THE BISHOP OF

The Rt Revd Dr David Walker

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

As I write, sunlight is streaming in through my study window here in Salford. It promises longer and warmer days, and that rejuvenation of nature already visible in bulbs breaking through the soil. More deeply, it reminds us that all light is created by, and reflects the glory of Jesus Christ. He is the one true light, whose Epiphany we celebrate, and who we are committed to making known and loved.

I also write at a time when fear and hope are at battle around us. Our churches have done wonderfully well in staying open in a safe way but the current escalation of viral infection is deeply worrying. The process by which those clergy and PCCs who cannot safely facilitate services, can legally pause public worship until the government review of lockdown in mid-February, is set out on our website. Other parishes are looking at prioritising in-person worship for those who have no internet access, live alone, or have sacramental or other needs to worship in church or with others. Meanwhile, I hear stories of clergy and worshippers who have had vaccinations, and can now see light at the end of this tunnel. The next few weeks will be painful and difficult, but an end to the most severe restrictions lies not far away.

Like the magi of old, we will, in due course, return home, to something more closely resembling normality. Also like them, we will not return unchanged, either individually, as local chaplaincies, Bishop’s Mission Orders and parishes, or as the wider church. We will carry with us the scars of this difficult time, along with the pain of things lost that may never be fully regained. The personal impact of losing loved ones is uppermost, but the trauma suffered by health and care workers who have witnessed terrible things, the trials faced by students and teachers, those who have lost jobs are all in our prayers. The financial impact on the Diocese will affect us for years to come. But again, like them, many of us will carry the memory of moments when we were bathed in the light of Jesus Christ, when God’s love shone through the struggles and challenges, moments when we glimpsed a view of a church renewed through this time of trial. Already, we have discovered new means of supporting each other, not least through virtual meetings that maximise time in fellowship whilst minimising travel. Relationships between local clergy and with lay leaders have been strengthened and deepened. We have learned to share gifts and skills better, copying what the Holy Spirit appears to be blessing among our neighbours. I do believe that our new Area Deans and mission communities will strengthen us in these respects, they will also add valuable resilience. Please help us work to finalise our plans for mission communities this year.

Away from Covid and its aftermath, and beyond our mission communities focus, we have three major pieces of work to progress this year.

Firstly, we recently achieved our bronze Eco Diocese award. I’m very grateful for all those who worked to get us over the line, but it is only the starting point. General Synod has committed to striving for carbon neutrality by 2030. We need to affirm our own green commitment at Diocesan Synod, then develop plans and mechanisms to make and measure progress.

Secondly, our commitment to clergy wellbeing needs to build on what we have learned during the pandemic, to strengthen our ability to care for those who serve and lead as our ordained ministers. Again, we will be bringing proposals to Synod in 2021.

Thirdly, we are committed to the Living in Love and Faith process, commended to us by the House of Bishops. Having witnessed LLF through its progression towards the library of resources now made public, I can testify to how thorough and careful a piece of work it is. Its aim is not to get all people to agree on a matter subject to widely diverse, and deeply held, views, but to help us to understand one another and our differences better, and to think about how we can live, lovingly and faithfully, in God’s Church, notwithstanding difference. There is no hidden plan, either to force or to prevent change to any official position of the Church of England. Engagement, genuinely open to hearing the voices of others, and open to God, is the task for this present year. Some will wish to start early, but with work on mission communities and recovery from Covid as top priorities for the next few months, our plan is to encourage chaplaincies, parishes and congregations to set aside time and energy for this in the second half of the year.

Thank you once again, for our partnership in being the Diocese of Manchester, together, as we serve, nurture and grow, we are becoming ever more fully God’s Church for a Different World.

+David Manchester Epiphany 2021