Clergy Letter

Clergy Letter. I am writing this on the day that the New Years Honours list has been announced, with a change of emphasis and spirit of generosity. Included this time are many ‘local heroes’; people who have worked hard in their local communities, used their gifts and talents and given of themselves. The greatest difference this time, and the most controversial, is the recognition given to people who have radically changed their lifestyle and outlook - from hedge fund manager to philanthropist, from drug offender to being a source of help and support to young offenders.

The Bible includes many such stories of hope; Joseph’s brothers who changes from bullies to compassionate family members; Zaccheus who turned from dishonest tax collector to penitent benefactor. Lent, which begins on 22nd February, is a time when we are encouraged to take a look at ourselves, our relationship with God and other people, and our motivations, and face up to the ways in which we need to change.

Organisations can change, too. In the recent series on television ‘Churches; how to read them’, Richard Taylor showed how churches have changed dramatically

from one century to another, resulting in intolerance, persecution and the vandalism of church buildings, in the name of religion. One example of this he did not mention was the Act of Uniformity which required all ministers and schoolmasters to give their ‘unfeigned assent and consent to the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England and led to the Great Ejectment of 1662. Many ministers lost their positions and livings by refusing to comply for theological reasons ans thousands of Baptist, Congregational and Presbyterian ministers joined the growing body of Dissent. The 350th anniversary of this event is in 2012 and it will be marked with a Service of reconciliation, healing of memories and mutual commitment in Westminster Abbey on 7th February. It is an example of the changing relationships between churches and the greater emphasis on drawing closer together.

A group from Harrold and Carlton will be attending the Service to represent our Local Ecumenical Partnership, which is one of only about twenty five in the country involving the Church of England and the United Reformed Church. David Tatem, the URC Secretary for Ecumenical relations writes: ‘Right across the country in villages, towns and cities our two denominations work together in a whole variety of ways. At the heart of that cooperation is the friendship between us that both heals the past and enables the future’. It is good that we in the villages are in the forefront of change.

Jane Fox