Diocesan News26 Oct 05

Bishop Ken Good's Presidential Address to the Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Synod

DERRY AND RAPHOE DIOCESAN SYNOD
WEDNESDAY 26TH OCTOBER 2005
CLOONEY HALL METHODIST CENTRE, LONDONDERRY

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS BY THE RT REVD KEN GOOD
BISHOP OF DERRY AND RAPHOE

SOCIAL ISSUES
Before commenting further on aspects of church life, I wish to make brief reference to some specific social issues in the North West and then to make a general comment about the times in which we live.

1. POLITICAL POSSIBILITIES
The IRA?s decision to decommission its weapons, even though it has come several years late and has been shrouded in an uncertainty which has clouded the process, is one that I welcome. This decommissioning has practical significance, in that every gun and bullet that is put beyond use, every mortar and explosive which is destroyed, potentially means the avoidance of another life being lost, another family being plunged into unnecessary grief. But it also has symbolic significance, in that it represents, we all hope and pray, a recognition at last by the IRA that the path of democratic politics alone, and not violence, is the means by which political arguments must be made from now on. If the events and security reports of the months ahead prove this decision to be genuine, it will be one of considerable importance. It brings with it the possibility, over time, of raising trust levels from their current very low levels and of enabling parties to feel they are engaging with one another on a level playing field.

The need for Loyalist paramilitary groups to decommission their weapons also, and to engage fully in the political process becomes all the more apparent, and I would want that message to go out from this Synod to the groups concerned.

2. SECTARIAN UNDERCURRENTS
Despite the progress with decommissioning, we continue to be reminded of the fact that sectarian tensions do not lie far beneath the surface of much of the interaction between people on both sides of our political divide. It is a social dis-ease of substantial proportions. The perceptions we have of one another are often blighted with negative undertones which layer upon layer of mistrust have reinforced over the years. Progress to deal with these issues is painfully slow.
The Diocesan Peacebuilding conference which we held recently in Magee was an important contribution to the process of examining our own lives and exploring ways in which we as Church of Ireland members can face up to the challenge of this thorny issue.
I wish to congratulate Rev Earl Storey from St Augustine?s Parish on his very recent appointment as Director of Church of Ireland?s Hard Gospel Project. He takes up this very responsible and influential position on 1st November and we wish him well.

3. HOUSEHOLD DEBT
A remarkable change has taken place not only in the levels of household debt on both sides of the border but also in people?s attitude to them. Whereas before the days of the Celtic Tiger, personal debt used to be seen as a sign of poverty, now considerable levels of borrowing (renamed ?credit?) are accepted by many as an inevitable part of their successful lifestyle choice. Personal debt in the Republic of Ireland now stands at 120% of disposable income - ?91 billion in 2004. In a recent ERSI/IIB survey 60% of borrowers stated as their reason for borrowing, ?financing my lifestyle?. At the same time, out of a total workforce of 2 million people, 900,000 have made no provision for personal pension. Long-term financial wellbeing is being sacrificed for the sake of keeping up appearances today. Citizens Advice Bureau in Northern Ireland reveal that household debt is escalating year by year, and there is deep concern about what will happen to thousands of families if a general economic downturn should squeeze household budgets even more tightly than they are being squeezed at the moment.

4. ROAD DEATHS
In recent months, numerous families in Co Donegal, have had to cope with devastating loss of life through road traffic accidents. Too many households in this diocese are grieving the death of their young people in particular whose lives have been lost in this way. Members of this Synod, I know would want to express our condolences to all those who are coping with the heartache and anguish so suddenly brought upon them by car accidents.

In 2004, 15 out of 19 Western European countries reported a reduction in the number of road deaths; some, such as the Netherlands had reduced fatalities by as much as 21%. Only Ireland, Turkey and Greece recorded an increase, and of these three, Ireland is in the unenviable position of having the biggest increase, 13.1%. Whereas the overall trend in Western Europe is a significant improvement in road safety, statistics in the Republic of Ireland run counter to this progress, and Co Donegal is
Among those counties where the figures are particularly worrying.

5. VIOLENT ATTACKS
Violent behaviour and aggressive attacks have become a worryingly prevalent feature of city life in Londonderry in recent months. The hours of darkness, particularly at weekends, are a time when more and more people who I speak to are reluctant to be found in the city centre. The culture of excessive drinking and aggressive behaviour is in danger of making these streets a no-go area for many at a time when we want to encourage tourism and normality.
One of the reasons for which, sadly, this city continues to receive the media spotlight is the attacks on gay people, which appear to be more prevalent here than elsewhere. As I have done repeatedly, I condemn any behaviour of this kind which results in dehumanising or attacking people on the grounds of their sexual orientation.
I have been open with this Synod and elsewhere about my dialogue with members of the Rainbow Project, and have spoken about the way in which I have been honest with them about where I differ with them theologically on the issue of a gay lifestyle. But I have also supported them and the police, and continue to do so, in appealing for respect for people with whom anyone may differ on issues of sexuality, and argue strongly that violent outbursts, either verbal or physical are totally unacceptable.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
As a general comment about social trends, I think that many people of faith are increasingly asking questions about the secular and relativist direction in which society is moving, and the kind of culture that is resulting from government policy and social trends.
In John Betjeman?s poem, The Planster?s Vision, the Poet Laureate outlines a social planner?s scheme to build a new and secular future ? a future which Betjeman clearly abhors. The vision is first to undermine any spiritual influence by silencing the church bells which for centuries have called people to worship God. The planner?s social view is that the churches and the cottages where children have long been nurtured in the ways of faith and where the elderly have died in Christian hope are no longer needed in the brave new world of high rise flats and utopian dreams:

I have a Vision of the Future, chum,
The workers? flats in fields of soya beans
Tower up like silver pencils, score on score
And Surging Millions hear the Challenge come
From microphones in communal canteens
?No right! No wrong! All?s perfect, evermore.?

While there are many aspects of modern life that have brought improvements to people?s quality of life these days, are there not also signs ? increasing signs - that we are part of a society whose citizens appear to be persuaded by the message of its (media) microphones, ?No right! No wrong! All?s perfect, evermore.? In rejecting many of the Christian standards and moral boundaries of those who have gone before, the symptoms of a society that is in danger of losing its way are not difficult to identify.

A FAITH WHICH MOTIVATES
As Christians of all traditions, we will probably find ourselves seeing life through a lens that is becoming increasingly different from the secular and relativist viewpoint held by many other people in society.
As your bishop, I want to assure you that while what I see concerns me with the kind of compassion that Jesus had as he wept looking on at a city whose people he described as being ?like sheep without a shepherd?, it is my faith which motivates me, which energises me, which inspires me to want to make a positive difference. What are some of the key beliefs which motivate me?

A belief in God ? as a God of love and of holiness. A crucial part of our identity comes from an awareness that we are loved by him and by relating to him through a consistent and disciplined pattern of worship, of prayer and sacramental life.

A belief in a God who has made himself known in creation, in scripture and supremely in Jesus Christ. A God who is not unknown and unknowable.

A belief that as human beings, although wonderfully created in God?s image, we are all in spiritual need - the need to be made right with him, and that he has made this possible through he life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

A belief that every human life is a precious gift and of inestimable value.

A belief that God has revealed that right behaviours and attitudes are life-giving and beneficial to individuals and society and that wrong ones are not just displeasing to him but destructive and damaging to us. A belief that we do not live in a morally neutral universe or one where right and wrong are decided by general consensus or by whim of personal choice.

A belief that God wants those who love him to serve others in ways that bring justice, increase compassion and demonstrate forgiveness.

A belief in a God who speaks more about his followers taking seriously our responsibilities to serve him and to serve others than about us insisting on our own rights.

A belief in marriage as a permanent and faithful commitment between one man and one woman. I do not accept that it must be regarded as an outdated notion to seek to reserve sexual intimacy for that context and no other.

A belief that life has an eternal dimension, and that our attitudes and our actions have consequences that are eternal also.

It is beliefs of this kind which shape our life, our ministry and our dealings with other people. Our views on justice, on moral issues, on right and wrong, all stem from a faith in God that shapes our thinking and prevents us from accepting secular approaches to issues without question.

MAKING A KINGDOM DIFFERENCE
Acting on these foundational truths and values, I see the local church as a key agency of God?s transforming work in the world. Although under God I seek to lead a diocese, I believe that the real work in accomplished in the parishes, and that the diocese is there to facilitate and enhance parish life. To quote John Betjeman again, ?Without a Church, I think a place lacks its heart and identity.? Where the positive influence of faith is lacking, communities are often missing a vital ingredient.
In seeking to facilitate and enhance parish life in Derry and Raphoe, I mention the following examples as illustrations of forward-looking and encouraging signs of a diocese that wants to help its parishes move forward.

1. A NEW DIOCESAN CENTRE
As we gather here in Synod, the Diocesan Offices in London Street are undergoing major refurbishment and will be completely transformed, modernised and made fit for purpose as a modern Diocesan Centre. This work, I believe, has a symbolic significance as a statement of our desire as a diocese to adapt to present and future needs, to plan optimistically for the future, to provide for growth and development.

2. A NEW DIOCESAN MAGAZINE
In the next few weeks, a completely new format Diocesan Magazine will appear for distribution to all 10,500 Church of Ireland households in the diocese. I want thank the good people of Raphoe diocese particularly for their understanding and patience as they await the arrival of n:vision, as I know it is difficult for many of you to see the good and faithful Raphoe Diocesan magazine replaced by this new publication. I have been keeping a very close eye on the development of this publication, and I am in no doubt that people all over the diocese will be very pleasantly surprised with the impact it will make. I am absolutely convinced that the new magazine will make us all feel that we belong to a large and strong diocese, will keep us informed about aspects of parish and diocesan life we previously knew little about, and will help us all to grow in vision and in understanding of how we can be more involved in what God is doing among us.
A central element of the strategic importance of this new venture is that every parish must find a way of distributing a copy of the magazine to every Church of Ireland household. This will require finding and organising volunteers and maybe dividing the parish into districts with a clearly identified list of parishioners for each volunteer to cover. This is a Parish Development opportunity as well as an opportunity for improved communication and pastoral involvement, and I believe will have a very positive impact on parish life. Elderly or housebound parishioners will have regular visits from parishioners delivering their magazine, and families who currently have little if any involvement in parish life will feel more included and informed about church life. So I ask that, between now and the end of November, rectors and lay leaders co-operate in planning a workable distribution network for each parish, so that when the magazine arrives early in December your systems will all be in place to ensure a smooth and effective delivery network.

3. TEACHING MISSIONS
By the end of next week I will have completed my fifth Teaching Mission since Easter 2005. In each venue - Sligo, Castlederg, Dungiven and Limavady Rural Deanery, Dunfanaghy and Gweedore Groups and All Saints? Clooney I have taken a large and very gifted team with me and they have been outstandingly effective in all aspects of outreach and organisation ? music, singing, drama, children?s and youth work, giving their faith stories, multi-media expertise and administration. I am very grateful to all of them.
Parishes will have to speak for themselves about how useful they have found these events, but speaking personally, I must say that they have found them to have been very positive and heartening experiences. As bishop, I want to give a lead in mission and in teaching, I want to be in the parishes at work with clergy at the coal face. From a Tuesday till a Sunday in each case, the team which has accompanied me has participated in all manner of varied activities, services and events, designed to encourage people in the faith and to bring greater commitment, vitality and involvement to parish life. The overall purpose is to encourage and strengthen people?s faith and their response to God.

4. MOBILIZING MINISTRY
We have a dedicated team of clergy in this diocese, both stipendiary and auxiliary, and I thank them all again today for their hard work and dedicated commitment. In addition to seeing clergy develop in their ministry and become further trained in the development of their gifts, another goal which constantly motivates and excites me in leadership is to see more and more lay people drawn into and actively involved in ministry. I long to see people finding fulfilment as, with the encouragement and support of their rector, they step out in faith using their God-given gifts to serve others. The technical term is collaborative ministry, where clergy and lay people co-operate together as a team. I am happy to report that this is happening all over the diocese.

More and more parish readers are being trained and commissioned for service, as are some new Diocesan Readers. Another group of people are currently taking part in a Prepare to Care course. Magazine visitors will soon be in place. Youth leaders are being identified and other ministries are being developed. On behalf of the diocese I thank everyone who gives of themselves in committed service. To God be the glory.

5. PARISH DEVELOPMENT
To quote John Betjeman again (for the last time):
When things go wrong it?s rather tame
To find we are ourselves to blame
It gets the trouble over quicker
To go and blame things on the Vicar. John Betjeman 1982 Church Poems

Blaming the vicar (or the rector) as Betjeman implies, can often be an inadequate response to the complexities of parish life. The solution and the responsibility is usually a much more complex matter than that.

At a central church level, the General Synod has established a Parish Development Group in the recognition that one of the likely ways forward for churches to grow is a more strategic approach in which clergy and lay leaders together assess the needs and opportunities.

I am a strong advocate of the Parish Development approach, and am keen to promote it here in Derry and Raphoe, as parishes will be learning before long. Two or so of our parishes will be selected for Church 21, the Parish Development Group?s Pilot Project. But all of our parishes will be encouraged to explore a similar approach within our own diocesan structures in the next year or so.

In order that we know more accurately if parishes? worship patterns are growing or declining and if the age profile or gender balance is changing, I believe it would be very useful to carry out a diocesan census next year and then every five years or so after that. This research, which would give an accurate breakdown of our church-going people, would give a very useful base from which we can work and plan for parish development.

6. DIOCESAN LINKS
I have learned during my ministry that seeing God at work in other situations can be a source of encouragement and inspiration. When we visit other churches and see how they do things, we can benefit in the development of our faith as well as learning about fresh organisational methods.
One of the ways I believe our parishes can be strengthened in their vision and growth is by becoming involved in our newly established diocesan companionship three-way link with Bristol Diocese and Luweero Diocese in Uganda. I am placing much store in the way these links can bring fresh thinking and imaginative ideas into the diocese in the years ahead. I have asked a small group from the diocese to investigate the possibilities and they will be reporting their findings to the Diocesan Council very soon. Any parish in Derry and Raphoe that wishes to can develop a link with a parish in Bristol, and we will also be sending and receiving teams to and from Uganda. This is an exciting venture which I sense God will use to bring about helpful changes and learning among us all.

7. SEE HOUSE QUIET GARDEN
The project to transform the Walled Garden at the See House into a Quiet Garden, in conjunction with the Sisters of Mercy at Thornhill, has captured the imagination of a lot of people. A cross-community link of this sort where space is created for spirituality and stillness is being warmly welcomed.
Great interest has been expressed in plan, and a hard-working team, led by my wife, Mary, has made great progress to date. Detailed drawings have been produced by Caroline Dickson, our Diocesan Architect, and a comprehensive plan has been drawn up, which is on display today at the Synod On each Saturday in November a team of green-fingered gardeners will be planting hundreds of bulbs, plants and shrubs. If you are a keen gardener or know of one who would like to be involved in this planting, Mary would love to hear from you. Financial support for this size of venture is always needed, and assistance of any kind would be much appreciated.

CONCLUSION
So as we get down to debating the Reports and the many important issues contained in them, let us be thankful to the God who has called us, for the faith in Christ which sustains and motivates us, for the forward looking diocese in which God has placed us, for the signs of hope that encourage us, and for the team of good people among whom we work as partners in the gospel. These are exciting and challenging days in which to be alive and to serve, and I would not want to be living and ministering anywhere else but right here where God has called me ? in Derry and Raphoe.

BRISTOW STEVENSON
Following the Presidential Address, the Bishop will make a presentation to Mr W. Bristow Stevenson, who did not seek re-election to the Diocese Synod. The Bishop will highlight the following achievements:

Diocesan Chancellor for 25 years until his retirement in 2004
Member of the General Synod
Member of the Court of the General Synod
Member of the Standing Committee of the General Synod
Lay Honorary Secretary of the General Synod
First Chairman of the Priorities Fund
Member of the Representative Church Body
The first person to be commissioned as a Parish Reader in the Church of Ireland

Hon Treasurer and Hon Secretary of Banagher Parish in 1956 ?in his 50th year
Bristow?s father, James Stevenson, elected Hon Treasurer and Hon Sec 24 November 1902

Bristow?s grandfather elected Hon Treasurer and Hon Secretary on 18 March 1878 and died 1902
One of Bristow?s forbears, James Stevenson Esq, JP was elected Synodsman for the first Diocesan Synod in the Diocese of Derry on 6 June 1870. He died in 1870