HIGHLIGHTS of the Church in Wales’ Governing Body Meeting at Swansea University, Bay Campus, on 11-12 September 2019
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HIGHLIGHTS of the Church in Wales’ Governing Body meeting at Swansea University, Bay Campus, on 11-12 September 2019 Archbishop John launches Centenary Appeal Fund targeting charities at home and abroad. 100 See page 3. Highlights - September 2019 - English.indd 1 01/10/2019 11:58:06 Contents Presidential Address Page 1 Presidential Address “Challenge the status quo Page 3 Centenary Fund appeal and embrace change” Page 5 New Website The Archbishop of Wales renewed his call on church members to Standing Committee report challenge the status quo and support new initiatives aimed at growth, in his Presidential Address. Page 6 The Church, he said, must not be blind or deaf to either its challenges Cathedral Scheme Widows, Orphans & Dependants Society or its opportunities. University of Wales Trinity Saint David He acknowledged that there was resistance to attempts to address challenges but warned that it was essential for the Church “to rehabilitate” Page 7 its vision. Life Events Archbishop John said, “At a time when the Church is, thank God, in some places, waking up to the profound challenges which it faces, there Page 9 are still those within it who rashly dismiss as fools, those who point to and Evangelism Fund: Hope Street articulate those challenges, and who suggest some of the means by which Page 10 they might be addressed. Pioneer ministers “Both the challenges and the challengers deserve better, much better, than such an unwelcome, naive and, sometimes, hostile response. They Page 11 must be taken and, in some quarters at least, are increasingly being taken Membership and Finance seriously. Nevertheless, and regrettably this is not universally so. Anglican Consultative Council “Therefore, it is important, essential, that I once again encourage the Page 12 Governing Body and, through you, encourage our Province, to recognise Review of the Electoral College process our challenges, and affi rm those individuals and groups who, through asking uncomfortable questions and making uncomfortable observations, demand Page 13 of us, that we pay attention (that is, that we listen, not just hear) - and that Modern slavery and human traffi cking we plan, that we pray and that we act to continue to rehabilitate our vision for our life as a church. I have consistently spoken in this way since becoming Page 15 Finance Archbishop as have others, and I make no apology for doing so again. We dare not risk being either blind or deaf to either the reality of what we face, Page 16 or to the gifts and opportunities which we still have to address that reality.” Question Time Page 17 Worship and Farewells Published by the Representative Body of the Church in Wales on behalf of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales, September 2019. No part of this publication maybe reproduced without prior permission from the Publications Manager: The Representative Body of the Church in Wales, 2 Callaghan Square, Cardiff . CF10 5BT All pictures are © of the Representative Body of the Church in Wales. Page 1 | September 2019 | HIGHLIGHTS Highlights - September 2019 - English.indd 2 01/10/2019 11:58:36 Christian leaders had a history of being mocked and persecuted for radical ideas, the Archbishop reminded members. “From the beginning the infant Church was empowered to fearlessly, faithfully and fully proclaim and live out the challenge of the Gospel, and to reveal, in word and deed, God’s justice and God’s purposes for the world. For doing so, it faced persecution, ridicule and demonisation, with its pioneering leaders dismissed as fools, and sometimes cruelly done away with done away with, by those who perceived the message found, it is not too radical to suggest be more open to operating with of this New Way as both a danger that, deliberately or accidentally, a Gospel-driven, strategic intent, to and a threat. potentially deadly hold has been acting as stewards, managing and “In some of today’s churches, taken of individuals, congregations budgeting resources in such a way similar opinions are sometimes and fellowships; a hold that has, as to encourage, sustain, develop expressed, either openly or less perhaps imperceptibly, caused and further the proclamation of the obviously, by individuals or groups Spirit-led pilgrim people morphing Gospel, and not merely maintaining who, seeing them as threat to a into a just another human institution or protecting the status quo or status quo to which they have - a membership club, a club for the keeping the show on the road.” become comfortably accustomed, like-minded only.” The Archbishop ended his caricature some of the new ventures Such fellowships must not be address calling on those dismissed which are beginning to be articulated condemned or propped up but as fools for challenging the status and, in some places, undertaken, loved and off ered a new vision of quo to be “fools for Christ”. as the brainchild of fools. rehabilitation with help and support. He said, “I want to encourage, Imaginative, hopeful, faith-fi lled The Archbishop drew attention to a wider recognition of our church’s initiatives such as Pioneer Ministry, opportunities for evangelism off ered need to embrace a sensible, Ministry Areas, Team Ministry, Lay through life events, such as baptism, structured, change agenda. I Ministry, Evangelism Funds and marriages, funerals and local and want to invite and encourage the other initiatives are all too readily national occasions, as well as new Governing Body, and the Church dismissed by some as foolish, with types of ministry, such as team in Wales to prize what is good in those who propose them as new ministry, pioneers and greater roles our past, in our inheritance of faith ways of working, new ways of being for lay people. and life, and, at the same time, to church, ridiculed as fools.” He also called for fresh and encourage, welcome and affi rm Archbishop John said voices innovative ideas to be properly new thoughts, new steps, to rejoice against change were often found in resourced. Church treasurers, he in our advantages, to seize our declining churches. The outcome for said, were not just “investment opportunities, and to take calculated them, he warned, could be “spiritual managers”. risks.” exile and ultimate extinction”. “It’s important that they be “Where such circumstances are encouraged to think afresh, and To download the text of the Presidential Address visit: churchinwales.org.uk/news HIGHLIGHTS | September 2019 | Page 2 Highlights - September 2019 - English.indd 3 01/10/2019 11:58:37 100 CENTENARY APPEAL TARGETS CHARITIES AT HOME AND ABROAD Homeless people and victims of confl ict are the Canon Carol Wardman, Bishops’ Adviser for focus of a major appeal which was launched Church and Society, said, during the meeting to mark next year’s centenary “We are pledging to raise of the Church In Wales. £100,000 but if everyone Two charities will benefi t from the Centenary in our churches gave just Appeal which aims to raise at least £100,000 over a few pounds we would the next fi ve years. The money will go to two specifi c quickly surpass that projects – one at home, run by Housing Justice amount. However, the aim is not just about raising Cymru, to help homeless people and the other money – it is also about deepening our understanding supporting peace-building in South Sudan through and solidarity with people experiencing hardship Christian Aid. and poverty, and to develop our relationship with The Archbishop of Wales, John Davies, called on organisations helping them.” people to be as generous as they were 100 years All the money collected will be distributed equally ago when another signifi cant between Christian Aid and Housing Justice Cymru. appeal was launched. He said, The charities will give regular reports and feedback “Back in 1920 we launched an about the progress of the projects to show how the appeal to establish the Church money is making a diff erence to people’s lives. In Wales and parishioners from Canon Carol said, “We chose South Sudan for every church in the country a number of reasons. As a member of the Anglican gave so generously that the Communion, our Church already has a lot of links with Church has been sustained for 100 years. I can think other provinces but we had no existing connection of no better way to celebrate our birthday than by with South Sudan. It is a very active Anglican church launching another major appeal to raise money – not and has colossal need. Coincidently, the very fi rst for ourselves but for those in need, both at home and bishop of Sudan, Llewellyn Gwynne, was from overseas. I am confi dent that people will respond with Swansea and the diocese was set up in 1920 – the similar generosity and enthusiasm. I also ask you to same year as the Church in Wales. We wanted to pray for these projects: for those who run them, for work through an organisation with expertise in the the people they will benefi t, and for the energy and fi eld and Christian Aid was the obvious partner. commitment to use them to build up God’s Kingdom “For the local charity, homelessness was always of justice and peace, solidarity and compassion.” a front runner. We have a long relationship with It is far easier for people to donate to the Housing Justice Cymru, particularly through its Faith Centenary Appeal than it was 100 years ago, In Aff ordable Housing arm. however. For the fi rst time, the Church has set up an “We have set a target of £20,000 a year – a Instagiv site, which went live at the meeting, so that modest sum as we didn’t want to replace existing people can donate a fi xed amount via text on the fund raising.