Moderator's Address
Part I
[ Part I: Exile or Exodus ] [ Part II: The Context of Cultural Change ] [ Part III: Exile ] [ Part IV: The Search for a New Spirituality ] [ Part V: The Jacob Factor ] [ Part VI: The Church in Post-Modern Society ] [ Part VII: The Task of the Local Church ] [ Part VIII: Risk and Hope ] [ Part IX:Conclusion ]
Exile or Exodus?
A Church Looks to the Future
The meeting of Assembly – bringing together, as it does, representatives
of three nations – is a sign both of continuity with the traditions that
make up our history and a commitment to seek God’s future.
It is to the future that we are looking, but at this moment I feel the
continuity in a particularly personal way. Thirty three years ago my father
was Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of England. While this has obvious
significance for me, I do not wish to dwell on it except to tell a story
from the opening session in the City Temple in 1970 that may lead me into my
theme.
The Moderator’s address was over, at last. Though I here give an enormous
hostage to fortune, I have to say that it had gone on a bit! One of the
ecumenical visitors that night was Dr John Marsh, former distinguished
Principal of Mansfield College and a notable leader in the Congregational
Church. He arrived hot-foot from somewhere in the west of London, having
been present for the opening of the Congregational May Meeting. Once
welcomed and invited to speak he said, ‘Moderator, I was very pleased to
hear the end of your address’. The Assembly greeted this remark with
enthusiasm. He wasn’t the only one!
Which is all very salutary and it has made me wonder what the Moderator’s
address is for. Is it to set the mood for Assembly? Is it to give an
overview of the present state of the church? Is it an extended sermon? Is it
meant to be scholarly, inspirational, prophetic, visionary? It obviously
depends on the Moderator. All are gifted in different ways, and while some
have been scholarly and some visionaries, most - I guess - will not have
expected to make history; they simply spoke out of their experience and
shared their faith.
I come as one who has spent most of my ministry in pastoral charge. I
grew up with the church shaping my life and it has inevitably influenced
those closest to me. With such a history my experience of the wider world
has been limited. I have less first-hand knowledge than many of the
pressures and temptations of a competitive, aggressive society. Church life,
of course, is not immune from ambitious, competitive and aggressive people,
but for all its limitations I care passionately about its life and work. I
know of few experiences more moving than acts of worship, large or small,
when the Word touches the hearts and minds and souls of people. To feel the
spirit soar and the mind be widened and the soul exult is one of the supreme
privileges of church life. To encounter the loving God, to walk with people
as they grow towards faith, are nourished, ask questions, discover it is
possible to express doubt and to reach the moment of commitment to Jesus
Christ is supremely rewarding. There are few greater privileges than to be
with people at their most vulnerable moments – to have a sense of being on
holy ground when they share their worst secrets – to feel the helplessness
when ‘being with’ someone is all you can do – of receiving blessing from
someone to whom you thought you were going to give pastoral care. These
things can never be changed, however much the externals of church life are
altered.
However, as I acknowledged last year in accepting election, I am one of a
dying breed. I have only ever been part of a one-church one-minister
situation, whereas probably the majority here have only ever known shared
ministries or groups. I have a lot to learn this year. Even so, I bring my
convictions about the importance of the local congregation, about the value
and relevance of the ministry of word and sacrament – which is not to
devalue or under-estimate other forms of ministry. I bring a long-standing
concern about the health of those in church leadership and the stress that
is placed upon them. I also bring a recognition that the role of minister
may change significantly in the future.
I must acknowledge that though my commitment to the church runs deep, it
is not the church per se that we are here to serve. Jesus said, ‘Seek first
the Kingdom of God’.
Nevertheless we are here to serve both and in addressing issues national
and local, we have to acknowledge that Assembly meets within several
contexts. Some of these have very long names – theological, sociological,
ecclesiological, missiological, political, pastoral – they are all around in
some way. This evening the General Secretary will set out some of the issues
in the Agenda before us. Some are constants, not least the current state of
the world. Given what the world has been through this year, some of the
concerns on our agenda may seem to be secondary in comparison with the
profounder issues of justice and peace, good and evil, suffering and hope.
Even so we have to deal with what is before us and, without suggesting
contemporary life is not affecting us, attend to what Assembly is for in
terms of the church. The most significant, new, additional factor behind
this assembly is, of course, the radical review, commissioned by Mission
Council, of the priorities, programmes and processes of the United Reformed
Church.
There is a widespread feeling that the moment is right for this review.
There is a recognition that the fundamental analysis prompting it is
accurate. A tide has been caught, the mood is hopeful, energy has been
released.
The moment is right because we know we are at a time of testing and
challenge. It may not be exactly a krisis, – to use the greek form of the
word, a moment of judgement, but it’s much more likely that we are at a
kairos, a moment in God’s time that is right for change, maybe radical
change. Some of the dreaming is exciting. The very decision to undertake a
review is ‘heady’. We sense something positive is happening. Further along
the path some of the euphoria will wear off; the struggle to define new
patterns will become harder going. We’ll want to argue the toss. We won’t
want to close this or let go of that. Not everyone will be convinced that
what some want is what God wants. A few, of course, will be absolutely
certain that what they want God wants!
What I’m aiming to do in this address – and perhaps in the course of the
year - is to see the review in the light of some of its contexts – cultural,
theological, biblical.
I particularly want to address the fact that people are seeking spiritual
nourishment, but often looking outside the church.
I want to affirm the potential of the local congregation to respond to
the needs and to meet the opportunities and challenges of our day.
I, therefore, seek to give encouragement and hope.
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