There’s a great Bruce Cockburn song (are there any that aren’t great?) that begins with the line:
Knots in my muscles, too much traffic in my mind, traffic in my mind…
That just about sums up the inside of my head, too. While the world goes mad (US brinkmanship regarding debt ceilings, Libyan contortions, Syrian massacres, Zimbabwean injustices, deepening exposure of media corruption, England beating India at cricket…) life carries on as normal for most of us. For me that means huge investment of time in getting to know the people and places within the boundaries of the Diocese of Bradford. It is both encouraging and challenging, but it also raises huge questions about future development.
It also makes it difficult to sleep. Not because I am worried – I am not. Not because there is too much going on – although there might be. It’s simply because my head is full and alive with questions, thoughts, options, imaginings. All good stuff, but, in Cockburn’s words, “too much traffic in my mind”.
Questions like:
- How can the Church best serve the deverse communities of urban, suburban and rural West Yorkshire and the Dales?
- How can clergy best be deployed, supported, resourced and led in leading their churches and parishes?
- What will be the pros and cons of dissolving three dioceses and creating one new one (where the pros so far well outweigh the cons, in my mind)?
- How do we best capture the public imagination with the announcement of the good news of Jesus Christ for all people?
- How do we best allocate our resources in order to enable us to achieve our vision: to enable the church to resemble the Jesus we read about in the Gospels – to be a sign of the presence of God in the messy world?
- Nothing new or radical there, but the actual realities of a new (for me) context raise them in new forms and in different colours and with changing urgencies. So, life is not boring. The questions that look general have to be addressed in the light of the particular, and that is where it gets tough/interesting/challenging/stimulating.
There are other questions, of course:
- When will American politicians learn that their ideological intransigencies make for a dangerous game in a contingent world where most of us wish they would grow up and learn the art of compromise for the common good? Or at least learn a vocabulary that isn’t automatically inspired by the demonising of ‘the other’?
- Why did we ever get involved in Libya and why did we decide to back the rebels before they even have popular legitimacy there? Did we learn nothing from Iraq?
- What legitimacy does the UN (or the ‘international community’) have when Syria just ignores ‘demands’ that they stop killing civilians with heavy weaponry?
- When will African leaders (particularly in SADC) take responsibility for insisting on the rule of law in Zimbabwe where Mugabe increases his snook-cocking at his subjects, uses the police as his personal judiciary and allows the nightmare (and profoundly dim) Nolbert Kunonga to terrorise the Anglican Church there?
- Who cares about cricket? I never did understand it. Roll on the footie season…
Oh dear…
August 2, 2011 at 6:25 pm
‘5.Who cares about cricket? I never did understand it’
Oh dear……
*pitying look*.
August 2, 2011 at 6:37 pm
No. 5 is a bit controversial for a newly-appointed Yorkshire bishop, isn’t it?
August 2, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear…
August 2, 2011 at 7:37 pm
What’s footie?😉
August 2, 2011 at 11:27 pm
I may get into a bit of trouble here….it won’t be the first time and it will certainly not be the last!
I like the gist of most of what you say, although I feel that the answer to question 5 will help answer question the problems you raise in question 2. It is about deploying all our God given resources appropriately that part of the answer is to be found, and how we do that is one of the the key questions.
Whilst really liking Questions 1 and 4, I have to admit, as a, hopefully forward looking and open minded Reader, being a touch disheartened by the somewhat clergycentric emphasis contained in question 3, with the emphasis on clergy alone being responsible for leading churches and Diocese into growth. Do lay leaders equally not need to be effectively deployed within and beyond their parishes, maybe at Deanery level, and equally, resourced, supported etc.
In fact I would be as bold to ask…..deep breath….what role you see lay leaders having both now and in the future, in helping lead churches forward in the future? I acccept that they must always be under the authority of their clergy but should we not be desiring of a generation of confident, able, gifted, anionted lay leaders to assist the clergy in the taks of leadership they have been given by God..
I fully accept and understand that as Diocesan Bishop you have pastoral oversight over the clergy in the Bradford Diocese, and the skilful and appropriate deployment of the clergy is crucial to success and effectiveness in ministry and mission, but I feel it is only part, albeit a crucial part of the overall solution.
Or maybe it’s just that I come from a Diocese where Shared Ministry collaborative leadership teams are very much a reality, although I still think there is work to be done and questions needing answering to ensure that such collaborative leadership teams function properly on the ground.
Don’t get me wrong, I do believe there is a unique leadership calling, which clergy have from God, which is tied up with their priestly role but surely it must be wider than that also. And that should include identifying the giftings of suitable lay leaders to share the task with them.
And no…I don’t mean that as soon as such potential is spotted and developed we must either “Reader” them or “ordain” them in order to authenticate their calling/ministry. That approach drives me bonkers…Don’t get me wrong, proper licensing and authorisation is of course essential, but I get really cheesed off when Readership is seen primarily as a stepping stone to ordination (for some it may be, for others not) and also when I hear Readers talking and acting as if Reader ministry is the only “proper” authentic lay ministry there is, when our role should be partly to assist the clergy we serve under in identifying and relasing the giftings of all the lay people in our congregations.
I actually believe, sadly, that there are a fair few unfulfilled lay people in many of our congregations, whose giftings, ministries and calling should have been discerned and released a long time ago by clergy and others, providing of course that these same lay people are willing and able to co-operate and share in the vision of an equipped,empowered, enabled and released laity that their clergy and other leaders may hold. This may well explain why mission has been hindered in certain ways from being as effective, dynamic and relevant as it could have been.
As an economist by background…well at least that’s what my degree was in anyhow..the concept of the allocation of scarce resources was drummed into me in the first week of A level.. I think the key for the any diocese, and parish for that matter, lies in leaders at all levels, allocating resources creatively, imaginatively, collaboratively, fluidly, flexibly and appropriately amongst other things, whether those resources be human or otherwise.
I do think sometimes even the more forward looking and thinking Dioceses say that we believe in collaborative ministry and leadership, but the reality on the ground can sometimes be quite different and does not always live up to the hyperbole etc. Sometimes it feels like we are playing at every member ministry, but never really getting to grips with it seriously.
Thee potential for growth that could be unleashed could be truly considerable if we did.
I will now retire and put on a protective hard hat in anticipation of a spirited and passionate response lol.
PS -Nick (and others) if you respond and I do not reply by the way, I am off on Wednesday morning to join the rest of a group from our church at the North and East New Wine Summer Conference in Newark…which is fairly unique in that it has a stream specifically looking at the challenges facing inner city/UPA churches/parishes. It was really, really good last year.
I am hoping to catch a seminar being led by your esteemed colleague Paul Butler, Bishop of Southwell and Nottinghanm in whose patch Newark lies, who raised a few eyebrows at the recent General Synod with his hard hitting speech/report trying to imagine what the Cof E will look like in 20 years time if we don’t seriouslty get our act together…which probably is the sort of thinking contributing to the questions you raised here Nick re church life etc.
August 2, 2011 at 11:30 pm
Sorry everyone…
The somewhat clergycentric emphasis referred to Q2 and not Q3 as stated above..
Apologies for any confusion caused.
August 3, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Gadaffi learned something from the second Iraq War and decided to co-operate with the west and among other things dismantle the remains of his WMD programme.
Unlikely any future dictators looking to judge whether to co-operate or pursue a WMD policy will take the Gadaffi option.
August 3, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Phil Green, consideration of clergy doesn’t imply that only they matter. However, their recruitment, support and nurture is a particular responsibility of the bishop and needs dedicated attention. For example, a Reader (or other licensed minister) might have a job outside the church, live in their own home, have a circle of friends nurtured over years in their locality; stipendiary clergy ‘live’ a very different life, with unique demands (and privileges) and responsibilities. To give consideration to one is not to deny the other, but to take that uniqueness seriously. Parishes do not thrive on poor or disillusioned clergy leadership.
Have a good time at NW.
August 3, 2011 at 6:55 pm
As I read through, I realized that suggesting you lie down in a darkened room wasn’t going to cut it!
Choosing just one issue, I commend EF Schumacher’s approach that every problem be solved at the lowest “appropriate” level. The emphasis is important. Some decisions must be strategic, but if in doubt, always prefer that where those most directly involved are closely involved in framing the decisions; they often have practical expertise, and are most closely invested in the outcome. That said, they need to be inspired to embrace change, which is where your leadership/ communication skills will come to the fore – not as dictator but as facilitator.
August 4, 2011 at 1:39 pm
‘readership is seen primarily as stepping stone for ordination’
I never hear this perspective from anyone except readers and then always in a negative context.
And as for being deployed, supported, resourced and led; none of that matters half as much as knowing that a diocesan bishop and his staff understand your situation and care that you’re there. Once you have that, the rest usually falls into place …
August 7, 2011 at 9:17 am
Nick
Thanks for your response.
Just arrived back from NW yesterday so blogging will now resume…my wife has quite enjoyed my four day blog sabbath….but hey…all good things have to come to an end!
The supreme highlight of the week for me, somewhat surprisingly, not jst the morning/evening sessions but the two early morning sessions at 7.15am (no…I am normally not that holy!) which truly did Yorkshire proud as the worship was wonderfully and sensitively led by James Sharratt from St Andrews Starbeck in Harrogate and there was some stunning mind/ pen exploding teaching from Joanna Pearson, Associate Rector at St George’s Leeds….I know…it’s not Bradford Diocese but it’s near enough and could be part of your new Episcopal set up in the future…whatever that might be…
And, through their initiation…not mine…I ended up having quite a long chat with Vaughn and Karen Pollard, who will be moving to Clayton shortly where Vaughan will be vicar there. I didn’t spend long with them, but enough to sense that the they will continue to build on what has already been achieved at Clayton which sounds exciting.
Hopefully the more discerning may have noticed the names of two clergy in the last paragraph who I have been deeply impressed with over the last few days. I am sorry if my comment may have seemed a bit strong…it certainly was not meant to be an anti-clerical rant. Some of my best friends and thos who have inspired me most during my life are ordained, and not just in the C of E.
Nick I fully support your view that recruitment support and nurture of clergy is essential and that you really want to ensure that in order to being the best out of them they feel supporterd and cared for in what can be a very difficult job, especially if they may be trying to lead through change etc I also thought your following paragraph was almost inspired.
Our new Vicar, who was with us for almost 3 years as an Associate Minister before being appointed and licensed as Priest-In-Charge in June this year, is single and added to that, she came to us from a Diocese some considerable distance away. One of our concerns has been that she makes, and is given time and space to foster, good friendships locally (with people who, by necessity may well not be church members) to try and ensure that she does not get too isolated – that is not meant to sound patronising, she is more than capable of looking after herself – just concerned that is all.
I fully take your point re the benefits of lay people, job etc however there is a flip side to that coin I feel. I fully understand, and fully accept the stresses that clergy are under…and I have seen quite a number of books on this subject..and have been parrty to a number of discussions with clergy friends who are feeling the strain and have tried to be as supportive as I can….especially with regard to a clergy friend of mine in being a “lisetening ear” when he really needs to let off steam and get a few things off his chest in a safe environment etc.
However, I have yet to see even one book (correct me if I am wrong) on the stresses faced by those who work in a responsible job, have a family, a mortgage to pay,.and also have church committments, often in some form of leadership capcity or otherwise to fulfil also..especially in these days of recession and a possible “double dip” effect which appears as though it may just be around the corner.
The work/life/church balance of those who are led as well as those who lead is crucial…the statistics on burn out/people leaving the church, both at clergy and lay level are disturbing. If there is a book on stress amongst the laity please point me to it, but it is one that is waiting to be written I feel.
Your approach does sounds great though. My hope is that a confident, content and cared for clergy, leading an equally confident, content and suitablly equipped laity could pay huge dividiends in terms of mission and ministry….but it will also require a lot of hard work.,
Linked to this is that my response may have been a bit strong owing to the fact that I have been also engaging/blogging with some Anglican opponents of the admission of Women to the Episcopate, as I truly believe we need supporters and opponents need to engage with each other and try to understand each other’s position if we are to move forward.
The more I engage however, the more frustrated I become, especially as I think I am now very much deemed as a liberal evangelical no-hoper in the eyes of some. My previous post followed shortly afterwards so I do apologise if it came across somewhat strongly. Hopefully the break has done me good.
Jonathan – I hear what you are saying re my “stepping stone” statement …It is just the comments of others which can be somewhat unhelpful in this area.
Personally speaking I have staved/fought off more times than I care to remember the “when are you going to be ordined”, “have you thought about being ordained” questions – the answer is usually “I don’t know if I will” to the first and “yes” to the second…Sometimes it comes in the form of definitive statement – “You should be ordained” which don’t get me wrong is well meant, but just irks a bit because the implication appears to be – lay people should not have really possess able giftings and ministries…that is the preserve of the ordained….which I think is sad if it does exist.
Some may accsue me of fighting off God’s call but I can honestly say that the call has never been strong enough for me to pursue it wholeheartedly. That is not to say it may not happen…all I am pleading for at times is “please allow me to be me and not who you think I should be” …Allow me fulfil my lay calling without being made to feel that somehow that is insufficient as a calling until it is authenticated by ordination.
I guess the “allow me to be me” plea is one which clergy silently scream also on many occasions!
I think there is a real problem to be discussed where clergy sometimes may feel threatened if some lay members appear to have effective ministries (which should onlly be expected, and indeed encouraged, given that many lay church members hold very responsible positions of management and leadership in their working lives). Similarly, Readers also feel threatened by the emergence of other equally valid and effective lay ministries rather than encouraging people to grow and develop those ministries under the direction of the church leadership.
I guess it is how such ministries are carried out (attitude etc) which is key/crucial but often we are afraid to talk about these things honestly.
I do passionately and unapologetically believe that lay people in our congregations need to have strong role models for lay ministry..which is far wider than just Readership. . It always needs to be under the authority of odrained leadership, who, as Nick has implied, in order to effectively support others under their care need to be equipped, resourced and supported effectively by their leaders.
I hope I have phrased my response this time in a manner which is a touch less angsty..
August 8, 2011 at 11:43 am
If cricket is not your thing, as a Bishop in Yorkshire perhaps you should try Rugby League