GadgetVicar

Help! I'm a Slammer!

Apparently I have "slammed" my colleague from St Mary's Cathedral. You have to hate the Sun, don't you? All they did was pick up the Scotland on Sunday story. They didn't speak to me and I suspect the same is true for Kelvin. Mind you, he's quite pleased with his photograph.

At the Launch of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, Westminster Central Hall, London, 6/7/09

Can you spot GadgetVicar? And who is that sitting next to him? (Photograph courtesy of Stephen Sizer)

It was great to catch up with some old friends, as well as listen to some fine speakers.

We were reminded that this is a renewal movement and not a schismatic organisation. Instititutional Anglicanism needs reformed and that isn't going to happen overnight, so endurance and patience are going to be needed.

As well as focussing on the mission of the local church, both in the UK and around the world, attention was drawn to several other issues.

1. Problems with how people are called, trained and appointed for ordained ministry. Several situations were illustrated where highly qualified candidates (as recognised by their local churches and others), found it difficult to get through the ordination process because of their lack of "sophistication". One person had been made to do placements in liberal congregations "to broaden his experience" (Question: Why is it never the other way about? In twenty-one years of church leadership, I've only ever had one ordinand on placement, and then only because he specifically asked for this). There is a huge ecclesiological issue here, where the centre takes the authority and ignores the wisdom and needs of the local church. And yes, I know all about people being ordained for the whole church and all that, but I want to argue for training that forms praying, holy, creative and entrepreneurial people rather than simple drones.

2.  Help for beleagured people. Forward in Faith members were present in significant numbers. There were ordained women present too. Several calls for patience and understanding of one another were made during the day. It's possible to work together despite this difference, because this is perceived as a second order issue and not one of salvation. However, those who are unable to accept the ordination of women to the priesthood or episcopate need some kind of support enshrined in canon law, if they are to remain part of the church. Such support is noticeable by its absence in Scotland, and indeed I wonder how difficult it might be for a traditional Anglo-catholic to get ordained thes days? This does not bode well for those who take a different view on other issues facing the Communion. What provision would be made for them once canon law catches up with the facts on the ground (clergy in civil partnerships, same-sex blessings taking place already)? I've long argued that we'll see just how inclusive the church really is is by the form of legislation that gets passed on these matters.

One thing that is increasingly clear is that declining churches have a tendency towards centralisation, theological drift and canonical fundamentalism. That makes for a thoroughly toxic mix.

Many Meetings....

On Monday I had the pleasure of working with colleagues on drawing up a profile of the diocese in preparation for the Diocesan Synod on June 20th, where the long process of electing a new bishop for Glasgow and Galloway will begin. It felt like a good meeting.

On Tuesday, I visited the new home of Glasgow City Mission (of which I am a Director). The building is due to be completed this month. It's a superb purpose-built facility with a gymn, computing and artistic facilities. The main offices will be based on the third floor with the first two floors housing the facilities that will serve the neediest people of Glasgow. Andrew Lowe, the  Chief Executive and his team have done a tremendous job on the project.  It gave me a flavour of what we might face at St Silas' in the coming year when we start building our new hall. Exciting!

Today after meeting with our staff, it was a meeting with the Gibson Street Gala committee. This community event takes place on the 21st June and is part of the West End Festival. St Silas' will be open all day making a contribution to the activities. We need to find a few responsible people to steward the activities for children which the committee have organised. Any takers?

GV boy completed his schooling today, as he sat his last exam. I took him out to celebrate by seeing Terminator Salvation (get the irony?).

I have to spend considerable time in Edinburgh over the next ten days. I haven't been there much since 1995 when we moved to Glasgow, so I'm looking forward to it.

First up is a meeting of the Scottish Episcopal Evangelical Fellowship tomorrow at St Thomas', Corstorphine. We've finally called people together after not meeting for three or four years. It will be good to catch up with old friends and make some new ones.

Next Tuesday is this conference at P's & G's. I'm excited about the conference content, but also because I'll be visiting the church where I was a curate back in the eighties. I haven't seen the new facilities yet, but will enjoy doing so soon.

It's back to Edinburgh for General Synod Thursday-Saturday of next week. After twenty-one years of ordained ministry, I am finally going to be a fresher at Synod. Someone suggested to me the other day that I must have drawn the short straw. What have I let myself in for, I wonder?

Alfie at the Beach

Easter Service Images

Grayza has published some photographs of our Good Friday event here and Easter Sunday morning service here.

What a Fox....

January 2nd 2009: Jordanhill Campus, Glasgow. We stared at each other for a long time. S/he won.

Twilight and Smoke Over Pollok Park - 2/11/08

Carolina Hummingbird

Uganda - Days 6 & 7 (Kabale & Rukungiri)

Mark and the others left on Monday morning, leaving me with a day largely to myself. I wandered around Kabale, visiting the local internet cafe on the way.

Late in the afternoon, Benson arranged a drive to Lake Bunyonyi, a most beautiful spot  and the deepest lake in Uganda. The lake is studded with little island. It's another of those places of huge contrasts. We sat by the lake at a comfortable tourist resort. Not far away women were chipping away at rocks, pounding them into gravel. We passed through several very poor villages. Yet this place is something of a playground for westerners and wealthy East Africans alike. One has to deal with the mixed feelings such awareness brings: joy at the beauty of the Lord's creation and frustration at the inequalities of the world.

That evening, I also visited the cathedral in Kabale. Festo Kivengere, the 'Billy Graham of Africa' and Bishop of Kigezi is buried there. It was an honour to stand beside his grave and remember how God had used him to bring many to faith in Jesus. We met the Dean of the diocese and several of the cathedral staff and we too the opportunity to pray together. I had a sense that I will return there.

Tuesday meant leaving for Rukungiri. It was time for farewells to Daniel and Provia who had provided such exemplary service. I was genuinely sad to be leaving Kabale. Though a busy little town, I had found much peace there.

The plan for getting to Rukungiri was to drive to Ntungamo and catch a bus from there. In the end we took a taxi for the 50km drive from Ntungamo. What a journey that proved to be! Not only did we stop every few kilometers to change passengers but at one point there were five people on the back seat, two in the driver's seat and myself in the front passenger seat (mercifully they didn't make me share the seat). Neither my seatbelt nor the speedometer were working, and I reckon the rattling vehicle was doing 120km an hour up and down those rolling hills. It was a white knuckle ride and my prayer life has never been better

I arrived safely and was met by Kenneth Karaijya, the vicar at Emmanuel Cathedral. Kenneth had studied at the International Christian College and had worshipped with us at St Silas'. We took refreshment at the 'Hallelujah Tea Room' courtesy of its owner, William then it was back to the vicarage for a sumptuous dinner prepared by Kenneth's wife, Patricia. Evening entertainment was provided by their toddler son, Daniel.

I was to sleep in the guest house next door and had a very comfortable room. Not far away were two trees, and I could hear birds squawking loudly. At least I though it was birds, until I saw them flying, at which point I realised that these two trees were providing shelter to large numbers of very large fruit bats. Apparently the children of the area try to frighten them off with drums and shouting.

Before retiring for the night, I stood under the African sky and thanked the Lord that, 'The heavens declare the glory of God' (Psalm 19:1).

Smiles, near Rukungiri, Uganda