What are your guidelines?
June 2nd – St Mary’s Wallingford @ 7.30 – not just a chance to enjoy Rev Sarah’s hospitality and ministry as rector but a very important occasion of guidelines for our churchwardens.
Who?
At Dunsden – John Bodman and Rosemary Jones; at Harpsden – David Ward and Valerie Nicholson and at Shiplake – Wendy Robinson.
The doors are open for anyone to come and support their oath taking. These elected members of our 3 churches will be bound by vows for how they fulfil the role you have laid on them.
Those roles have rules and regulations – that could sound tedious and restrictive but without them we have chaos and anarchy. We would have personality cults and individual agendas. As Christians we are called to be and create community. We are to offer boundaries that provide safety and freedom from oppression by others. We are to put love first which means God’s kingdom and others. Love can say no – love asks – Is that God’s way of loving?
God knows us too well.
The Bible starts with God’s guidelines to Adam and Eve. These directions point the way to intimacy with our creator and wholeness, healthy relationships within mankind and with the environment.
Historically, leaders of the Church of England have shown how they know us too well.
Deacons, Priests and Bishops make vows that mean they lay down their own wishes and follow, obey the church frameworks, unless law and conscience demand debate.
Each Churchwarden has a handbook to explain their responsibilities. They will make vows to follow these directions. They are bound by oath to follow due process and protocols of the Church of England not just what suits a local situation. Order is key to their leadership. If in doubt, they have senior members of the Diocese as consultants and the opportunity for training.
Within the greater context of the worldwide Anglican church there are the 39 articles of Religion. Every year the canons of the church are reviewed and there may be supplements to reflect the needs of the time. All this work is offered to give boundaries and guidelines for what Christian faith is and is not, i.e. how we are to be effective as church.
Rules and regulations are not new …
Moses received the 10 commandments and brought them to God’s people. Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. These commandments are also promises that if they are followed, there will be harmony with God, others, and self.
Jesus followed it with his simple instructions to his disciples “Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.” Matthew 28:20
Throughout the world we see the tragedy of suffering when order breaks down, when individuals – be that person or state - impose their will or act as if ‘rules’ do not apply to them.
For the interregnum, we have stablished a pattern to try and offset this potential problem. I meet the churchwardens and Leigh, our administrator, and Heather regularly to discuss and agree what is to happen. Communications and corporate decisions combine so we can serve the community as a united benefice, in practice not just in name. Team work is our aim.
Every month I meet the lay leaders to discuss all aspects of ministry in the 3 churches. Lay leaders include those who lead services without Holy Communion, Sundays School, organists, choir, churchwardens, Boy’s Brunch, Anna friends.
A vacancy, an interregnum, is both a challenge and an opportunity. Authority and responsibility is redefined on a temporary basis. The guidelines are constant, that’s our safe boundary. My ministry, and Heather’s, is by invitation of the churchwardens. I take the lead on matters of ministry, especially worship, and Heather on Anna chaplaincy. We are 6 months into this new way of being church. If you have any questions, do ask.
May the Holy Spirit bring us those gifts that help us follow ‘rules’ that lead us to God’s Kingdom, and courage to stand against all that causes disharmony.
May Jesus’ promise of his presence guide the choices we each have to make.
Yours in his love, Pam.