In procession on the feastday of St Dominic Bishop Dominic writes….
Soon after I was presented with the bishop’s pastoral staff at my episcopal ordination an elderly bishop said to me, ‘Always remember, the pastoral staff has two ends. The rounded end is used by shepherds for bringing back sheep that go astray, the pointed end is used for encouraging the ones who don’t want to move, and the art of being a bishop is knowing which end to use’. Ten years later I realise the wisdom of that advice.
The shepherd is a powerful symbol in both the Old and New Testaments and of course, Jesus identifies himself as the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep so much that he is prepared to die for them. That role is reflected in the bishop’s ministry and in the ministry of all who are pastors. In Wales, our dioceses are small enough for bishops to know their clergy and many of the laity as well. In July, I had the pleasure of leading the diocesan pilgrimage to Walsingham and spending a relaxed time in prayer and friendship with clergy and laity looking at the Sermon on the Mount. The closeness (or accessibility as we call it these days) between bishop and people is one to be treasured. The ordination service says we are to know our own and to be known by them.
I have set aside two months next year to be in the deaneries and available to the parishes because I am aware that with the Lambeth Conference and a variety of meetings the diary for next year is already very full. I suppose meetings are necessary, although as a parish priest I always gave them up for Lent!
Two meetings next year will be of particular significance – the April meeting of the Governing Body and the July Lambeth Conference. The Governing Body will debate the ordination of women as bishops which is a potentially divisive issue with strong feelings held by many on both sides, and the Lambeth Conference (which meets every ten years) has already entered stormy waters with some bishops threatening to refuse to meet with their fellow bishops in a spirit of charity and the seeking of truth. I have to admit that I find such attitudes deplorable. The media will no doubt give full attention as to what divides us rather that what unites us.
This is all very sad when the role of a bishop as shepherd is to lead the flock of Christ and unite the flock under his care. I certainly want to be a bishop both to those who support and those who oppose the ordination of women as bishops, and to hold us together (the round end of the pastoral staff). I also want to lead the diocese forward and equip the church for the tasks that face us (the sharp end of the pastoral staff). This requires deepening our life in Christ and learning new or different ways of doing things.
I am encouraged by those parishes that have engaged in a MAPping (Mission Action Planning) process and Judi Hattaway has planned a weekend (see below) to look at various process evangelism courses (like Alpha and Emmaus) If you parish does not run such courses, please send a few people along. Judi has also planned some other training days for next year and people who attend the events she organises tell me how good they are, so please support them.
One of our pastors, Canon Paul Vann, who has served in this diocese for 42 years, retires this month and will be moving to the Llandaff Diocese. Paul and Heather have been good and faithful servants of the Lord who have worked tirelessly in bringing people to a knowledge of Jesus and his Kingdom. I want to say an enormous ‘thank you’ to them and to wish them many happy years ahead and God’s blessing on a well-deserved retirement.
+ Dominic