On Saturday 16th November, members of the Diocesan Synod met for the first meeting of the new triennium. The meeting also marked Bishop Ruth's last Diocesan Synod with us as Acting Bishop of Coventry. Below is her Presidential Address to the Synod.
This time last year, as I began my time amongst you, I opened my presidential address with these words:
‘Sisters and brothers, I wonder if like me, you feel a bit like those sea-sick disciples in that fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee, wondering if the storm will ever stop. it’s been a tumultuous week in the life of the world, our nation, and the Church. So, thank you for being here!
Of course, those disciples realised that it would be foolhardy to get out of the boat on this occasion, with the storm at its peak. They cried out to Jesus instead, blissfully asleep, and seemingly unaware of the fear in his friends. His word of ‘Peace’ stilled the storm and the fear.’
Well, it has been another momentous week. We have heard of the horrendous suffering of victims who have courageously spoken of the physical beatings undergone by them, more than forty years ago, as young people in the care of Winchester College, Iwerne camps and Cambridge University. It shames us that such abuse took place in the name of Christ, and that Christian leaders within the Church failed to call it out as wrong. I am so sorry for all the harm and hurt inflicted upon each one, and the neglect of those of us who should have made a difference.
I invite us to hold a moment of silence as we recognise the pain, hurt and abuse that those who suffered at the hands of John Smyth experienced, and that of all victims and survivors of other abusers within the Church….
Perhaps at the end of this week which has seen the resignation of our Archbishop, Justin, and the horrific revelations of abuse that we as the Church failed to acknowledge and respond to, we may be feeling the same as those early disciples. And yet this Sunday we will mark Safeguarding Sunday, a day which tells of the journey we are making as a Church. A day that reminds us of the progress we have made in the last decade. I want to give thanks for all God’s faithful people who serve as safeguarding officers in our parishes and the vigilance which each of you shows in ensuring that all are welcome, cared for and protected within our worshipping communities. The culture is changing and that is to be commended.
Having received the recent reports on lessons for the Church to learn, following the abuses of John Smyth, Mike Pilavachi, Jonathan Fletcher and others, it would be understandable for us to throw up our hands and give up in embarrassment and shame. However, we need to remind ourselves that the Church is no different from any other institution. We are made up of people who sin, make mistakes and who fail to face the reality of our humanity. The only difference is that we know that God’s love reaches out to offer us a different way of being, a way based upon our repentance, His forgiveness, and the transformational power of the Spirit of God to bring about change.
Today we meet as a new synod for the diocese. Welcome! Welcome especially to those of you who have stood for the first time and are now wondering what you have let yourselves in for!
Today we focus on the life of the diocese. You are here to bring your prayer and care to help us, together, hear how God wants to shape the Church in Coventry diocese for the future. We will be focussing on vision and thinking about how God wants us to experience life in all its fulness. What might that look like? How might it frame how we do our work together?
We will be looking at the way we spend our money and agree a budget for the coming year. You will have seen that we are asking you to accept a deficit budget, not a step we would wish to take but a necessary one just now. We will have some hard choices to make as we move forward. The use of our resources needs to be shaped by the vision we hold and as a synod we will invite you to reflect on differing aspects of that vision at each meeting. Today we will have the opportunity to consider our response to the net zero ambition, reflecting on how money has been used and the achievements made.
In addition, we shall pay attention to how we play our part within the wider Church, hearing from our representatives to General Synod, and considering a motion about how discernment for bishops is determined. During next year we shall be asked to contribute to the national debate around the use of Prayers of Love and Faith as part of the Church’s discernment about its theology, missiology and ecclesiology.
As those elected from around the diocese to serve on this body, you have the responsibility to give voice to those you represent, whose stories and lives you share. We hope that each of us will feel the freedom to bring our experience and expertise to bear on the conversations we hold in this gathering. So don’t hold back, ask questions if you want to understand more, and please take this opportunity to share in discerning our future together as we look to the next chapter of mission and ministry across Warwickshire and Coventry.
I have been with you for a year in supporting the life and mission of the Church in this diocese. It has been an absolute joy!
It has been wonderful to work with such a dedicated group of clergy and lay leaders. I have learnt so much from each of you and give thanks for having a share in the gospel of Christ alongside you. Thank you for all you have given me in support and prayer.
Now it is time to turn hearts and minds to the next step of the journey. Bishop Sophie’s arrival opens up lots of possibilities and hope for the future. It is a moment of great joy and opportunity for you all and I want to assure you of my continued prayers for you.
I will be returning to Bath and Wells to resume my role as Bishop of Taunton there, leaving here on Christmas Eve after the ‘Form of a Servant’ service in the Cathedral which feels very apt. Bishop Tim Thornton will be offering support to the diocese whilst you await Bishop Sophie’s installation.
As I close, I am reminded of the words spoken at our Remembrance service in the War Memorial Park. ‘Be still and know that I am God’. May that phrase hold us in our grieving for all those who give themselves for us, that our freedom can be gained. And may it inspire us as we grieve all that we have failed to change as yet within the Church and world; and to see the hope that Christ’s gift of love offers to each one of us.
Brothers and sisters, I look forward to continuing to work with you over the next few weeks and assure you of my love and prayers for you all.
+Ruth