Future Spiritual Leaders

Ray Anglesea reflects on leadership in the Church and beyond

Americans will go to the polls on Thursday November 6, 2012 to elect a new president. Incumbent President Barack Obama is running for a second and final term, his challenger is former Massachusetts Governor, Republican Mitt Romney. A week later on Thursday 15th November the British public in England and Wales will go to the polls in new elections to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner, a new role that will replace the local police authority.

At the URC General Assembly 2012 held in Scarborough the Revd David Grosch-Miller was elected ministerial moderator of General Assembly for 2014-16. Mr John Ellis was announced as lay moderator for 2013-16. At the Methodist Conference Revd Ruth Gee, chair of the Darlington Methodist District was elected conference president designate. The post of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth will also be going begging following the retirement of Lord Sachs in September 2013. In November 2012 the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church will enthrone the leader of the Coptic Church of Alexandria, known as Pope Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa.

As I write the body responsible for choosing the next Archbishop of Canterbury has failed to agree who should be the successor to Dr Rowan Williams. Despite a three day session, aided by prayers invoked on Twitter, the 16-member committee has been unable to decide on who should take on the job that the present incumbent today implied was “impossible.” One wag writing in The Times suggested a Trinitarian arrangement; another suggested drawing a name out of a mitre!

Is political and religious leadership possible anymore? What do we expect from our political and church leaders? During the last 40 years there has been an explosion of leadership programmes, courses and studies, from the town planning world where I spent my professional life to the Wesley Study Centre, Durham now offering a postgraduate pathway through a missional leadership course for synod moderators, archdeacons and circuit superintendents and others who are leading complex Christian organisations. And there is more. Leadership has begun to enter into the very definition of what universities see themselves as doing; providing leaders. Alas all this is happening at a time when respect for leaders has fallen to an all time low. Sharp declines in confidence in leadership can be traced sector by sector, in politics, business, finance, the media, sport, education and faith-based organisations.

Barbara Kellerman in her recent book “The End of Leadership” suggests three possible causes for this trend. First is the long historic march towards ever greater democracy. Second is the collapse of traditional authority structures within the family that took place in the 1960’s. Third, the impact of the instantaneous global communications and social networking that has led to the Arab Spring, The Occupy Wall Street movement and other assaults on the citadels of power. In the hyper-democracy of cyberspace everyone has a voice, all the time.

A few months ago I officiated at a funeral service of a former midwife. I took as my theme the midwife’s tale from the book of Exodus, the story of the Hebrew midwives, who fearing God saved many a male baby, one of whom was Moses, arguably one of the most outstanding leaders in the bible. As a self supporting minister I like to think that God used Moses’ secular experience in preparation for his ministry. At the start of his leadership, miracle upon miracle occurs (recorded in the books of Exodus and Numbers). Moses leads the Israelites to freedom. All along the way there are signs and wonders - the division of the Red Sea, manna from heaven, and water from the rock. Whatever the people need, heaven sends. Which political leader today wouldn’t relish the wonder working powers of Moses - budget deficit, unpopular cuts, a new oil field, a £10bn cut in welfare benefits?

Alas as we move through the story of Moses fascinating and unpredictable as it is, miracles don’t solve the problem of Moses’ society, they don’t help, the people don’t change, and they remain quarrelsome, ungrateful, ready to despair at the slightest setback, unfit for the responsibilities of freedom. So what do we find this great leader of Israel doing as we move out of the books of Exodus and Numbers to Deuteronomy? He starts to teach. He gives them 3 speeches on the eve of the occupation of the Promised Land; a speech that would spell out a radical new form of leadership. Moses stops performing wonders; he becomes a teacher. He talks of a future society of justice, compassion, social responsibility, and love of neighbour, care of the poor, the lonely and disenfranchised. Throughout the Old Testament God chooses individuals, not for themselves but in order to choose a people.

Some of the great leaders have been teachers – Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Mandela. They spent inordinate amounts of time reading, thinking, learning, and writing. Then they taught. They told stories so that people would understand the long journey ahead and the sacrifices they might have to make along the way. They new that the only way to negotiate change successfully was to educate their people. They taught and they were tireless. Jesus in true rabbinic style sat down and taught his people. He empowered them, and he trusted them. In the centre of the East Rose window in Durham Cathedral Jesus is seated, like a Jewish rabbi, enthroned in glory, the window overlooks the tomb of St Cuthbert of whom Bede states ‘like a good teacher he (Cuthbert) taught others to do only what he first practised himself. Bede also tells us that ‘Cuthbert was so skilful a speaker, and had such a light in his angelic face, and such a love for proclaiming his message… that all confessed their sins to him’.

When our political leaders tried religion, they got it badly wrong. Gordon Brown, a son of the manse, was roundly condemned when he quoted the Bible against his opponents. Douglas Alexander, Brown’s protégé, sounded ridiculous when he claimed that the Church’s mission was to “afflict the comfortable”, as if he had discovered a Dead Sea Scroll relating to class war. Last week, at the Labour Party Conference Ed Miliband not a man for synagogues or churches, said, he is emphatically a man of faith. “Not a religious faith,” he said, “but a faith none the less. He listed (after Moses) the tenets: a duty to leave the world a better place; a desire to tackle injustice; a belief in the power of collective action. When Mr Cameron argued that Britain was a Christian country, he observed we have a rich Christian heritage, some of the world’s greatest churches, the best hymns and a Queen who is head of both Church and state. Alas all we’re missing, however, is the congregation!

We will look to our new spiritual leaders to educate certainly and to draw us out of the sludge of self-preoccupation. They cannot make people believe, but they must have a voice of intellectual confidence to be credible enough for people to take what they say seriously.



Ray Anglesea is a self supporting minister working in St Andrew’s Dawson Street LEP, Crook and in the wider West Durham Methodist Circuit

Is God Disabled?

As I write this article British Paralympians at the London 2012 Paralympic Games have won 11 gold medals in a weekend of superhuman effort in cycling, equestrian, rowing, athletics and swimming. Their medal tally can only increase.  One paralympian, however, stands head and shoulders above the rest. Oscar Pistorius. Despite his emotional outburst after the T44 200 metres final, he has, as the first disabled athlete to feature in the Olympic Games, changed the idea of disability forever. As a result of his bravery and inspiration and that of his many Olympic colleagues it is hoped that the main legacy of the 2012 paralympics might see a fundamental change in the way Britain and much of the world looks at disability. It is hard to believe that 30 years ago the Kremlin refused to stage the Paralympics after the Moscow Games in 1980, and that NBC has refused to beam the Games live to America this year.  But the stadium scene was set for Pistorius and other paralympians by the radical, stunning and sparkling opening ceremony which celebrated human endeavour, the sublime to the ridiculous of British music, dancing, quotations from The Tempest, apples, umbrellas, and a big bang - the ceremony choreographed by distinguished disabled artistic directors. It was a spectacular debut to show the world that anything is possible; it was without doubt an extravaganza that celebrated the spirit and possibilities within us all.

But if the Paralympics re-opened new thoughts and fresh thinking about how we view and react to disability I wonder if the games might offer new options for thinking afresh about how God views the disability, and how conversely the disabled think about God. On a practical level following the Disability Discrimination Act passed in 1995 churches and their communities have started to embrace the cause of disability and have invested a great deal of energy in struggles against attitude and architectural barriers, although in my own church the elevated pulpit and platform of church communion furniture including the baptismal font still makes access difficult for disabled ministers, preachers and leaders of worship. I vividly remember holding my grandson over a baptismal font in a church in the York diocese whilst my Anglican colleague baptised him (because of her disability she could not hold a child); I too remember the distress felt by a minister in a wheelchair who could not access the stage at a URC General Assembly at Warwick University when newly ordained ministers were presented to the Assembly Moderator on the assembly platform.  

Sadly these instances reflect a church that has often been unhelpful, and even harmful, as it has tried to relate to people with disabilities. When disabilities have been considered at all they have historically at least been looked at as symbols of sin (to be avoided), images of saintliness (to be admired), signs of God’s limited power or capriciousness (to be pondered) or suffering personified (to be pitied) – very rarely were people with disabilities considered first as people, as the 2012 Paralympics has wonderfully testified. Fortunately the last twenty years have seen significant changes as a variety of factors have converged to give churches the nudge to take seriously the presence of people with disabilities particularly with regard to access, and to remove the stereotypes.

During my ministerial training I spent a summer at Earls House Hospital, Durham, a hospital for people (and children) with severe learning disabilities.  At the same time I and other friends helped put to bed on a daily basis a severely disabled young adult, recently married, to a disabled partner. It was a responsibility that was to last over 10 years. During this time I began to wonder whether God was disabled, are disabled people made in the image of a disabled God I thought? One of my favourite baptismal hymns is Bernadette Farrell’s lovely arrangement of Psalm 139 “O God you search me and you know me” but often I have to stop and think about the verse which reads, “For you created me and shaped me, gave me life within my mother’s womb.” What God could create such children as I met at Earls House Hospital, how could they know that God loved them and understood their needs and experiences? If God is “biased to the poor,” the title of the late Bishop David Sheppard’s book could he also be biased towards the disabled?

The penny dropped a few weeks later when a dear friend offered me her insight and experience of coping with and understanding disability from a Christian point of view. She explained that in the resurrection narratives seldom is the resurrected Christ recognised as a God whose hands, feet and side bear the marks of profound physical impairment. In our joy at Easter we tend to overlook these mutilations. His scars (“with what rapture gaze we on the glorious scars” as Charles Wesley’s hymn has it) were not removed from Christ’s resurrected body on that first Easter morning. They were there, shown to the disciples, touched by Thomas and presumably taken up with Christ into all eternity. The events that took place on the Friday before might also suggest that God was not in an able-bodied form as he was nailed to a cross, his broken, torn, disfigured body pinned down. Could this image of a disabled God both in his crucified and resurrected body be a helpful and comforting image for disabled people I wonder? He is so much like me, like us.  But when we come to think about it do we, as able-bodied people have an able-bodied God as our primal image. Surely God’s promised grace comes to us through a broken body, a crucified body which is at the centre of our mission, prayer and practise. If this God whom we worship could be imagined as disabled as well as divine do we need to re-think our symbols, metaphors, rituals and doctrines so as to make them accessible to people with disabilities?

There are many Christian writers who reflect on such a subject, one of my favourites is Nancy Eiesland[1]. She argues strongly that disability is not in any way a consequence of sin. She sees the scars of Jesus as verifying this claim: Jesus did not sin yet became disabled. The invitation to touch Jesus’ hands and side show that the taboos against disability are to be rejected and that shallow expressions of sympathy and pity are inappropriate. The disabled God provides an impetus for transformation and liberation in the lives of people with disabilities as the London 2012 Paralympians have shown,  just as the resurrection of Jesus provides an impetus for liberation and transformation in the world. The stories of the crucifixion and resurrection also lead Eiesland to reject the notion that God has absolute power; she argues instead that God is in solidarity with people with disabilities and others who are oppressed. This is a God who has experienced and understands pain and rejection.

As we approach the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Paralymic Games perhaps these thoughts and the image of a disabled God might give us fresh thinking as we applaud the success of our golden, heroic Paralympic athletes.

Ray Anglesea is a self supporting minister working in St Andrew’s Dawson Street LEP, Crook and in the wider West Durham Methodist Circuit

 

 

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[1] Dr Nancy L Eiesland is Associate Professor of Sociology of Religion at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, and Atlanta. Disabled herself she is the author of the critically acclaimed book the Disabled God: Toward a Liberation Theology of Disability (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994). She lectures on disabilities worldwide.

Synod Pilgrimage

Sunday August 5

Trees and rivers have been in our minds right from the beginning of the Pilgrimage on Friday - but never more so that during this final day.

flooded roads

For most of us staying in the Bunkhouse, the day began with the keenly anticipated "megabreakfast" - then it was the usual chores of stripping beds and packing luggage before vacating the premises. Regular worshippers at Rothbury URC may have been surprised to see piles of bags and backpacks in the corner of the church, but they were too polite to say anything. And, as the church secretary explained to the congregation, they were all in for a rare treat in having two ministers, the Moderator and David Herbert, to lead the morning service together.

Trees featured prominently, with reflections on the trees of Mamre in the Abraham story and on the Galatians reference to the one who died upon the tree, and then an introduction to preaching trees in the American black tradition as well as in our own dissenting history.

The Usway Valley

And then it was time to go and see the trees for ourselves. We joined up with the bus at the carpark, which quickly retraced yesterday's journey. However, there was drama in store: the rain that we missed yesterday in the upper valley must finally have fallen overnight, and before we reached the bridge at Sharperton we discovered the road flooded and several vehicles blocking any further progress. Thankfully our driver was well acquainted with the area - and after a judicious bit of backing to let other nervous travellers out of the way, we were back on the road, parting the waters, and before too long found ourselve back at Shillmoor.

First sight of the Trees across the valley

The afternoon  ahead of us consisted of the most glorious walking - much of the time in pleasant sunshine, and following the course of the now rapidly flowing Usway Burn along the narrow valley, past sheep stells and the very occasional former farm (now remote holiday cottages) and finally skirting the edge of the Kidland Forest. Then it was a steep climb over the ridge and back down into the Coquet Valley proper, soon to get a glimpse across the valley of our final destination - The Preaching Trees, just above Barrow Burn at Windyhaugh.

It has to be said that the glory of Barrow Burn farm is its tea room - though to a point that is a statement of faith, as the tea room proved too small to contain twenty of so walkers, so we were happily confined to the tables outside while tea and cake were brought out  (Thanks again, John!). A few other intrepid travellers, mainly from Rothbury URC, joined us at this point, and together we made our way on the last few hundred yards of the pilgrimage up the slope to the two trees - or rather, now three trees.

Our synod website already tells the story of the planting of the third tree earlier this year: the goal of our Pilgrimage was to be the dedication of this new growth to mark the next stage of the Story of Dissent that began 350 years ago. Even if the records are sparse, it is more than credible that our forebears really did gather in this remote spot, in order to hear the Word and praise God together with a measure of security in what had become a very unsafe world for them.

For us today, the main threat came from the weather - the thunder was rumbling further up the valley as we enjoyed our tea, and by the time we reached the trees rain was beginning to fall. But it was not sufficient to dampen our enthusiasm. We sang heartily, listened to more scripture and reflection on trees and rivers, and rejoiced as John Cox, who had planted the tree earlier in the year and cared for it and watered it over its first months (since when it has grown at least a foot) unveiled the plaque marking its significance. And as if the rain was not doing enough, we were all invited to help water the tree, each taking the opportunity to remember in prayer those whom we would long to see blessed by an outpouring of God's Holy Spirit.

And if there was time (and surely there always is) for an extra prayer, it would have to be of thankfulness for all those who organised this year's Pilgrimage, and for success as they meet together to organise next year's. They've already promised that there will be a next year's - so just watch this space!

Synod Pilgrimage

Saturday August 4 – 10,00 pm

It was a quick getaway from Rothbury as soon as we had eaten – three or four carfuls of us made for the car park high above the town on the edge of Simonside.

From there, and despite the generous portions served at the Newcastle Hotel, we somehow managed to struggle up the hill for a mile and a half, reaching the turning to the Little Church Rock just as the setting sun shone directly through the pine trees. I heard one of our number give an audible “Wow” as they turned the corner and the Rock came into view – towering above the clearing.

We scrambled up the slope and assembled alongside the top of the rock – a wonderfully atmospheric spot, though unfortunately one that the midges had found before us.  But Dave struggled bravely on leading our act of worship: as we sang appropriately, “but the steep and rugged pathway may we tread  rejoicingly”. The service in the presence of midges was demanding  - but, as in every case today, moving too.

And so far as the site was concerned, it was only as we made our way cautiously back down the slope that some of us discovered the real romantic element of it all – the natural pulpit set in the side of the rock which one of our group tried out with a splendid rendition of a Shakespeare sonnet,  literally reverberating across the valley. However, whether there is any true link here with secret worship and illegal post 1662 conventicles is doubtful – though there is the possibility that a covenanter on the run from Scottish forces of law and order later found refuge somewhere in these hills.

But then, as our resident historian told us, probably the more common and profitable illegal activity taking place over the centuries existed in the many stills that managed to remain well hidden from the customs men.

For all the excitements that Rothbury may offer its weekend visitors, we were happy to get back to the Bunkhouse just before dark, and spend a quiet evening  catching up with Olympics news and enjoying coffee and cake to make up for the puddings  we missed earlier on.

Synod Pilgrimage

Saturday August 4

Here we are back in Rothbury, just gone 4.00 pm – but, the day’s not ended!

At Ladys Well

So far, it’s been another magnificent day’s walking, from the moment the bus put us down back at the end of yesterday’s walk at Holystone. Our first reflective moment was at St Mungo’s Well, just beyond the church, but then we retraced our steps and walked down to Lady’s Well where Rowena led us in a thoughtful act of worship as we gathered round this very atmospheric pool. Have we ever heard Hagar’s story told in church? Here this powerful narrative really resonated.

The walking through the forest that followed was surprisingly hard going, and I think took longer than planned. Then Linda, nearly as welcome as the angel at the well, met us as we came to the road, and carried weary walkers’ burdens in the back of her car for the next leg of the journey, on to Harbottle.

More reflective moments in the car park below the ruined castle, and a time to eat lunch, before we were off again to Alwinton. There Dave took us on a detour to the old lime kilns, before we met up with the vicar in her magnificent church – wishing us well on the next and most challenging section of the walk so far.

Following the dead end road that leads into the hills we then took a footpath leading us still higher. The magnificent open views were accompanied throughout this section by the rumble of thunder over to the west, where dark clouds hovered while back down the valley behind us the afternoon sun continued to shine. Then we moved over a ridge and had a splendid view back down into the valley, where below us were all the signs of a deserted village – abandoned so Dave told us from at least the 16^th century.

The deserted village

From there it was downhill all the way. We saw the bus speeding up the tarred road below us, and 15 or 20 minutes later we were back in the valley, on board, and soon speeding back to Rothbury. An early meal has been booked at the Newcastle Hotel for 5.30. Yes, we’ll be ready for it – but the worry is, will we be ready for the next stage of the pilgrimage planned later this evening?

Synod Pilgrimage

Friday August 3^rd

It’s synod pilgrimage time again, and true to past form Henry is up the front, leading the way. Little has changed: he’s organised a first day walk that ends up with a long slog through an unkempt meadow, whose distant boundary seems no nearer. We want to be shouting out from the back, “Are we nearly there yet?” And then suddenly there’s footbridge across the river, and in midstream is a flock of sheep being drive a cross by a quad-biking shepherd complete with dog and two pups, and we know that we are connecting with civilization again even before we see the pick-up coach nudging down the line.

At the first bridge

This is Coquetdale – and it’s been a magnificent start to this year’s Synod Pilgrimage, which is marking the beginnings of Non-conformity as we seek out places associated with underground dissent in those dark years that followed the Great Ejectment of 1662. We began the day at Rothbury, where we were warmly welcomed by church members, some of who are walking with us – how blessed they are to have countryside like this around them every day! We’ve made our way slowly up the valley over the course of the afternoon, stopping several time for our traditional “Mary Lowe” moments, given this year by Dave Herbert, who shows a rare gift in drawing a spiritual insight equally from ancient peel tower or modern gravel pit. The man should be on Thought for the Day!

A surprise dimension

As ever we’re a pretty mixed bunch: most have URC connections, but this first day has been spent in a variety of conversations as the twenty or so walkers have changed places and mostly got to know one another over the course of the afternoon. Back at Rothbury we began by sitting in a circle and telling one another something about a favourite tree or river (Rowena explained that both are going to feature prominently over these three days) – and since then we’ve been putting some of that into context as we’ve walked along, and in some cases have been renewing friendships made on earlier pilgrimages.

Today Meg and Rosa have been with us. Probably Mozambicans walk far more than most of us do, but the concept of walking for fun is clearly strange to Rosa – though no stranger than much else that she has been discovering over these past ten days. However, for the first time since she landed in the UK she has found someone who is willing to try out their tourist Portuguese on her – and that is sufficient to encourage her over the challenging uphill stretches.

We finish the day – well, we finish the afternoon – at the Church of St Mary the Virgin at Holystone. The world church dimension is there again as Dave leads us in singing Dr Kao’s hymn “O Lord, you are the life of the world”; and the Spirit is invoked as we pass the bowl of (? holy) water around and make the sign of the dove on one another’s foreheads. Yes, there’s a sense that God has been with us through the start of our pilgrimage – and there are hopes of good things to come later today, as we make transport arrangements to get us this evening to Thropton, and the evening meal that’s already been ordered at the Three Wheat Heads.

Sunday in Maputo

Sunday in Maputo: Our first service, the IPM English service, started at 7am at Khovo in easy walkable distance from our hotel. It was held in the Khovo church hall as a Portuguese service was taking place in the church at the same time. The congregation doubled to 35-40 after the beginning of the service. The leaders try to lead worship in the style of IPM but in English. Therefore there was much singing between opening prayers and the praise and thanksgiving part of the service. Rowena preached and Danny brought greetings.

We also gave greetings from John Durell who when he was over last year established this service. These they were very pleased to receive as they have a lot of respect for John’s contribution. Soon they will celebrate their first anniversary. We presented them with prayer cards and some Wee Worship books from Iona that they think will be very useful. We have also sent an electronic version of the URC service book as a resource. We also gave a few English gospels for their use. The leadership of this service is very keen for it to develop and grow.

We joined them for refreshments and then they had a hymn practice to learn a newly composed hymn in English based on the Psalms by their musician. We then went back to the hotel and waited to be picked up – this didn’t happen in true Africa style until 30 mins after the stated time. The drive to Polana Parish was an experience as the Sunday markets of fish seemed to have spread across the dusty roads leading to sellers having to move for the 4x4 to get by. We met with the elders before worship and shared greetings and welcomes. The service proper then began.

There were two singing groups the youth and the choral group of anyone who wanted to be part of a choir. They were excellent. The Parish has won many awards for their singing in festivals and had certificates on the vestry wall to show this. Some were taking part in a televised competition already recorded but being shown this afternoon. (They did not win but then people had to buy the votes and IPM and the choirs supporters are not well off) Many people participated in the worship by leading prayers and a lay preacher gave the sermon looking at the importance of prayer in the challenging context of the church today.

We noted with interest that the pastor only gave the blessing. Our interpreter said that it was important to the church to recognise that all people can share God’s message and so they tried to show that in their worship. We noted that we say the same but perhaps live it less frequently in practice. There was an opportunity for us to bring greetings and we distributed prayer cards although we had not taken enough as there were probably 250+ present. They then welcomed us by dressing us, including Danny, in capalanas. Danny did not escape this time and much laughter and fun was shared in.

At both services IPM leadership and representatives involved in the jubilee issued apologies in the notices. As at the jubilee 2000 more people had attended than had been anticipated. Therefore many did not receive food on the Saturday night. Also after the nation’s president left on the Sunday and the leadership and dignitaries went to have dinner at the same time so that many people left and the programme seemed to be curtailed. There is recognition that having only one kitchen area – open fires and a tent for preparation - was not sufficient and several kitchen stations were needed. There was also a shortage of water due to the greater numbers than expected. It looks like some people who are not members of IPM came along simply for free food. IPM leadership is calling a meeting to review the problems and learn from reflecting on them. It was interesting to note the open communication and sharing of these concerns in both congregations as part of morning worship.

After both services the congregations shook hands with us and especially at the first then joined the end of the queue so that everyone shook hands with everyone. The latter was too large a congregation to do this as we would probably still have been there in the evening. The Paloma service had lasted almost 3 hours and but did not seem too. Driving back it was interested to note some of the markets were closed and people had gone.

After changing we were hosted by Revd Ernesto Langa and his family for Sunday lunch at his home. It was good to meet his whole family. We then had a rest back at the hotel - a much needed snooze. At 4pm Vasco Sitoi a youth worker for a group of 5 parishes in Maputo came and met with us. He has so far only been at English language school for a month. It is amazing how well he managed to converse with us. He is hoping to take up one of the two scholarships granted to IPM for study at a Brazilian theological seminary in order to receive a degree. Northern Synod has agreed to raise £3000 to fund his travel to Brazil for the course and for one trip home during the four years. He is very dedicated and keen and it will be good to support Vasco in this way. We agreed to try and keep in touch by internet so that we can be aware of how he is getting on.

Isabel our driver for this morning’s service at Polana and one of the IPM vice presidents and her son Alfredo were hosting us for dinner at their home with the other vice President of IPM Agripa and his wife. This was a short walk away although we were expecting to be picked up by car so wondered where we were going. The meal was lovely with fish once more. Those present were very interested in what it is like in England and what we thought of Africa and how we felt we could offer support. Jose the General Secretary equivalent and his wife joined us later. It was good food and good conversation. However we were tired and are flying back tomorrow and so by 10pm we were back at the hotel ready to sleep.

The journey home with Rosa was trouble free but tiring and we were pleased to be met by Meg at the airport having landed a few minutes early. It was an amazing, spiritual and social trip and we hope that others also have the opportunity to share in such an experience.

Trip North to Imhambane

 Normal Africa time - we were meant to leave at 8am but it was 9.30am before we did so. We drove nearly 500km to Imhambane in one day. Ernesto the President of IPM visited with us. Double espressos were needed every two hours for Bart our sole driver. The N1 route is the equivalent of our A1 but potholes and driving style are not to be compared nor are they for the nervous.

We stopped in Chicumbane at Bart’s family home which was 4 hours down the road. He commutes for weekends and stays on the synod site mid-week. His wife Cidalia provided lunch. We then called in to Rosa and Americo’s home where Meg Robb stayed last year. Rosa is returning with us to England and it was thought on this day that she needed to travel to Maputo for a yellow fever vaccination. However as Danny and I did not need one to travel here this was checked on and she was saved a journey and a needle. We then had a second lunch provided by Rosa. We have been fed extremely well and will return needing to diet.

Arrived in Imhambane at 7.30pm, this made a 10 hour drive on incredible roads with some stops. We were welcomed at Pastor Marta Mungui’s home sand went to the church to exchange greetings and prayers with a few of the elders and church members. Rowena visited here 2 years ago and with Ernesto the IPM President planted a foundation stone for a project for a new church building and tourist centre overlooking the sea. There has been a change of pastor and no real progress on this due to lack of funds although they still hope to achieve it. It was good to be able to encourage them. They are running an evangelisation programme in two zones and along with the main church are working together to gain growth and momentum so that the project may be realised.

If any of Northern Synod ministers would like to take part in an exchange as Meg Robb has done, this could be the next setting for such a visit. Marta provided dinner including fish that we had seen being sold freshly caught on the roadside. We were then taking to a house where the four of us stayed overnight; the house belongs to the railway company, a manager of whom is a member of IPM. Danny and I once more had to explain that one room was not appropriate as actually we are not married.
Thursday saw a more leisurely day as we started our drive back as we had met Imhambane parish the previous evening as many of their folk worked and so were not available during day time. We had breakfast at Pastor Marta’s and drove to a beautiful lake resort called Chidenguele in Manjalaze District. It took us a while to find it and it was further off the beaten track than expected. We were the only people in the restaurant it being winter in July in Mozambique. We watched a couple of fishing people casting their nets off a boat on the lake, sat through various showers (just like England) and enjoyed a leisurely meal. The drive was an experience as we kept stopping to get shopping in for Bart’s family including a pork joint that was cut off a half pig hanging on the road side that had been slaughtered we trust that morning.

Cashew nuts by the tin full were nibbled at all day and water, coffee, apples and tangerines consumed regularly. We arrived late afternoon at Xai-Xai and booked into a hotel opening onto the beach. Ernesto stayed with us but Bart went home for the night. While Ernesto did a visit we walked along the sea shore, until dusk fell rather quickly, as it does in Africa. Then we rested before eating once again in the hotel and calling it a day as the travelling has been very tiring.

A leisurely breakfast and walk along the sea shore in the sunlight was possible given that the 9.30 pickup turned into a 10.50 one = African time again. We met Stephen a beach seller who showed us his wares that were made by his family and this led to us parting with some money. His English was good and apparently he is saving to go to university to train as a translator. We then visited Rosa’s patch having previously visited her home in her husband’s parish. We visited a zone where many houses have been built on church land and the church is now squeezed. It is necessary to take urgent action to deal with this land conflict in order to enable the church to construct a more permanent building (Xinunguini).

We then picked Rosa up at a bus stop and went to her main church, Bethlahema. Here the foundations are laid for a new building that it is anticipated will take two years to complete. When Meg visited last year it had not been started. Rosa has a third church in her pastorate and with two building projects and a great distance to travel by public transport between them she has a difficult role to fulfil. In Xai-Xai we stopped for lunch at a restaurant and had a huge meal of pork. We then drove for several hours inland to the parish of Mausse along very sandy, bumpy roads where speed was impossible. People were carrying heavy loads and some were riding bikes and all seemed to be in danger of being run over. The scenery was beautiful. We arrived at 2.40pm not bad as we were aiming at 2.30pm. We were greeted by the Pastor’s Wamba – Lizi the wife who is pastor in this Parish and Dionisio of a parish in the village. We sat and drank tea under the shade of the trees in a beautiful setting with the children, chicken (one of whom met its comeuppance for our dinner) chicks and guinea fowl all showing an interest in our presence. Food was served once more – chips, bread and salad – afternoon tea number 1.

We were joined by Timoteo Fuel, a wealthy businessman, for these refreshments. He is a generous benefactor to IPM and sponsored the costs of the large meeting tents for the jubilee. Timoteo owns several properties including one near the church and so he took us there and showed us where we would be staying. It seemed like a mansion in comparison to most guest houses we had stayed in. It also had a beautiful landscaped garden. We then visited the newer church of which Timoteo had sponsored a recent refurbishment which was done in time for the local jubilee some weeks ago. While in the church we exchanged greetings, with women from the church and presented prayer cards that Northern Synod has had produced encouraging each of us to pray for one another. Timoteo then left us for another appointment although his wife was to join us for dinner and breakfast, presenting us with kapulanas to remember our visit and the parish.

We then toured the parish which is very historical. The old church/ classroom (built 1926) is a historical building although it is quite dilapidated now. One of the first presidents of Mozambique, elected after independence, was a Presbyterian and attended the school here. There is also a government run hospital and school on site surrounded by IPM property. These were nationalised following the civil war and so were lost to the church. It was good to see the provision of these facilities, although by our standards they are very basic and small, for the number of people served by them. (400 children attend the school) We then had afternoon tea 2 – chips, beef and bread before departing the 3km (we do not believe the sign) along sandy bumpy roads to the local village in the dark to quench our thirst.

Danny discovered during our visit the wonders of 2M the local beer and so some had to be found – it was. After our return dinner itself was served in the house where we were staying – everything we had already had plus the chicken that had met its end earlier. Then we went to bed to rest leaving the locals watching TV. A five/six hour drive back to Maputo was Saturday’s agenda. We left at 8.45 – pre expected time amazingly. We stopped in the village of Mausse to take photos of the village garden that it was too dark to see last night. There is a tree in the garden that legend says when it was cut down it grew back over night. We also saw various buildings that were damaged during the civil war and that still remain in a derelict state. On the drive before getting back to the main road we saw some amazing rural scenery of people working in the fields, some carrying water and often with babies strapped to their backs. We drove past 2-3 parishes some of which had serious land right issues outstanding. We also stopped for coffee every couple of hours including another visit to Bart’s home where Rowena was dressed in a gift of a capulana, Danny escaped with one simply being presented to him. Eventually at 3.30pm we made it back to Maputo and the fish restaurant again where two red fish were already being grilled due to an advance phone call. Then it was back to the guest house near the synod office to rest and prepare for Sunday worship including a 7am service.

In Maputo – Mon 16/7 and Tues 17/7

In Maputo – Mon 16/7 and Tues 17/7 We spent a relaxing morning in the bar of the hotel overlooking the sea completing our blog and reflecting on the synod meeting and jubilee celebration. For the latter press reports said 8000 were present and 5000 were expected so the number attending was probably somewhere between. In the afternoon Bart picked us up and we booked into a guest house at a third of the price of the hotel. Then we went to the synod office where the staff were in a meeting with the pastors from the central and north discussing their issues of non-payment of pastor’s salaries and other concerns. Officers came out to greet us and dinner was served. Then a visit to an internet café for Revd Jose Tovola to pick up his e-mail which took a long time before decamping to a café for coffee. Then we turned in and slept – even in a noisy street - bliss!

On Tuesday morning after breakfast we explored changing money at a bank before going to the synod office. We visited the sewing and knitting project that Northern Synod had raised money for. It has not yet expanded as more funds are required  to run a training scheme. We arranged to bring some goods back on sale or return. Keep your eye open for them at Northern Synod events. It was good to see that this project is progressing even if the anticipated growth is not yet apparent.

We then spent time in the Administration and Finance Department with Bart Langa looking at their synod (assembly) processes. He has one admin assistant (the second is on long term sick leave) and one desk top and one old laptop. Yet this office organised the jubilee celebration – a magnificent feat! Then we had lunch and greetings were shared between officers of their synod and ourselves. We presented them with some communion ware from churches that had closed in Northern Synod for which they were very grateful to receive. They have decided to use these in the synod itself rather than the parishes. Then we returned to finance where we discussed various financial information that Bart feels could be more effectively produced. We suggested to Bart that when he visits in October we show him our financial systems which might be of benefit to IPM and which we could support. Although finding appropriate software useable to those whose language is mainly Portuguese is tricky.

We then presented the admin and finance office with two laptops we had taken with us. Bart was overjoyed to receive a newer lap top and carried it around with him for the rest of the week. After a brief freshen up at the guest house we went down to the coast to the local fish market. We chose (already dead) our red fish and it was cooked before us in the restaurant. It took an hour to prepare with fresh vegetables but it was wonderful to eat.

125th Jubilee Celebration IPM

Jubilee Celebration Sat-Sun 14-15th July. The formal synod meeting ended and therefore today saw the special jubilee celebration start. Bus and car loads of people arrived from all over Mozambique across dust and potholed tracks. Merchandise of jubilee tea shirts fabrics and hats dominated dress. Maputo contingent had not arrived so the 9am bible study took the form of hymn practice. Then breakfast while we still waited arrivals. Breakfast was traumatic as Didier’s translator collapsed and received emergency medical aid before being to hospital where we later heard he was improving.

The jubilee consisted of each presbytery and group in IPM offering a choir contribution with much dancing. These ranged from traditional to highbrow to rap. There was a choir from the Swiss Mission Church who were in attendance and they offered several contributions during the celebration which were well received. There were three lectures scheduled for during the day but the timetable got further and further behind. The first by Reinaldo from Ricatla explored the historical identity of IPM. He used the image of a snake shedding its skin as an image of IPM becoming a church in its own right with the departure of the Swiss and how it needs to do so again now to move forward and transform Mozambique in the name of Christ. The other two lectures were not audible and certainly not translatable and most people slept or talked through them on account of this. One was on IPM’s contribution to the nation and one to society in general.

Special guests were fed in a hospitality tent with buffet normally of chicken and rice or maize plus fish or another meat. All cooking was done on open fires by an army of women. Water was manually pumped up by people by rotating a ‘roundabout’ manually and brought in by lorry. Hundreds of others were fed with a main meal each day – an incredible operation. There was a festive air with people sleeping in tents, cars, buses, on the ground and groups singing and dancing whatever they were doing. For some the event carried on all night but we went off at about 9pm to get some sleep and rest taking Christine from Switzerland with us.

Sunday saw great anticipation as the President of Mozambique was coming. The Presbyterian Church of South Africa had provided gowns and preaching scarves for each pastor of IPM and there was a grand procession of them all to start the day’s proceedings. Then we sang to welcome President Guebuza, who unveiled a plaque that was only completed on Friday, planted a tree and renamed the school. The President joined us for worship which was brilliant. It included the ordination of six new pastors that Rowena along with all pastors present was invited to share in the laying on of hands for. This was very moving.

The president of the United Presbyterian Church of South Africa (EPCSA) peached and one of his colleagues translated for us. He was very challenging talking of God’s nature being that of spirit and truth (John 4v 24) and Jesus having been anointed in the Spirit being given a job description found in Luke 4 – to bring sight to the blind, liberation to captives etc. This is our job description now as we follow Christ’s job description. As the church cannot be made without this Spirit and job description being followed neither can good government. It was good and challenging for a sermon in front of the nation’s president. Various presentations were made to the nation's president and some choirs sang before he responded. By then our translator had departed but folk said afterwards that it was full and comprehensive indicating IPM’s contribution in the history of Mozambique and today.

Special guests then had lunch in the presence of President Guebuza although he left soon to travel on. The huge cakes remained uncut. We then returned to the jubilee celebration for further presentations from the Swiss but time ran out and at 1pm Ernesto declared the jubilee celebration at an end. Bart then drove us back to Maputo and we stopped at a women’s project at Minchot on route. They are building a new prayer station church, conference centre and accommodation. It is not yet up to the roof.

We arrived in Maputo about 5.30 to find no rooms in the guest house and so ended up in a seafront hotel for the night. This was very relaxing after the basic accommodation at Antioch. Poor Bart had still to take others to a hotel after dropping us off and then take them to the airport for 5am on Monday. The jubilee celebration especially the worship on the Sunday was great and moving to share in. The whole atmosphere was vibrant and full of hope for the future of IPM.

Synod meeting 13th July

We overslept but still managed to be ready for a 6.30 pick-up and 7am bible study. The theme for the Jubilee synod was based on Luke 4v16-18/Isaiah 61 was ‘125th jubilee year transforming life in Jesus Christ’. Then we had breakfast before synod sessions. The section report for the activists was received with acclaim, that is with song and dance. This section of young couples brought forward new by-laws / constitution for their work. There remains confusion between legal state marriage and church marriage in Mozambique and they want to encourage couples to make sure they are married in both ways as government clarifies and simplifies the process. Currently obtaining state marriage can be costly and involve travel and therefore is prohibitive. This group also want to continue to expand their work with HIV/AIDS projects and education.

Then special guests were welcomed and made presentations. Doug Tilton from the Presbyterian Church (USA) but based in South Africa told of a dispute that went to law between a presbytery and the wider church. He used this illustration to stress the importance of good governance and management. Rowena offered greetings from the URC and presented a communion chalice and plate that had been used at the URC General Assembly until this year when a new set for the 40th anniversary were dedicated. Didier Crouzet of the Reformed Church of France presented a picture of their logo of a cross with the dove of the Holy Spirit below and talked of the significance of resistance in his church's history and for the IPM’s identity. The son of a missionary pastor who was born in the 1980’s in the now derelict house at Antioch and lived there until he was seven and his daughter Nicole also made a presentation. Northern Synod was acknowledged when the sewing project, that we raised funds for, presented a communion cloth that had been embroidered by them.

A competition had been held for the best hymn based on the history of IPM and the jubilee theme. Before lunch we learnt one of the runners up. The winning hymn which was great and learnt later was sung in front of the country’s president during the jubilee. Rather than stave music IPM use ‘do re me’ notation so everything is taught by cantor.

After lunch the synod executive report was presented. The two students with scholarships for a Brazilian theological college are now not going until 2013. This gives us in Northern synod a bit longer to raise funds for one of their flights. Do consider this in your churches – it would be good to have the £3000 by the end of this year. Meg’s visit with Rosa and her return visit as a pastor’s exchange was also mentioned.

There was a discussion on which languages should be used with a request for local languages to prevail. But the executive resisted this out of concern for not having adequate skills and resources to translate everything. Some said that the evangelists could be used more but then there is anxiety about the quality of their Portuguese. This is already a concern and the pedants in synod were quick to correct Portuguese grammar. In Mozambique there is an even more pronounced North / South divide than in England. A pastors' refresher course had been held in the South and there is a strong desire to hold one further North. But finance and transport costs are a real issue. Although there was a suggestion for regional or clusters of presbyteries we are not sure this issue was resolved. IPM would like partners like us to fund a gathering for Northern pastors and presbytery officers. However this probably needs much more thought first.

There was then a debate on a single development plan for the buildings of IMP and a proposal that all new building projects should in future be agreed by synod (assembly). Both of these proposals were rejected. However it was agreed that presbyteries and parishes’ should inform the synod of any building developments taking place. It was anticipated that the synod meeting would finish its business at 6.30pm but guests were given a tea break at 5.30pm and when we returned there was the most heated debate yet. It was gone 9pm when we got to dinner.

So what was the debate that caused this? IPM is concerned to improve governance and transparency and have therefore set up in the last year a verification committee and its work is now impacting on the presbyteries. Their report led to protracted and heated debate. Before closure for the night the Mozambique Christian Council (ecumenical body) whose general secretary is an IMP minister shared a poem written for the occasion. There was also a presentation from pastors asking for a living salary and to be assured of payment. They asked for a commission to be set up but others felt that finances were simply not available. This is an on-going concern for IPM. It was gone 10.30 pm when we returned to our guest house and tackled getting the door opened due to a temperamental lock.

Travel and first day of arrival 12th July

Travelling to Mozambique. The flight to Heathrow was delayed in part due to rain and in part to technical problems at air traffic control in Swindon. We missed our Heathrow connection and ended up travelling via Lagos in Nigeria. This was a longer flight with an additional change and thus we arrived 30 plus hours later than anticipated.

Moving through Lagos airport was an experience. The military took our passports and escorted us to baggage collection. Mine seemed to take for ages to arrive on the conveyor. Perhaps it was still in Heathrow somewhere and the communion ware bought for the parishes here from various closed churches would never see the light of day again. Then we were frog marched, through a crowded airport and through security so we departed from the airport and then along the front of the airport to arrivals, in African heat and bustle. All the time the military guy holding our, by then the group's, 14 passports. We were processed through departures and through security. Then we received our passports back. Johannesburg would have been much easier.

We were met at Mozambique airport and driven straight to Antioch a 2.5 hour drive where the 125th meeting of the synod was already in full swing. After lunch with huge chunks of special birthday cake for IPM we joined the sessions even though tired.

Note on Antioch: The Swiss Mission Church planted their first station on this hill and therefore this special synod was held here. The first mission church burnt down. Other buildings are now derelict following the confiscation of much property by the government in the civil war and due to lack of resources for rebuilding the infrastructure from that time. However in the last year much work has been done on this significant piece of land. New accommodation has been built including the white house built especially for the President of Mozambique’s visit so that he can use the facilities. Synod agreed further finance to restore a derelict large house. It is hoped that the hospital built for the synod can be sustained. The largest project though has been putting electricity in – although its reliability was proven to be patchy over the synod meeting.

Synod Meeting: This equivalent of the URC General Assembly took place from Tues-Fri and we were only part of the last two and bit days. It took place in Portuguese rather than Shanghana, the local language as that is the only language in common across the country as a former Portuguese colony. The North of Mozambique uses a different local language. Translation was patchy and therefore it is difficult to fully aware of the subtleties of what was being discussed. There was an emotive discussion about alcohol and drug abuse and recognition that it is difficult for the church to challenge people of this when pastors are often drinkers. Someone proposed that pastors who drank should be suspended and lay people disciplined. I wondered what the reaction to this debate might have been if it had happened on the floor of the URC Assembly as the issue is similar. In the end this was left to Presbyteries (our synods) to decide.

As with the URC finance is a big issue for the IPM. They currently have no accountant and this is a concern. There is also a massive deficit on the equivalent to the M&M fund. This means that central staff and pastors in poor areas have not been paid for several months. At this point we were exhausted having been travelling all night and the electricity failed so that IPM were concerned about us coping with finding our accommodation so we left without knowing the outcome.

Accommodation for synod and jubilee: We were taken to a guest house but the assumption was we were married so there was not enough space unless we shared a room. So we were driven to the local pastor’s house and a key for another place was found. This has two rooms and was ours on our own until Christine from the Swiss Mission church joined us for the final night. It was basic, no flushing toilet and only a cold shower that at best trickled. But the mosquitoes were not rampant thankfully. For neighbours we had chickens and very loud early morning music from the shack next door.

Mozambique Blog 2012 Rowena and Danny

Mozambique visit 2012 Danny Pigeon, Synod treasurer, and Rowena, Synod Moderator will be flying out to Mozambique on July 10th over-night, arriving July 11th 2012. We will be visiting with IPM, the Presbyterian Church of Mozambique, the Synod’s world church partner for a 125th anniversary synod meeting in Antioca, where the first mission church was planted. Ernesto Lange, the General Secretary and Bartolomeu Lange (not related) from the Administration and Finance department will hopefully visit the Synod in October for our 40th birthday celebration of the formation of the URC. The synod is currently seeking to raise £3000 towards the flights for a theological student from IPM in Mozambque to a college in Brazil. Danny and I are hoping to meet the student before he leaves for college. This support is good in seeking to develop partnerships across the global church community. Donations welcome. I ask your prayers for safe travelling and for the synod meeting and hope to keep you posted during and following our stay.

Where are we going?

West Denton Discussion – some afterthoughts

Synod ministers (both working and retired) met together at West Denton on March 6^th  for what the moderator described as “an opportunity for ministers to talk together about issues of concern generally but particularly about where God’s generous nature has been revealed in community and church amidst the financial downturn”.  She added, “As someone once said ‘A budget is a theological document. It indicates who or what we worship.’”

 Stuart Brock put pen to paper when he got home.....

What is the Issue?

The issue presented was that of finance and the necessity to cut costs.

Perhaps the issue is wrongly focussed. Poor financial situation a symptom of a wider problem not the major issue. Finance and other resources should follow the determination of what we are about as a Church/Denomination. In stringent times prioritising even more important.

Priorities

Where then is the URC going?  Is it about ecumenism or is it about mission? The two are linked but where we put the emphasis determines policy.

For me, the key is the mission of the church. URC has been described as a pioneer denomination. Let’s blaze a trail for the renewal of the mission of the whole church and be experimental and risk takers. (Leaving things as they are is an even bigger risk!) Invite our sister churches to come with us. But we do not have the luxury of waiting nor of negotiating of positions on the way ahead.  We must do it anyway, even if it is ecumenically inconvenient.

A definition of the URC’s task:  to Share the Way of Jesus: to Live the Way of Jesus

So, find relevant ways of sharing and demonstrate the Way by the quality and integrity of our common life.  I suspect that many people today are suspicious of ways of power in society and they are suspicious of organisations like the church that use/misuse power. (vide child abuse scandals of last decade)

Question:  Do people in our communities want to know about the Way?

Answer: evidence = roadside shrines, full retreat centres, demand for teaching on spiritual pathways (BUT not so much Christian!) popularity of books/websites on spirituality.  Not conclusive evidence but suggests still real interest. If this is the case why are we concerned as much if not more for the plant and buildings than for the spiritual and mission dimensions of church life?

We have a Gospel to proclaim (and live.) How?

Find ways to bring Christian spirituality back into the forefront of our church life. We have a treasure that is insufficiently being offered to both the church and the community around us. True spirituality will guide us into action for peace and justice at every level.

Practicalities:

Privilege the mission of the church over the maintenance of existing structures.

Fit resources to agreed tasks. Any task that falls outside the agreed agenda for mission ruthlessly jettison or put on back burner pending more generous times.

This would mean………

Buildings – Identify congregations that are in inappropriate buildings and persuade into rented halls or house church groups. There will be resistance and this will need to be sensitively handled. A policy as a Synod  = agree not to further subsidise outmoded buildings. If necessary let these wither on the vine whilst maintaining pastoral care of congregation.

Adapt, for whatever uses are envisioned in the locality, remaining buildings. Sell all superfluous buildings and put money into mission projects and people.

Ministry – Effectively already down to 1 FT Minister per MP. No further reductions. The current situation is creaking and giving rise to stress and anxiety among remaining ministers.

Use FT Ministers as supervisory agents of the mission of their local MP, training local ordained ministry (one to every congregation) on apprentice model, acting as senior ministers chairing local team of FTM, NSM , LPs,Elders and providing vision, direction and encouragement.

Set aside ministers (or others?) with gifts of communication and getting alongside others to simply be in a spirit of presence and availability in their localities. (Models from the past – the Celtic wanderers). Current model = the role of the Holy Island director. 

How?

Set aside a gifted person for this ministry under SCM as a Synod missioner available for periods of time to go to a MP to practise and promote presence ministry.

OR  use gifted ministers who have retired and could devote a percentage of their  time voluntarily

Either way – such a person under discipline of responsibility to Synod via Ministries?)

Required: a retraining of all categories as well as congregations in this new pattern of ministry. Expectations must change if any new way is to work!! This developmental work to be the prime function of Synod

We are weary in well doing (often with poor results.)  We all need encouragement! Ministers might find this in more frequent times of worship together with opportunity to share in a relaxed setting issues, problems and ideas.  Try monthly ministers meetings for one year?  No fixed agenda – just being and relaxing.

Congregations – why not regular worship together in some of our larger buildings –s ay quarterly. Nothing encourage more than than the occasional large gathering – we are not alone!

Simplicity – An antidote to notions of power. 

Simplify our structures – only those groups and committees essential to maintaining staffing and promoting the mission of the church retained at every level of the structure.

Simplify our local church life – stop trying to run churches of today like the large organisational set ups of the Edwardian era. Only attempt to maintain those activities which enable worship and mission. Scrap everything else.

Simplify personal discipleship – living simply and sacrificially with the notion of sufficiency and no more – antidote to the overweening culture of having material prosperity at huge cost to others and to the planet.

 There is much above which is about the death of old ways. But it is through death that we find life.

To do nothing is to court almost certain death with little likelihood of resurrection

Today is an opportunity to let God reshape the church into something that can speak by its life and witness to our time and culture.

‘Now is the acceptable time. Now  is the hour of salvation.’