Meithrin Gobaith Growing Hope www.stdavids.churchinwales.org.uk www.facebook.com/pobl.dewi http://twitter.com/PoblDewi March / Mawrth 2019 On Earth peace? With our world and our communities riven by strife, Stephen Ruttle urges the Church to take the lead in healing discord HE year has turned. My In 1998, shortly after being resolution. A mediator stands in the 2003, I set up a community medi- Revelation 21, its restoration. wife and I welcomed 2019 appointed a Queen’s Counsel, I middle, between both parties, fight- ation charity, which I still help Peace is what we pray for, day Tby building yet more ponds qualified as a commercial media- ing neither; no longer a mercenary, run from the church we attend in by day: “your kingdom come . on as part of a biodiversity project on tor, a Damascus Road moment. more a midwife. Someone who Battersea. I am involved increas- earth as in heaven”. Peace is what our farm outside Myddfai. I think Work became vocation. Since “lays his hand upon us both” (Job ingly in mediating and facilitating God continues to do here and now, back to the Christmas story and to then I have been “unlearning” 9.33). faith-based disputes. I was part and what he invites us to partici- three words in particular from the almost everything I had previously Since 2002, I have worked full of Archbishop Justin Welby’s pate in. Peacemakers, Jesus says, message of the angels to the shep- understood about conflict and its time as a commercial mediator. In facilitation team for the Shared are blessed, not because they will herds: “on earth peace to men and Conversations on human sexuality. receive something (as in the other women on whom his favour rests”. My wife and I have helped write beatitudes) but because they will This is the gospel in minia- and lead two courses; “Waging be called “sons of God”. What they ture, in microcosm; the news of Peace”, aimed at equipping a do is recognisable as an essential the arrival of the Kingdom. What new generation of peacemakers, characteristic of their Father. And is this gospel? The answer is and “Holding Difficult Conversa- profoundly missional, of course. “peace”. Where is it to be found? tions”. My vision is of a network As national reconciliation is a “On earth” because God’s favour of community peace centres oper- priority at present, then what might now rests upon us right here. ating out of, and supported by, happen were individual churches, As a commercial barrister for groups of churches across the UK. or groups of churches, to become nearly 25 years, my job was to So what do I now understand centres of neighbourhood reconcil- fight battles for my clients. If that by “on earth peace”? iation? Some years ago, I heard an made me a mercenary (the term is Peace, “shalom” when used in internationally renowned mediator, slightly pejorative but essentially the Bible, means “universal flour- who has no overt faith affiliation, accurate) then I was a mercenary ishing and delight, the way things deliver a keynote address to an in the best interests of my client! ought to be.” What is the way such audience of 300 church leaders. Peace was not on the menu; I think things should be? The answer, from “This is a historic occasion,” he I understood the meaning of the Scripture, is a joyful network of the said. “If you, the Church, can put term in Scripture as essentially “the four interlocking relationships for your own house in order then you absence of conflict”. Peacemakers which we are made: with God, with can lead the world”. were a sort of fire brigade, whose each other, with ourselves (often The rise of mediation is already job was to prevent fires (conflicts) overlooked) and with the whole a sociological phenomenon. Our from arising and when they did to created order, that “tending of the world needs peacemakers. But we put them out as soon as possible, garden” that writer after writer have a gospel that others don’t and enabling others to get on with the describes as a profound and irre- access to hope where others strug- important task of “preaching the placeable source of joy. The Bible gle. What we are seeing may also gospel”. is the story of peace; its creation be a new and profound movement None of which helped me make (in each of these relationships), its of God’s Spirit. much sense of the angels’ message. Stephen Ruttle loss, and then, from Genesis 4 to Plygain Grŵp o ardal Llandeilo Update from Bukavu yn canu yn y gwasanaeth page 17 Plygain yn Eglwys S. Ioan, Penrhyn-coch 20 Rhagfyr 2018. Daeth nifer dda o grwpiau amrywiol ac unigolion ynghyd ar gyfer y Plygain gyda’r eglwys o dan ei sang. Trefnir y Plygain ym Mhenrhyn-coch gan Llun: William H Howells Llun: William Gymdeithas y Penrhyn FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP – Pages 10 - 12 Am ddim Free 2 Pobl Dewi, March 2019 • 4 lay representatives elected by Changes in representation the LMA • The LMA Lay Chair The Standing Committee of the Diocesan Conference has • 1 Reader per LMA (replaced set up a small working group to look at representation at with an additional Worship Leader diocesan level in the light of Local Ministry Areas. The biggest if there is no Reader) area that this applies to is the Diocesan Conference itself. • 1 Worship Leader per LMA Paul Mackness explains • 1 young person (who has to be over 16 and under 25) per LMA URRENTLY representation is in place by July 2019, we would In addition to this, it is proposed C based on the melange of parishes have to operate a two-tier system to increase the membership of the and benefices as well as looking at the for a triennium, which makes no Standing Committee by adding Average Sunday Attendance in order sense. Consequently, the Stand- one additional lay person per arch- to supplement representation. Dean- ing Committee has voted, under deaconry to ensure a lay majority eries also elect additional members its delegate powers, to extend the on that body. The current Stand- to ensure that the number of clergy life of the current Conference by ing Committee elects members doesn’t dominate and that there is a one year until July 2020, when all by archdeaconry and this is to be majority of lay members. LMAs will have been set up. continued. The present Diocesan Confer- The Representation Working Full detailed proposals will go ence is due to end in July this Group proposes that every LMA to the Standing Committee meeting we are asking for your views and comments or feedback to year with a new Conference meet- should be treated equally with the in March, however, it seeks to get ideas based on these proposals, diocese.stdavids@churchinwales. ing for the first time in October. same number of representatives, feedback from the diocese as any do you have any alternatives that org.uk However, in moving to a system similar to the way in which the changes will require an amend- you think should be considered? or to the Representation Work- that will be based not on deaneries Governing Body deals with each ment to the Diocesan Conference Is there anything else the Repre- ing Group, c/o Diocesan Office, or parishes but on LMAs, it would diocese, giving equal representa- Constitution to be brought to the sentation Working Group should Abergwili, Carmarthen SA36 2JG. mean that as all LMAs will not be tion regardless of size: conference in October 2019. So, be looking at? Please send any seeking the guidance of the Holy Making a difference Spirit, and guarding against the Double celebration Joel Barder, the youngest cleric in the diocese, encourages ‘spirit of the age,’ which seeks to lead us away from God’s path. readers to participate in decisions made for the short, medium at Bro Lliedi LMA The other thing about being on and long-term life of the Church in Wales GB is that it should be representa- HE Licensing Service for Revd celebrating Revd Canon Huw HAT is the first thing that tional. If we look at the make-up of TSulin Milne as a Team Vicar Mosford’s 40 years of ordained Wyou do when concerned GB we need to ask, is it representa- in Bro Lliedi LMA was held at St ministry took place at St Elli’s about something? As Christians, tive of the CiW as a whole? I am Peter’s Church, Llanelli, on 11th Church, Llanelli. A congregation the most important thing is to pray. there to stand up for what I believe December. The service, a mixture of 150 from across the LMA cele- God is the same yesterday, today, in, and also to represent the clergy, of old and new, was led by Revd brated with Canon Huw, along with and forever, and faithful in all His and indeed our laity, in the deci- Canon Huw Mosford, and included visitors and friends. Revd Chancel- ways. He hears and answers the sions that are made. items from the LMA choir and the lor Brian Jones gave the sermon. prayers of His people, in accord- It would be disingenuous to say youth group. Representatives from Canon Huw was presented with ance with His will. The next thing that every moment is enthralling at all six churches presented Sulin a framed embroidery and every- we can do is to determine how we GB meetings, but to have a voice in with the tools of the trade.