Spiritual Abuse and the Church
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August 2019 News, features, jobs Chester chester.anglican.org Diocesan News Growing stronger parishes goes on in church. It’s about schools, and crucially, the home. Growing Faith sets out a vision Growing Faith ‘where children young people and households are coming to faith, growing in discipleship and confidently contributing to the Kingdom of God through the community of faith.’ Lots of areas of the church’s work are relevant here, including mission and evangelism, work in schools, developing ministry, and initiatives like Setting God’s People Free, which encourages lay and ordained people to live out their faith in everyday life. This is not just about teaching the faith to children and young people. It’s also about enabling them to play their full part in the life of the church here and now. To include them fully in worship, to give them opportunities for leadership, and room to explore faith The Venerable Dr Michael Gilbertson and life without fear of being judged. The psalmist writes: ‘we will tell to the Growing Faith wants to see: coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the • Every parish creating expressions wonders that he has done.’ (Psalm 78:4). of church where children, young Passing on the faith to the younger people and households are actively generation has always been a key task involved, growing spiritually for the church. and have their voices heard. Earlier this year, the Church of England began an important and inspiring • 100% of Anglican parents recognising initiative called Growing Faith. The idea the importance of sharing faith is to encourage the whole church to with their children and actively take seriously the place of children and engaging in this responsibility. young people. Recent research shows that 76% of Christians came to faith • Clergy and lay ministers who are under the age of 18, so how the church confident in supporting households relates to younger generations really in sharing faith at home. counts. And that’s not just about what Continued from P1 Resources and ideas are going to be provided for churches, schools and • Congregations which nurture households to help them join in. and support the faith of As I go round the diocese, I am often children and young people. encouraged by all that we are doing in ministry among younger generations. • Churches which serve and are At the same time, if we are honest, served by their local school we know we face a major challenge in communities, actively building reaching children and young people, strong relationships between who are often under-represented or church, schools and households. missing in our church communities. So Growing Faith is timely and inspiring. • Children and young people who The love of God in Jesus Christ really is are confident to share their faith for all ages. with their peers and families. The Venerable Dr Michael Gilbertson Funeral for Bishop Ron, 1926 - 2019 that year, paid tribute to him. He wrote: “His sensitivity as a colleague has been very special. He can so often see underneath one’s outward countenance and empathise with burdens and responsibilities. He has also on many occasions thought further about an idea that may not have seemed a good one to him at first and come back to say that he thinks that is the right way after all. So many of you reading this CDN will have your own memories, appreciation and special praises for what this very special servant of God has meant to Rt Revd Ronald Brown you across the years.” In an interview published in the The former Bishop of Birkenhead, the CDN in September 1992, Bishop Ron Rt Revd Ronald Brown, has died aged remarked on his long ministry as Bishop 92 after a long period of ill health due of Birkenhead. When asked about his to kidney failure. thoughts on becoming a bishop, he Bishop Ron was Bishop of Birkenhead said: “Astonishment is not too strong from 1974-92. a word - then apprehension and then The funeral took place at 11:00am in acceptance of God’s call. I hope the job Chester Cathedral on Friday 28 June. would be as satisfying and enjoyable as The former Bishop of Chester, the Rt being a parish priest... I have had great Revd Michael Baughen, writing in the pleasure and satisfaction in being a CDN in August 1992 ahead of Bishop bishop.” Ron’s retirement in the September of 2 Bishop supports call for churches to combat knife crime Rt Revd Keith Sinclair Churches will be encouraged to offer are uniquely placed to offer a spiritual a place of sanctuary for young people dimension to our communities and I as part of efforts to combat knife crime welcome the debate at General Synod and serious youth violence. to explore what practical and pastoral The proposal was part of a key debate measures our church leaders and held at the Church of England’s General churches can take to support those at Synod in July. risk of violence or affected by it.” The news came a day after a 14-year- The Revd Canon Dr Rosemarie old boy was seriously injured in a Mallett, a priest in Angell Town, south stabbing in Handbridge, Chester, in London, and a prominent campaigner June. in combating knife crime, will lead the The Rt Revd Keith Sinclair, Bishop of debate at the General Synod in York. Birkenhead, says: “I was shocked and She will call for churches to take a saddened to learn that a boy of 14 has range of practical measures - from been seriously injured in Chester. My providing knife amnesty bins, to training thoughts and prayers are with him and clergy and other leaders to protect his family. young people potentially vulnerable to “We can all do better at reducing ‘county lines’ exploitation. violence in our society. Our churches 3 Meet your new Ordinands An actor, a former “militant atheist”, and a former employee of a travelling circus troupe are just three of the 22 men and women who were ordained at Chester Cathedral on Sunday 30 June. The Revd Steph Morris The Revd Steph Morris followed her dream of travelling the UK with the Chinese State Circus before she found herself following God’s call to serve people closer to home. Steph says: “I dreamed of the circus lifestyle; travelling the UK and beyond. I was quite shy at that point in my life and going to the circus brought out my personality. I met some interesting people during my time wading around muddy circus fields!” After returning home, Steph settled in Cheshire and started a family. As a Revd Steph Morris regular churchgoer, she found herself 4 taking on greater responsibilities in church, until one day, she couldn’t ignore the call to the priesthood any longer. Following her ordination, Steph will continue her training in the parishes of Bosley, Sutton, Wildboarclough, and Wincle, on the outskirts of Macclesfield. She says she hopes to use her ministry to work with children and young people and strengthen relationships between her church and local primary school. For more photos of the day see our Facebook gallery The Revd Josie Tuplin The Revd Josie Tuplin was ordained in June. Her journey to faith and ordination has been long and testing, describing herself in the past as a “militant atheist”. She says: “If I think back, I almost can’t believe where I am today in relation to that. I went off the rails quite badly; I lost something of myself. Revd Josie Tuplin “I believed that religion was for children, or for people who weren’t that person, someone who I couldn’t harm bright, stupid or needy. I was smug and and didn’t want to harm. That was a arrogant and deluded. The irony is, I turning point. As soon as I turned that had no control of my life; I was a mess.” corner, I knew that God was calling me A turning point came at her aunt’s back to be with him.” funeral. A committed Christian, her Josie has worshipped in the parish aunt had requested that there be no of Oxton St Saviour on the Wirral for eulogy, but asked that her Vicar simply 38 years. Following her ordination, she declare that she had worshipped for 90 will leave the parish to complete her years and “died in the sure and certain training in the neighbouring parish of hope of the resurrection.” Woodchurch. Josie says: “That was it for me, I thought, ‘if it’s good enough for her, The Revd Steve Murphy then it’s good enough for me.’” The Revd Steve Murphy is a trained She says of herself at that time: “I hurt actor with a host of acting credits to people quite a lot, and I wasn’t able to his name, appearing in films such help myself.” as Children of Men and TV shows Despite this, Josie’s faith journey Emmerdale, Coronation Street and began in earnest following her aunt’s Hollyoaks – his most recent appearance funeral. Shortly after she met her was in BBC1’s In The Club. He was also husband, an academic, with whom ordained in June but has battled doubt she will celebrate their 40th wedding in his own motivations and faith along anniversary in September. the way. She says: “My husband is a strong His mum was ill for a long time before 5 Revd Steve Murphy she died when Steve was in his early learn that doubt isn’t the opposite of 20s.