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Reflecting on Our Mission Some Thoughts on the Process of Discerning Who We Are

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Reflecting on Our Mission Some Thoughts on the Process of Discerning Who We Are Christ Church Link August 2015 l Number 40 l 50p where sold Reflecting on our mission Some thoughts on the process of discerning who we are Our church Away Day on Saturday 11 what you expect and what you offer”. July was not just about listing the gifts It’s “a prayer, not a job description.” we want in our next priest-in-charge We approached the question of “who (though we did do that). It was a chance we are” in multiple ways. We discussed to reflect on ourselves, to talk not just what we saw in our logo, which seems about what kind of per son we’d like in the kind of thing a business might do the job but what kind of church we’d as part of a team-building (or induction) like to be. It wasn’t just about defining exercise, but it turned out to work a bit our ideal priest, but also about discern­ like a Rorschach inkblot test: what you ing what Christ Church is and does. see in an open-ended or ambiguous The thoughts raised on the day and pattern largely reflects what you have in in survey responses are still being mind and what most matters to you. We collated and digested in prepara tion for discussed our corporate self-description drafting our church profile, which will (at the top of page 16 of the Link every be sent to those who respond to the job month), which was a way to get at what advertise ment (which itself is also still we really value in Christ Church. We to be drafted). Here are just some reflec­ had to choose the Gospel reading we tions on the process of “profiling” our­ felt most appropriate for Christ Church, selves, not conclusions. which made us ask what was our core Our Away Day facilitator, Caroline mission, what part of Jesus’ message Bruce, is diocesan Parish Consultancy we feel we are here to live out. Officer. This means she’s done this kind After a splendid lunch, we tried to of thing before, and she emphasised formulate some aims and attempted to that a church profile ought to be an prioritise them. The highest-rated items honest description of “who you are, were diverse: nurturing children and our Junior Church; learning to work nicely and effectively with volunteers; sharing our buildings (Mews as well as church) with the community; and raising the profile of Christ Church. There were no simple conclusions, but Caroline did end with a number of observations. Among these: first, a healthy church is energised by faith and seeks to find out what God wants; it doesn’t try to do too much, but does a few things and does them well. Second, A word cloud of the qualities we said we want in it helps to have a vision, and it’s nice if our next priest-in-charge. everything you do aligns with this. New Bishop of Taunton named Archdeacon Ruth Worsley to be our next suffragan bishop The Venerable Ruth Worsley is to be the next in one of the poorest areas in the Diocese of Bishop of Taunton in the Diocese of Bath and Southwell and Nottingham. During this time Wells. She is currently Archdeacon of Wilt­ she served as an Area Dean and was made shire in the neighbouring Diocese of Salisbury, Dean of Women’s Ministry for the diocese in a position she has held since January 2013. 2007. In 2010 she became Parish Develop­ Bishop­designate Ruth said, “I am surprised ment Adviser in the Diocese of Southwark, and amused to be chosen as the next Bishop based in Bermondsey. At the start of 2013 of Taunton as I grew up in a non­conformist she swapped inner­city life for Wiltshire. church where women held no roles of leader­ Bishop­designate Ruth will be consecrated ship. I am delighted to be heading to Somer­ as a Bishop by the Archbishop of Canterbury, set to join the diocesan team in this wonder­ Justin Welby, in London this autumn. She will ful part of the world, moving ‘next door’ as it then be officially installed as Bishop of were. It will be a privilege to meet and serve Taunton in Wells Cathedral later this year. everyone who lives and works in the county. She will live in Wells and work from the “In a diocese with such a mix of rural and Bishops’ Office at the Bishop’s Palace in more urban parishes, each I’m sure with its Wells, assisting Bishop Peter Hancock. own distinct personality, I’m really keen to Ruth is married to Howard, Vice­Principal experience how our churches and the at Trinity College, Bristol. They have three diocese are meeting those different needs. adult sons. And how we can engage in the process of Ruth Worsley will become the fifth woman transformation, one which changes lives, both bishop in the Church of England. The first, our own and others’, and then influences the Libby Lane, was consecrated Bishop of way in which we are ‘Church’ and brings Stockport on 26 January, and Alison White about a renewed sense of community.” became Bishop of Hull on 3 July. The first Ruth was born in Hampton, Middlesex, in woman diocesan bishop, and the first to sit 1962 and grew up under the flight path of in the House of Lords, is Rachel Treweek, who Heathrow airport in Ashford and Staines. She became Bishop of Gloucester on Wednesday attended the University of Manchester and 22 July 2015. At the same ceremony, Arch­ St John’s College, Nottingham. bishop Justin Welby consecrated Dame Sarah After her ordination in 1996, she served Mullally, formerly Canon Treasurer at Salis­ for 14 years as a parish priest in Nottingham bury Cathedral, as Bishop of Crediton. Bishop-designate Ruth is currently Archdeacon The Archbishop of Canterbury consecrates of Wiltshire in the Diocese of Salisbury. Bishops Rachel Treweek and Sarah Mullally. 2 Christ Church Link August 2015 Talking point Coming events Empty pews? Not a problem... Wells Summer Organ Festival Recital What is it? The final recital of the 2015 Declining numbers at services should not Summer Organ Festival is given by Jonathan necessarily be a cause of despair for churches Vaughn, Assistant Organist at Wells Cathedral. because people will still “encoun ter God” The programme includes Sibelius’ Finlandia, without ever taking their place in a pew, the Franck’s Prelude, Fugue and Variation, Hindemith new Bishop of Crediton has insisted. Sonata no 1, Ives Variations on America, and Speaking to The Telegraph in early June after Buck Variations on the Star Spangled Banner she was nominated as Bishop, Dame Sarah When is it? Wednesday 5 August, 7:30pm Mullally, the former NHS Chief Nurse for Where? Wells Cathedral, BA5 2US England, said clerics must recognise that Tickets £10 (including a post­concert drink), young people are as likely to hear the Chris­ from Wells Cathedral Shop Box Office (01749 tian message through social media sites such 672773) and at the door as Facebook or in cafés as in a church. wellscathedral.org.uk Survey and census data shows that mem­ ber ship of the Church of England in particular Apple Picking Party in aid of Genesis has declined over the last decade. The pro­ What is it? Pick apples and enjoy an afternoon por tion of the UK adult population classing in Janet Mahto’s garden in aid of Genesis Trust themselves as Roman Catholic has remained When is it? Sunday 13 September 2015 essentially stable at around 8% over the last Where? Granville Lodge, Weston Road, Bath 30 years. Those classed as “other” Christian – BA1 2XU which includes Methodists, Presbyterians and others – is also steady at about 17%. Yet the Early music Wells: Unaccompanied proportion of British adults who describe Bach by candlelight themselves as Anglican fell from 40% in 1983 What is it? Following a stellar performance in to 17% in 2014. the Early Music Wells 2013 Season, prize­ The then Bishop­designate agreed that winning baroque violinist Colin Scobie while the Church should be concerned about returns to play more music by JS Bach for this decline, it must view it as part of a wider unaccompanied solo violin, in the beautiful social shift in which organisations of all types candlelit Quire of the Cathedral, on the are seeing declines in formal member ship. anniversary of the composer’s birth “We have seen a change generally in When is it? Saturday 26 September, 7pm society,” she said. “Membership of anything, Where? Wells Cathedral, BA5 2US whether it’s a club, a political party or the Tickets £12 from Wells Cathedral Shop Box Church, has changed. There are people who Office (01749 672773) and at the door engage with the Church, with God, but may wellscathedral.org.uk not be regular attenders. “I think the Church does need to take LMG Away Weekend 2016 seriously the change in the Church’s mem­ What is it? An opportunity to take time out bership,” she added, “but part of that is also and build closer links with our Local Ministry to recognise that there are really good Group friends from St Stephen’s, Lansdown, examples where the church engages with and St Mary’s, Charlcombe individuals that isn’t around the pews. When is it? Friday 23 to Sunday 25 September “It may be through church or youth 2016 (i.e., next year) – date changed to avoid groups or it could be social media or a clashing with Glastonbury! café run as a community project, and that Where? Lee Abbey on Exmoor.
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