Inky Fingers
Inky Fingers
So, now we have a new hand on the tiller of our Diocese. In a month or so after his installation, our new leader Bishop Tim has toured the length and breadth of his charge. He has met not only the “movers and shakers” but the other people too who also comprise our congregations and who actually keep our churches going, if only by “being there”. This “young man” (and I am not admitting to being an “old fogey”! No way!) comes with an impressive track record. What struck me during his all-day visit to our North Carnmarth Deanery (masterminded by our redoubtable Rural Dean!) was his approachability – his lateness at lunch was due to his many conversations at the church after the service! And he went on to have others bending his ear, all of which he truly handled with both relaxed charm and engagement.
Three things stand out for me from this introduction. In his pastoral visit here to Camborne he observed that now, as in the Gospels, people “want to meet Jesus” and that we should encourage this and not turn them away. Also, at Illogan he remarked that the world noticed how Christians conduct themselves. This is not idle curiosity, I really do believe, but a longing for reassurance that their lives matter – that there is sense and justice in it all. The third thing? Well, have another look at our cover photo of Bishop Tim from the West Briton Newspaper, taken outside the Cathedral after the rehearsal for his installation; particularly note, if you will, the final sentence, spoken by the youngsters – “no-one from the church has ever spoken to us before.” Whether or not you actually doubt that is by-the-by – it is the perception that matters.
What is this about? It seems to me that it is about real INCLUSION – and that’s not just non-exclusion. In every church there is undoubtedly a stalwart band who keep things going – without them their church would not work. Likewise, there are others who participate in little beside the regular services; but it is their church too, for whom the church has meaning, and without them as well as the stalwarts the church simply ceases to breathe. “But we wouldn’t exclude anybody here”, I would hope to hear the indignant cry. Really? It’s not always that obvious though. For example, I can think of someone, now deceased, who would have been delighted to participate in our annual service of Nine Lessons and Carols – but was never asked, all sewn up by the “usuals”. OK, so they could have enquired, though that may not have seemed “fitty”, but what would have happened then to such temerity? This isn’t just about standards or reliability or even honesty – would any actual effort be taken to identify, and help, any others who might, or could be encouraged, to participate in that or any other activity? My life changed when the church came to my family when I was a child – I therefore wonder how many others are out there waiting for a “call” to them; do we listen for any “call” from them? Not so easy now, is it? But the last thing we want is to give the impression of a cosy club – the church is the people in it, all of them, and be that a tent, a shed, long-serving local parish church or chapel or awe-inspiring cathedral.
And who is in it? We come together to worship and praise joyfully, to pray and reflect thoughtfully – and these are acts of witness in themselves. Everyone knows where we are in the main street of our town – and all are welcome to come in and join us: that is where our Welcome Teams are so important, and they have to be followed up and cherished, new and long-standing alike. Elsewhere in this issue Rev.Mike outlines the changes that have taken place or are planned in our church life here. Not the least of these is the variety of outreach that has been developing for some time now – this really does inspire and encourage me. But there are still a lot of people out there who have not been touched – yet! Indifferent now, sceptical or curiously hopeful, I do believe, as Bishop Tim indicates, that the world is watching and waiting, as it has been for a very long time. Is the hope any different now? In His own synagogue Jesus read out the prophecy of Isaiah of the liberation and healing He would bring (Luke 4:17 to 19): it seems to me that ANYONE with a God-shaped hole in them needs a spiritual paramedic! I hope that scares and excites you too!
Ed: Sorry – I could’t resist it! Nobody in particular intended – honest!