The Sunday Archive: The Pilot, August 1997 - Part 12
SHORTLY after his arrival in a new parish, the vicar was asked to conduct a funeral service.
In the service he announced: "I'm sorry that I cannot pay tribute to the deceased as I did not know him. But if any of you would like to say a few words, please feel free to do so."
There was complete silence. "Now don't be shy," continued the vicar, "I'm sure some of you would like to say a kindly word about your friend." Finally a voice from the back muttered: "His brother was worse!"
—Rev John Dodd, Grouville
SHORTLY after his arrival in a new parish, the vicar was asked to conduct a funeral service.
In the service he announced: "I'm sorry that I cannot pay tribute to the deceased as I did not know him. But if any of you would like to say a few words, please feel free to do so."
There was complete silence. "Now don't be shy," continued the vicar, "I'm sure some of you would like to say a kindly word about your friend." Finally a voice from the back muttered: "His brother was worse!"
—Rev John Dodd, Grouville
St Luke and St James
From
DAVID JONES Priest-in-Charge
The Winds of Change and the Challenge to Share
THE twentieth century crept closer to the Established Church in the Bailiwick of Jersey last month, yet the Deanery Synod again ran away from facing the need to look at the present conditions of the Church of England and what the future held and the challenge to change. Ours is the last Deanery in our Diocese to face the challenge! The "Other Island" has already done its job. Why is Jersey last? What a reputation, when we could be leading the way with imagination and flare! A lot was said about history and the need to preserve, and not in "my parish," and why not next door?
For those of you unaware of the issue, it was the need to release two clergy posts in the Island, so that places with greater need may benefit on the mainland. This is something new for us here but very common for the last twenty years in the UK. Back in the 70's it was realised that most of the Church of England's clergy were in the rural areas, when most of the population lived in urban areas.
From
DAVID JONES Priest-in-Charge
The Winds of Change and the Challenge to Share
THE twentieth century crept closer to the Established Church in the Bailiwick of Jersey last month, yet the Deanery Synod again ran away from facing the need to look at the present conditions of the Church of England and what the future held and the challenge to change. Ours is the last Deanery in our Diocese to face the challenge! The "Other Island" has already done its job. Why is Jersey last? What a reputation, when we could be leading the way with imagination and flare! A lot was said about history and the need to preserve, and not in "my parish," and why not next door?
For those of you unaware of the issue, it was the need to release two clergy posts in the Island, so that places with greater need may benefit on the mainland. This is something new for us here but very common for the last twenty years in the UK. Back in the 70's it was realised that most of the Church of England's clergy were in the rural areas, when most of the population lived in urban areas.
So a process of better use of the manpower of the Church was undertaken and the number of clergy, serving relatively small populations, was reduced by the uniting of parishes under one priest. Added to this there were, and are, less men (and now women) offering themselves for the Ordained Ministry and less money to pay for them. Thus there was a growing need, with less resources. Since those days country and town parishes have had to cut their cloth according to the means available.
I came to Jersey from three rural parishes of the size of St Mary's and St John's, scattered over 30 square miles. We had three church schools to run and to be chairman of the governors and trustee of. Three church councils to run. Three parish councils to attend and the raising of funds to maintain all three church buildings, and pay the Quota, and give to mission. Yes, with the visiting and the growing of congregations. That group of three is now, like many others, to increase to five parishes soon. Still with only one Rector. My situation was far from unique, as there were Rectors nearby with five, six and seven parishes.
Yes, I know that Rectors on Jersey are different and play a part in the civil parish administration, but they, unlike their UK fellows, get their church and rectories maintained by the civil authorities and don't have the burden of work, raising funds to do the repair and restoration, themselves (like, I might say, the district churches here do!).
The challenge all of the Anglican churches in Jersey have, is to take our part in the wider Church of which we belong (a wider Church that supports those parishes here who do not pay their full Quota, by subsidising them.) We have more than our fair share of clergy. We need to share our priests, and at the moment release two for service elsewhere. To somewhere with a great need (and population). We may need to release more, only time will tell. But this surely is part of being Christians together, helping where there is the greater need.
We face a challenge, country parishes and the parishes and churches around the town of St Helier; are we making the best use of our limited manpower resources? Let us make the creative choices, rather than have them imposed on us, because we have run away from the challenge. This time, is not a time of doom and gloom, though, but a time of opportunity. Sharing a priest can release the ministries of other people, as is evident in many a parish church in the UK where one man has charge of a group of two, three or four. It is a time to seek a new vision from God as to what is His task for His people in this generation.
The talking will go on, let us pray that we Anglicans in this Island may not duck the issues, but meet them with courage, imagination and the Spirit of Christian generosity. That come November we may have a plan for our future development, worthy of those who follow the God who makes all things new and is ever moving onward.
Much more can and will be said, but we cannot get away from the fact that we have more than our fair share of clergy. Let us meet that truth together. And together rise to the challenge.
DIARY DATES FOR AUGUST
1st-4th: Choir Tour singing in Sherbourne Abbey. 4th: Prayer School, 7.30 pm.
7th: MU Overseas Coffee Morning at church, 11 am-12 noon.
10th: Fun Day and Barbeque at the Vicarage from 2 pm.
17th: Songs of Praise in support of the Children's Society.
31st: Church Picnic and Scavenger Hunt at Gorey.
REGISTERS
HOLY BAPTISM. 1st June, Alexander Lopes; 15th June, Kerry McFarlane; 22nd June, Katherine Veitch, Samuel Allen; 6th July, Jamie Larbaliester, Sean Herbert, Luke Piziura; 13th July, Oliver Bybarezuk.
HOLY MATRIMONY. 28th June, Timothy Marsh and Jocelyne Le Guerne; 12th July, Michael Arnold and Tracey Huggett.
I came to Jersey from three rural parishes of the size of St Mary's and St John's, scattered over 30 square miles. We had three church schools to run and to be chairman of the governors and trustee of. Three church councils to run. Three parish councils to attend and the raising of funds to maintain all three church buildings, and pay the Quota, and give to mission. Yes, with the visiting and the growing of congregations. That group of three is now, like many others, to increase to five parishes soon. Still with only one Rector. My situation was far from unique, as there were Rectors nearby with five, six and seven parishes.
Yes, I know that Rectors on Jersey are different and play a part in the civil parish administration, but they, unlike their UK fellows, get their church and rectories maintained by the civil authorities and don't have the burden of work, raising funds to do the repair and restoration, themselves (like, I might say, the district churches here do!).
The challenge all of the Anglican churches in Jersey have, is to take our part in the wider Church of which we belong (a wider Church that supports those parishes here who do not pay their full Quota, by subsidising them.) We have more than our fair share of clergy. We need to share our priests, and at the moment release two for service elsewhere. To somewhere with a great need (and population). We may need to release more, only time will tell. But this surely is part of being Christians together, helping where there is the greater need.
We face a challenge, country parishes and the parishes and churches around the town of St Helier; are we making the best use of our limited manpower resources? Let us make the creative choices, rather than have them imposed on us, because we have run away from the challenge. This time, is not a time of doom and gloom, though, but a time of opportunity. Sharing a priest can release the ministries of other people, as is evident in many a parish church in the UK where one man has charge of a group of two, three or four. It is a time to seek a new vision from God as to what is His task for His people in this generation.
The talking will go on, let us pray that we Anglicans in this Island may not duck the issues, but meet them with courage, imagination and the Spirit of Christian generosity. That come November we may have a plan for our future development, worthy of those who follow the God who makes all things new and is ever moving onward.
Much more can and will be said, but we cannot get away from the fact that we have more than our fair share of clergy. Let us meet that truth together. And together rise to the challenge.
DIARY DATES FOR AUGUST
1st-4th: Choir Tour singing in Sherbourne Abbey. 4th: Prayer School, 7.30 pm.
7th: MU Overseas Coffee Morning at church, 11 am-12 noon.
10th: Fun Day and Barbeque at the Vicarage from 2 pm.
17th: Songs of Praise in support of the Children's Society.
31st: Church Picnic and Scavenger Hunt at Gorey.
REGISTERS
HOLY BAPTISM. 1st June, Alexander Lopes; 15th June, Kerry McFarlane; 22nd June, Katherine Veitch, Samuel Allen; 6th July, Jamie Larbaliester, Sean Herbert, Luke Piziura; 13th July, Oliver Bybarezuk.
HOLY MATRIMONY. 28th June, Timothy Marsh and Jocelyne Le Guerne; 12th July, Michael Arnold and Tracey Huggett.
St Brelade, St Aubin on the Hill and Communicare
HOLY BAPTISM. 1st June, Robyn Wellman; 15th June, Fraser Barlow, Jemima Hill; 29th June, Stacy Benstead.
HOLY MATRIMONY. 7th June, Matthew Ahier and Silke Viola; Jonathan Williams and Sarah Mallet; 14th June, Robin Ovenden and Lucy Hackett; Andrew Chamberlain and Victoria Duckett; 21st June, Alun Evans and Sarah Pinel; 28th, Stephen de Gruchy and Fiona Macintosh.
HOLY BAPTISM. 1st June, Robyn Wellman; 15th June, Fraser Barlow, Jemima Hill; 29th June, Stacy Benstead.
HOLY MATRIMONY. 7th June, Matthew Ahier and Silke Viola; Jonathan Williams and Sarah Mallet; 14th June, Robin Ovenden and Lucy Hackett; Andrew Chamberlain and Victoria Duckett; 21st June, Alun Evans and Sarah Pinel; 28th, Stephen de Gruchy and Fiona Macintosh.
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