Fourth Bishop of the Murray Installed
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TMA Summer 2014 FOURTH BISHOP OF THE MURRAY INSTALLED Bishop John Ford has been installed as the fourth Bishop of The Murray in the presence of the Anglican Primate of Australia, Philip Aspinall, the Archbishop of Adelaide, Jeffrey Driver and other visiting Bishops. The installation, by the Venerable Richard A. Seabrook, Administrator of the Diocese, took place at a Sung Evensong at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist at Murray Bridge on the th6 of December, 2013. The installation was also attended by the Governor of South Australia, Kevin Scarce, the State Member for Hammond, Adrian Pederick, the Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson and other Anglican Bishops including the Bishop of Willochra, John Stead, the Assistant Bishop of Adelaide, Tim Harris and a former Bishop of Willochra, David McCall. Also in attendance were the Chancellor, Robert Tong, members of Diocesan Council, members of the Bishop Election TMA Summer 2014 Committee, the Synod Solicitor, John the clergy, said he was coming at a “We look forward to your teaching, Strachan, Diocesan clergy and time when to be a Bishop, at this time your pastoral guidance and your representatives of every Parish and in the history of western Christianity leadership, so we can advance our Pastoral District in the Diocese. was a daunting task, which required collective hopes for the spread of commitment to ‘the faith once God’s kingdom. As we undertake this Keith Robinson, a representative from delivered to the saints’ as well as an task, you can be assured of our the Diocese of Exeter where Bishop openness to new things, the ability to prayers for your work and ministry John Ford served as the Bishop of teach Christ’s truth in the language of among us.” Plymouth from 2005 gave thanks for the day and the gift of encouraging his episcopal ministry in their diocese God’s people. “As you are well aware, we have been and commended him to that Diocese in waiting for some time, and of The Murray in love and care. “Your diocese is still here and in one although there may be the pressure of piece. Your diocese has a strong sense great expectations, we will not try to Before those present, Bishop John of order and tradition. We know who be too anxious, as together, we took an oath of loyalty to Her Majesty we are and what we stand for, and we progress on our journey of faith.” Queen Elizabeth the Second, an oath want to be ourselves.” Fr. Dirk said. of canonical obedience to the In responding, Bishop Ford said he Metropolitan of South Australia, “You will have your work cut out for and Bridget had been greatly assented to the doctrine of the you in this diocese. As you have welcomed since their arrival and had Anglican Church of Australia as already discovered, you will be experienced a foretaste of the expressed in the Book of Common travelling long distances and hospitality in the Diocese. Prayer. ministering to small, scattered and isolated communities. But you will “We have much to do; we must build Bishop John was then welcomed by know that wherever you go, you will the Church by reflecting on the the Primate, the Bishops in the be warmly received by your clergy hospitality of the Father through Jesus Province of South Australia, the and their congregations. May you Christ in the glory of God. I pray that licensed clergy in the Diocese and the enjoy a long and happy episcopate.” we may together do this for the good laity. Bishop John was then blessed by of everyone” Bishop Ford said. the Primate, and greeted by everyone Lay Canon Michael Bleby, in present with applause. welcoming the Bishop on behalf of Archbishop Driver, in his sermon used Various welcoming addresses the people of the Diocese, believed a reflection on the parable of the followed, including from the Governor we were blessed to have him among sower to issue a challenge to the of South Australia, the Member for us. Church and for the Diocese. Hammond and Geraldine Hawkes “We celebrate this new beginning at a representing the South Australian “As we begin to know each other and particularly challenging time for the Council of Churches. work together, we trust that we will Church and for this Diocese. We do so be genuinely receptive to the love, at a time when the Church is The Very Reverend Dirk van Dissel, in care and support that you have to increasingly marginalised in Australian welcoming Bishop John on behalf of give” Lay Canon Bleby said. society; some of that as a result of its 2 TMA Summer 2014 own actions and inactions, as the Assisi, Christies Beach and other the Catholic Church Hall after the Royal Commission into institutional churches singing an anthem, and a service. abuse has highlighted once more in blessing from Bishop John Ford. recent weeks” Archbishop Driver said. The Guild of the Murraylands Parish “These are times when we might be provided catering for the supper in tempted to become defensive. These are times when we might be tempted to withdraw into nostalgia, to step back, to put up the shutters.” “The Gospel calls us to something else. I am convinced that we live in times when the Church is called to a frightening new life beyond itself, in new, and for many, quite radical expressions of love, and the risk of love, without which we will die.” Archbishop Driver said. “So Bishop John and Bridget, as we welcome you to your place this evening, we pray we may hear again the call of Christ to the reckless, risk- taking, love spending, joyful scattering of life that is the Gospel.” “People of The Murray, with your Bishop, live the daring life of being the Church! Dream and dare and risk the impossible, for the world needs such dreaming and has seen too little of it, in the too often prosaic, sometimes petty affairs of the Church in Australia.” The service concluded with the choir comprised of singers from St Francis of 3 TMA Summer 2013 BISHOP JOHN FORD ISSUES A CHALLENGE TO THE DIOCESE The words of Jesus in John’s Gospel, “I am the Good Shepherd” were the basis of the homily delivered by Bishop John Ford (see below) at his Inaugural Mass as the Bishop of The Murray, held on the Feast of St Ambrose of Milan, Bishop and Doctor of the Church in the fourth century. Around 350 people attended the Eucharist at the Murray Bridge Town Hall on Saturday th7 December, the morning after the Installation at the Cathedral. Amongst those present at the celebration were the Archbishop of Adelaide, Jeffrey Driver; the Archbishop of Sydney, Glenn Davies; the Bishops of Bendigo and Willochra, Andrew Curnow and John Stead; Bishops Stanley Goldsworthy, Stuart Smith and David McCall. At the conclusion of the sermon, the Bishop invited all to repent of their sins and renew their baptismal vows. The vessel used for blessing of the water was designed and put together by Jonathan Woore, a parishioner from Mt Barker and a member of Diocesan Council. The waters of baptism were sprinkled over those present with the Bishop ascending and descending along the two aisles of the auditorium. David Mills, a Pastoral Assistant from the Pastoral District of the Southern Vales came to the stage and asked the Bishop himself whether he would share the Diocese’s journey of faith as being a fellow Christian with them and for them. Of course, he agreed! The Mass continued with the Eucharistic Prayer, the distribution of Holy Communion and the Prayer after Communion. A presentation was then made of a set of vestments for the new Bishop- a gift from the people of the Diocese. At the conclusion of the Mass, a reception was held at the Murray Bridge and District Community Club to mark the beginning of Bishop John Ford’s ministry in the Diocese. Bishop John was supported by his wife Bridget during the installation and at the inaugural mass along with their son and daughter-in-law Benedict and Sarah who flew from the UK for the occasion. I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD I am the Good Shepherd behind me! We could take a straw poll – but I Quite a text for this my first sermon as your bishop … might win simply because you don’t know me like your shepherd. you do them!! I am … the good as opposed to the bad … good captain (Aussie)/bad Captain (English) Whilst the bishop and all those who hold his licence I am the right one rather than the wrong one … and act in communion with him are to hold the Good you will have to ask the election committee! Shepherd always before themselves as their model the morally upright one - unlike other reprobates and guide … these words cannot, of course, be 4 TMA Summer 2014 applied to or claimed by me or any of my highly need of God’s forgiving love and a little later in this esteemed Episcopal colleagues, nor by any presbyter Eucharist we will renew our baptismal promises. or deacon here this morning – they are spoken by the Please make this ritual act a real turning point in your one who is the authentic shepherd … over and discipleship. After the renewal of promises I will re- against all others who might have claimed to be commission you for your missionary task and we shepherds in Israel’s past and also compared to all cannot overestimate how essential it is that our those whom he has called and commissioned since to diocese commits itself to serving others in the name succeed his apostles.