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In an attempt to craft a document which might express some outcomes of the conference, and provide something for Bishops to take back to our dioceses, we are having a series of "Hearings".
We meet in a hot tent! A large space carved out of a sports hall, with drapes all around and a huge stage at one end. Participants sit in groups at round tables. On the platform sits an impressive row of more than 20 people: those charged with listening and drafting material fit for purpose. Among those on the platform is Michael Perham, Bishop of Gloucester and former Dean of Derby.They have a very tough task.
The Hearing works with papers tabled, or made available in the morning, providing a summary of Indaba Group discussion on the various topics allocated to us each day. After a brief introduction from the Chair, two long lines of Bishops form behind two microphones. Each person can speak for up to three minutes. After two minutes a yellow card is held up, after three minutes a red card to indicate being sent off! Football may be a more powerful shaper of many lives than the resources we claim to consult!
The problem is that of democracy itself. Every voice has a particular point - a prejudice, a question, an illumination. Clearly some contributions are more important than others. But without more careful and substantial input it is going to be very difficult to turn these words into a Word that might be worthy of an exercise of episocopal leadership. There are too many topics, too many voices and no mechanism for authoritative editing. Perhaps common sense and good will of participants will somehow prevail, but we only have two days remaining!
Football is certainly recognised as a priority in some parts of the communion. An American Bishop told a story of being a special service where there was a large choir. They sang a lovely anthem, and then, as he went to the pulpit to preach, the choir all left. He wondered if he had done anything to offend them. In fact they had managed to obtain tickets for an important "football" match!
Alongside the discussions and debates we have enjoyed deepening relationships with those with whom we work closely. In my bible study group of 7 people plus an interpreter, this has been encouraged and enacted by the giving of gifts: a key ring from Cuba, a figure of the great statue of Christ in Rio, a mexican sombrero, a fleur-de-lys brooch from New Orleans. The giving and receiving of gifts is a deeper level of communion than our sometimes very different words seem able to produce. In the Eucharist we bring ourselves, and recieve the gift of the Word made flesh and blood. When the gift is given in our group people smile, feel the pleasure of being noticed and appreciated and part of something greater than themselves. This exchange of gifts is the common language of humanity at our best - joining together all our different cultures. It provides an important model of how transactions in words can be embraced in a deeper transaction with the Word of Life.
There can be some cost. One of our colleagues from India tackled us today. His wife had given him a special piece of cloth to present to Caroline and me followng their visit to the diocese. The material was fairly bulky and heavy. He had been carrying it about for four days, not finding us in the crowds. Each evening he had to report not finding us to his wife! Each morning he was sent off with the same task!
There is something important about timing and the giving of gifts. Sometimes circumstances seem to contrive against us, as with our Indian friend. But when we did meet, it meant that our exchange was much richer and more revealing - there were stories to explore around the effort to give and recieve.
Similarly in the Bible study group people chose different days on which to give their gift. Our Cuban lady Bishop on the first day. Our Mexican on the second day - others of us at a later stage in the process!
God's gift of the Word is also linked to the importance of timing. Although always available to those who would recieve it, sometimes we need to struggle to put ourselves in the right place and in the right circumstance to be able to recieve properly. Sometimes we need to discern carefully our relations with others in God's family so that the Word can join us with power rather than by something more automatic and formal.
By nature Bishops, like most human beings, are full of words. Words are the surface currency of our conference. There is an art of timing, of perserverance in intention, and of preparing carefully for the right time: this is the art of prayerful reflection - enabled by scripture, by liturgy, by fellowship and godly conversation. If we can bring our words to each other and our words to our Heavenly Father to the right place and in the right circumstance, we can receive His Word - to cleanse, enlighten and inspire us to be more properly a Holy Communion.
Words find The Word at the Altar of Sacrifice where we stop to look and to listen, to be purified and to receive. |
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Posted by derbyatlambeth on 2008-08-02 13:03:10 | Rating: | Views: 120
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