Diocese of Sheffield archdeacons’ visitation news Spring 2020 - issue 10 Ringing the Changes... Bishop Pete, writes... Between Christmas and New Year, I spent some time reading an extraordinary document published ...all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord over 20 years ago: ‘Diocese of Sheffield – The Diocesan Strategy 1999-2004 – A Consultative as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into Document (November 1998)’. Reading it helped the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this me to see that the challenges we are facing in the diocese are not new – they were clear to the comes from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 authors of this report even in November 1998. Among other things, the report speaks of the need Winston Churchill once said, “To improve is Archdeacon of Doncaster and Katie as our to reduce the number of stipendiary clergy, radically to change; to be perfect is to change often.” new Diocesan Secretary. We have completed review the parish system, plant new congregations, and undertake a diocesan-wide audit of church buildings. I wonder if he had been reflecting on Paul’s a deanery planning consultation, scoping second letter to the church in Corinth! new mission areas for the deployment of It was a prophetic document – it could have been written last year. But many of its recommendations We live in a world of change, not least in Oversight Ministers, and are about to begin were never implemented – perhaps because there relation to the urgent need for us to act in the first appointment processes in line with was not enough of a sense of urgency to tackle what response to the growing climate emergency. these plans. We have grown our prayer really are difficult challenges. But at the start of this We also belong to a changing Church that community and launched our ‘Lights for new decade, we can no longer delay. must adapt from inherited patterns if we are Christ’ resources. And we have celebrated Meanwhile, the task of a Churchwarden hasn’t got to have a relevant and sustainable witness in myriad of new ways of engaging in worship easier! In fact, compared to the responsibilities involved future generations. The old adage, ‘constant and outreach as we have responded to in this role 20 years ago, the administrative burdens change is here to stay’ has perhaps never unparalleled national restrictions. have got heavier, and in many of our congregations the pool of volunteers has grown smaller and older. seemed more apt! Change is exciting, but change can also So, yours is a tough task and I want to express loud and I wrote the above opener to this column in be challenging, and I’m only too aware clear how grateful I am to you, especially in the face mid-January, in order to meet the publishing of the strategic role that you inhabit as of the changes before us, for your readiness to bear the load. ‘I thank my God every time I remember you, deadline ahead of the May Visitation Services. churchwardens and the unavoidable constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers Believe it or not, I also wrote these words: additional burden being placed on you at for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel ‘who knows what unanticipated changes will this time. Thank you! Thank you for being from the first day until now.’ (Philippians 1.2-3) have taken place between me writing and willing to serve in such a time as this. I wrote these four paragraphs above before Lent and you reading this!’ Who indeed! Even though Thank you for the sacrifices you make in therefore before the COVID-19 pandemic had really we had heard of COVID-19 by the start of fulfilling your role. Thank you for the care taken hold. The impact of ‘lockdown’ is profound on all the year, it was still seen as a distant virus you give to the people of God in your of us in our personal lives, on our individual wellbeing, particular to China, and none of us could place. To reassign another well-known for our churches and congregations, parishes and possibly have anticipated the extent of its phrase from Churchill’s day, ‘your diocese deaneries, and for the diocese as a whole. The financial implications of the current crisis mean that the issues impact across the globe. I’m writing this needs you!’ I identify in the first three paragraphs are likely to update on the 1st June, more than 9 weeks become more pressing; and by the same token, the into an unprecedented lockdown that is only task of a Churchwarden to which I refer in the fourth now beginning to be relaxed. None of us paragraph has become all the more demanding. But, can predict the future or the lasting impact by the same token, I am all the more grateful to you of this crisis. for all that you are doing – on behalf of Canon Sophie, Bishop-designate of Doncaster, Archdeacon Malcolm, As followers of Jesus, however, we are able Acting Archdeacon Javaid and myself: THANK YOU! to face uncertainty and embrace change, confident in the faithfulness of God the Father and the transforming work of the Produced and printed by Holy Spirit who is shaping into the very likeness of Christ. COVID-19 aside, we have already embarked on significant changes as Javaid Iqbal Malcolm Chamberlain a diocese. We have welcomed Sophie as our Acting Archdeacon Archdeacon of Sheffield new Bishop of Doncaster, Javaid as our new of Doncaster and Rotherham www.ecclesiastical.com/churchmatters Lights for Christ is something for people Released as Lights for Christ! of all ages. When they gathered, in January, at Breathe Deep our annual Youth In the Church of England’s baptism service many churches give the Development Day, around 300 young newly baptized a candle and commission them with these words, people were encouraged to create their own “You have received the Light of Christ; walk in this light all the days of personal rule of life. They lit candles and your life. Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.” took a personal rule of life card filled with suggestions about how they might live as Lights for Christ. The Lights for Christ receive Christ’s Light as his friends; Lights for Christ is something for all initiative is a key part of walk in Christ’s Light as his followers and; the Released strand of churches. With the help of the London reflect Christ’s light to those around us. the revised Diocesan Institute of Contemporary Christianity Strategy. Through it we A five-week course, ‘Shining as Lights’, has (LICC) groups of churches from across are seeking to release been written for use in small groups to help the diocese have been coming together in followers of Jesus people reflect on these three aspects of their a learning hub where, together, they think across the diocese, discipleship and consider what changes God about the small changes they can make in encouraging each of is encouraging them to make in their lives as the lives of their churches in order to help Lights for Christ us to live out our calling and play our part in the they seek to be . (The course more people to live as disciples of Christ in whole mission of God wherever we are. can be found amongst the resources on the the whole of their lives. Ten churches from a LightsforChrist website.) To support Lights for Christ, a special website, range of contexts across the diocese came lightsforchrist.uk, has been created and filled together for teaching and support as they with resources to help us as churches and took part in the first hub in 2019/20. A new individuals including stories of how people from hub is just beginning. across the diocese are being Lights for Christ. Introducing Lights for Christ, Bishop Pete In one of those stories, Jon, a former paramedic said, “What we hope is that it will help us who is now a gardener and landscaper, says move in small steps to be Lights for Christ, “When I work, I always have the mind-set of shining more brightly in God’s world.” working on a garden that belongs to Jesus”. We hope that all of our churches will find ways to The website has resources to help people join in and help us all to become Lights for create a personal rule of life which can help Christ. them to live more effectively as Lights for Christ and grow in their relationship with Him. We are Mark Wigglesworth encouraged to reflect on how we: Mission Development Adviser (Released) In the autumn, Bishop Pete and Bishop Sophie plan to join with each of our paired Renewed: 2020 update... deaneries for events that will include Bible teaching and some creative prayer stations Jesus was praying in 1,000 members by the end of 2020 – no around the Lights for Christ themes of a certain place. When small feat: a matter for prayer in itself! receiving, walking in, and reflecting the light. he finished, one of his The COVID-19 lockdown radically altered our At the time of writing, we do not know if these disciples said to him, plans for Thy Kingdom Come in 2020. But will be actual physical gatherings or ‘virtual’ ‘Lord, teach us to pray’ experience gained since mid-March enabled events.