We have just entered Advent with all its longing and great hope and promise. I have been encouraged this year by the way the churches across the Diocese have begun to look forward out of Covid, how they stepped into the community with the Death of Her Majesty the Queen, and the pressures from the cost-of-living crisis, speaking of the hope we have found in Jesus Christ. As always, you continue to be my inspiration and I am thankful for your ministry.
As we look forward, I am aware that we will consider the next stage of Living in Love and Faith. This time last year at the Diocesan Synod, I quoted from Matthew 14:
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
I recognise that, as February 2023 approaches, and the next stage of Living in Love and Faith is ever closer, many are expressing fear or at least behaving in a way which is motivated by fear.
Last year I spoke about how Isabelle Hamley, the then Archbishop’s Chaplain, had spoken about fear on BBC Radio’s ‘Thought for the Day’. She commented that fear is a strange thing. On the one hand it is essential to survival – yet on the other hand, it threatens to overcome us. We all face a battle between good and bad fear.
To hear the words of Jesus, ‘do not be afraid,’ is not to pretend that fear is not there but to carry on living in an appropriate way. To hear the words of Jesus, ‘do not be afraid,’ is to hear what comes next – ‘I am with you’. It doesn’t deny fear, but it says that God walks with us.
I wonder what it is that we are afraid of because of the LLF process? We may fear not being listened to, we may fear being marginalised, we may fear being misunderstood, we may fear for the future of the Church of England, we may fear abuse or bullying. And our fight or flight response can so easily turn to getting in our pre-emptive attack, as a form of defence.
I want to remind us of the pastoral principles which have been developed to help us have difficult conversations, not just about sexuality, but for all our interactions. They help us to improve the quality of our interactions and relationships in addressing not only fear but prejudice, hypocrisy, silence, ignorance and power.
We are the body of Christ, a loving community – living in love, with mutual acceptance and affection – loving for the benefit of the whole and not for individual purposes. Our unity is in the body with Christ as the head. Being united to Christ makes us united to one another. Now unity does not mean uniformity. If our image of the body which is unified under Christ allows for diversity, it recognises that diversity and difference exist and finds space for disagreement – which at times will hurt.
The image of the body reminds us that each part of the body needs to be motivated by charitable love, seeking the health of the body rather than one’s own glory – there is no more excellent way.
It was this image which dominated the Lambeth Conference in July. Within the grounds of Canterbury University, we demonstrated our fellowship with one another. We had the opportunity for the study of Scripture together, to join in the Eucharist, to worship and to listen to each other. For me it was a profound experience. It has shaped me, and I am very grateful.
As the ‘Living in Love and Faith’ process continues it is drawing comment and debate across the media and social media. Thought pieces, pastoral communications and lengthy considerations of the issues at hand have been widely shared.
Whatever the House and College of Bishops brings to the February Synod, there will be disappointment somewhere. I hope we do not see this conversation as being about winning or losing.
As Bishops in the London Diocese, we are acutely aware of the range of emotions being felt, from joy and hopefulness through to fear and deep anxiety, as speculation mounts. At this stage, it is not clear what might be presented to the General Synod in February – the National College of Bishops meets again in December for further discussions.
The differences of position held across the Anglican Communion, the Church of England, the Diocese of London, and within our parishes and chaplaincies, are reflected in the London College of Bishops. From this perspective, we want to assure you of our own commitment to continue journeying prayerfully, united as followers of Christ. We remain determined to find the path together by which we can all continue to be faithful to Christ and full of gratitude for our shared life in the Church of England. We pray that together the Church will continue in a culture of generous dialogue and not debate – speaking well of each other.
Equally, we are mindful of the deep sensitivities that many of you live with in relation to these conversations. We ask for your prayers as we pray for you. We will continue the discipline of listening to one another deeply, attentively, lovingly and with profound respect, in the hope of the Gospel which demands and effects reconciliation for God’s world.
Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”’