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The Rt Revd Ken Good's Presidential Address to the Derry & Raphoe Diocesan Synod
DERRY AND RAPHOE DIOCESAN SYNOD
Wednesday 25 October 2006
Clooney Hall Methodist Centre, Londonderry
Presidential Address by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe,
The Rt Revd Ken Good.
GREETINGS
Warm greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ.
I thank you for making this Synod a priority in your busy life, and for choosing to be here as we take stock of the year that has passed and plan for what lies ahead.
We are very grateful to the Methodist Church for allowing us to meet in these fine surroundings once again. Rev Sam McGuffin is unable to join us this year, but in his absence he asked me to convey to the Synod on his behalf a warm welcome and his very best wishes.
ARCHBISHOP EAMES? RETIREMENT
At the Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Synod thirty one years ago, (1975), the Presidential Address was given by the then newly arrived bishop, Robert Henry Alexander Eames. After serving a brief incumbency in St Mark?s, Dundela in Belfast, he came to live in The See House on the Culmore Road, Londonderry, having been consecrated bishop on the Feast of St Columba, 9 June 1975.
Bishop Eames had a very fruitful and worthwhile episcopal ministry for five years or so in these dioceses, before being translated to Down and Dromore in 1980. He himself speaks warmly about his time here and the people he came to know and whose friendship he valued. I know that those of you who remember well his ministry here, are deeply thankful to God for his wise leadership and pastoral support during some difficult and demanding times in the 1970?s. We were all delighted that he and Lady Eames agreed to come back to this diocese last month to officially open our newly refurbished Diocesan Centre.
Having now served as a bishop for 31 years and as an archbishop for over 20 years, the Primate is universally recognized and respected as an exceptional leader not only in Ireland, but in the world-wide Anglican Communion. As he prepares to retire at the end of December, I feel sure that we would all agree that a message of deep thanks and of very best wishes should to go from this Diocesan Synod to the Archbishop and to Lady Eames.
I would also ask that we send a warm greeting from the Synod to Bishop and Mrs Mehaffey.
RECENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
Following decades of violence and tragic loss of life, which in turn has left a legacy of communal mistrust and a polarized shift of population, the political progress in Northern Ireland in recent years has too often been characterized by frustrating setbacks and disappointed hopes.
I dare to believe, however, that the progress made earlier this month at St Andrew?s could well prove to be a genuine step forward in the process of trust building. Tribute needs to be paid to those who have demonstrated courageous leadership in their efforts to move the situation beyond the current impasse. This opportunity must be grasped and not squandered, and those who are working hard to lead courageously have my, and I trust our, support in their efforts to create a fair and just society in which we can all enjoy a shared future.
We need to continue to pray for all those in positions of leadership and influence. My personal longing is that when we gather again at next year?s Diocesan Synod we will be able to look back with gratitude and a sense of achievement on some months of a Northern Ireland Assembly that has not just been up and running, but which has been working effectively on the many significant issues that are best resolved by locally elected and locally accountable politicians.
A CHURCH THAT ATTRACTS ?.WHOM?
Turning our thoughts towards church matters, which is what I want to do for the remainder of my address, may I tell you that on Thursday last I overheard an interesting comment in a restaurant ? not in this diocese. I want to assure you at the outset, by the way, that I don?t make a habit of eavesdropping on other people?s conversations, but the four people involved in this particular debate, two married couples, I think, were speaking quite loudly and were entirely unconcerned about who might or might not be listening in! In fact, I didn?t hear much of what they were talking about, but I clearly heard one of them say, ?But the Church now attracts only old people.?
I don?t know if these four people themselves go to church, or on what evidence their assertion was based, but that was their clear perception and their agreed view ? today?s church is only attracting older people.
So I ask, to what extent are they right? Is their observation accurate where Derry and Raphoe is concerned? Does the church you belong to appeal only to (or primarily to) older people? And if so, is that our intention, or just an unfortunate consequence of the way things work out? These are all relevant questions, not least for a bishop to ask himself, and to ask his Diocesan Synod.
?To attract? means to ?catch the attention of?,? to draw?,? to be a focus for?. Time and again I am struck, as someone in the communication business, by Jesus? experience as a communicator. It is reported by Luke that when he spoke, ?the people were hanging on his every word? or as the older translation puts it they were ?very attentive to hear him.? (KJV Luke 19: 48). There was something authentically winsome about the influence and impact of Jesus of Nazareth that drew people of all ages to him. And there was something about the conviction and vitality of his early followers that caught the attention of their contemporaries and drew them towards faith. Many people ?hung on their every word?, too.
It is not that Jesus? message was easy. Nor was it comfortable, inoffensive or tame. No, what he said was challenging to his listeners? lifestyles, it was costly in the life-change and mind-change that he expected, it was demanding in the level of commitment that he asked of anyone who became a disciple of his. On the specific occasion mentioned in Luke 19, they still ?hung on his every word? and were attentive to hear him despite the fact that he had just driven out of the temple those who were buying and selling, and despite the fact that the chief priests were trying to find a way to undermine and destroy him. What he offered was not cheap grace, or easy discipleship. But yet people still longed to hear him speak to them.
The good news Jesus proclaimed was not, to use today?s over-stretched expression ?inclusive?. His approach was warmly welcoming of everyone, yes, but his welcome did not leave people where they were, but moved them on to where he knew they could be and to become what they themselves wanted to be. His message was that offered the possibility of transformation, of mind-change (that?s what the word repentance means). There was an appeal, an attractiveness in the way Jesus and his followers went about their business.
And it is that idea of attraction, of catching attention, of drawing people, that shapes the thinking of what I want to share with you for a few minutes. Not a ?dumbing down? kind of attraction that accepts the lowest common denominator, but one that has real substance, genuine content and the possibility of life-change.
A DIOCESAN CENTRE?OF ATTRACTION
In dealing with this topic, my starting-point may seem like an unlikely one. My jumping off point is not the attraction of a transformed life, but of a changed building! As most, if not all of you will know, a major project on which the diocese has expended much effort since last we met as a Synod is the refurbishment of the Diocesan Centre on London Street, across the Foyle river from here.
Over 500 Select Vestry members from parishes throughout the whole diocese, including many of you who are present here today, came to see the new Centre over eight nights in September around the time of the official opening. For me, just as I suspect for many others involved in the project also, it has been a very heartening experience to see their surprise and to hear their extremely positive and appreciative comments about what has been achieved.
This project, I am convinced, has been a significant venture for the diocese. One that has generated fresh hope; one that has rekindled vision; one that speaks eloquently of the Church of Ireland?s desire to invest in the life of the Cathedral Quarter, in the walled city and in the wider community. This venture of faith has attracted attention.
I feel proud of the Diocesan Council for their courageous and faithful leadership in making the project happen; I warmly commend the Project Management Group and especially to the two Project Managers, Archdeacon Donald McLean and Mr Willie Oliver from Castlerock for their wise and careful oversight. The highly much admired design is a tribute to Caroline Dickson, our Diocesan Architect, and the fact that the project came in well ahead of schedule as well as within budget is a tribute to JA Gamble, the Main Contractor. If you haven?t seen the building already, I invite and encourage you to do so as soon as you can.
A CATALYST FOR ATTRACTIVE TRANSFORMATION
The London Street premises, before refurbishment, were historic but they were somewhat tired; they were cared for but they were more than a little dated, they were functional but lacking in freshness. They needed an injection of vision, an infusion of creativity, and an investment of capital. And when those ingredients were brought together, the building became not only more useful but also became, I am convinced, a catalyst for fresh and more dynamic life and ministry. And people are noticing this, their attention is being drawn, their interest is being attracted. Something fresh has taken place.
What we might learn from this illustration is to ask if a similar kind transformation and renewal may need to be considered for other aspects of parish and diocesan life.
I have been fascinated, though not surprised, to see the delighted reaction to the highly acclaimed new organ in St Columb?s Cathedral, to the impressive new Parochial Halls in Castledawson, in Lislimnighan and in Raphoe (for example), the substantial refurbishment of churches such as St James, Donemana or All Saints, Port Salon (which are just two most recent ones which I have dedicated), the new school buildings in Ballintra, Buncrana, Inver and Ballyraine, Letterkenny (for example) or the impressive new rectory in Claudy, just to give a few examples. Each of these projects have stemmed from a creative and ambitious vision, and have significantly raised people?s hopes and expectations about what can be achieved. Attention is drawn by such projects, people notice, an impact is made, interest is attracted and I look forward to seeing other similar projects emerge in the days ahead.
ATTRACTED TO WORSHIP
While most members of this Synod find traditional patterns of Anglican worship to be spiritually nourishing and faith-building, most of us also acknowledge that there are some people for whom this is not necessarily the case.
One of the highlights for me this past year was presiding at Communion at Summer Madness in July at the King?s Hall, Belfast. There were too many people to count in that huge venue, but there were at least four and a half thousand, the vast majority of them under twenty five years or age. It was a remarkably moving experience to look out on a vast sea of youthful faces, all of whom took part in a two and a half hour service, and loved it. There was a freshness and a creativity in the music and in the contemporary way in which the familiar liturgy was expressed. And those thousands of young people were engaged, were drawn, their attention was held, they were attracted towards faith and towards encountering Christ himself. There was no doubt that the church, in that setting, was attracting only old people.
I take seriously the need for what the Archbishop of Canterbury refers to as a ?mixed economy? in church life when it comes to where we meet and how we worship. Using the term Fresh Expressions, the Church of England is encouraging parishes to attempt to connect with more people of all ages in ways and in places that will help them explore worship and experience faith. Corporate Sunday worship will always be our core activity, but we need to be more creative about looking for other possibilities on other days of the week, at various times of the day, in settings and venues beyond the norm.
In this diocese, I have authorized Neville Barnes from the Church Army to do some exploratory Fresh Expressions work of this kind in the diocese, about which we will hear more later. I am convinced that there are some people who do not attend traditional church worship on a Sunday who would be interested in exploring faith at other times in other settings.
ATTRACTED TO FAITH
One of the hallmarks of modern Ireland, north and south, is a condition cleverly entitled, ?affluenza?, an overdose of prosperity that we are not quite able to handle. Affluence brings choice, and one of the hallmarks of post-modern Ireland, north and south, is an abundance of new choices, including a ?pick-and-mix? blend of beliefs that each individual can assemble and personalize as they see fit. We are all aware that it is no longer assumed that because someone has been brought up in one Christian tradition or another that they will hold to that faith as an adult. Some of the basic tenets of the Christian faith which they may have heard as a child are as likely to be discarded or diluted as they are to be held on to, according to the personal preference of the individual.
This new reality offers all of our churches an opportunity and a challenge to engage more proactively than before in helping people explore the big issues of life and faith. I am keen to see more of our parishes helping people discover and explore the basics of the Christian faith, possibly using well developed courses such as Alpha, or Emmaus, or Exploring Christianity or some other. I spoke with someone from a Belfast church recently who was amazed and delighted that there were fifty people, who had not been regular church-goers, taking part in an Alpha Course at their church, and thoroughly enjoying the experience. They didn?t want to miss a minute of it! Their attention is being drawn, their interest is being held, their imagination is being excited, they were? hanging on every word?.
ATTRACTED BY BELONGING
Youth ministry is a vital part of this diocese?s life and we have made an important statement to this effect by including a youth suite in the newly refurbished Diocesan Centre. Young people are already coming in and out of the building, spending time there, feeling like they belong there. And I am very pleased with that. This diocese, at its administrative centre, does not want to attract only older people.
2006 marks the 25th anniversary of the Raphoe Diocesan Youth Council. A few weeks ago there was a special service in Raphoe Cathedral to mark this milestone, at which Bishop Mehaffey, who was instrumental in establishing the Council, preached. He in his sermon, and I in the service and at the supper afterwards, paid warm tribute to Margaret Boyd for the outstanding commitment she has shown to ministry among young people over those years. Margaret, we are greatly in your debt, and we thank the Lord for you and for all you have achieved.
Youth Ministry has to be constantly evolving and re-shaping itself. I also pay a warm tribute to Neville Barnes who has played a very influential role in leading and guiding our work among young people over recent years. Shaun McCormick is now our Youth Project Worker and he is developing a fresh approach called Sitting Ducks, which is proving popular with young people as a place to belong. The are being drawn, their attention is being held and their interest aroused by a sense of belonging. Attracted by belonging, that is key in the way we relate with young people.
ATTRACTED BY INVOLVEMENT
In the case of Jesus of Nazareth, one of the reasons why people ?hung on his every word? and were drawn to him was that they could see his words were backed up by a genuine interest in their wellbeing, and a compassion for their situation. He moved towards them and met them in their complicated and sometimes dysfunctional world. He felt the pain of their troubled lives and got involved in their distresses.
People today are no different. They will not be convinced by a church that remains distant and aloof, making pronouncements about how it cares, unless we, the people of that church, show a compassionate involvement in their daily struggles and get involved in the issues which are causing them anguish.
Knowing what the issues are on our church?s doorstep, being aware of the real social needs and getting involved in them are vital keys to a church?s ability to serve in ways that Jesus did. I am greatly encouraged by the Child Contact Centre here in Londonderry, spearheaded by the Mothers? Union, and I put it before us today as an example of the kind of compassionate involvement that makes a Christ-like difference to real people in real need.
In making mention of the Mothers? Union, I would like to pay tribute to Helen Livingston who at the end of December steps down from the position of Diocesan President after six outstanding years? service. As Jean Fox takes up that responsibility, I assure her of my support and prayers during her time in office.
ATTRACTED TO DISCOVER
The process of developing and refining our new diocesan magazine n:vision is an ongoing project. Because it involves change, it inevitably causes discomfort to some of those who were used to what came before.
Part of the responsibility of leadership, which I willingly accept and wholeheartedly embrace, is the need to live with the disappointment of those who find the change distressing, and to work through the tension, explaining again and again the vision and reasoning which lies behind that change.
So I say again, and clarify again that a key part of the reason for n:vision?s distribution to all 10,500 Church of Ireland households in Derry and Raphoe (free of charge) is to attract the attention of those on the edges of church life as well as to inform those already involved. There is an outreach strategy at the heart of this project; there is a recognition that we need to communicate more effectively with, and to attract the attention of, people with whom we have been in danger of losing touch. That is why its presentation is more colourful and its content more relevant to a wider audience.
I will happily argue the case again and again and again, that this magazine can be used by every parish as a useful tool to keep in touch with people who might otherwise remain on the edge of parish life. So I urge Synod members to grasp the vision, to engage with the reasoning, to adjust to the sense of loss of the familiar, and to take advantage of a great outreach opportunity, and to feel free to suggest ways in which the publication can be improved and enhanced..
I am very grateful to Billy McSparron, our Acting Editor, for working extremely hard in getting the new magazine into production. Giving hundreds of hours entirely voluntarily, Billy and his wife Florence have been remarkably patient and exceptionally generous in dedicating their time and energy, their prayer and perspiration into making it a reality.
As from January 2006, Billy will hang up his editor?s red pen and Rev Pat Storey, rector of St Augustine?s, has agreed to become the new Editor. She will be assisted by Mark Lennox, a lay reader and ordinand from Castledawson, who will deal with the Parish Notes section.. I thank both of them for their willingness to serve in this important ministry, a ministry of attracting people?s attention to issues of faith.
ATTRACTED TO SERVE
Having enjoyed a couple of years when there were rectors serving in almost all fifty parish groupings in the diocese, we are facing a time early in 2007 when we will be praying for and searching for six or more new rectors.
A key question then becomes, what kind of parish and diocese is likely to draw them? What are the factors which might attract them to serve in your parish? And what might be the factors that would certainly deter them from wanting to explore the possibility at all? These will be key questions for at least six of our parishes within the next few months, but they will eventually become crucially important for every parish sooner or later.
We all have our shopping list when considering what we would like our new rector to be like. As a bishop and as member of Boards of Nomination, I have mine, too! There is always the danger of looking for the impossible in prospective rectors, but among the key attributes that I long to see in clergy who are attracted to this diocese are the gift of leadership (the styles may vary but the effect is the same ? motivated and mobilized people), a conviction that the church can grow spiritually and numerically and a clear idea as to how that growth can take place. The ability to cope with and manage change effectively, the facility to develop a sense of team work with others and to delegate effectively. These are some of the key characteristics I will be looking for in the rectors I trust the Lord will attract to, draw to, ministry this diocese.
CLERGY TEAM
As I come toward the end of this address, I finish by paying tribute to the clergy which we have in the diocese. Later in the day?s Agenda ? at the Diocesan Council Report - I will make more specific reference to changes in the Clergy Team, the various arrivals and departures in the course of the year, but suffice it to say at this point how grateful I am to all of my clergy for the sense of team that we enjoy, for their co-operation and support, for their hard work and for the willingness to cope with the considerable demands that they endure as part of the call of ministry. It is a privilege to serve with them.
ATTRACTED BY CHRIST
In conclusion, let us be conscious of the great heritage in which we stand, and let us be aware of the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. Many of us are conscious today of the death within the past year of two people in particular, one a priest and one a layman, who demonstrated great godliness and steadiness in their service to Christ. Archdeacon George Knowles and Mr Bristow Stevenson were an inspiration to so many people. Just last year, you will remember we made a presentation to Bristow to mark his years of service.
Inspired by their example, may each of us be drawn to Christ, may we fix our eyes on him, may we hang on his every word, may we be attentive to his calling, and may we draw others towards him as his Spirit leads us.
These are great days in which to respond to his calling, to be drawn to accept his love, his grace, his mercy, his forgiveness, his transforming power. Great days to join him in the adventure of faith. Surely our response must be, ?Thanks be to you, our God, for your gift beyond words.? Amen. Amen. Amen.
For further information please contact:
The Diocesan Communications Officer,
The Revd Sam Barton (m) 00353 (0) 87 2885864