we hear the
word of the Lord for the world, the Church
10
1
2
Find out which translation you are
expected to read from or, if there is
some freedom of choice, select the most
appropriate version to communicate well.
Do not restrict yourself to your favourite!
3
Read the text at home several times
starting several days in advance, so
you are familiar with it. Reading what
comes before and what follows helps us
4
to understand the reading. Sometimes,
readings include names which may be
difficult to pronounce. A few translations
(the RSV in particular) include stress
marks to help you: the pointing mark
follows where the stress is laid, eg.
Elim’elech. Biblical versions on the www
often provide spoken text, but check
whether it’s British English! If in doubt,
ask a reader or a cleric in advance.
Occasionally, the reading will include
a complex sentence. For instance:
‘… the creation itself will be set free from
its bondage to decay and will obtain the
freedom of the glory of the children of
God’ (Romans 8:21 NRSV). It is all but
impossible to make sense of these if you
don’t prepare.
5
Biblical translations are mostly
written in the kind of phrasing that
we might expect in reasonably formal
conversation. Much of the language of
the Scriptures is, in fact, a great deal less
dignified than our English translations
make them. (It is a fallacy to suppose that
the older translations are less ‘earthy’ than
modern ones – we often treat them to
a kind of ‘polite’ reading that was never
intended!) If you follow the pattern of
the phrasing you should find the Bible
6
fairly easy to read. Where it becomes
complicated is when there are parentheses,
which have to be read as though you were
saying them in conversation, reflecting this
in the tone of your voice and the speed
of delivery. St Paul’s Letters are full of this
kind of thing when he makes a statement
and then qualifies it, often with a comment
from his own experience, for example in
2 Corinthians 11:23)
Be careful with the words on which
you lay stress: it’s very easy to lay
undue stress on prepositions (‘to’, ‘from’,
etc.) and thus to make it difficult for the
hearer to understand. TV news presenters
and reporters can be the worst offenders –
while preparing this I heard a presenter
refer to something that happened ‘to the
doctors’ instead of ‘to the doctors’! In the
liturgy, too often we hear, “Glory to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit,” rather than ‘Glory to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.’
The meaning of a sentence can completely
change by shifting the stress on a word.
A classic mistake is made in the Prologue
to St John’s Gospel (KJV). Most people
read, ‘the Word was God,’ rather than ‘the
Word was God.’
7
At the service
Before the service, check if there is a
microphone and, if need be, adjust it
to your height. Find your seat in a place
where you can get out easily to read, then
pray for your reading. Before the service
begins join the minister leading the service
for the pre-service prayers. (Readers and
clergy, please insist on this.) If you are not
quite sure what precedes your reading, ask.
8
Before the reading, get out of your
place and to the lectern or pulpit
in time. At the Eucharist, go during the
Gloria and stand to one side during the
Collect – if there is no Gloria or when the
Prayer Book is in use, just move quickly
into place. For the Gospel at the Eucharist,
go during whatever precedes it to the
place where it is normally read (and this
will vary according to local custom).
Whatever you do, please do not make a
big show of going to the lectern.
9
What do you read from? A Bible –
always! – either the one on the
lectern or your own. If you really can’t
possibly do that, then use a printed extract
placed inside a Bible, but never stand up
in front of a congregation to read from a
piece of paper because it sends the clear
message, ‘This is no more important than
10
the weekly notices.’ Wherever you can,
use the lectern or pulpit to strengthen
the symbol.
Wait until everyone is ready – sitting
comfortably (or facing you for the
Gospel) before launching into the reading.
11
12 If there are pew Bibles, give the page
number of the Old or New Testament
first, before the biblical reference, because
that’s the logical order.
Introduce the reading using the
simplest possible form: ‘A reading from
…’ Do not say the reading is ‘taken from’
because you are not ‘taking’ it anywhere!
13
Give the context very concisely:
one simple sentence, written down.
Consider the difference between a
‘context’ and a ‘summary’.
14
A context tells you the plot so far, it’s a
very brief explanation of where the story
or the argument has led to before the
passage you are reading. Never introduce
a reading with a summary because the
hearer’s mind says, ‘Now I know that I
don’t need to pay attention’.
Give the biblical reference as Book,
Chapter and starting verse (unless it is
the first verse of the chapter, in which case
it’s customary not to mention the verse).
Remember to check the title of the Book
from the Bible: this is especially difficult
in the multiple New Testament Letters
(eg. The Third Letter of John, which has
only one chapter, is not St John’s Gospel
Chapter 3). Do not announce where the
reading will end and certainly do not say
‘to the end’.
15
Pause again. Then read carefully
and in a way appropriate to the
text: proclamation, praise, conversation,
narrative, etc. Never read in a way that
suggests you are bored!
16
If it is a Gospel at the Eucharist, you may
care to lift the book as you proclaim,
‘This is the Gospel of the Lord!’ For all other
readings, observe a long break in order to
give time to think about the reading before
‘This is the word of the Lord.’
Never run these concluding statements
straight onto the reading! The reason for
a decent pause is that the word of the
Lord is not simply what you have read but
also how it has impacted on those who
heard the reading. The word is spoken,
heard and received.
20 Then do not move. If you dash off it
will look like you’re anxious to get
away! Wait until the next item starts, then
move. After the Gospel, it is becoming
common for organists to play a few bars of
music before the sermon, and it’s almost
always the case that something will be
happening. Return to your place discreetly
and thank God for calling you to such an
important ministry.
What about children?
21 Children should be encouraged to
read in church but beware the danger
of using this as a means of patronising
children; when it is done carefully and with
preparation, it can be a powerful reminder
that the word of the Lord comes ‘out of
the mouths of babes and infants’ (Psalm
8:2). So don’t patronise them but help
them to do their very best.
They will need a great deal of support,
22 careful use of microphones, etc.,
and something like ‘The Dramatised Bible’
may also be a helpful tool. If you use a
dramatised reading with adults and/or
children (as is common for the Passion
reading on Palm Sunday) make sure that
it is carefully rehearsed.
Because you know the text reasonably
well, look up every so often and make
eye contact with the people - you may need
to keep your finger on the place! This is
especially important when the reading calls
the hearers to some kind of response.
17
At the end of the reading, make sure
people know you’ve ‘arrived’ and
look up.
18
19
Then pause – always.
+ Robert Sodor as Mannin
11
Feature
Mission-shaped ministry
with Fresh Expressions
Karen Carter
works with Fresh Expressions
Thinking and praying about starting or
sustaining a fresh expression of church?
Training options from Fresh Expressions
include what is often seen as a first step into
mission-shaped thinking, mission shaped
intro (msi). Many then choose to further
explore the opportunities available through
the one-year, part-time course, mission
shaped ministry (msm).
Around 75,000 people in the UK and around
the world have taken part in msi. Its six
sessions are freely downloadable from
www.freshexpressions.org.uk/missionshaped
intro (registration required) but those preferring
to buy printed materials – including course
notes, DVD and participant workbooks –
can do so from the same site.
Since msm’s launch in 2007, more than 2,850
participants have flocked to 88 courses in the
UK making the course a major contributor to lay
and ordained ministry training. There has been
widespread denominational recognition for the
course and its ongoing impact in communities
across the country and much further afield.
The 24-unit course is usually presented over
three Saturdays; a residential weekend; and six
or seven weekday evenings. For those
developing fresh expressions of church,
mentoring is offered in between meetings.
Individuals are very welcome to sign up for
the course but organisers have found that
learning is enhanced when people come as
part of small groups.
Among other topics, the course looks at:
e mission of God
Th
Vision and values
Gospel and culture
Evangelism and discipleship
What is Church?
Leadership and team roles
Missional spirituality
Worship and the sacraments
How to keep going when things get tough
Andrew Roberts, Director of Training for
Fresh Expressions and a co-author of Fresh! –
An Introduction to Fresh Expressions of Church
12
and Pioneer Ministry (SCM, 2012), says, ‘It is
wonderful to see so many people take the
course on board. I think part of msm’s appeal
and staying power is down to the fact that we
constantly listen to what people are telling us
about their msm experiences and look to
respond as best we can to feedback and critique.
We think it’s really important to offer fresh and
updated materials in our training; the bedrock
may remain the same but content needs to
be open to revision.’
Internationally, eleven msms have so far taken
place in Canada (2), Australia (3), United States
(3), Barbados (1), New Zealand and Germany (1).
In the UK, new centres for learning are on board.
Plans in the pipeline for autumn starts include
courses in Poole, Lincolnshire, Cumbria and North
Lancashire, South Wales, Edinburgh and USA.
But has msm really made a difference in the
lives and ministry of participants? An initial
report, for courses running from 2007 to 2010,
revealed that msm had marked profound
change for more than 90% of those taking part.
Those responding said the course produced
at least one of the following six outcomes,
with msm helping:
The course inspired Melanie Prince, a team
vicar in the Vale of Glamorgan, to start a
monthly Messy Church called SPLAT. ‘I did
msm South Wales in 2009-2010. It was timely
for us to do it at Llantwit Major Benefice
where there are nine churches, three clergy
26% start a fresh expression of church
and three Readers. It gave us the kick start to
32% develop a fresh expression of church
do things, providing a reason to stop delaying
58% apply its principles to their present church and get on with it.
20% clarify a call to pioneer ministry
66% grow in their own Christian
‘We started a Messy Church fairly early on
discipleship/ ministry
in the course. This happened because the
38% grow in their oversight or support of
churchwardens came and said, “We used to
a fresh expression of church
have a thriving church with families. How do
we get families back in again?” Their approach
Over half of fresh expressions of church (54%)
coincided with us having started msm and it
started by msm participants in the three year
meant we had some ideas to pull on. In a new
period were specifically reaching children or
atmosphere of optimism, I started the Messy
children and their parents. The figure includes
Church at St James, Wick, which I ran for its
Messy Churches.
first 18 months before handing it over. Monthly
all-age worship in church now attracts a good
Those fresh expressions already in existence
number of people as well. The fresh expression
but developed by those attending msm
has been successful in itself but it has also
include those for children and parents/guardians had an impact on the main church.’
(13%); children (8%); youth (13%); Messy
Church (26%), adults (23%), all ages (17%) –
For further details about msm and the 2013
the report outcomes are not mutually exclusive courses, visit www.freshexpressions.org.uk/
and therefore the combined outcomes totalled
missionshapedministry or email
more than 100%.
[email protected]
Readers’ Robes
J. Wippell & Co. Ltd
Clerical Outfitters & Church Furnishings Since 1789
Exeter
Readers’ robes for men and women
88 Buller Road
including cassocks, surplices and scarves
EX4 1DQ
are now available to order online at:
Tel: 01392 254234
Fax: 01392 250868
www.wippell.com
London
Full details, including styles, sizing
11 Tufton Street
SW1P 3QB
Tel: 020 7222 4528
Fax: 020 7976 7536
and colour charts, can be found under
Reader’s Wear products on our
home page.
Manchester
At wippell.com you can also browse our
9-21 Princess Street
range of vestments, altar hangings,
M2 4DN
silver and brassware, church furnishings,
Tel: 0161 834 7967
stained glass and restoration services.
Fax: 0161 835 1652
You can download our catalogue and
Email:
ordering online is secure and easy.
[email protected]
Sign up for a Wippell’s account today!
r
fo
s
te
o
u
q
The Reader
Quotable
I was just a wreck and so I couldn’t
believe it when they didn’t reject me.
TV presenter Davina McCall, talking about her
experience with a Narcotics Anonymous group
(The Independent, 12th January 2013)
Suggestion for use:
You could use the quote to talk about
the complete acceptance which God
offers us when we’re at our worst
– and the acceptance which the
church community ought to show
to others. Davina’s reaction, that she
simply couldn’t believe the Narcotics
Anonymous group could still accept her
having seen the worst of her, echoes the
response of a sinner to God’s grace. How
can we encourage vulnerable honesty
in our communities, and accept people
regardless of what they reveal? How does
it change us when we experience God’s
unconditional acceptance?
The internet is not an ethical vacuum;
it is an ethical battlefield.
Journalist Timothy Garten Ash
(The Guardian, 5th December 2012)
Suggestion for use:
You could use the quote to talk about the
moral choices we make whilst online. The
internet can often feel like an anonymous,
consequence-free place, where we can do
and say what we like without it impacting
our ‘real’ lives. But this is not the case.
Every area of life has a moral and spiritual
dimension, and what we do online affects
us and others. How can we use the
internet, and perhaps especially social
media, in a way that glorifies God?
I know I’d never be me / Without the
security / Of your loving arms
Adele in James Bond theme song Skyfall (Eon
Productions, 5th October 2012)
Suggestion for use:
You could use the song lyric to talk about
finding our security and identity in God.
The world encourages us to think we need
freedom from God to be truly ourselves,
but in fact the opposite is true. Once we
know that we are loved completely and
unconditionally by God, we can stop striving
to be acceptable, and simply be ourselves.
14
Believing in everything is the same
as not believing in anything.
Mr Patel in Life of Pi (Twentieth Century Fox,
20th December 2012)
Suggestion for use:
You could use the quote to talk about the
concept of truth, and how it is viewed in
our culture. Many people might assume
that there is nothing wrong with simply
choosing our own preferred version of
truth. But as Mr Patel points out, this
approach has some serious problems.
Believing that ‘all truths are equal’, when
some of these ‘truths’ actually contradict
each other, arguably makes the very
concept of truth meaningless. Is there
such a thing as real truth? How can we
find it if there is?
I do think that as a human family we
have lost our way desperately.
Dr Kumi Naidoo, executive director of
environmental group Greenpeace
(Third Way magazine, December 2012)
Suggestion for use:
You could use the quote to talk about
what is really wrong with the human
race. Clearly we live in a world where
our structures and systems allow the
poor and vulnerable to be oppressed,
and the planet to be exploited. But is it
really possible to change these systems
without addressing a deeper, more
personal problem? The Bible claims that
the external problems in human society
are symptoms of the fallen human heart.
Because we have turned away from God,
we have ‘lost our way desperately’, and
external solutions will never quite get to
the root of what’s wrong.
The damage was worse tha
n we
thought and it’s taking lon
ger than
we hoped.
David Cameron, talking abo
ut Britain’s economic
recovery (The Guardian, 10th
October 2012)
Suggestion for use:
You could use the quote to talk about
the process of sanctification – being
made increasingly more Christ-like
after accepting Jesus. We may expect to
immediately become better people when
we become Christians, and certainly in
some cases the change will be noticeable.
But as sinners by nature, we’re ‘deeply
damaged’, and the process of putting on
our new selves may often feel fruitless and
frustrating. We need to bear in mind what
Jesus has already done for us, and look
forward to the time when we’ll perfectly
reflect God’s image.
The heart ends up making its home in
some very peculiar places if you ask me.
Jenny (Jessica Raine) in Call the Midwife series 2,
episode 1 (BBC One (20th January 2013)
Suggestion for use:
You could use the quote to talk about
how we are emotional beings, as well as
rational ones. The Bible talks about the
heart being the wellspring of life, and we
all experience how it plays a central role in
making the decisions which determine the
course of our lives. It is essential that we are
aware of our feelings and careful of what
we set our hearts on, as we can easily end
up investing them in ‘some very peculiar
places’. However, we can also remember
that if we do make mistakes in letting our
heart wander, we can come back to God
and ask for forgiveness and he will give us
a clean heart and a new beginning.
Hundreds more illustrations, including new stories, statistics and
downloadable clips from films currently in cinemas, can be found on the
Tools for Talks website run by Damaris. You can get a 20% discount on a
year’s subscription to the site at www.toolsfortalks.com/reader
David Spriggs
works for Bible Society
At the heart of the Christian faith is
a relationship with Jesus Christ. So
in John’s Gospel Jesus speaks of our
abiding and remaining in Him, while
Paul often refers to believers as being
in Christ. This relationship is mediated
by the Holy Spirit but the role of our
minds, emotions and imaginations
contribute a significant component to
the way we envisage this relationship.
Again a whole multitude of factors
contribute to the way we understand or
image Jesus. This may be the liturgies we
frequent or it might be pictures from the
children’s story books that we absorbed
as children. It may be our study of the
Greek text of the Gospels but equally
The Jesus Film or any number of other
feature films about him. Medieval art
may have shaped our understanding but
so might nineteenth century ‘realistic’
presentations. So we can go on, the
tapestry at Coventry Cathedral, songs and
hymns we sing; the list is endless. None
of these factors should be denigrated,
any more than the features which shape
the construction we have of individuals,
whether remote to us like the Prime
How the sessions work
(Assuming you have an hour)
Opening Activity
Experience (15 minutes)
This allows us to engage with some aspect of
the topic and to bring ourselves into the topic
which will be explored in the Bible later.
While these ‘opening activities’ will both
initiate conversations and help relationships
and a deeper understanding to develop
between the members – so function as ‘icebreakers’ – they are an integral part of the
whole learning experience. They are not
simply arbitrary ‘opening activities’. They
have been carefully crafted to affirm the
importance of peoples’ own experiences
and reflections on the life issues to which the
biblical material relates. They will increase
the sense of significance of the topic to be
explored for the whole group.
These Activities also enable those with less
biblical literacy to make a vital contribution to
Minister or close to us like a family
member, need to be ‘rejected’. Yet our
constructs need to be open to be changed
and enriched by engaging with the reality
of the person.
How much more is this the case with
Jesus Christ, who as well as being the
eternal Son of God, for us as Christians is
embodied in one historical individual.
We do not relate to a mythical figure but
a person who has a human history –
‘the Word became flesh’. So exploring the
reality of Jesus is important for the full
enrichment of our faith.
This is some of the background thinking
for seeking to make accessible to
ordinary Christians some of the insights
of contemporary Jesus scholarship. So,
Bible Society teamed up with Professor
James Crossley of the Biblical Studies
Department of Sheffield University who
has researched important aspects of
Jesus in his own context. Of course this
was a Jewish context not a Greek Gentile
one or a Reformation one or a German
Enlightenment one or a twenty first
century one.
the Group’s experience. If handled well, these
Group Activities will create a real alertness
and eagerness for the biblical encounter.
Bible Encounter (30 minutes)
Through this we will look at one or more
passages from the Gospels. Sometimes
there will be additional notes or resources
for further study indicated.
It is important that the Bible passages are
centre stage in the Bible Encounter section.
Often there is one passage which is a key
focus for this time. There are many ways
suggested to help the group listen attentively
to the passage, so that it is the focus of
the discussions in this section. Using a
variety of approaches over the six sessions
can add interest.
Group discussion questions (15 minutes)
This section provides questions for the
group to help them engage together with
the Bible Encounter. There is no need to
deal with all the questions, nor all at the
same depth.
By working in partnership we can help
scholarly research stimulate ordinary
Christians, to enrich our minds and hearts.
This booklet offers 6 study sessions on a few
of the many aspects we could have selected.
These sessions are prepared with church
home groups and similar contexts particularly
in mind. The sessions cover
1 Jesus in his world
Some of the groups which surrounded him.
2 Jesus and the Law
Divorce
3 Jesus and the Law
Money/wealth
4 Jesus through others’ eyes
Who do people say that I am? – some
available categories for people to use as
they try to understand who Jesus was
5 Jesus through his own eyes
Who do you say that I am? – looking at
a range of understandings of ‘messiah’ which would have coloured the disciples’
and Jesus’ understandings
6 Jesus and Prayer
Especially ‘The Lord’s Prayer’
We link these to contemporary life.
Suggestions for reflection
These are intended for those who wish to
continue to engage with the issues raised
on their own outside the group. For those
groups who want to meet more frequently
they can form the basis of a more open
or less structured conversation. There is
usually one idea for some kind of action
and another for prayer.
With some sessions additional study
resources are indicated. Throughout
there are brief notes on more
technical issues either for those
who lead the group or for
those who are interested to
take them a little further.
PRICE £3.99
ISBN 9780564048762
More details can be found at
www.biblesociety.org.uk/
products/9780564048762/
15
feature
The Jewishness of Jesus?
Need to know more?
Bible reading apps
While surveys show that daily Bible reading is an uphill struggle
for many Christians, with time pressure, relevance and simply
knowing where to start being key reasons, there appears to
be no shortage of interest in trying new ways to solve the
problem. BRF launched their first daily Bible reading notes app,
based on their New Daylight series, in 2010. Two more apps have
followed, based on their Guidelines notes (offering a wider breadth
of theological viewpoints) and Day by Day with God, daily reading
notes written by women for women. Today downloads of their
three apps have passed 100,000, with readers spread worldwide.
To find out more about BRF Bible daily reading note apps for the
iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch visit:
www.biblereadingnotes.org.uk/iphone-apps/
Pray-as-you-go –
Daily prayer for your MP3 player
Pray-as-you-go is a daily prayer session, designed for use on
portable MP3 players, to help you pray whilst travelling to and from
work, study, etc. A new prayer session is produced every day. It is
not a ‘Thought for the Day’, a sermon or a bible-study, but rather a
framework for your own prayer. Lasting between ten and thirteen
minutes, it combines music, scripture and some questions for
reflection. It is produced by Jesuit Media Initiatives, with material
written by a number of British Jesuits and other experts in the
spirituality of St Ignatius of Loyola.
http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/
Dead Sea Scrolls website:
Website about the the Dead Sea Scrolls: Google and Israel have
put the ancient religious texts online for anyone to view.
http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/
Resources for bible study for people
with learning difficulties
can be found at:
• http://www.prospects.org.uk/index.php/whatwedo/2/7
• http://www.easyenglish.info/aee/matstor/index.htm
• http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/News/PressReleases/
Accessallareas/2256.id
• http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/guide/examples/
learning-disabilities
Kingdom Theology Conference
‘Life Transformed: Christian Discipleship in the Power of the Spirit’
Trinity College, Bristol has announced the first annual ‘Kingdom
Theology Conference’ – a one day conference on Saturday 29th
June 2013 at Trinity Church, Cheltenham. It is intended that this
should bring together the ‘best in deep theology with Kingdom
values’. The conference is hosted by Westminster Theological Centre
(WTC) in partnership with Trinity College Bristol. WTC says they
are ‘passionate about connecting the local church with the world
of academic theology; it is therefore fitting that the conference
will occur in a thriving local church, which is also a base for one of
WTC’s training Hubs.’
http://www.wtctheology.org.uk/kingdom-theology-conference
16
Jubilee Lifestyle:
walking out the Bible’s social vision
Are you looking for new ideas for your small group that focus
on responding to challenges from our culture? Take a journey
over seven weeks through a series of issues and challenges facing
Christians today. From consumer culture and sexual pressures
to managing our time and our money, Jubilee Lifestyle is a Bible
study course for anyone who wants to be a counter-cultural
follower of Jesus. Published by the Jubilee Centre, the course is
based on the book, ‘Free to Live: living for Christ in an age of debt’
by Guy Brandon. Their special offer is 6 copies of the 35-page
User Guide plus one copy of the Leader’s Notes for just £3.99,
with free delivery in the UK – that’s down from the usual price of
£10.50. We’re practically giving them away! Email [email protected] and ask for the Jubilee Lifestyle special offer.
New publications from the C of E
Two new monthly publications are available from today from
the Church of England. In Review and In Focus are designed for
parishes. In Review is a 4 page, A3 colour newspaper. It’s full of
stories about the work of the national Church across the country.
It is designed for parishes to print off and pin up on a noticeboard.
In Focus is an A5 parish magazine insert. Designed on a single
sheet of A4 it offers four pages of national Church news which can
form the centre spread of your parish’s monthly magazine.
Both publications can be downloaded free. They will be available
in time for the 1st of every month from now on.
http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news-extras/
yearreview.aspx
Doodle the bible!
You often hear people say ‘I can’t draw’ or ‘I’m not very creative’ – but sat in a boring meeting or stuck in a waiting room with a pen
or pencil and some paper, many of us will inadvertently turn to
doodling (and occasionally produce a mini work of art in biro).
It is said that doodling actually increases our attention span and
may enable us to remember better. If so, maybe we should be
encouraging people to doodle whilst reading the Bible in order
to help them remember a poignant verse or lesson learnt!
But more than that, the Scriptures are full of rich visual imagery
and thought-provoking ideas – often expressing concepts
that take a bit of mulling over. For some examples, see
www.biblesociety.org.uk/news/do-you-do-bible-doodles
Thinking about contemporary issues
The aim of Cambridge Papers is to make clear the relevance of
biblical teaching to a range of contemporary issues and to equip
Christians to respond to the ideas which are shaping our society.
Cambridge Papers seeks to make a strategic Christian contribution
to public debate at a time of rapid social and cultural change.
The choice of subjects is influenced by intellectual currents
and important developments taking place nationally and
internationally, both inside and outside the church. The titles of
past papers show that difficult topics have not been avoided.
Written from a Christian perspective, each paper presents a
carefully argued case relating to an important topic, providing
material to stimulate further thought and discussion.
http://www.jubilee-centre.org/engage/cambridge_papers
Faith Tourism Action Plan
Churches Tourism Network Wales has been asked by the Wales
Government to write a Faith Tourism Action Plan. CTNW is
unaware of any other country which has formally acknowledged
the place of Faith Tourism within its strategic thinking. http://www.ctnw.co.uk
Reflections on Church Tourism is the title of a new CD-ROM resource, produced as a joint project
of The Diocese of York and the Churches Tourism Association.
The content of the CD Rom is a series of helpful chapters on
how to tackle tourism issues from several standpoints using a
wide variety of real solutions in large and small churches across
England, Scotland and Wales and providing a directory of
resources. More information at http://bit.ly/YZBsJK
York Courses Advent course
Expecting Christ is the 2013 Advent course from York Courses.
Written by Bishop David Wilbourne, this 4-session course looks
at several moments in our faith and lives where a door opens
and lets Christ in, catching the sense of expectancy which not
only comes at the season of Advent, but throughout the year.
In particular, participants can think about how Christ can meet
us in four distinct contexts: in family, in ourselves, in prayer and
in the end. Bishop David Wilbourne and Canon Simon Stanley
explore the themes raised by the course booklet, with input
from churchgoers.
The course materials, available from the autumn but which can
be ordered in advance, comprise a course booklet, a CD, and a
transcript booklet. www.yorkcourses.co.uk
Using the Bible to explore our
cultural heritage
The new draft Primary Curriculum includes ‘an expectation that
pupils master formal English through poetry recitation, debate
and presentation’. Our formal English has its roots in a literary
masterpiece sent to every school in the land last year – the King
James Bible. The 400-year anniversary of the King James Bible
may have passed, but you can still give a flavour of this cultural
treasure with the following recently updated RE and assembly
resources available on the website. Bible Society has provided
some resources including Opening up the King James Bible
which is an extensive free resource for older primary pupils,
with a range of teaching units utilising Drama, History,
Art and RE. There is also The People’s Bible and The Bible4Schools
website which is an excellent website produced for the
400th anniversary.
www.bible4schools.org
Techniques and tools for exploring the
Bible with children and families
Knowing Bible stories yourself may not be enough to make
you feel confident in sharing them with children and families
as a storyteller. Martyn Payne’s new book Creative Ways to tell
a Bible Story provides the tools and techniques that will equip
leaders with a methodology to share Bible stories in an engaging
and exploratory way. Creative Ways to tell a Bible Story is
published by Barnabas for Children, www.brfonline.org.uk
And for unchurched kids
Detonate! From Bible Society – a whole years’ worth of teaching
materials for 5-12s by Mark Griffiths, contains 52 Bible stories
and lessons, with a step-by-step curriculum guide and over 100
games. It is especially great for unchurched kids.
www.biblesociety.org.uk/products/9781854246790
Executive Toolbox – to help you make a
difference where you are
This new initiative that has grown out of work the London
Institute for Contemporary Christianity has undertaken with
men and women in the UK workplace over a number of years.
Designed as three separate 24-hour training seminars across
6 months for Christians in mid to senior level positions of
influence, Executive Toolbox is uniquely structured to help
participants have a significant impact on the way they work.
It is designed as an intense but highly enjoyable period of six
months meeting three times with a cohort of 36 people and an
experienced training team. http://www.licc.org.uk
Rural Conference
This is a Fresh Expressions conference for those thinking about
being involved in Fresh Expressions projects in rural areas. It
takes place in 4-5 June. It will be facilitated by Sally Gaze, author
of Mission-shaped and Rural and Tas Valley Cell Church leader,
and hosted by Pete and Kath Atkins, leaders of Threshold in
rural Lincolnshire and members of the Fresh Expressions team.
www.freshexpressions.org.uk, telephone 0300 365 0563
go deeper
...build on your previous study by
topping up to Foundation Degree
(Diploma), BA or MA
...deepen your understanding
through our Theology Week
15th-19th July 2013
...take occasional modules in
theology, ministry and apologetics
[email protected] 0115 968 3203 quote The Reader www.stjohns-nottm.ac.uk
17
Feature
Work-life
balance
Michael Glenn
is a retired NHS Consultant
in Occupational Medicine.
He is a Reader in the
Diocese of Llandaff
Many people seek to live lives of integrity.
They want to show this integrity towards their
employer, their life partner and their children,
other members of their family, friends and
acquaintances. Juggling all these demands can
produce an enormous amount of stress. Many
find the most acute challenge is balancing the
demands of work and family.
For a Christian seeking to live a life of integrity
there is an additional dimension. As Christians
we believe that there is no part of the world and
no part of our lives which is not under the rule
of God and so will try to honour God in every
sphere of life. We want to devote time to activities
with fellow Christians on Sundays and often
through the week. We do indeed have spiritual
resources to help us in life’s difficulties but are
not immune from stress as we try to balance
work and non-work activities. In extreme cases,
the result can be burnout.
This article seeks to examine some of the
problems in achieving a good work-life balance
and some solutions for those who feel their
work-life balance is all wrong and for those
who feel burnt out. It also seeks a Christian
perspective on the issues.
How have we got so stressed?
Work-life balance issues challenge all people in
work; they are not just the preserve of those with
18
partners and dependants. It is important to
remember that work and family are not the
only sources of stress. A wider assessment
of stress is more likely to lead to an effective
plan to deal with the situation although it
may be that there are some sources of stress
that cannot be changed.
There have been a number of demographic
changes in our country and in working
practices over the last few decades which
have contributed to increased stress for
working age people.
return to work for financial reasons when
they believe that they would find greater
fulfilment in child rearing and nowadays
approximately one in four households
with children has only one parent.
M
any couples start their families later
in life. This can mean that they have
responsibilities for younger children and
dependent parents at the same time.
D
emographic changes in the working age
population have led the government to
abolish the default retirement age and to
forecast that both men and women will
have to work longer to receive the old
age pension. Concurrently, many public
and private sector employers are seeking
efficiency savings year on year. They are
seeking more output from fewer people
and the stress on those whose stamina is
reduced because of age is increasing.
The United Kingdom has a culture of
working long hours and many feel that
they have to go along with this. It is, of
course, possible to work long hours for
good reason, for example a young fit single
person may be willing to work long hours
in the early years to establish their career.
However, some feel driven to work long
hours for negative reasons when they
would really wish to devote their time
Christians of working age will want to
honour their employer and to demonstrate
to something else. Fear of an employer’s
attitude would be an example of this.
integrity to all those with whom they
come in contact. The need for a good
More women now work and a greater
witness to friends and colleagues is a regular
proportion than before return to work
part of Christian teaching. At the same
after childbirth. Again, this can be a
time Christians are regularly exhorted to
positive or a negative thing. Work provides participate in acts of Christian witness or
income and, for many, is an enjoyable
fellowship. They will also want to see their
challenge. Some, however, feel driven to
children participate fully in the fellowship
and witness of the church and it is easy for
parents and children to spend time in good
church activities to the detriment of family life.
It is often at this point that the enemy of our
souls – the devil – can do great damage.
He can induce guilt and get us to focus on
good things instead of the best things. C. S.
Lewis put this aptly in the Screwtape Letters
‘allow him to keep busy – it will mean he has
less time to commune with God.’ Another of
the devil’s tactics is to bring to the Christian’s
mind stories of missionaries and others
who lived heroic and sacrificial lives at a
phenomenal pace and to say ‘Go and do the
same. Only this sort of life pleases God.’
What are the effects
of stress?
The cost of stress to individuals, their
families, their employers and to society as
a whole is staggering.
No part of the human body is immune from
the effects of stress. It is common for stressed
people to experience symptoms in many body
systems, for example having headaches and
stomach pains simultaneously. This can lead
to extensive investigations for physical disease
if the true source is not spotted straightaway.
The mental effects can be exquisitely painful.
Feelings of anxiety and distress predominate
but more serious feelings such as hopelessness
are not uncommon. Insomnia is common
and makes all other symptoms much worse.
Outbursts of bad temper can seriously affect
relationships with a spouse or children and sick
leave can reduce the family income.
The cost of stress at work was a matter of such
concern to the government that in the year
2000 that the Health and Safety Executive
introduced Management Standards for stress
for all employers. Each year stress costs UK
businesses an estimated £3.7 billion and
the loss of around 80 million working days.
The benefit to employers and employees of
suitable work-life balance policies is obvious.
The cost of stress to society includes the
breakdown of family relationships. There is
also the cost of paying welfare benefits and
the rehabilitation of those who become
unemployed as a result of long-term stress
related illnesses. Within the church family
the effects of stress can be felt in the same
way as in nuclear families and the work place.
Relationships can break down and those who
are left to carry on normal activities experience
greater stress.
Stress which is unrecognized or untreated can
in extreme cases lead to a condition called
burnout. This condition is now being more
widely recognized in Christian workers, both
ordained and lay. Some of the symptoms are
our limits, we have no space and enter
overload. Working at 100% capacity all the
time leaves no room for the unexpected.
feelings of exhaustion,
lack of satisfaction in work or
leisure activities
difficulties in making decisions,
feelings of guilt
A sense of emptiness where the individual
has nothing more to give.
6. From time to time review your situation
– perhaps with a mentor. An individual’s
work-life balance plans will change over the
course of a working lifetime. At times family
commitments will predominate and towards
the end of a career health issues may have
greater impact.
Urgent action is needed to deal with
these problems.
How can Christians be
distinctive and honour
God in this area?
How can a better work-life
balance be achieved?
There are many sources of advice for all
who need help. These include books, the
internet and GP services. Many employers
provide counselling services and Employee
Assistance Programmes for their employees.
Christians can benefit just as much as others
from these resources but, in addition, they
have unique resources.
Here are some common themes drawn from
lists of ways to improve work-life balance
published in secular media.
1. Create your own definition of success.
This must be realistic. It may not be feasible
to reach the top of the promotion ladder
and the top of your chosen leisure time
activity while getting three children to
the top of the academic ladder and to the
premier league of their chosen sport in
addition to leading a Bible study group and
being the church treasurer. For married
persons and families the definition of success
needs discussion and agreement.
2. Learn to say ‘No’. To do this effectively
you must set boundaries at work, at home
and in church. Again, this is most likely to
succeed if negotiations take place before
unreasonable demands are made.
3. Establish a schedule which includes
adequate time with family and friends.
Take time to develop relationships by eating
together and enjoying leisure activities.
4. Take steps to look after your health.
Take regular exercise and eat and drink
healthily. Allow adequate time for sleep and
seek help with insomnia.
5. Take steps to avoid burnout. Life coaches
working in this area talk about margin.
Margin is space – the space between our
load and our limit. When our load exceeds
1. We need a right attitude to success. In
the film Chariots of Fire there is a scene when
a fellow athlete handed Eric Liddell a scrap
of paper with the words of 1 Samuel 2:30
written on it. ‘Those who honour me I will
honour’. We must commit ourselves to do
God’s will and leave issues like success to God
2. When God had finished creation he
rested and he blessed the seventh day
on which he rested. Sadly many appear
to curse rest and feel the need to be doing
something all the time.
3. Part of the Law which God gave to his
people concerned the Sabbath. Periods
with no regular work were to be part of the
lifestyle of God’s people. These included
a sabbath every seven days, special feasts
throughout the year, a sabbath year and a
Year of Jubilee. God refers to these times
of rest as worship and self denial and
commends them.
4. It is important to have a realistic
self image. Jesus taught his disciples the
parable of the talents. He commended
equally those who used their talents. Some
had been given more talents than others
and there was no criticism of those with
fewer talents. We may be tempted to take
on prestigious activities at work or at church
which are beyond our talents. These good
and necessary activities may suit someone
else’s talents better and can take us away
from the best activities which may appear
less attractive.
Within the workplace we sometimes meet
Christian men and women of outstanding
integrity who honour God, their employer
and everyone else. Their integrity is
something to which we aspire but it doesn’t
arrive fully formed. It is achieved through
prayerful thought and hard work and is not
beyond our grasp.
19
Feature
Keep on
doing what
you know
God is calling
you to do
Avril Chisnall
is a Reader in
Liverpool Diocese
an interview with Avril Chisnall
Avril and Chris
Avril Chisnall has been involved in her
home church at St Mark’s, Haydock, all
her life. She was licensed as a Reader
there in 1992 and continues to serve in
the lay leadership of TANGO, a St Mark’s
community project which includes a
fresh expression of church as part of its
ministry. She tells how Reader training,
and a supportive vicar, helped her to
‘take risks’ for God…
As far back as I can remember, St Mark’s
has reached out into the community in all
sorts of ways. I became a Christian there
at the age of 12 and, three years later, I was
‘recruited’ to help at Sunday school. I also
went on to attend the Young Women’s Bible
Class run by a Mrs Woodall who was pretty
severe (she didn’t like us wearing make-up
or going out to dances!) but I also knew
that she was a pray-er and I always felt that
I’d like to be able to pray like her. She made
such a big impression on me.
Time went by and I got married and had
children. I became a Captain in the Girls’
Brigade at church and also got involved
with a Young Women’s Fellowship that
20
Mrs Woodall set up; I can really see how
that propelled my faith forward. I think
it’s important to sometimes look at these
milestones along the way and see how they
have been used by God as preparation for
other things – maybe years down the line.
It came to a point where I was no longer
involved with the young women’s group and
I found that hard but discovered that I had
to learn about really loving people. I thought
I already loved people but I didn’t love them
warts and all.
God knew better and he wanted the catering
to be used for him through St Mark’s.
I always felt there was something else out
there for me to do and, over the next four
or five years, the call to Reader training
kept coming to me though I also kept on
asking God, ‘Tell me again Lord, tell me
again.’ The same passages of scripture
repeatedly came up in different contexts
but I still kept quiet about it until Phil Potter
came to us as vicar in 1988. As a parish,
before Phil’s appointment, we had agreed a
shared leadership here so that we could be
even more effective in reaching out to the
community in very real and practical ways
without relying on one person to do so.
I was also fortunate as my vicar was looking
beyond Readers being trained simply to lead
services, preach and occasionally do baptism
preparation. He trained us right from the start
to conduct funerals which led to us building
up a real rapport with the community and
local families – and he also encouraged the
Readers to take on responsibility for the areas
where God was calling us and to develop
them. The important thing, I discovered, was
just to keep on doing what you know God is
telling you to do. Phil, now Director of Pioneer
Ministry for the Diocese of Liverpool, has
been such a releasing person; we could never
have done what we have done if he hadn’t
been prepared to trust his pioneer leaders.
Another strand that came together in this
new way of working was that of hospitality;
I had done a City and Guilds in hospitality
and catering because I had always enjoyed
working with food. There had been some
thoughts of starting a catering business but
The church was reordered in 1994 and we
set up ‘King’s Table Café’ there the same
year. By that time I had been licensed for six
years. I was fortunate in that Reader training
style had changed by the time I came to get
involved; it had moved away from the essay
type approach into a form which allowed us
to present files of work focusing on certain
issues, such as worship.
He understood the importance of lay
leadership and valued the development of
TANGO as a fresh expression. I hope and pray
that many other Readers will be prepared
to take risks for God in lay leadership and
pioneering and I also pray for inspiring clergy
to recognise that potential and encourage
it to grow.
It’s important too to keep on listening to
God because things change over time and
you have to listen to him, and to those you’re
serving, to make the next step. King’s Table
Café became successful and it attracted
many from the community but some people
wouldn’t come in because they thought it was
quite posh and a little bit expensive. Through
research, we realised that a majority of people
were in a poverty trap and it wasn’t necessarily
financial; it was poverty of values – of family
and self worth – and we realised that we
could probably address some of those issues.
As a result we felt God challenge us to serve
our community in very practical ways and to
make a difference to the place in which we all
lived. When we started to get things off the
ground, we worried that we weren’t getting
enough volunteers from church and it was a
while before we realised that people wanted
to volunteer from the community itself.
Now, 12 years on at what became known
as TANGO (Together As Neighbours Giving
Out), we are involved in lots of things and
have a second-hand furniture store, a shop,
a café – all of which are based near St Mark’s
but not in St Mark’s. A fresh expression of
church is also developing at TANGO as
more and more people are discovering the
love of God and discussing what it means to
them in their lives.
When we first started TANGO it was
quite difficult to know how we were
going to bring God into it – especially
when those volunteers joined us from the
community. We didn’t want to impose
something which involved us standing there
quietly to pray so instead we always treated
it as an invitation to come and reflect on
why we were there as part of the project.
And then we always finished with a prayer.
Then people began to trust us more and
started to join in different ways.
At TANGO, we now have a cell- type group.
That’s important for people who have
genuinely met with God now and want to
go forward and learn more. It’s the right
environment for them but we’ve got lots
of people in our teams who are sort of ‘iffy’
about God. We know he’s in their lives but
they’ve not acknowledged it themselves
so how do we get them to move on? At
TANGO we’ve introduced what is known
as the ‘Three Ps’, and project co-ordinator
Christine Kay – and others – regularly
meet with different teams to look at:
urpose: why you’re there
P
Problems: because we all have
problems in our teams
Presence of God
is because we are very ordinary men and
women and that is why lay people are so
important to this type of fresh expression.
This allows people to value why they’re
there; the purpose of TANGO and then
bring in the issues that affect them as
they’re working in these teams with
different people.
It is often not measurable in an ‘official’ way
but I’m looking at what happens here in
Kingdom terms. As such, it doesn’t matter
that I’m a lay person; I will keep on doing
this stuff because God has asked me to do it
and pass it on to other people to do as well.
We also know that’s what we need to do
and investment in other people with God’s
values is vital.
A major step forward personally was when
I felt God was asking me to stop looking at
the church as ‘my’ church; instead he made
me look outwards to see that my role as a
Reader is ‘out there’. I love leading people in
worship within the church but my ministry
as a pioneer, who also happens to be a
Reader, is a new way of worship and a new
type of service and that’s what I feel I have
been entrusted with.
I’d encourage people to really listen to what
God’s saying to you, find his heartbeat for the
community in which you live, get out of your
church and go and do it! TANGO has now
been adapted by three other parishes but it’s
not the same TANGO that we’ve got. They’re
doing the same sort of things but they are
different people in different communities and
they are responding to their own contexts
and needs.
I always felt there was something
else out there for me to do
After being a lifelong member of the
Anglican church and loving church I get very
frustrated that the church can sometimes
appear to be stuck in the way it sees how
‘church’ should be done. Many churches
are seeing their numbers dwindle and yet
are still not prepared to change their ways
of doing things but, having said that, God
asked me to do something different with
a team of people. It was not church ‘as I’m
used to’ and the result is that it forced me
out of that way – even though I love it –
into seeing people in a different way and
trying to communicate his way with them.
I understand the responsibility of church
to be accountable, and I appreciate that
it’s scary for church people and leaders to
support a fresh expression because it’s risky,
but Kingdom values are the important ones.
All those years ago, God asked me to do
something different with a team of people
and the result is that it is ‘not the same
church as I’m used to’. It’s forced me out of
a way of viewing church into seeing people
differently and trying to communicate His
way with them.
The wonderful thing now in this area is that
people genuinely realise that church isn’t
doing it to them but church is here as part of
the community. Church as they see it is not
some stuffy old place – a building where they
have to go – people actually make the church.
And that’s us and them together…
Avril was interviewed by Karen Carter
from Fresh Expressions
Fresh Expressions:
www.freshexpressions.org.uk
Helping in
the café
If TANGO lasts another 12 years, and
beyond, that’ll be down to God and the
investment we’ve put into the people’s
lives for them to want to carry on doing
Kingdom business in an ordinary way. It
21
Feature
World mission
We must speak about
mutuality, not dependency.
Calcutta in the mid-seventies provided
me with an experience of the world that
affected my faith in a defining way. On my
first visit to India, I went to an orphanage
run by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of
Charity and I worshipped at Calcutta
Cathedral. At the cathedral, I was given a
simple small cross made from the old roof.
This cross has served to remind me of my
connection with the world and Christians
around the world. I love to bring this cross
out during a sermon, when I can use it
to remind myself and the congregation
of our oneness.
Now that I am a trustee of Us (formerly
USPG), I am personally committed to
working to make that connection real and
lively. I see the connection as something
which individuals and churches need to
appreciate so they can realise their unity
under God’s love.
The old way of mission was to make direct
interventions, often making grants or
implementing projects that we (over here)
deemed most suitable. Not surprisingly,
we now know that projects imposed
by outsiders often go wrong because they
do not fully take account of the local
context, and do not stick because there
is little local ownership.
The work of Us today
Today, Us works with local people, in
local churches, bringing communities
together to talk about their needs, identify
their skills and resources, and implement
action plans that they deem necessary.
In this modern way of working, local
churches are catalysts for change – they
bring communities together, inspire
conversations, identify problems, and put
plans into action.
An example of this principle in action
comes from Malawi, where Us is running
Us (formerly USPG) was founded in 1701, and a community health programme. In Kapiri,
we have seen our fair share of change. Readers the community and local health providers
will be familiar with images of the traditional came together and decided to make
tackling malnutrition their number
missionary – think of David Livingstone, et
one priority.
al – but how many of us are up to date with
what mission looks like today?
Health co-ordinator Lusungu Nkhoma
wrote: ‘Malnutrition is a major concern
I love to speak about this because I become
around Kapiri, so nutrition programmes
excited about what God is doing today. At
have been started. Community homecare
Us, our approach to mission is faith-inspired
volunteers have been visiting homes to
and supremely practical. For Us, the days
show people how to prepare nutritious
of the traditional missionary deliberately
meals using local food, and all the
or inadvertently exporting western culture,
communities have started making monthly
rather than gospel values, have long gone.
Instead, we operate within a new paradigm
contributions to support each other.’
of mutuality. Of course, the Anglican
Communion is the ideal medium for this
In people-centred development, the
way of working, consisting of inter-connected communities themselves identify their
yet autonomous churches. These churches
strengths and find solutions to local
are our global partners, and they are ideally
challenges. This is development as selfplaced for implementing locally-sensitive
empowerment rather than introducing
development programmes because they are
dependency on aid. Here is how one
embedded in the communities they serve.
member of the Kapiri community
Furthermore, whereas some aid agencies
described the process: ‘Health is becoming
come and go, our church partners are in
the responsibility of everyone, rather
it for the long haul because they are
than relying on health workers or
a part of the communities they serve.
institutions. We are doing it together.’
How mission has changed
22
Tea picking
in Sri Lanka
A
nother example comes from Sri Lanka,
where the Anglican Church is reaching
out to the mostly Hindu communities
that live and work on the country’s
tea plantation estates. They are mostly
stand-alone communities that have been
largely overlooked or neglected in terms
of developments that have taken place in
Sri Lanka. Compared with other citizens,
the Tamil tea-picking communities have
little access to education, resources and
government benefits. The work of teapicking is back-breaking. The women carry
out this work in all weather, moving around
slippery hillside plantations with leeches and
snakes in the undergrowth. They are paid
little, yet the demands for yields increase.
Us/USPG partner Fr Andrew Devadason
is the Anglican priest ministering to this
community. He has introduced education for
pre-school children, is helping pensioners to
obtain legal papers so they can claim benefits,
and he is inspiring students to seek higher
education so they can pursue careers of their
own choice. In short, Fr Andrew is living out
Jesus’ command that we love one another.
Looking around the green undulating hills of
the tea plantations, Fr Andrew told Us: ‘This
area is very beautiful and we praise the Lord
for the wonder of Creation. But the story
does not stop there. Underneath this beauty
we see a community that is suffering and
living in exploitation and in pain. They go
is changing
unnoticed at all times. ‘These are the people
who benefit from our work. The children of
simple plantation workers have made it to
university thanks to the support of Us. It’s a
great achievement.’
I hope these stories are as inspiring for you
as they are for me! When I hear about this
level of positivity and motivation, it makes
me want to praise God and ask what I can
do in my own community to see people
reach for a full life.
To help churches in the UK connect with
the world church, we can reach into our
bank of personal experiences. Here’s another
story about my own connectedness with
the world church.
Peace and
reconciliation
in Kenya
I
went to visit a workshop on peace and
reconciliation in Kenya. All those present
had or were suffering from violence within
their communities. The facilitator was
leading a Bible-based course on forgiveness
and reconciliation. He suddenly caught me
off-guard by turning to me and asking for
a comment from a UK-perspective. In the
presence of people whose experiences had
been so challenging – even life-threatening
– I felt very inadequate. The memory of
that moment – lost for words, filled with
compassion, acutely aware of my own
blessings – has stayed with me. It is when we
step outside of our own limited mindset and
try to relate to others that such experiences
can occur. We start to appreciate the
vastness of human experience, our lack of
understanding, and the grace of God as he
patiently invites us to open our lives to him.
In that wordless moment in Nairobi, any
concept of me-as-benefactor, them-asrecipients fell away. We were simply God’s
children, sitting together with the mysteries
of life and God’s love. We struggled to put
understanding into words, but we could
‘feel’ God’s concern and a sense of unity. This
connection – which is beyond theory and
theology – is what I believe mission is all about.
Not seeing our neighbours
as ‘other’
Community is lived out in communion,
and communion is what our churches are
committed to, whether in a service of the
Eucharist or in our church relations. It is only
when we stop seeing our global neighbours
as ‘other’, and start seeing us all as one family
with the same needs and hopes, that we can
truly begin to connect. We need to see each
other as we are – not as objects – before we
can have meaningful dialogue. And this means
listening, sharing, learning. This message is
clear right through the New Testament, and
is one which we are offered almost every time
we preach on a Bible passage.
The Anglican Communion Office has
expressed this sentiment in its own way. A
press release issued in August 2012 described:
‘The Church of England’s recent decision
to move its model of mission from one of
dependency to mutuality… that means a
move away from a model where Anglicans
in the North are simply giving resources
to those in the global South, to one where
members of the Communion are genuinely
giving and receiving to one another.’
In a nutshell, this is what Us is all about.
We want to connect people, churches
and communities – whatever their faith,
ethnicity, gender or sexuality – so that we
can encourage each other to ‘take hold of the
life that is truly life’ (1 Timothy 6:19). I think
the Us tagline summarises this beautifully as
the vision is: ‘Every person, every community,
a full life.’
This is why we have changed our name
from USPG to Us. We want everyone
Nigel Wildish
is a Reader in the Diocese
of London and a trustee
for the Anglican mission
charity Us (formerly USPG)
to understand our main principle – the
principle of connectedness – that is implicit
in the word ‘us’. We also wanted a name
that communicated in the modern era. Put
simply, the name USPG – United Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel – was coined
in the eighteenth century and our research
revealed that it no longer resonated with
people in the twenty-first century. It was
time for a change!
And yet, charities also need money.
Donations made to Us are helping the world
church in a variety of ways. While we know
that Anglican churches around the world are
ideally placed to undertake development,
it is also true that they are under-resourced
in terms of training for their own leaders to
carry out this work.
I think of donations to Us as like the oil
in an engine – the engine is revving away,
but it needs a little lubricant to work more
efficiently. Our programme managers at Us
are in constant dialogue with our church
partners, sharing solidarity and friendship as
we journey together, finding and fine-tuning
new ways of doing mission and development
together that do not lead to dependency.
Remember the world church
My aim in this article has been primarily
to open up Readers to the importance of
remembering the world church when they
preach. How we, in this country, relate to our
brothers and sisters around the world brings
into sharp focus the very nature of our faith:
what does it mean to connect, to love and to
share with our neighbours around the world?
Us is available to the Church of England
and the Church in Wales as a means of
connection: it publishes material about the
world church, it provides prayer guides,
it collects money for church work, and it
provides material to enable us to carry out
fundraising.
Nigel Wildish is a Reader in the Edmonton
Area in the Diocese of London and a trustee
for the Anglican mission charity Us (formerly
USPG). He believes that congregations need to
be engaged with the world church
More at www.weareUs.org.uk
23
Feature
Lavender Buckland
is a Reader in
Salisbury Diocese
Seeking Gold
A pilgrimage way
Something that we tend to overlook
happened while God created the heavens
and stretched them out.. spread out the
earth.. and gave breath to the people upon
it – the Word, the spirit of creation, went out
into that world, calling to everything that
lived. One word – blessing, invitation and
endearment: ‘Beloved’.
‘home’ – the location not of kindness but
of vulnerability – and choosing pilgrimage
they enter into an exile which yet seems
a safe place.
Our life’s goal is to become what God would
have us be: perhaps blindly seeking, yet falling
by accident into an understanding with
T.S.Eliot, ‘We shall not cease from exploration,
It is a word that we know before we are born;
and the end of all our exploring will be to
and spend our lives searching for the halfarrive where we started and know the place
heard voice that speaks into the stillness. And
for the first time.’ Or is the journey defined
that search is a pilgrimage which draws us all,
by desire for fulfilment? John Bunyan, in A
faithful and without faith, and wherever we live. Pilgrim’s Progress caught the changing focus
so well: the urgency dissipated, the uncertain
It is that voice, calling, that brought Moses
twists and turns, the misplaced belief in
and the errant Israelites through their desert
unreliable advice, the distractions and
wanderings to the Promised Land. It is the
delights that delay and de-rail.
voice that sang through the star for the Magi’s
travelling. The voice which, so long ignored,
How shall we approach
lifted the Prodigal’s eyes and drew him towards
a pilgrimage?
home, allowing him to re-discover love,
Finding
a way, whether it is through the
generosity, and grace.
internal journeying of the spirit, or the
physical journey to a particular place,
That divine imagery – ‘while we were yet far
becomes both reason and springboard
off you met us in your Son and brought us
for pilgrimage.
home…’ – has its own destination; yet we
are still living in this foreign land, the land of
The spiritual dimension has as long a history
‘now – and not yet’, which is the Kingdom
as the physical – from Constantine’s mother
hinted at in this world.
seeking the True Cross in Jerusalem (building
churches at each place associated with
We who choose to follow that loving voice
Christ, creating the Way of the Cross for
have a sense of the closeness of Christ –
Christians to travel) to the exclusively internal
always just ahead of us – calling us home.
journeying of medieval anchorites.
Yet there are those who set out to escape
24
At a time when entering a nunnery could
be the solitary alternative to an unwelcome
marriage, those with a strong calling might
choose to become an anchorite. Formally
delivered into a form of death as their
Bishop read the funeral service before
walling them up in a room attached to their
church, their days were spent praying, and
adoring the Sacrament through a ‘squint’
the tiny window opening onto the altar.
For those who could not read, their prayers
might be the Lord’s Prayer; while for those
educated in Latin or French there were
books of instruction, sometimes written
specifically for them by priestly friends.
Often these Anchorite cells were
strategically placed along a pilgrim way;
and, through a slit opening onto the road,
in return for food they would give spiritual
guidance and hear confessions. The pilgrims
who passed by, like those in Chaucer’s
Canterbury Tales, were wildly diverse: the
holy, the sociable, the mischievous, those in
urgent search of healing. There were times
of year when pilgrimage was popular, great
festivals celebrating the Saint whose shrine
they sought.
For us, the choices are different: travelling
is not dependent on the slow amble of
a horse, or our own sore feet; though plenty
make the stony pilgrimage to Santiago
di Compostela, or cross to Lindisfarne on
sands revealed by an outgoing tide. We
could, if we chose, even make a virtual
pilgrimage: visiting sites via the internet,
reading the history of displayed relics, even
buying mementos…
Yet for those intent on the inward journey,
the possibilities are also limitless. Those
who seek out a Spiritual Director; those
who travel physically, an internal offering
honouring a memory; those who retire
into a quieter way of being, discarding all
inessentials, living a life of prayer.
For us all, prayer is the ‘permanent way’
supporting this journey. How we pray, we
must discover for ourselves. Formal familiar
words or silent contemplative prayer, all
is intensely personal, a discipline to be
learned and lived out. This might be the
gentle rhythm of the Jesus Prayer inhaling
and exhaling ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner’ which is the ancient
unceasing prayer of the heart, commended by
St Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:17). For some it may
become the understanding defined by Rowan
Williams, ‘God is first and foremost that depth
around all things and beyond all things into
which, when I pray, I try to sink. But God is also
the activity that comes to me out of that depth,
tells me I’m loved, that opens up a future for me,
that offers transformations I can’t imagine. Very
much a mystery, but also very much a presence.
Very much a person’.
‘Seeking Gold’
In search of this mystery, this presence,
I committed myself as a Tertiary member of
the Order of the Holy Paraclete, at Whitby:
finding a pattern of prayer to underpin my
life. Dispersed, yet a constant community,
prayer links each of us morning, midday,
evening and night, wherever we are. In time,
this commitment led me to study Christian
Spirituality, focusing on pilgrimage, and
writing my dissertation on Columba and Iona,
Cuthbert and Lindisfarne.
The idea, following my M.A., of offering a
pilgrimage within our diocese was warmly
received, and I devised a trail to celebrate the
2012 Olympics. To illustrate this, I designed
a brochure with ten eclectic, ecumenical
Churches spanning southern Dorset: Saxon
shrine; purest Norman; burial place of Lawrence
of Arabia; Methodist memorial to the Tolpuddle
Martyrs (and TUC Museum); life-sized Apostle
roof-beams; stone Abbots; bullet-holed pulpit;
Catholic Martyrs’ chapel…
For those inspired to dream up a pilgrimage
trail in their own Diocese, here are the practical
details I came up with – others will see different
ways: let us encourage one another.
Seeking Gold focussed on these ideas. First,
for the 60,000 Olympic visitors a day it was
anticipated would be in Weymouth, on wet
or windless days, ‘days off’, and for those who
stayed on for a holiday, something different
would be welcome. Secondly, for many people,
going into a Church only happens at weddings
or funerals but here was something unfamiliar
to explore – and perhaps glimpse God there.
Finally there would be pilgrimage badges in
each church and for people who collected all
ten, the reward of a Super-Gold-Pilgrim badge!
Oxford Diocese, who had launched a Diocesan
trail, gave me a copy of their folding pocketmap, church-leaflet, and then their advice.
With great generosity Sarah Meyrick, the
Bishop’s Secretary, gave me valuable help that
saved so much trouble.
I could offer Pilgrimage Trail maps, both
large posters and small folding pocket-maps,
brochures for publicity and church leaflets
which included images and prayer. I went
by appointment to each of the ten clergy to
talk through what the pilgrimage trail would
involve, its reason and purpose, and what
was asked of their church.
My checklist included access for the
disabled; the whereabouts of lavatories;
each Church’s availability of volunteer
‘Welcomers’ (not guides) asking them to
provide a tray with biscuits and coffee; and
a prominent display for the special leaflets
and Pilgrimage badges. I asked each cleric
for 400 words, to be interspersed with brief
prayers, for their leaflet.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, with
such huge numbers of Olympic visitors, for
Churches to offer a welcome, and hospitality
– and the warmth with which all the clerics
responded was enormously heartening.
a cousin with clever software made the
‘Seeking Gold’ posters, and inserted my
images into circles, ready to cut and become
badges (no badge-making machine could be
borrowed, so I finally bought one myself).
The diocesan office agreed to print all the
church leaflets. My heroic husband made 950
badges – cutting the discs, assembling them
with the manual press. By agreement, each
church paid me on delivery for their badges,
to sell at 50p each. I drove over 1,000 miles in
visiting clergy, delivering the Pilgrimage Packs
(each containing 400 publicity brochures, 200
folding-pocket-maps, 50 leaflets, 50 badges,
10 ‘Seeking Gold’ posters, 2 A3 map posters,
a laminated notice to display by the badges)
and a second run to see each church’s display.
Publicity
We could, if we chose, even make
a virtual pilgrimage: visiting
sites via the internet, reading the
history of displayed relics,
even buying mementos…
Communication is so often the Church’s
worst problem! With a Bishop’s introduction
to all Dorset magazines and the Diocesan
monthly paper, I wrote articles ‘to length’; but
they weren’t printed, or even acknowledged.
However, the communications officer and I
used local Church newsletters, Twitter and
Facebook to circulate publicity. Our key
resource was the army of kind volunteers
from pilgrimage churches who delivered
publicity Brochures to campsites, caravan
parks, garden centres, B&Bs, information
centres, and local attractions.
I wrote to our Diocesan Bishop, Nick
Holtam, who composed a pilgrimage prayer
in an immediate, heartening response. His
Suffragan Bishop of Sherborne arranged to
launch the Pilgrimage Trail at the western
end, with a special service at the Saxon St
Wite’s shrine, concluding later that day at
St Aldhelm’s chapel – each a destination for
pilgrimage through the ages.
On 1st July, a churchful of people celebrated
the launch, then drove along the trail,
picnicking on the way. Our Beijing Olympics
Triathlon Gold Medallist, ‘flying Vicar’ James
Stephenson, ordained the previous day, swam,
then cycled the 92-miles stopping to pray and
greet at each Church, running the final Priests’
Way. As I presented him with a gold ribbon,
its ten badges complete with a Super-GoldPilgrim badge, he was not even out of breath!
The major problem was finance. But
the Holy Spirit finds ways beyond our
imagining, and with a gentle push, doors
opened. Churches Together in Dorset and
the Sherborne Office each funded half
the cost of printing 5,000 glossy ‘coated’paper brochures – important, professional,
publicity. But…maps? Badges? Printing
of 500+ Church leaflets? I made numerous
written requests – but obtained no
other grants.
With the Oxford leaflets as inspiration,
the artwork was created on my Apple
computer. Altering colours, background and
text, and with each cleric’s text and local
photos, a consistent design linked our ten
Churches. An incredibly kind professional
friend designed the maps;
And for us all, in that sunlit evening,
was blessing, invitation and endearment:
‘Beloved’.
Since writing this article the exciting news is
that the ‘Seeking Gold’ Pilgrimage Trail has now
been officially designated the Olympic Legacy of
Salisbury Diocese… and is set to run and run!!
Lavender says of this ‘It seems something close
to a miracle that one little germ of an idea,
springing from my MA Dissertation, should grow
its own wings and turn into an Olympic Legacy.’
Read more about ‘Seeking Gold’ at:
http://www.salisbury.anglican.org/news/
historic-church-trail-for-olympic-visitors
links to download leaflets, Brochure, map,
at the bottom of the page.
25
Feature
Licensed Lay Ministry
– a broad perspective
Bishop Robert Paterson
is Chair of the Central
Readers’ Council
What’s the Church for?
When I took up a post as a national
church officer, my family and I found
ourselves in a non-parsonage house for
the first time in nearly three decades.
Our neighbours were a young family
with two children. One day, when I was
in the front garden, the wife and mother
from next door started chatting and
said she’d heard I was a kind of ‘vicar’. I
explained as best I could. Then she asked
me a question no one had ever asked me
before: “What’s the Church for?”
The Church is not an end in itself. I’m sure
you won’t be surprised to know that many
of its members think it is.
It’s there for me and my soul’s comfort.
It’s there because I have put money and
effort into it.
It’s there because I need it to be there
until I’m in the churchyard.
It’s there simply to grow bigger.
It’s there to raise money for the building.
It’s there to be serious or fun or relevant or
musical or whatever I myself want it to be.
It becomes seriously worrying when the
Church becomes the principal place
where ministers minister.
Charity law in the United Kingdom is
changing in order to ensure that donors and
recipients are protected, and the Charity
Commission is engaged in a consultation
process on how to update the law. The
consultation process has rightly raised a
number of issues for us, as Frank Cranmer
has commented:
‘The importance of all this for faith-groups
cannot be underestimated. Whether their
trusts are registered with the Commission
or not, charity trustees are obliged to
demonstrate that their charities provide
public benefit.’
26
This ‘demonstration of public benefit’ is
found in the Gospels. In John 15, when
Jesus comments about bearing fruit, he’s
forcing you to ask: ‘What on earth is the
Church for?’ The simple answer lies in the
two unconditional priorities for all three
Abrahamic faiths: God and people –
‘Love God, love your neighbour’.
Unquestionably, the Church’s priorities
beyond worship lie outside her walls.
An introverted church is a sham, not a
church at all, because it doesn’t attempt
to live up to God’s own priorities.
A church that’s bothered about itself –
about the needs of its congregation, about
its buildings, about its size, about its petty
squabbles, even about its own salvation –
is preaching a badly distorted un-gospel.
So, what is the Church for? One answer
is because God created it. The Petrine
confession that Jesus is ‘the Christ, the Son
of the living God’ is the rock on which the
Church is built; the source of her life is the
in-breathed and outpoured Holy Spirit; it
is the body and bride of Christ; her agenda
is the apostolic commission1. Christians
vary in the degree to which they value
the apostolic traditions of ministry and of
doctrine but all agree that apostolicity and
mission are inextricably linked.
Church is what happens
when the impact of Jesus
draws people together3
I believe there is a basic misunderstanding of
one of the key illustrations of the Church in
the New Testament: the body of Christ. Back
in the 1970’s and 80’s (Series 3, ASB) it became
the liturgical fashion to link the eucharistic
Peace with a reference to the body of Christ,
as in: ‘We are the body of Christ. In the one
Spirit we were all baptized into one body
…’ (And it remains an option in Common
Worship.) This was followed by encouraging
congregations to share the peace – all good
stuff. Yet I have a sneaking feeling that it
did some damage to the Anglican psyche
because its subliminal message became, ‘We
here are the body of Christ; it is while we
celebrate the Christian family meal together
that we express what it means to be his body.
We are the eucharistic community and the
Church exists to meet our spiritual needs.’
However, that’s not really to answer,
essentially it is that the Church is for God
and for the world. For God because he is
and we worship him, expressing this in faith,
prayer, word, sacraments and service and
the world because that’s where God’s heart
is – what ‘God so loved’2. All this is focused
on Jesus Christ and the Father’s gift of the
Spirit who brings the risen Christ to us and
breathes into us Christ’s love and mercy.
That un-expressed, sub-conscious thinking
can be highly deceptive. I am sure that
Saint Paul in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12
and Ephesians 4 (three variations of a basic
analogy) intended a much broader reference
than the local eucharistic gathering. I’m
convinced he was not simply thinking of
the weekly meeting for worship but also of
the great diversity of life and witness of the
Christian community during all 168 hours
of the week. So, on Monday morning,
John is in the factory, Jane is in the hospital,
-everyone is living their everyday life – that’s
what the body of Christ looks like for almost
all the week. The church is, for most of her
life, turned outwards, the body of Christ is
explosively diverse in its mission, witness
and discipleship; in the words of Bishop
John V Taylor, we are ‘making Christ visible’.
If that is what the Church is for, then that is
what its ministry is for.
The day when people asked the Philippian
gaoler’s question ‘What must I do to be
saved?’ is past for most people. Today’s big
question is asked when you’re out of earshot,
‘Why is s/he like that?’ and at some juncture
may be addressed to you personally. What is
that look on your face? Christians today are
‘question-mark’ people, and discipleship with
integrity is the key to effective witness.
A range of ministries
The report to the General Synod entitled
‘Reader Upbeat’ (2008) recommended that
all lay ministers who have been duly trained,
admitted and authorised by a bishop should
be identified as belonging to one national body
of licensed lay ministers. I wholeheartedly
agree, though I wish the report had given us
more of the workings before the conclusion
because it has led some places to change titles
without changing the underlying practice
first. It has been assumed in some quarters
that, because the title ‘Reader’ is readily
misunderstood, the report was recommending
a change of title to ‘Licensed Lay Minister
(Reader)’. There is a real danger of confusing
titles with descriptions: ‘Licensed Lay Ministers’
is a useful generic description, but it is not
a title. Supported by the Central Readers’
Council Executive, I have been pressing for
the setting-up of a national working group on
licensed lay ministry. It is my hope that this
will work on developing a pattern to enable
all lay ministers to be recognised nationally as
partners in the public ministry of the Church
with those who are ordained.
Its constituent public ministries might be:
Chaplains: particularly in health care and the
criminal justice system;
Evangelists: a public voice for the Church in
the proclamation of the gospel;
Pastors: caring for people in need and at
critical points in life;
Readers: interpreting the word in
contemporary living;
Social workers: bringing justice to individuals
and society;
Spiritual Directors: assisting people in
guidance and direction;
Youth workers: working to inspire and nurture
faith in children and young people; and
Others…
It is my hope that all licensed lay ministries
should be subject to agreed principles
of selection and an agreed discipline of
training, mutually-agreed accreditation and
interchangeability at national level. It would
remain to be seen whether there should be a
common training ‘core’ but the general view
is that it would be sufficient for the essential
components of the training of all lay ministries
to be identified and agreed nationally.
An illustration of how different components
of training might relate (each square
represents a component of training):
Chaplains
Evangelists
Pastors
Readers
Social Workers
Spiritual directors
Youth Workers
… and others
Some barriers (imaginary or real) between
areas of lay ministry need to be broken
down and the vulnerability felt by some
Readers in particular needs to be addressed
in order to achieve flexible and collaborative
working. Collaboration between people
exercising various lay ministries and
between lay and ordained ministers must
always be beneficial. Collaboration would
strengthen what is being achieved through
the Central Readers’ Council since the
appointment of officers whose work is to
assist vocation and selection, moderation
of training (quality assurance and
enhancement) and continuing ministerial
development.
National co-ordination of licensed lay
ministry would commit all licensed lay
ministries to collaborative working,
particularly at national and diocesan
levels in order to enable full collaboration
between all licensed lay ministers and
between lay and ordained ministers.
If lay ministers wish to be taken seriously
as integral members of the public ministry
of the church, naturally they must expect
to serve by similar standards in terms of
ministerial development and discipline.
Further thought needs to be given to this
at national level.
The Church is slowly growing out of the
idea that the laity are ‘helping the priest’ (an
easy argument to demolish) or that priests
are ‘delegating to the laity’. ‘Delegation’ is a
concept which is still widely commended,
though surely it’s not the priest who allows
people to help him/her by passing on
tasks to them, but the community of faith,
universal and local, which orders one of
its number to preside. The principle of
ministry growing up from the roots rather
than being delegated like fruit dropping
from a tree arises from the fundamental
reality of the Church as a royal priesthood:
‘To him who loves us and has set us free
from our sins with his blood, who has
made of us a royal house to serve as the
priests of his God and Father - to him be
the glory and dominion for ever! Amen.’
(Revelation 1:5b,6).
Therefore, whether we see ministry as
functional or ontological (having a purpose
or a nature) – hopefully both - the servants
of God are those who belong to his Church
by baptism, repentance/re-orientation, faith
and participation in its life. Those servants,
the royal priests, have chosen from among
their number, and the call of God has
confirmed it, men and women to exercise
certain of the duties and privileges of the
whole Church on their behalf. So the right
to minister does not belong to the ministers
but to God and to the Church (which
affirms the call of some of its number
to minister publicly in its name, some in
ordained public ministry, others in lay public
ministry).
Questions you could use
for further discussion
could be
In what ways is your ministry important
in fulfilling the purpose of the church?
In what ways does your ministry relate to
other ministries licensed or authorized by
the bishop?
In what ways does your public ministry
take you outside ‘church’?
Robert Paterson studied Theology and
English at Durham University and trained
at Cranmer Hall. He served most of his
ministry in Wales as a parish priest and with
involvement in provincial and international
concerns. In 2008 he was appointed Bishop of
Sodor and Man and he is Chair of the Central
Readers’ Council.
1Matthew 16.1320; John 20.21,22; Acts 2.1-4;
Romans 12.4,5; 1 Corinthians 12.12-31; Ephesians
3.20,21; 4.15,16; 5.23-32; Revelation 19.7; 21.2,9;
Matthew 28.16-20.
2 John 3.16.
3 Archbishop Rowan Williams, 10.4.2001.
27
Feature
Water
a poem
I wrote this for the children at the harvest
festival when our theme was going to be water.
It is amazing how many places it can be found!
You could perhaps find ways of using it with
a small group of adults or children.
Water from the supermarket, water from the spa,
Water from a shiny truck carried from afar.
Water in an old tin can, water in a hose,
Water in a dirty hole where wild cattle goes.
Water in a reservoir, water in the sea
Water in the food we eat and in our cup of tea!
Water, sparkling, fast and free; water in a sewer,
Water in a boggy place in somewhere quite obscure!
Water in a little stream; water in the river.
Water that has come from God, the greatest ever giver!
Water in our story too; water in the font,
Water, living and eternal, all we’ll ever want!
Water in the universe; water in our story.
Water, water everywhere, says ‘now give God the glory!’
©Heather Fenton 2006
28
of style over
substance?
Why are there so few twenty to forty
year olds in our churches? The Church
has made a huge effort to reach out
to this particular group over the last
two decades but apart from isolated
cases has seen little result.
While the church has focused
predominantly on the form of its message –
the how – it has given less attention to the
substance of the message it is delivering –
the what. Has it tried too hard to be relevant
at the expense of being real? There are four
areas which need to be addressed if the
church is to engage with twentysomethings.
Let’s look at each one in turn.
INTEGRITY
A famous advert for wood protection states
‘it does exactly what it says on the tin’.
Having grown up in a culture of cynicism
and fear, the missing generation find it
hard to build , especially towards those in
positions of authority. This has intensified
over recent years with the scandals that
have engulfed the police, the media and the
political system.
Any sign of hypocrisy or double standards
will cause them to shut down and turn
off. There is a suspicion and distrust of the
motives behind the Church’s ‘targeting’ of
them and their peers.
Many view the changes that have taken
place in the Church over recent years as a
desperate attempt to appear relevant in
order to boost attendance figures. Social
Adam Pope
is considering
Reader ministry
companies and institutions compete for
their loyalty. The Church is viewed as just
one more organisation seeking to attract
them to its product for its own benefit.
CONVICTION
We live in a highly individualised society
that claims no absolutes. The lack of
clear boundaries has created an insecure
generation being blown about on the waves
of competing moral, social and ethical
standards. Meanwhile there has been a lack
of clarity and confidence in the Church’s
message; a dearth of conviction to stand by
the truth we proclaim.
The Church should be engaging the minds
and hearts of the missing generation not just
their eyes and ears.
A Church passionately declaring the
gospel will receive the respect if not
agreement of younger generations. The
Church needs to be an anchor in this
restless world that has lost its bearings,
providing clear direction with confidence
and conviction.
Meetings and services aimed at this age group
will often be large, loud and lively. This can
ostracise those who feel more comfortable
with one-on-one communication or more
meditative worship. However charismatic and
‘Pentecostal’ churches have had more success
with younger age groups in some cases.
SUBSTANCE
We so often underestimate the missing
generation’s desire for a deeper spirituality,
offering theology in light, catchy sound bites
and emotional highs while failing to wrestle
with the big questions they are asking.
Are we seeking to connect or convict,
to cheer or to challenge, to entertain or
expose, to pacify or provoke?
Statistics show that while church
attendance has fallen, interest in spirituality
is growing. Many are seeking answers to
The church has neglected the strength of its message; neglected
certainty in a time of uncertainty; conviction in a time of confusion
and substance in a time of style.
projects are viewed as bait used to hook the
desperate and unsuspecting so that they
can be converted.
A media savvy generation has been brought
up in a consumer culture targeted by
feature
Still missing the triumph
life’s difficult questions of suffering, death,
meaning and purpose.The Alpha course is
helping to meet this demand through clear
teaching while giving space for people to
challenge, question and wrestle with issues
of faith and belief.
INTROVERSION
The use of silence, meditation, symbolism
and liturgy are great treasures of the Church
that are often viewed as inappropriate to
the missing generation, but actually these
have proved a magnet for many young
people drawn to the Catholic Church and
communities such as Taize and Iona. This rich
vein of spirituality is highly attractive to many
and must not be overlooked.
CONCLUSION
The church has needed to move with the
times to maintain dialogue with those in
the first half of life. However, in doing so it
has neglected the strength of its message;
neglected certainty in a time of uncertainty;
conviction in a time of confusion and
substance in a time of style. It has also failed
to find balance in its approach and to meet
the needs of introverted young believers.
We need to look at the issues of integrity,
conviction, substance and introversion if we
are to be accessible to the missing generation.
The Church needs to reclaim its place as the
moral and spiritual leader in an increasingly
turbulent and unpredictable age.
29
Feature
A story for telling
and a song for singing
Sarah’s story
At last the child was born. Ishmael, ‘God
sees’. Named because Hagar had discovered
that God saw her and spoke to her when
she cried to him for help. Why did he not
notice me?
I rejoiced to be married to Abraham, all
those years ago in the land of my people.
He was a man of vision. An adventurer. I
delighted to join in his adventure. I was
not like my friends who had settled into
boring lives in Ur. I was a partner in my
husband’s quest and we both enjoyed
the travelling and the uncertainty. I was
relieved not to have become pregnant
immediately. A child would have
complicated things so.
‘This is my son Ishmael. May he live in
your sight’ Abraham told God. ‘Yes’ said
God, ‘But he is not the one’. But God said
nothing to me.
My name is Sarah. Wife to Abraham.
Mother to Isaac. People look up to me.
They give me gifts and treat me with
respect. But at such cost…such cost…
But the years went by and we travelled
on and there was still no child. Then God
started to talk to Abraham. And Abraham
told me what God said … how we would
be the parents of a great nation, more
numerous than the grains of sand by the
far off sea. But still there was no child.
We travelled on. We were still partners
in an adventure. But I would catch him
looking at me with bewilderment. He
would go into the emptiness of the desert
and this God of his would tell him all over
again that he would have a child. But
God never spoke to me about it. Every
month I hoped and every month I knew
myself to have failed. So I decided one day
that I had to take charge of my life before
it fell apart altogether. God insisted that
Abraham was going to have descendants,
but didn’t do anything about it. I had
better organise something.
So I suggested a surrogacy. I had a young
slave who was of child bearing years. Let
her provide Abraham and me with a child.
The baby would be ours as the slave was
ours. I told Abraham that God would
want us to use our initiative so that his
plan could work out and he was easily
persuaded. Hagar, that was her name,
conceived immediately. And my world
changed. As I watched her young body
swell with the child that should have
been mine I was consumed with
resentment. I hated her. I am not proud
of how I was at that time. I know I made
life unbearable for her so that at one point
she actually ran away. She and the child
she was carrying.
30
Then one day we had visitors. We often
did. I busied myself with preparing the
meal that hospitality demanded while
Abraham entertained them in the shade of
a nearby tree. They moved to stand close
to the tent where I worked. ‘I will return to
you in the spring,’ one said. ‘I will come to
see the son that Sarah will have by then.’ I
laughed. I laughed so that I would not cry
at the cruelty of it. My periods had become
irregular. I was old. To talk in such a way
was insensitive and unworthy of a guest at
our tent. The man who had spoken heard
my laughter. ‘Why does Sarah laugh?’ he
asked. I was embarrassed and beginning
to be afraid at the strangeness of this
visitor. ‘I didn’t laugh,’ I said hastily, ‘You are
mistaken.’ ‘Yes, you did laugh’ he said. His
voice was gentle and understanding and full
of humour. I carried on with the cooking
feeling bewildered. Later I remembered
his voice. For I did have a child. Isaac, my
child of laughter. It was an uncomfortable
pregnancy and a hard birth. I was old to
bear a first child. But I was full of joy. We
agreed that the visitor had been God’s
messenger. I remembered how he had
placed himself where I would hear and be
heard. Now I knew God spoke to me as well
as Abraham.
But long years of inadequacy don’t vanish
overnight, or even over nine months, I
discovered. I could not bear to have Ishmael
near Isaac. Isaac loved to play with him.
But I remembered that Ishmael was the
first born. I remembered Hagar’s glowing
pregnancy and watched her delight in
playing with the children. And I made
Abraham send them away.
We are a family now. But there is no longer
the easiness of partnership we used to have.
I look at him and wonder if he thinks of
his first born. And of Hagar. And what he
thinks of me. And what God thinks.
Margaret Harvey
wrote this originally to tell the
story of Sarah to a group of
listeners at a conference
A song for singing
(Tune: Christe sanctorum)
Lord God of Abraham
calling us to journey,
Your pilgrim people,
going where you lead us,
Sharing your vision,
wide as the sky ’s vastness,
Help us to follow.
Lord God of Sarah,
calling us to trust you,
To remain faithful
through the times of silence,
Give us the courage
to believe your promise,
Share in your action.
Lord God of Hagar,
God of the afflicted,
Calling the poor and
those despised to serve you;
To the oppressed you
come in saving justice
With love and freedom.
On the reliability of the Old Testament
K.A. Kitchen is Personal
and Brunner Professor
Emeritus of Egyptology
and Honorary Research
Fellow at the School of
Archaeology, Classics
and Oriental Studies,
University of Liverpool.
He has written many
books including Ancient Orient and Old
Testament and The Bible in Its World: the
Bible and Archaeology Today.
K.A. Kitchen is a meticulous scholar with a
good sense of humour. He challenges those
who are ‘factually disadvantaged’ or who ‘do
not do their Near Eastern homework’ and,
without putting too fine a point on it, leaves
in ruins the arguments of those who regard
the Old Testament as unreliable and full of
errors and contradictions.
feature
‘What made me think’
David Fewster
from St Asaph Diocese
answers this question
This is a massive scholarly work with
100 pages of detailed notes on the
various chapters, 40 plates containing
maps, diagrams, inscriptions and 37
tables. His two-fold approach leads him
to look at the OT writings and also at
the data from the world in which the
writings came. His knowledge of that
world is encyclopedic.
What did I learn from this book? A lot of
it, I confess, was over my head. However,
it was patently obvious that a lot of
the criticism of the Old Testament by
various scholars is without foundation.
Kitchen comes across as an expert
who knows his stuff inside out and
shows beyond any doubt that the
Old Testament is thoroughly reliable.
As an archaeologist works from the
most recent layers/times to the
oldest, Kitchen works back from
the period of the Exile and Return,
through the United Monarchy, the
Settlement in Canaan, the Egyptian
Sojourn and Exodus, The Patriarchs
and finally to Primeval Proto-History. In
his conclusion, Kitchen answers in detail
minimalists such as T.L. Thompson, N.P.
Lemche, W.G.Dever and Wellhausen.
On the Reliability of the Old Testament
by K.A.Kitchen was published by
Eerdmans in 2003
Do you have something that made you
think? It need not be a book. Let me know
about it and we may be able to include
a short comment under this heading. The
number of words would be around 400
maximum. Editorial contact information
is on the inside front cover.
Your choice of three new Reader badges
B
A
This badge can be
worn with or without a chain.
The chain is not supplied.
A Large blue enamel & chrome badge.
With pin and bail to wear with a chain.
Circle diameter 35mm.
B Small blue enamel & chrome badge.
With tie tack to pin on a lapel.
Circle diameter 15mm.
C Small chrome badge (no colour).
With tie tack to pin on a lapel.
Circle diameter 12mm.
Send completed form and cheque to:
Central Readers’ Council (Badges), Church House,
Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ
Item
(All photos actual size)
C
Each
A Large enamel badge
£5.50
B Medium enamel badge
£4.00
C Small chrome lapel badge
£2.00
Qty
Total
P&P free. Cheque (payable to Central Readers’ Council) enclosed for
Name
Address
THE READER
31
Feature
Prayers
for praying
Carol Jerman
is a Reader in
St Asaph Diocese
1
Draw us to the place, O God,
The place from which the living waters flow;
The sanctuary of the Holy One
And that profound meeting place
Where He was pierced,
Where the Rock was smitten.
They flowed from your Son,
And they are flowing still,
Streams of living water
Enough for all.
Draw us to that meeting place, O God,
The place of his piercing.
Our God and our Father,
Help us to abide in the place of the cross,
And in your grace to know the crucified Christ
From whom alone the living waters flow.
3
2
Father,
Help us always to rem
ember that the One
from whom the living
waters flow
Said, ‘I thirst’.
Create in us a deeper
thirst for righteousness.
Fill your Church with
longing for justice in th
e earth
And for the honour of
your name
So that the waters ma
y flow.
There is a tree that makes bitter waters swee
t;
O apply it to my heart, most holy Lord.
I’m longing now for all that flows from me to
be like sweet, pure water,
And I mourn because of the brackish stuff,
Discoloured and bitter to those around me
That still issues from me.
Help me, Father, so to abide in the love of Chris
t
That this love springs consistently from my
life.
Help all those who trust in you, O Christ,
To live in the good of all you have bought for
us, your Church.
There are so many things that can make the
waters bitter;
Pride and judgemental attitudes, lack of com
passion and lack of faith,
Self-importance and false humility, insecurity
and self-centredness,
Cowardice and ambition.
O lead us in the ways of the Lamb who gave
himself for our redemption.
Forgive us, Lord, for all the times
when we have drunk of your clear, flowing wate
r,
And then turned and, trampling in it, muddied
it,
making it unfit for others to drink,
So that they have gone away, still thirsty.
Forgive us, Lord, and teach us
how to worship you in Spirit and in truth.
32
4
Lord,
It is as if the desert is encroaching.
Your Church grows thin,
The land, a wilderness.
Oh, where is the garden of the Lord
From which the rivers flow
Into a thirsty land?
There is a bitter taste in our mouths:
We have drunk from other streams,
Forgive us, Lord.
Rock
Only faith perceives the water from the
And only love can drink.
Jesus.
Cleanse our hearts of other things, Lord
k,
drin
may
we
so
,
Draw us again to yourself
us
in
up
g
sprin
And so the living water may
And flow out.
Published in Quiet Spaces ‘Living Water’
edited by Heather Fenton © brf 2012
So many faults remain in me
And in your Church,
So much sorrow and injustice in the world.
Neither my prayers or actions seem to touch it
And I am weary,
And thirsty, thirsty for the overflowing springs
of the love of God
And his everlasting grace.
This is a desert place to be.
O Lord, have mercy on us;
Christ have mercy.
Yet if everything should fail
And all of heaven and earth pass away
Still you endure, Lord Jesus,
And that is enough;
Enough for me, enough for me.
O Father, keep us in your love;
Christ, keep us in your grace.
And in this quiet place where only your love remains,
Your Spirit wells up
Like a small, bubbling spring,
Like the laughter of those who delight in one another.
O Lord, have mercy on us;
Christ have mercy.
We give you thanks, O Lord,
That your loving kindness endures for ever;
And we will rejoice in God who is our Saviour,
In God, who alone is our Saviour.
6
Lord Jesus, in your grace
Give us thirst
And the understanding to
come to you and drink.
Give us grace to follow the
Lamb wherever he goes
Assured that you will lead
us to the river of God,
Pure water of life as a gift
.
Give us faith to trust
That you give your Spirit
to those who drink of you
,
An inner spring of eterna
l life,
Fellowship with God in eve
ry circumstance of life,
Gift beyond measure.
7
There came a sudden beauty of waters:
Shining rain fell, drenching me and the ground,
And a sudden burst of sunlight bathed everything
in warmth and brilliance.
I stood with upturned face, knowing that I was
in the middle of a rainbow
That I could not see, but that could be seen by others.
And so I pray,
Lord, may your covenant promises be seen in us.
May the work of your grace be visible, when we don’t see it,
In all the ups and downs of life.
Help us to remain in the place of the rainbow,
Washed and given light by your grace,
Because of all your Son has done for us.
Gazette
G azette
5
of newly admitted and
licensed Readers
BIRMINGHAM
Admitted and Licensed.19 January 2013
David Ash...................................................................................................Kings Norton Team
Glynis Gayton.......................................................................Baddesley Ensor, St Nicholas
Michelle Grannell............................................................................Birchfield, Holy Trinity
Victoria Hubble.........................................................Harborne, St Faith & St Laurence
Paul Martin..................................................................................... Smethwick, Old Church
Geoff Miller...................................................................................... Aston & Nechells Team
Dawn Parker..........................................................................................West Heath, St Anne
Nicholas Partridge................................................................................Elmdon, St Nicholas
Peter Prasadam.......................................................................................... Hamstead, St Paul
Peter Salt...............................................................................................Yardley, Christ Church
Joanne Taylor........................................................................Birmingham, Bishop Latimer
Janet Thomas........................................................................ Summerfield, Christ Church
Shirley Turner.......................................................................Chelmsley Wood, St Andrew
Christopher Walton............................................................... Hall Green, The Ascension
Keith Whitehead��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Haborne, St Peter
Licensed
James Lethbridge.......................................................................................Dorridge, St Philip
Carol Mayes................................................................................................Barston, St Swithin
The Reader magazine
survey
A huge “thank you” to everyone who has responded to our
survey. I had been warned that surveys typically receive a
2 per cent response rate, so I was looking forward to
receiving about 200 replies. In the event, at the time of
writing, I have received double that, and there may well
be more to come. The closing date was set at 31st March
to give overseas Readers time to reply, so the process of
analysing all the data won’t begin in time to report back in
this issue. It’ll be a job for the summer when I’ll have a bit
more time to go through all the forms in detail.
A first reading of the forms
received so far shows that – as you
would expect – our readers are
a mixed bunch with mixed views
as to what the magazine should
offer them. It will be difficult,
if not impossible, to keep
everybody happy, but we will
aim to please more of you more
of the time. And if you missed
the form for whatever reason,
you are always very welcome
to express your views to me at
[email protected]
Marion Gray, Chair,
CRC Editorial Committee
33
REVIEWS
Reviews for THE READER
Passion
Tony Anthony with
Angela Little
Authentic Media Limited
£7.99, Pbk
9781860248047
We are commanded as
followers of Jesus to share the gospel, but it
is hard work to share something you are not
passionate about. This book challenges us as
Christians to rediscover the passion that led us to
faith so that we may be empowered to share the
Good News enthusiastically and wholeheartedly.
The author has a direct, uncompromising
style which he peppers with helpful personal
anecdotes. Each chapter ends with a reflection
page, with questions to help the reader think
about their response to what they have read. The
book, which can be a little repetitive in places,
has a challenging message but is not a challenging
read and so, could form the basis for some small
group studies. The book ends, helpfully, with a
number of examples of ways of presenting the
Gospel and is also accompanied by an eleven
minute Gospel presentation on DVD.
JANET BEER
Connecting like Jesus
Tony Campolo & Mary
Albert Darling
SPCK, £14.99, pbk
9780281069156
‘We hope to demonstrate
that every follower of
Jesus can connect in ways that change our
relationships, our lives and the world’ is the
stated aim and this the authors most certainly
do with a rich blend of biblical theology and
clear practical suggestions drawn from their own
experiences. From the outset, by focusing on
how Jesus communicated and connected, both
with his disciples and the crowds who gathered
around him, they assert that to follow in his
footsteps, there needs to be an amalgam of
spiritual practice and communication practices.
The authors urge their readers to meditate
particularly on the so-called ‘one another’ verses
in the Bible and then relate them to everyday
life. Having defined ‘soul healing’, Mary Darling
then explains how to put this into practice with
a strong emphasis on prayer and listening both
to God and to all those with whom we come
into contact. Tony Campolo then takes these
ideas and relates them directly to a preaching
and teaching ministry that aims to ‘connect
like Jesus’. A very valuable book from which
I have gained a great deal of encouragement
and challenge and so commend to all involved
in any form of Christian ministry but perhaps
particularly to those called to preach.
JOHN KNOWLES
34
Hope and a Future
Wes Richards
Monarch Books, £8.99, pbk
9780857212917
Wes Richards is the Senior
Pastor of the King’s Church
International, a nondenominational church based in Windsor.
When his beloved wife Carol died of cancer
at the age of 51 he and his three teenage
children were devastated by her loss, but then,
through faith in the Lord and supported by
the prayers of their community, they were
able to embrace new opportunities and move
forward into a surprising and hope-filled
future. For some, myself included, this story of
‘love, loss and living again’ may bring back sad
memories, perhaps even open old wounds,
but it is nevertheless a beautifully written
and moving account of how the author’s
struggle with bereavement gave him a new
understanding of the Bible and was ultimately
able to inform and deepen his preaching as
a pastor. As such it will be of help to those
Readers engaged in spiritual counselling or
bereavement ministry. For all of us it is a
reminder that our main concerns should not be
so much about systems or structures as about
compassion for broken people.
MARGARET IVES
New Testament Prayer
for Everyone
Tom Wright
SPCK, £9.99, pbk
9780281069064
In this very useful book,
Tom Wright opens up the
riches contained within the major prayers and
teaching on prayer recorded in the gospels
and letters of the new testament. The book is
a selection of the author’s short reflections on
New Testament prayer which have appeared in
his popular ‘For Everyone’ series. The author’s
own translations of the biblical text accompany
each reflection. In the book’s first section, a
series of commentaries show how ten short
extracts from Matthew, Luke, Hebrews, James
and four of Paul’s letters reveal the teaching
of Jesus and the apostles on prayer. A second
section of reflections considers Jesus’ High
Priestly Prayer, his prayers in Gethsemane,
some of Paul’s prayers and a selection of early
Christian prayers, including Mary’s Song of
Praise in Luke. The book’s format, which follows
the well-established structure of the ‘For
Everyone’ series, makes it ideal for devotional
use and there are also questions for discussion
and reflection. Tom Wright’s thoughts, deeply
earthed in personal experience, provide us with
helpful explanations of the clues Jesus and the
apostles intended us to pick up, ponder, share
and appropriate in our own path of prayer. The
book quickens the desire to pray.
ROBIN DIXON
The Edge of
Paradise
Martin de Lange
Monarch Books, £7.99, pbk
9780857212306
Tales of heroic missionary
endeavour, cross cultural
struggle and dramatic answers to prayer are
possibly almost forgotten today? This is such
a story of a South African family who helped
bring the gospel to cities in Eastern Turkey in
the last 20 years. It is refreshingly fast moving
and clear about the costs such work involves,
and a challenge to my own superficiality
about God, and deep-seated materialism.
It concludes with the murders of three
Christians, and not all questions are answered
neatly. But as an inspiration for those
considering sacrificially following Jesus today
and wanting to be evangelistically direct, it
would take some beating.
JOHN HOLDEN
The New Testament
A Literary History
Gerd Theissen
Fortress Press, £32.99, hbk
9280800697853
Many years ago, I was
introduced to Gerd Theissen’s
work through his book The Shadow of the
Galilean. The engaging and thought-provoking
style I discovered there is evident in this book,
as the author develops his thesis that early
Christian literature emerges through a series
of phases, crossing boundaries as it goes.
Moving from the time of Jesus through to the
earliest recognised New Testament canon,
Professor Theissen guides the reader through
the familiar territory of the 27 books we now
recognise as New Testament texts, as well as
through new and perhaps hitherto unknown
writings which are vital resources for our
understanding of the early years of Christianity.
The author demonstrates the level of scholarly
engagement the reader would expect from a
university professor, and has made available
an excellent book that will greatly assist
Readers in deepening their understanding and
appreciation of the New Testament scriptures
in context.
CHRIS BRACEGIRDLE
Church for
Every Context
Michael Moynagh with
Philip Harrold
SC M Press, £30, pbk
9780334043690
This book reads as though
it was written in response to For the Parish
(reviewed in The Reader, Spring 2011) which
was itself a response to the fresh expressions
movement. Michael Moynagh’s comprehensive
and thought-provoking book argues very much
for the fresh expressions initiative in the form
of contextual churches and it provides a sound
biblical basis for them. For a book which is
sub-titled An Introduction to Theology and
Practice, it is much to its credit that it is willing
to recognise the valid contributions of social
science. The four main sections are headed
‘Past and Present’, ‘Towards a Theological
Rationale’, ‘Bringing Contextual Churches to
Birth’ and ‘Growing to Maturity’. I found the
book a little heavy-going at times, but this was
ameliorated by the use of key-point boxes. Each
chapter ends with a short list of further reading
and a welcome set of questions for discussion.
The bibliography is very comprehensive and
both the author index and subject index are
useful in this substantial book. As someone
who has never been entirely sold on the fresh
expressions movement, I did find myself
beginning to change my mind as I read this
book. It would be a timely read for any
Reader exercising ministry in this changing
era of the Church.
MICHAEL FOSTER
Worship that Cares
Mark Earey
SCM Press, £20, pbk
9780334044116
If I had to choose one
book for trainee Readers,
worship leaders, or stuck
clergy, I would choose this one! Mark Earey
is a compelling teacher, an unstuffy liturgist
and he has worked as an ordained minister
in an ecumenical setting before he turned
to theological education. The book is not an
in depth study of new insights into obscure
aspects of pastoral liturgy, it is a lively summary
of the pastoral possibilities in Sunday worship
and pastoral services. The first three chapters
set out an overview. Sunday worship is helpful
because, in telling God’s story in readings
and intercessions, it provides a map for the
journey of life; we learn that we are known
and loved, we see in the stories people whose
lives have been turned upside down and they
survive, and we meet symbolism powerful
enough to embrace the most intractable event.
Sometimes, of course, people with profoundly
different needs meet in Sunday worship and the
vigilant pastor has to look for ways of helping
them separately. The next chapter includes the
list of life events some of which the Church has
a liturgy for – and some it doesn’t, a rite for
divorce or one for same sex marriage? Finally
Earey offers a toolkit, some basic principles and
resources. Traditional theories of Liminality
and Faith Development are here alongside the
power of words, as poetry, symbol, or timeless
phrases. The later chapters look in detail at
birth, marriage, healing and funerals, and little
is omitted! All the chapters have case studies
or theories or ‘to think about’ boxes, plus
summaries and full bibliographies.
CHRISTINE MCMULLEN
This review first appeared in Praxis,
news of worship
Basic Types of Pastoral
Care and Counselling
Howard Clinebell
Abingdon Press, pbk
978 0687663804
As the title gives away, this
book is a useful resource for
Readers and ministry teams, who work within
a care field, be that chaplaincy or ecumenical
community work. For me, the 19 chapters of
the book need to be reordered a little so that
the 3rd chapter, The History, Mission, and
Theological; Biblical Foundations of Pastoral
Care giving comes after the introduction but
before chapter 1, Pastoral Care and Counselling:
Challenges and Opportunities, but this might
be just me being fussy. Each chapter begins
with a biblical quote or inspirational verse,
which, although nice enough, I’m not entirely
sure whether they are relevant for each chapter.
The language of the book is clear and easy to
understand, but being written by an American
author means that the spellings and references
mentioned in the text are of limited use for a
Reader within the UK. This would be a useful
resource for a ministry team or someone
training a team for pastoral ministry, but it
would not be relevant for everyone’s bookshelf.
EMMA-DAWN FARR
Every Place is
Holy Ground
Sally Welch
Canterbury Press, £9.99, pbk
9781848250758
Pilgrimage as a means
of spiritual search and
exploration has been popular throughout
Christian history. The great Pilgrimage routes
bear the marks of countless pilgrims. Less
popular but gaining ground is pilgrimage in the
familiar setting of home and local community.
This new awareness of pilgrimage comes from
the sense of God in the whole of life. Every Place
is Holy Ground provides a creative resource
for pilgrimage in the places we know well –
home, church and community. Each chapter
gives suggestions for pilgrimage devotions
and excellent biblical reflection together with
practical activities. The aim of the pilgrimage
is ‘a refreshed mind and an enhanced way of
seeing.’ This book is ideally suited for parish
pilgrimage and could be used in Advent or Lent
or as a preparation for a pilgrimage to one of
the holy sites.
JANICE PRICE
Ministry Rediscovered
Mike Starkey
The Bible Reading Fellowship,
£7.99, pbk
9781841016160
This book begins with a
personal and interesting
description of how vicar, Mike Starkey and his
family arrive at their first parish and the ensuing
difficulties they face, with a crumbling church
building, a tiny and uncaring congregation and
a vicarage that hasn’t been built yet! Despite
these difficulties the author goes on to reveal
his journey of discovery as he strives to turn
the parish around, describing his training as
‘hilariously irrelevant’. His greatest discovery
is his need to be creative in his ministry and
to think outside the box and in doing so he
creates a unique ministry in direct response
to the community he is called to serve. The
author goes on to demonstrate his reasons
why a church leader’s primary role is not to be
a guardian of existing church traditions, but
to be an explorer and that just adding creative
outreach projects onto a largely unchanged
church achieves nothing. This is an enjoyable
read and certainly provides food for thought
as it’s definitely a challenge to a lot of current
thinking about ministry. Personally I love
the idea of creativity in worship and being
individual and if you do also then this book is a
delight and well worth a read.
LOUISE FORSHAW
No Oil in the Lamp
Andy Mellen &
Neil Hollow
DLT, £12.99, pbk
9780232529449
Do you remember the
foolish virgins who failed
to fuel their lamps and ruined their future
(Mt 25:12)? Jesus’ parable is now creeping up
on us as fact, not parable. Our way of life is
uncomfortably dependent on fossil oil – which
is finite in quantity. The Government knows
this, and is working on replacements, renewable
energy, fracking, nuclear, carbon-recapture
technology, but we are loathe to give up our
cars, our holiday flights, our warm houses.
We are vaguely aware of all this, but dampen
our consciences – and ignore the problems
in store for our children. The authors of this
book are both committed Christians, and spell
out the options and difficulties facing us in
obtaining and responsibly using energy. They
give examples of the problems and possibilities
35
REVIEWS
of these in home and church, setting out the
challenges to ourselves and the possibilities of
witness to others, both at home and overseas.
It is a messy book. There are many loose ends,
perhaps inevitably, but it is an important read
for all of us, both as Christians and as citizens.
SAM BERRY
For Everyone Bible
Study Guides:
Revelation
Tom Wright
SPCK, £4.99, pbk
9780281068654
In this book there are twentytwo chapters of Bible studies on Revelation, a
chapter of guidelines for group leaders and an
introductory chapter of suggestions. For group
study, every individual should have a copy
of this book and the leader should also have
the author’s companion volume from the For
Everyone series. Each study chapter starts with
an ‘Open Question’ before detailed questions
based on the Bible passage. Group participants
are supposed to prepare in advance and also
come without pre-conceived ideas to this ‘Open
Question’ before reading the set Bible passage.
This book gives the impression of having
been written for the sake of completeness (it
is the final volume in the series) rather than
by considering why a group would study
Revelation and thinking about their situation
and needs.
SALLIE BASSHAM
Living the Gospel
Stories Today
John Pritchard
SPCK, £8.99, pbk
Twelve Months of
Sundays, Years A,
B and C; Biblical
meditations on the
Christian year
Tom Wright
SPCK, £16.99, pbk
9780281065813
9780281068524
Following a helpful
introduction about the
power of story, 18 gospel stories are re-imagined
in a contemporary setting, with lessons drawn
out for the reader and hearer. Each of the short
chapters ends with a few questions for personal
or group reflection, further group activities,
and suggestions for prayer. This book is a feast
of stories, for within each chapter are other
stories, many of which were new to me. At first
I felt disappointed; these are not stories such as
Trevor Dennis writes, but by the end I had been
both moved and challenged. This book would
be useful for personal reflection or for use by an
experienced leader with an established group.
It would be a helpful preparation for preaching,
or a chapter could even be read at evensong
in the sermon slot. This may well have been
their original purpose, for the stories assume
familiarity with the biblical story and need to
be heard in the context of the original text.
MARGARET BAXTER
This is a type of book which I much enjoy. It
collects together a series of meditations by
the former Bishop of Durham on the three
annual cycles of biblical readings for the
revised Common Lectionary which were earlier
published week by week in the Church Times.
The preacher can find stimulus, the serious
student outline Bible studies and there is ever
a temptation to delve further into it. One can
readily get lost in our lectionary with its Saints’
Days and movable feasts, and the Church House
lectionary is to be recommended as a clear
diary. Professor Wright includes the readings
for the various Saints’ Days that occasionally fall
on a Sunday and every possible regular Sunday
including Propers provided after Epiphany
when Easter is late and after Trinity when
Easter is early. There is an index to seasons but
a fuller index would particularly help the more
occasional reader.
JOHN BOTTERILL
An opportunity to reach
people!
Have you ever thought about advertising in The Reader? Now might be the
moment to tell your fellow Readers about:
Your business
The courses you offer
The holiday accommodation you have
Your website
The book you have published…
There are all sorts of reasons why you may like to
contact the 9,999 other people who receive this
magazine once a quarter. Try it now – prices start from
£90 for a 1/8 page. This half page would cost you £250
for one issue but gets cheaper if you book more.
36
To find full details of prices and other information to include placing an insert,
contact [email protected] or write to CRC at the address inside the front cover.
In Memoria m
In Memoriam
The deaths of the following Readers have been notified to us
St Albans
Winchester
Alan Bugden
Michael Honeysett
Audrey Cronbach Heather Levinge
Susan Gibbs
Coventry
Christine (Betty)
Worcester
Birmingham
William Grimes
Milligan Graham Darby
Zelda Hilleard
Ron Morris
Derby
York
Mr E Young Mr J Foxon St Eds & Ips
Jenny Lane
Ian Duncan
Cynthia Mackay
Blackburn
Gloucester
John Halsall
John Millard Salisbury
Jane Gilbert Llandaff
Pat Spurin
George Martin
Pauline Wood
Manchester
Anne Winton
Bill Cavanagh Sheffield
Alan Greaves
Barbara Handley
Chelmsford
Monmouth
Joy Hawthorne Kenneth Moffatt
Joan Clutterbuck
Robin Holmes
Roy Savill
Sodor & Man
William (Bill) Wilford Oxford
George Cannon Mrs A Ainsworth
Chester
Norman Harrison Portsmouth
Len Reeve
May they rest in peace
Chichester
Roderick Trickey
Last Word
Because the Church of England
is the established church in
England, there is a special
relationship with the state, and
prayers are offered regularly for
the Sovereign. Where I worship
we pray week by week for the
Queen that she ‘knowing whose
minister she is’ may govern us
fairly and that we ‘knowing
whose authority she hath’ may
be prepared to obey.
Of course it has its problems.
Are people who live in republics
somehow less under divine
providence? If the divine right
applies to all kings, what is the
position when kings go to war
against one another?
Raising these problems highlights
the way in which monarchy
has changed with the passage
of time. A constitutional crisis
would ensue nowadays if our
This is the outworking of the idea sovereign were to refuse to sign
of the divine right of kings, which legislation that the government
(irrespective of what we may think presented. Queen Anne was
about our present queen or the
the last person to do so, roughly
concept of monarchy generally)
three hundred years ago. So we
has been a common concept in
no longer think of kings in the
Western Christianity for centuries, way that they were regarded in
and a cornerstone of stability in
Jesus’ time. In his day, kings had
our society for much of that time. personal power of life and death
over their subjects, and it is a
kingship with power of this
kind that the biblical writers
knew their readers would
picture when they thought of
the ascended Christ as a king.
That is perhaps a little
discomfiting because in the
21st century we are so used
to being able to ‘argue the
toss’ about almost anything,
making the idea of absolute
standards – even divine ones
– less easy to accept than it
was to our forebears. When
we look to scripture to define
these absolute standards we
find questions of interpretation
can still arise. If we may not kill,
why was Peter told to kill and
eat? If we may not work on the
L a st word
Bath & Wells
Michael Charnick
Dr K R Todd
Sabbath are we wrong to use
electricity that day when others
are working to provide it?
I’ve raised questions in this Last
Word without attempting to
provide solutions. I certainly
believe that we as Readers are
apologists for our faith, and
consequently we need to work
through all these and many
other issues in order to be able
fully to serve our ascended King.
Alan Wakely
Secretary, Central
Readers’ Council
37
National Readers’
Conference
including
AGM
4 - 6 April 201 4
Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre
Swallow House, Timbold Drive, Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes MK7 6BZ
www.kentshillpark.com
Father Nicholas King,
Oxford University:
Roots of Unity
Bishop Robert Paterson:
Servants of the Word
Cost per delegate all inclusive £230
Booking forms available from: www.readers.cofe.anglican.org