Month: May 2009

Martin Ritchie comments and ponders a parallel between ministry and the ‘here today gone tomorrow’ of theatre.  And of course there are many parallels between the church and theatre – as there also are with politics.  In my time as a trainer of Curates, I used to suggest to them that they should learn to leave footprints behind them – to act in a situation so that somehow or other it was clear that they had been there.

I suppose that in ministry it’s a bit of both.  If you are the person who conducts the wedding or the funeral or who comes into the hospital in a moment of crisis, you are unlikely to be forgotten – for better or worse.  For the rest, I think clergy tend to operate on the basis of ‘one sows and another reaps’ – sadly in both the negative and positive measurements.  William Barclay said that we stand on the shoulders of our parents.  When I moved from Northern Ireland, I went through a period of feeling that I should have done more.   I celebrate today an e mail from my successor who has got to the finishing line with a building project which I planned with the parish but couldn’t get built.  Thank God for our successors!

It’s been a fascinating week here with the American bishops in their training in North Carolina. Good for content and good in developing relationships.  I’ll be home tomorrow.

I’ve probably spent more time than many clergy talking to a microphone. So I tend to be a bit ‘iffy’ about media training. But what we had yesterday from Auburn Media was just outstanding. Tough and tender. I learnt a lot.

Beautiful sunshine today – seen through the windows.

Meanwhile it was a day on ‘Overcoming Organisational Defences’ and an exploration of how we deal with conflict. Tomorrow a full day of high quality media training.

And of course, the continuing need for simultaneous translation ..

Hot Button Issues – self-evident

Push Back – as in ‘I’ll give you a bit of push back on that’ – meaning ‘some space to adjust so that you feel more comfortable

Take-away – what I learned from this

I’ve always loved the American language. I used to be on the e mail network of the Bay Area Tandem Club – so that I could follow in spirit at least their expeditions to Sonoma and Sausalito. Their Sunday morning run – for which I was unavailable – was always a ‘Show and Go’

And then of course the networking .. which is unsurpassed.

It’s freezing cold here. But then they say that we are about 3000 feet up – wherever we are.

I’m here in North Carolina at what they call the Residency for the College of Bishops of The Episcopal Church. That means all the bishops elected during the last three years. This week is the center of the program – each of us has a ‘coaching bishop’ with whom we have a commitment to work throughout the year. In my case, that is a Skype-driven relationship with Bishop Philip Duncan of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.

So why do this? Two reasons .. the training is excellent. And it’s a chance to build relationships with bishops in The Episcopal Church at a critical and fascinating time. I’m enjoying it.

It’s seven years since I have been to the US – a bit busy and a bit Bush-averse.  So it’s good to be back in the Land of the Free which is, of course, one of the most compliant nations on earth.  ‘Stand in line’ and they rush to queue up.  Offered 14 levels of Frequent Flyer status and they line up like children waiting for a star from teacher.  My aspiration is that one day I shall  board a plane using the Breezeway.

One thing has changed since I was here last.  The cellphone is king.  Lone travellers talk constantly to Momma back home.  And they start talking as the wheels hit the runway.  All Blackberries – because this is O’Bamaland and he’s Coach.

Meanwhile – a glossary of terms:

Gatehouse [as in Gatehouse of Fleet] – area round the Departure Gate

Approach the Podium – go to the Desk to engage in energetic discussion about seat allocation.  Whatever happened to the quaint idea that one just elbows one’s way on and takes a seat?

Deplane – self-evident

Best of all – but I hardly believe I heard this.  After four flights, I arrived in a tiny plane at Ashville, North Carolina.  The carry on bags were too big – did I hear them referred to as ‘ballet bags’ which we could pick up as we deplaned.

So onward with America TV – offering me Gloria Copland’s ‘Believer’s Voice of Victory’ where ‘The future is stored up in YOUR  heart’

All a bit hectic here – what with trying to get ourselves deployed for the launch of our Casting the Net Programme.  Clergy are taking avoiding action when hit by salvoes of e mails and mailings – 20 interesting things to do with a net in worship, etc.

But I suppose it’s better than just sitting and worrying about the Pension Fund.

It also seemed like a good moment for me to go off on a training course for a week – give everybody a break.  I’m doing the training programme for bishops in The Episcopal Church of the US of A.  I hope to get there approximately on Sunday via Amsterdam, Detroit and Atlanta.

I’m in Belfast at the ‘Consultative Forum’ of the Mission to Seafarers – Chaplains and [slightly unfortunately named] Liaison Bishops from across the world.

Interesting to come as a visitor and get the briefing.  The place looks busy and smart.  More new cars than in Perthshire – but that’s old money for you.  Belfast Cathedral – never my most favourite building – looks very well and clearly impresses the visitor.

What surprises me is an apparent regression in the election posters.  I was here just before the last Assembly Elections and was interested to mark the welcome retreat of flags and the like from the posters.  Indeed the election literature suddenly seemed to have discovered the issues of ‘bread and butter’ politics for the first time.  There was a feeling of real change coming.  But now it’s European Election time  … the same tired faces with flags behind them offer us ‘Time for a Change’ – but what change precisely?

We were offered a visit to the Assembly at Stormont this evening.  I chose not to go.  The churches didn’t cover themselves with glory during the Troubles.  The political class needed thirty years to produce something workable .. while police, soldiers and civilians died.  I’m afraid I still feel distaste.

First ‘ouch’ from digging the second half of the vegetable patch.  Bit less clay than the first but more stones.  Earlies and main crop potatoes in the first half.

Second ‘ouch’ from finding myself [not in uniform as it were] faced with a lady in the midst of a throng who said to me ‘I’ve given it all up.  I can’t believe it any more’  I could have told her about tomorrow’s Ethiopian eunuch – had there been time.  I failed to content myself – or her, I guess – with some muttering about ‘getting older and believing less and less but believing it more and more strongly.’

Third ‘ouch’ comes from doing a little dipping into the goings on at the Church of Ireland Synod which is taking place in Armagh.   Blogstead is being represented by +Bruce and Elaine.  Good to see all my old friends faithfully churning away …   Some little anguish in the ranks, tho’.  ‘Funds deployed’ by the Representative Church Body are described as being reduced by 42% – described as the greatest challenge to the church since Disestablishment.  Well, let’s forgive them the slight oversight in missing two World Wars and a 30 year conflict in Ireland.  The church is preparing to put 4m euro into the pension fund and raise the contribution level.  Since 75% of my pension is in there, I take an interest in these things.  And it’s good to see my old stamping ground of the Hard Gospel Programme having achieved ‘part of our life’ status.

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I suppose this is a bit stereotypical … but there we are.  If anybody out there is pondering ministry in Scotland, this picture may encourage you.  Thank-you to Alistair of our congregation in Lochearnhead for this picture taken just before their early Easter Day Eucharist.  This was the Eucharist during which an osprey descended and caught a fish.  At what point?  Well it had to be at the Epiklesis, I presume.

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