Diocesan News
'Church must speak on behalf of the marginalised' - Archdeacon Linney's address at the installation of Dean Harman in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
CHURCH MUST SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE MARGINALISED
Address by the Ven Gordon Linney, Archdeacon of Dublin
at the Installation of
The Very Revd Desmond Harman
as Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
St Mark 16:4 When they looked they saw that the stone was rolled away
We rejoice in these dioceses as we welcome Desmond Harman as Dean of Christ Church Cathedral and incumbent of the Cathedral Group of Parishes. There is joy amongst his friends and colleagues that his proven ability and gifts have been recognised in this way by the Archbishop.
He comes with a distinguished record of hard work and loyal service to the church, with a strong faith formed and nurtured in that heartland of the Church of Ireland a small rural parish. His integrity is widely acknowledged and his personal warmth and friendship valued.
He is blessed in his family life especially in the support of Sue who will continue to make an important contribution to his work and ministry. We wish them happiness and fulfilment in this new chapter of their lives. It is fitting to remember too John and Pat Paterson tonight. John's achievements as Dean were huge and we thank God for his service to this Cathedral and the wider church. We wish them both well.
When they looked they was that the stone was rolled away. Mark 16:4
Since that great stone was rolled away to reveal an empty tomb stones have been moved to create great buildings all over the world to bear witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. But they must be in the right place and not obscure the reality. Architecture, liturgy, music and other art forms are only valid here when they help us proclaim that Christ has died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again.
Let me emphasise three aspects of this work.
1. Believing
The faith we celebrate was given in a no hope situation. In a graveyard. It reminds us that our confidence is not based on anything we can do or achieve. It is revealed to us in our confusion and despair.
According to St John Jesus told Mary at the tomb not to hold him, not to cling to him. Understandably she wanted to hold on to the familiar, the known. She felt secure with that. But she was told to let go, and go and tell others what she had seen. They in time would have different experiences as in Emmaus or with Thomas and his doubts. But all pointed to the one fact. Christ is alive.
We all have the Mary instinct to cling to what is known and familiar and of course real to us. But the challenge for the church today is how to make it real for others. We live in an increasingly missionary situation and unfortunately we have a speech problem. We speak a religious language and use terms that people out there simply do not understand or which do not make sense in a modern scientific age of space travel. Our God is too small.
We make assumptions about peoples beliefs and operate like builders putting the finishing touches to the penthouse on the 40th floor not realising that the ground floors are missing. People simply do not have the basics. We need to communicate in a contemporary theological language that connects with people where they are. And this is a place where this could happen and help keep alive the rumour of the living God in this increasingly secular city. But it all begins with the quality of our own conviction.
2. Belonging
A Cathedral has a special place in the life of a diocese. It reminds us to look beyond the local for we all belong here and have responsibilities here. The Cathedral needs the support of the people of the united dioceses if it is to do its work. Those who wish Desmond Harman well tonight can demonstrate that by offering their time and other gifts through the Friends or in other ways.
Others belong here too. Under Dean Salmon and Dean Paterson the Cathedral has edged its way out of the isolation created by the events of history into a new and growing ecumenical role. We rejoice at the presence this evening of members of other churches as together we proclaim one Lord, one faith, one baptism. They belong here for this place is a part of all our stories.
This Cathedral welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every year a rich diversity of people. Many are Christian, but others come from other great faith traditions such as Judaism and Islam. It is particularly important in today's tense world that we should reach out in friendship and with respect to Islamic peoples and discourage views that are ill informed and divisive.
We can tell our faith story but we can also listen to theirs. In Archbishop McAdoo's memorable phrase: This is my faith, now tell me yours. We need the grace and the humility to recognise the integrity of other faith experiences. We also need to recognise that wherever there is love and goodness the spirit of the risen Christ is active for as St John reminds us Christ is the true light that enlightens everyone that comes into the world, not just Christians or even religious people. He is the true light that enlightens everyone even though they may not recognise the source of that enlightenment.
3. Being
Dean Harman is also incumbent of the grouped parishes. This link reminds us that ministry is about people and people where they are. 'Being' is important because Believing and Belonging can too easily become self-indulgent. Stones and other things can so easily get in the way and absorb all our energies. At the end of the Eucharist we pray SEND US OUT IN THE POWER OF YOUR SPIRIT TO LIVE AND WORK TO YOUR PRAISE AND GLORY.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of L'arche Community by Jean Vanier. Few movements exemplify the spirit of Christian service as effectively as L'arche. Vanier reminds us that Jesus is person orientated. He cannot be in a world that lives off appearances and makes people hide behind barriers and roles. Jesus keeps going to people where they are and where they need him most. There is the model of unconditional service and unconditional love.
But it is not always like that. Last week a new CD to highlight the AIDS crisis was released under the title 4664, Nelson Mandela's prison number. One of the tracts sung by Bono is called American Prayer and it pleads with the churches to open their doors to AIDS victims.
The Church has got to be alongside the excluded and the marginalized because that is where Jesus told us he would be found. If we fail in this we fail in everything. It will make costly demands in terms of actual service - it will also mean speaking out on behalf of the voiceless, those who are too easily overlooked or ignored. That is increasingly important in the current economic, social and political environment.
This brings us right back to 'Believing' and 'Belonging' because Easter is not exclusively a future hope or promise beyond this life but a contemporary transformation and reality now. We seek to walk now 'with Christ in the newness of his risen life'. Easter makes a difference now. It is about a new vision for society today. Let's tell them.
Archbishop Anthony Bloom in God and Man wrote these words full of Easter hope and encouragement:
Go now and if truly you have discovered joy, how can you not give joy to others? If truly you have come nearer the truth, how can you keep it to yourself? If truly something has been kindled in your life are you going to allow anyone not to have a spark of that life?
Go into the world with radiance, with a joy, with an intensity that will make everyone look at you and say "He has something which I do not possess - where can I get it?"
Diocesan Communications Officer, Dublin & Glendalough
087 2356472
Contact Details
Lynn Glanville
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