GadgetVicar

John Stott

John Stott died today. You can read more about him via the link. Richard Bewes, one of his successors as Rector of All Souls, Langham Place, writes:

Beloved John Stott, my next-door neighbour for 22 years, went to Glory at 3.15 this afternoon, (British time). He had not been ill, but - at 90 - he had simply done enough, and slipped away peacefully at the home where he has been so well looked after, at St Barnabas College, Lingfield in Surrey. His secretary for over 50 years, Frances Whitehead, was with him; also his niece Caroline (and her daughter Emily), together with his faithful visitor Philip Herbert.

So far, that is all that there is to pass on.

There will obviously be deep thanksgiving for John, and we can be sure that more will eventually be known through the website http://johnstott.org/

John Stott had a profound influence on many a church leader and many more lay people. His Bible-teaching ministry and his commentaries have helped grow several generations of followers of Jesus who can communicate its message clearly.

I am very grateful to have spent a short time with him when I was a curate more than twenty years ago. It was a nerve wracking responsibility to look after the great man for the day when he had time off from preaching at the church I served. I knew he was a birdwatcher (or should that be birder?), and so I arranged some time in the country for him to pursue his hobby. He was very kind and interested in me throughout. On the way home he mentioned that the one book of his that he did not have a copy of was Christ the Controversialist. I think this book was based on some lectures he'd given in Edinburgh. As it happened, the week before I met him, I had acquired a first edition copy of that very book in a second hand shop. I had the joy of giving that copy to its author.

John Stott helped shape my handling of scripture and my preaching. He was a unifying figure for Anglican and non-Anglican evangelicals. Sadly, there is no-one of his stature around today who can fulfil that role. He will be sorely missed. But many around the world will be giving thanks to God for his long and fruitful ministry. May his sermons, books and life continue to encourage other followers of Jesus to remain faithful.

These then are the marks of the ideal Church - love, suffering, holiness, sound doctrine, genuineness, evangelism and humility. They are what Christ desires to find in His churches as He walks among them. John Stott - Basic Introduction to the New Testament, Eerdmans, 1964, p. 163-164

                                                        

June (So Far)

June is proving to be a bit full on.

First came my preaching trip to Sweden. Having been used to several such trips overseas every year, since 2008 I've been resolute in staying at home. I was a little nervous at this trip, but I was returning to somewhere I knew and among friends - all was well in the end. The highlights for me were the prayer ministry times, when many people came and shared their requests.

Last Wednesday, I had the joy of going down to a meeting at St Ninian's, Prestwick where I am interim priest, following the retiral of my friend and mentor, Philip Noble. He and his wife Ros will be sorely missed after their twenty eight year ministry there. It was lovely to enter the building I know so well and see the people listening and talking to the Lord about their hopes for the future ministry there.

Last weekend brought a return visit by the young people of Tranemo, Sweden. A finer group of young people you couldn't hope to meet. I particularly enjoyed the game of 'Samurai' we played in church after the service on Sunday night. Sunday also brought our Gift Day, when we seek to give thanks to God by giving again. St Silas' people have given so sacrificially over the last few years in order that our new building be realised - it's tough going back to them to ask for more. Yet we did just that, trusting that the Lord of the cattle on a thousand hills will supply our needs. The slight variation this time is our need to replace the church boilers - I've been rector sixteen years this month and I saw the present boilers being installed in 1996! This is getting a little scary....

The rectory is up for sale and this evening I had a couple viewing. Turns out the wife is expecting her baby today - I was prepared to deliver if necessary. Much of today was spent tidying, cleaning decluttering. Maybe they'll be the ones who buy?

Thursday means me representing the diocese at General Synod until Saturday, then on Sunday it's down to St Ninian's, Prestwick for their Pentecost service, followed by me spending much of the afternoon getting wet at the 'Sponge The Vicar' stall outside St Silas' (part of our contribution to the Gibson Street Gala). I love the variety my 'job' offers!

He Come From A Land Down Under

We've got an Australian friend, Gary Nelson, arriving tomorrow. He is Director of External Studies at Moore College, Sydney and he travels the world offering courses in theological education. He arrives in Scotland having spent two weeks in Nigeria. He'll be preaching at St Silas' on Sunday night.

Here's a little flavour of what he does:

Interpreting the Bible - Introduction from Moore College on Vimeo.

Bad Vestments

I am not renowned for my love of vestments (understatement of the century!). I have always understood that their purpose was to symbolise purity or authority or mask the personality of the individual underneath, so that the focus is on God, rather than the person. Personally, I find them to be an anachronism that might speak volumes to some of the faithful, but for many outside the church, they just make us appear even more obscure or irrelevant. Anyway, thanks to The Ugley Vicar, I've discovered Bad Vestments, a site which indicates that such attire can be truly unattractive and can also undermine any of the reasons popularly given for wearing it.

Is it time for a new department of ecclesiastical apparatchiks to be created? 'The Bad Vestment Committee', which will ensure that, if clergy must dress up, they do so with good taste.

21st Century Disciples

21st Century Disciples proved to be a superb day conference. Bishop Graham Cray spoke for almost four hours in total, giving us an incarnational model of mission that chimed with much of the way I've been thinking of late. His biblical contextualization helped provide a framework for us to be disciples in Scotland in the here and now. Jesus is both Saviour and Lord, but he is a Lord unlike others. He is not one amongst many: He is The Lord. Bishop Graham contrasted and compared the world of the 1st century and our world. Consumerism, fame, money and power were all issues then too. Part of our discipleship is to work within that framework, but to subvert the systems which seek to shape us. I think it left me with a renewed confidence that the Gospel is effective - it works! Too many of (even in church leadership) have lost such confidence. The whole thing was a powerful call to witness and mission which left me with a feeling that we might need to offer this course to the whole congregation. It was such a good platform for what will happen as we take part in the Gibson Street Festival tomorrow.

I asked Bishop Graham my burning question of the day: ' What are you listening to at the moment?' He was delighted to be asked this, because he is an aficianado of all things 'rock'. The National and Arcade Fire featured heavily, as did a gig to see Neil Young  play in a field. I could barely contain my excitement - a bishop who likes the same music I do. I don't even have friends who like the same music I do! He becomes my second favourite bishop. At the end of the conference, as he departed, he made a point of telling me, 'I forgot to mention The Hold Steady'. He rawks!

Distancing

From The Times.

I'm not alone.

Synod & The Presiding Bishop

At 5pm, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, will be welcomed by the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church. She will address the Synod on 'Mission'. I will be leaving the meeting at that point, as I am concerned about the signal this visit is giving out. The Presiding Bishop clearly wants to create the image that TEC has good relationships with the different Anglican communities in the UK, as she visits Scotland, the USPG conference and Southwark Cathedral this weekend.

I'm not only concerned about TEC's approach to the moratoria - it's also about the ongoing litigation against congregations which try to leave TEC with their church buildings. Some of my friends have faced terrible pain as a result and there seems to be a slash and burn approach which lacks any grace at all. I think the timing of this talk and welcome at our Synod is inappropriate. It would be just as inappropriate to have invited a GAFCON primate, as some of my reappraising colleagues would be upset by that.

I simply don't feel that I can stay and pretend that all is well. I'm too hurt. I'm going to find a quiet place to pray with at least one other who feels the same way.

Instead of dinner at the Sheraton, I'll just have to watch France play Uruguay in the World Cup.

Blogging, General Synod, Gender

I'm at the annual gathering of the Scottish Episcopal Church Bloggers. Actually, it's the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church, but it seems that just about all of the clergy bloggersare here, tweeting, blogging, texting and whatever. We've just been asked to keep the noise of our keyboard clicking down. I feel persecuted.

Two days or so in my old stomping ground of Haymarket in Edinburgh and the opportunity to catch up with old friends will also help to make it a worthwhile trip. I've just met Rev Dr Maurice Ellott, former verger at P's & G's in Edinburgh when I was there in the '80's, and now principal of the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin.

The gender audit will reveals that not enough women are getting to lead the Church. Apparently we need to stop stereotyping women as secretaries and men as treasurers at local level (I'm excited that during my time at St Silas' we've had more male secretaries than female and more female treasurers than male, therefore we break the mould. We've also always had a lot of very gifted women in leadership positions). The big issue will be the 'glass ceiling', where it's felt that there aren't enough women in senior clergy positions. I guess that there will be some kind of call towards positive discrimination. I understand the frustration if people feel that their gifts aren't being used, but then a lot of the blokes in ordained ministry can feel that too. Maybe we get too wrapped up in our rights or what we believe we should be doing, when we forget what a privilege it is to be called to any ministry. It ain't a job and it certainly isn't a career (and I worry about anyone who is in it looking for advancement, whether they are male or female). I'm concerned that we need an age audit and some solid attempt to get younger people to consider giving the whole of their lives in ordained service. We need a policy of getting 'the ungifted, shifted' (whether they are male or female) and then we need to ensure that the people with the gifts (whether they are male or female) are called and equipped to get the job done. 'Nuff said. Oh, and a wee bit of humility all round doesn't go amiss.

My position on all this can be summed up as follows:

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Or, to put it another way:

If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

Consecration

This collect is from 'The Consecration of Bishops' according to the Book of Common Prayer:

Most merciful Father, we beseech thee to send down upon this thy servant thy heavenly blessing;

and so endue him with thy Holy Spirit, that he, preaching thy Word,

may not only be earnest to reprove, beseech, and rebuke with all patience and doctrine;

but also be to such as believe a wholesome example,

in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in chastity, and in purity; that, faithfully fulfilling his course,

at the latter day he may receive the crown of righteousness laid up by the Lord the righteous Judge,

who liveth and reigneth one God, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

St Patrick's Breastplate

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;*
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the cherubim;
The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.