Down to the final few hours of my short time away. I will leave with much to think about in the days ahead. There are a few points which are at the forefront of my mind which have come not only by the teaching of the week but by observing the conversations of those around me; the bulk of whom are clergy.
- Too much time is being spent on administrating a crumbling Church structure and not enough on ministering to the people around us.
- The parish system as it stands is getting past its ’sell by’ date. It does have its advantages, but in a fluid society these are fast becoming outweighed by its disadvantages.
- Dwindling congregations are often a block to change. There is simply not enough people in some Churches to call upon but far worse is the ‘we have always done it this way’ attitude.
- Diocese and Deanery make their ‘mission plans’ but the name is often a cover up for organised retreat.
So what is the answer?
- Celtic Monastic communities were village like, they attracted people from all over.
- At the heart of each community was prayer in the form of the offices – it was prayer that directed and sustained the whole.
Here, I believe, is the answer. It does not matter how small or isolated our Church may be, God has given us all the same resource – 24 hours in which to pray. Instead of cutting back on services let us increase those that lead us to prayer. Even if there is one person we can have morning and evening prayer each day of the week. We can encourage those that can’t get to the church to join us where they are. Prayer is the seed from which all other things grow.
In Forestry we sometimes have to give up on trees that are old and diseased and on which no amount of pruning will help. The good forester sees what is happening and makes sure that seed is planted for the future.
Let us stop pruning and begin planting – the sooner the better if we are not to be left with only the dead.
Tags: Church