Spotlight Jan/Feb 2019 For Richer, For Poorer
An initiative that twinned churches in One example was the twinning of St poorer areas of the Diocese with those in Bartholomew’s in Penn, a relatively wealthy area wealthier places has proved “innovative and on the edge of Wolverhampton, courageous”. with St Martin of Tours, a smaller church in a more deprived ‘For Richer, For Poorer’ was launched in 2013 part of the city. The with support from Church Action on Poverty. ongoing partnership began with people Four initial partnerships, in areas including the from each Black Country and Stoke-on-Trent, saw parishes church with significant deprivation discussing twinned with nearby wealthier their parishes with a focus on mutual learning. These eight churches eventually grew to over 30 who formed partnerships over the next four years.
The initiative allowed people from twinned churches to hear first-hand stories of each other’s
struggles and joys and discuss Partnering Priests: Ben Whitmore and Stuart Powell how churches can unite together to make a difference. Key learning from it has communities over coffee and cake and grew now been distilled in a new report. to see them running a joint Lent course and creating mentoring opportunities. They also Lichfield Diocese is within the ten most worked together on a Parish Nurse project with economically deprived dioceses in the country St Bartholomew’s supporting the development yet contains areas of comparative affluence. The of an office space for the nurse, who worships churches involved reflected first-hand on many at St Bartholomew’s, within St Martin’s. “The aspects of poverty – including material poverty, partnership is going well and is bearing good loneliness, isolation and a lack of networks - in fruit,” said the Revd Prebendary Ben Whitmore both socio-economic settings. from St Bartholomew’s. continues on p3 ->
The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country Unity at peace memorial Re:Dress-ing the balance Christians from our Diocese and Germany The Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery was A Wolverhampton church will be turned working conditions. This can also lead to pollution, joined for a poignant service to remember the focus for an act of commitment to peace, led into a catwalk to raise awareness about ‘fast a drain on natural resources and tons of unwanted those lost in both World Wars. by Bishop Michael. With almost 5,000 burials, the fashion’ in February. St Peter’s will host the clothes heading to landfill. site is the country’s main memorial for German multi-media ‘Re:Dress’ event on Monday and Austrian nationals who died in the UK. evening, 11 February. Lindsey Hall, Director of Vocations, said: “The evening will involve the local community in It was part of the annual Anticipating Advent It will include a fashion show where people will creative ways, let people swap unwanted experience with the Diocese’s partners, the model clothes from local charity shops along with clothes and provide food for thought. Re:Dress Nordkirche Lutheran Church in Northern a market-place and clothes swap, spoken word explores care for our neighbour, modern slavery Germany. The group also spent time in Lichfield pieces and bible readings. and responsible consumerism as we seek to Cathedral and local churches and visited the site follow Christ in the clothes we buy of the Peace Woodland at Lichfield’s Beacon The event is part of a wider and our awareness of the plight Park which will include a Nordkirche peace tree. Re:Dress project in the Diocese of brothers and sisters around to raise awareness of the human the world.” The Revd Christa Hunzinger, from the and environmental cost of the Nordkirche, said: “When Europe seems in fast fashion and textile industry. More information and tickets are danger of drifting apart it becomes even more An estimated 100 billion garments Re Dress available for the event at www. important that we as churches stay together are manufacted every year, often lichfield.anglican.org/redress2018 and proclaim God’s love and our unity in Christ.” overseas in factories with poor or on Facebook @ReDressLichfield Diocesan Lent resource Enriched by partnership
People will be encouraged to get to grips It fits the Diocesan focus on Discipleship, <- continued from p1 The Revd Prebendary with the Bible in fresh ways through this alongside Vocation & Evangelism, encouraging Maureen Hobbs, from Pattingham St year’s Diocesan Lent resource. new and rediscovered ways of Bible reading. Chad which was twinned with St Alban’s in Wednesfield, added: “We are determined as ‘The Bible Rediscovered’ Lindsey Hall, Director of Vocations, said: a parish to continue with our link if possible. is available to order “Engaging with the Bible as a story which We have always wanted to help St Albans in free of charge. The shapes our lives and communities, is essential practical ways, but without trying to tell them home-grown booklet to deepening discipleship. The resource will what to do, so to some extent we have waited takes the Gospel encourage people to think about how they read, for them to identify ways in which this help readings for each and try new ways of approaching scripture.” could take shape. We try to ensure that, as a Revd Preb Maureen Hobbs with Henry Ibberson and Dr Iain Sunday of Lent and worshipping community, they feature regularly Coleman (all from St Chad’s, Pattingham) at the For Richer For invites readers to The booklet has been put together by a range in our prayers. I hope in future the relationship Poorer conference at Stafford in 2014 engage with the of people from around the Diocese with an will be seen as one of interdependence, rather The report shows that the initiative passage using a introduction from Archdeacon Paul Thomas and than dependence.” encapsulated many of the aims of the Diocese’s different approach to conclusion from Stewart Jones, Vicar of Barlaston. vision including partnering together for reading the Bible. Meanwhile, a partnership between St John’s in the common good, working for justice and To order copies of ‘The Bible Rediscovered’ email Marchington Woodlands, a small village in East modelling the richness and variety of the church Five lenses for reading scripture are explored, [email protected] by Friday 15 Staffordshire, and St John’s Welcome Centre in Abbey and wider communities across the diocese. with a brief explanation of each, questions for February. Booklets will be posted out toward the Hulton, Stoke-on-Trent, led to the development Read about the early results of For Richer, For reflection and suggestions of other passages to end of February. Downloadable copies will be of a book swapping service and community Poorer at lichfield.anglican.org/frfp-2014/ and the look at. available from the Diocesan website. coffee morning at St John’s Marchington. latest report at lichfield.anglican.org/frfp-2018/
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The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country Mental Health First Aid Promoting churches online Lifting the lid on taboo subjects is a bit of a habit coming from. I think the church needs to have As people “With this in mind, we’ve for the Revd Dr David Primrose, Diocesan Director a better understanding and be more open to increasingly live been developing a series of Transforming Communities – death, dementia the conversations. There is a lot of fear in being their lives online, a of webinars aiming to and debt have all featured in recent years able to talk about mental health and what church’s profile on help you to do just alongside aging, environment and inclusion. And people might be going through.” social media and that. We cover topics his latest focus is mental health. the internet has like having a presence Lifting the Lid never been more online, building and He arranged the first Mental Health First The free six-session study series for important. designing a church Aid course (from MHFA England) in the small groups in churches, chaplaincies, website, as well as Diocese to run recently, led with passion schools and The good news is social media and by the Revd Charlotte Gompertz, a former elsewhere looking at that there are a series how you can use psychiatric nurse and now a curate in some of the issues of free resources it effectively as a Shrewsbury. in mental health available to help church.” through the eyes of local parishes, youth “We need to get to grips with six Bible passages leaders, chaplains, The webinars, the idea that mental health is is available via the fresh expressions, which are just as real and as important link below. schools and other suitable for beginners and those with some as physical health,” she says [in groups get cyber- online experience, include step-by-step tutorials a video - see link below]. “The started. on Instagram and Facebook and website church has got a huge part content creation. Watch them now at www. to play. We talk so much in Mental Health First “We’ve got three courses in 2019,” says David. Diocesan Online Enabler lichfield.anglican.org/onlineenabler Aid about hope and recovery and incorporating “They’re all fully booked up already. Alongside Tamar Willoughby people into communities, and how that helps that we’re encouraging as many people to take explains: “We’re You’ll also find a two-page social media their recovery, so I just think church is the best a six session Bible-study course called ‘Lifting currently navigating a strategy guide with helpful suggestions on place to start doing that.” the Lid’. We piloted it here in the Diocese and huge communication items including goals, measuring success, it’s now nationally produced free of charge, an shift in our society, and knowing your audience, planning content, “A huge part of the excellent opportunity to look at Biblical characters it’s more important interaction and scheduling posts. importance of having a and learn how to have intelligent, well-informed than ever for churches You can contact Tamar, who works part-time for day of rest each week is conversations about mental health.” to be present on and the Diocese, for more specific guidance at tamar. to protect our own brains, engaging with online [email protected] to give us full rest and spaces. relaxation and a different pace of life to enable us A Church Near You is to go on for the next six Near You is your go-to site. days at most at whatever the Church pace life throws at us.” of England’s tool for people to find the As well as nearest church to them with the features being free, it Participants were enthusiastic and motivated. The that they require. With 16million views each is simple to Revd Rachael Farnham is curate in Bayston Hill: year, it is the first website most visitors find edit and also when looking for a local church. comprehensive “I’ve come across a few people both while I Course leaders Mary Hannibal and Revd Charlotte Gompertz with enough to act was doing my training and personally who the first cohort at Meole Brace, Shrewsbury Looking for a church with a foodbank? After as the primary have been affected by mental health conditions More on mental health including video from the your local Alpha course? Want a church website for and I wanted to know better ways to be able MHFA course in Shrewsbury at with beautiful stain glass windows for your most parishes. to help them and understand where they’re www.lichfield.anglican.org/mental_health/. wedding? Carol service? Easter vigil? A Church
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The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country From small beginnings - growing grass roots youth work
Zechariah was told by the Lord to not despise “We’ve … watched them all grow up.” Phil adds: worship on a monthly basis the day of small things: they were just the “We’re learning [from them] ourselves. They’re – a hybrid, somewhere start (Zech 4:10). Today we can be tempted surprising us every meeting… I get excited between open youth group to think like Zechariah when we talk about knowing all the potential they’ve got.” and more discipleship- 11-18s ministry, saying that what we’re doing focused work. Today, is not enough, that we aren’t enough. It’s not always easy, but Linda and Phil are that café has a number of planning to keep going and, as part of a team, committed young people The fact is, however, that small things are they plan on growing: “[there are] too many and volunteers, sends where great youth work begins, and faithful for the lounge we meet in, we’re considering young people on camps people across our Diocese are doing simple starting another group so we can cover more and residentials, and has things to increase their confidence, vision and age-specific material.” launched a youth service capacity for 11-18s ministry. Jon White, Youth with other churches in the and Vocations Enabler, shares three of those Wrockwardine Deanery Youth area. stories: Café St George’s, Glascote Wrockwardine’s Di Woolridge Linda and Phil Hartles weren’t sure when they started in 2014 were asked to lead a youth cell to cover for in a Deanery with friends who were having a baby. They knew God 12 churches and youth ministry at St. Mary’s. Currently, the team wanted them to serve together in some way, only two children St Mary’s, are recruiting new workers. “We are building but was this really it? Once they started, though, over the age of Bushbury the capacity for when we get to the next stage,” the Hartles discovered a passion and talent for 11. “We brought says co-ordinator Mike Hotchkiss. Once they’ve youth ministry: “It’s been as much a blessing together four Over recent done that, they’ll know what they can do to us as it’s been to the children,” says Linda. adults whom had months, the sustainably. Ministry Team at St Mary’s Your Small Beginning? Bushbury recognised: “a So, what is your small beginning? You might priority for us begin by asking a) what do you want to be as a church to different for the 11-18s in your community? grow young [and] b) how would you know you’ve shown an interest in young put our arms around the next generation,” achieved it? and c) what skills or people and would help us says Vicar Revd Ian Poole. The team knew people do you need on think through the process that they wanted to develop what they had the team? Remember: [of beginning something to offer children and young people but didn’t the Reaching New for 11-18s],” says Di, who know how to progress. Things changed when Generations Team is also invited one of their they invited people in the congregation with here to support you young people to be part an interest in children’s and youth ministry to as you go – get in of the team. In May 2015 gather for a one-off meeting and explore how touch with them at they launched a monthly to do something different. Those asked “felt [email protected]. youth café making space honoured,” says Ian, “because [we were] asking org or visit lichfield. for young people to their advice, not because we were asking them anglican.org/rng spend time together, play to do it [all].” A team formed from that first for more ideas games, make crafts and gathering to take responsibility children’s and and resources.
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The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country Hope amidst horror Ring the changes for a year Bishop Michael led a team of people, including Christians and Jews, added: “It was sobering to race, etc. Now I know that actually Britain school pupils, to the National Holocaust Centre go with a group from the Diocese to learn more is quite similar to Malaysia. I think the only as part of a Diocesan Book Club visit. about how such a horrendous and calculated difference is the weather! series of events destroyed the lives of so many The centre, near Nottingham, is the UK’s only ordinary, innocent people. But it was also “Most of the week, I was involved in children’s dedicated Holocaust museum. It opened in wonderful to hear stories of hope and life, like and youth work from Monday until Wednesday, 1995 to remember the six million Jews and Edith’s, and to witness dozens of primary school and on Friday. Part of the week I taught the millions of other victims of the Nazi regime. children, who were also visiting, show such an Chinese language as well. I also learnt bell interest through their honest questions to her.” ringing. Last but not least, I was involved in the It was the focus of a visit from the book club worship band at church. who discussed their latest read, Dietrich Displays also highlighted the 10,000 refugee
Bonhoeffer’s ‘Letters And Papers From Prison’, children who were sent to Britain to escape the Kenneth (centre) was commissioned in Lichfield Cathedral last “There are so many highlights. I think one of while there. Holocaust using ‘Kindertransport’ from 1938. January by Bishop Michael. Accompanied by Revd Jim Trood the unexpected highlights in Walsall has been (rector of St Matthews), Diane Edlin (former warden) and Revd Philip Swan (SCVP Trustee). learning bell ringing. It was quite fun learning Three students from Lichfield Cathedral School The centre a new culture at St Matthew’s. One of the also took part in the trip where they listened to was the At the end of 2018, we said farewell major highlights for me is ringing for and met Holocaust survivor Edith Kurcz Jayne, brainchild to Kenneth Bau, a St Chad’s Volunteer weddings in December. whose family fled for their lives from Vienna in of brothers from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia who 1938, relocating to Lisbon and later the US. James and spent a year with St Matthew’s “My plan for next is to come back Stephen Church in Walsall. He to the UK again next year One of them, Josh Rooke, said: “The Museum Smith shares his experiences: to continue my studies gave us a real insight into the atrocities which following at the University of befell the Jewish people in the Second World a visit with “Prior to coming to the UK, Wolverhampton. War. I was overwhelmed at the horrific events their mother I was a university student, and suffering, which will resonate with me Marina majoring in Hospitality “I would say to people who emotionally for a long time.” to Israel’s Management. I completed are thinking about joining national my studies in December the St Chad’s Volunteer Bishop Michael, Holocaust 2017 and begin my St Chad Programme to pray to God and just Holocaust survivor Edith Kurcz Jayne who is the beneath her passport photo as a child. museum Yad Volunteer Program in January 2018. I go for it. You won’t regret joining the Chairman of the (right) and with Josh Rooke, Mali Vashem in was based at St Matthew Walsall. St Chad’s Volunteer Programme. Lewelyn-Cook and Tom Dickinson from national Council of Lichfield Cathedral School (below) 1991. It has a memorial “Before I came to Walsall, I had garden and two permanent exhibitions, one on a Skype chat with Revd Jim the history of the Holocaust and another tactile Trood (Rector of St Matthew’s journey – aimed at younger children – which Walsall) and Ben Butterfield (the Children & “It is a good travels through a boy’s personal experience of Youth Worker). They mentioned to me that time for you the atrocities in World War Two. Walsall is a diverse place. I expected Walsall to build your would be like Malaysia with its multi-culture, relationship Find out more about the museum at with God www.holocaust.org.uk/ Could you be next? and a good For information on the Diocesan Book Club email The St Chad’s Volunteer Programme is a two-way opportunity to [email protected] adventure for young adults (18-35) from Lichfield explore various Diocese and all our link dioceses - in Canada, cultures *National Holocaust Memorial Day is 27 January. Malaysia, South Africa and Germany. For more around the Find out more at https://www.hmd.org.uk/ information visit lichfield.anglican.org/scvp/ world too.”
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The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country Welcome churchyard No defence for deference
St. Michael on Greenhill Church, Lichfield has the Staffordshire Ecology Recorder. People are As we enter the new year, Bishop Clive is alert investigations in 2019. But while our awareness been given a National Lottery ‘Awards For All pleased to use the churchyard as a learning to a clash of theological truth and cultural of abuse tends to centre on the abuse of Grant’ of £10,000 to help them manage their resource and increase their botanical knowledge. hangover. children and vulnerable adults, domestic abuse ancient 9-acre Churchyard. The church’s Ray perpetrated by men against women Allen tells us more: “The Church also received £1,500 from South The Archbishop of Canterbury caused a flurry should cause us equal concern, Staffordshire Community Energy’s Community Fund. of media attention before Christmas when especially as it is just as likely to “With support from Lichfield Diocese and the charity This grant has been used to help purchase new he was quoted as saying “God is not male or be taking place within our church Caring For God’s Acre, a management plan was compost bays as it was felt it would be good in to female. God is not definable”. He elaborated communities as outside. devised to manage the churchyard so it is more have a designated compost area for green waste by explaining that all descriptions of God welcoming and attractive for people and wildlife. from used flowers and plants. The resulting compost “were to some degree metaphorical” and that In 2018 research among church-
Robin Taylor of SSCE and can be used as mulch in His Characterisation as “father” could not be goers in Cumbria concluded that Ray Allen, project leader at new, open areas. Plastic understood in exactly the same way as an one in four churchgoers in that area St Michael’s with the new compost bins (left). Members wood was used for the earthly father. had experienced domestic abuse of St. Michael’s Working Party construction and a Leicester and/or violence within their current getting ready for a morning’s work in the Churchyard. company, Eco Plastic Despite such theological wisdom, the Christian relationships. This is in line Wood, made, delivered and image of God as a male heavenly father runs with UK wide statistics installed the compost bays. The church is showing deep and has permeated our church structures about the prevalence of the importance of re-cycling plastic materials and for almost two millennia, ever since the early domestic abuse. making compost for its own use in the churchyard. church embraced the idea of hierarchy with, inevitably, males at the top and a God with male We cannot pretend that “St Michael’s is pleased with the progress of the attributes set over all. this is an issue that does churchyard project and, as stewards of God’s not affect those within our churches, but we “A working party was formed and people from the creation, looks forward to welcoming more With the advent of women priests and bishops, do have a choice as to whether we ignore it or congregation and the wider community have been people and wildlife to the peace of God’s acre.” the Church of England appears a little less whether we use our awareness as a basis for meeting regularly to do maintenance including patriarchal but deference to, and a preference action. A starting point might be to consider removal of brambles and holly; weeding and for, male authority still runs deep. Witness the what appropriate forms of pastoral support tidying graves; planting wild flowers; and clearing huge number of parishes which have still never could be offered to those suffering from forms moss. Members also have the opportunity to had a woman vicar. The mantra “father knows of domestic abuse. How and where might chat over coffee and cake. Working together in this best” is a default assumption in many places safe places be created? What resources would way contributes so much to health and wellbeing. rather than a historic relic, although the “father” be needed to make our churches places of in question may equally well wear a sharp suit sanctuary and healing? Questions, the answer to “The Lottery grant has enabled the services of as a flowing cassock. which “father” may well not be the person who Mark Duffell, a professional ecologist. Many knows best, but which must be addressed if our people came to a training session he conducted For information about applying for a grant The unspeakable crimes of abuse that have churches are to be the conduits through which after which he helped groups to survey trees from South Staffordshire Energy Fund go to been facilitated by such a culture will forever captives are set free and fear is cast out by love. and wildflowers in the summer. After two staffsfoundation.org.uk/southern-staffordshire- shame the church, and the Church of England +Clive more of these days in the spring, a report will community-energy-community. will continue to fall under the spotlight as the The Rt Revd Clive Gregory be produced listing all the trees and flowers Caring for God’s Acre have a website at national safeguarding enquiry continues its Bishop of Wolverhampton caringforgodsacre.org.uk identified with copies also given to There are many resources for those concerned about or suffering domestic abuse. If an emergency or From the Editor Welcome including our feature on growing a youth criminal offence is taking place, always contact the police on 101 or 999. to 2019 group from small beginnings. We’d love to Other support is provided by Pathways Project (Staffordshire - 01543 442610), Women’s Aid (national 0808 and the New Year edition of Spotlight! hear your stories of transformation and life this 2000 247). Local Authorities run safeguarding services related to domestic violence. If issues involve a We hope you’ll have time to read year, so please do get in touch. parish church, contact the Diocese Safeguarding team on 01543 306030 or (out of office hours) 0845 120 some of the hope-filled articles, Pete Bate, Director of Communications 4550 and alert the Parish’s Safeguarding Coordinator.
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The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country in the footsteps of St Chad in the footsteps of Come follow Christ or phone 01543 306223 For tickets, visit lichfield.anglican.org/redress Monday 11 February, 6.30-8.30pm St Peter’s Church, Wolverhampton ‘fast fashion’. awareness about catwalk to raise a charity shop be turned into A church will Re:Dress Let us know about your events by email to [email protected] events in the Diocese,For visit lichfield.anglican.org/events a full listing of Re Dress Dress
DIARY Let us know about your events by email to [email protected] events in the Diocese,For visit lichfield.anglican.org/events a full listing of Keynote speakers: A conference exploring new worshipping communities Saturday 9 March 2019 - Aldridge Parish Church lichfield.anglican.org refresh 01 43 622 92 Revd Dr Michael Moynagh Andy Milne dignity. prevention, detection and restoring on understanding modern slavery, respond well and includes modules to help parishes and communities New from The Clewer Initiative, a day survivors into their communities? who are vulnerable and welcome of modern slavery, protect those to join together raise awareness What would it look like for people Hidden Voices training lunch. Book via james.henderson@ 10am-4pm: £10 including Wednesday 29 January, Stafford (ST18 0GB) Beacon Conference Centre in tctogether.org.uk.
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