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Consecration Service, St Mark's Day 2008
Date: 25th April 2008
Preacher: The Rt Revd John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford
When the Liturgical Commission determined the Gospel for St Mark’s Day they must have had the possibility of the Consecration of Bishops in mind! ‘The one who endures to the end will be saved’. Preceded by the encouraging text, ‘beware; for they will hand you over to Synods and Councils, and you will face tiresome church wardens but the end is not yet….’ These are very tempting words for the preacher on an occasion like this!
In the midst of all this hardship and trouble comes the Gospel call ‘preach the Gospel to all the nations’. That struck me very forcibly. Today we consecrate three people who are a gift to the Church of God at a time of growing uncertainty, anxiety and of change.
Here in Mark’s Gospel our Lord directs us to the birth pangs of the new age. Conflict, bitterness and violence raise their ugly head right across the globe. In the world we carry responsibility for millions of people are living with the harsh consequences of war. Those of us who have travelled to the world know of the impact of climate change – of failed harvests, of people starving to death and of the persistent plague of absolute poverty. The world we live in today faces a very uncertain future. The victims are, as always, the poorest and the weakest.
You will know here in the north of England what we know in London – young people are the victims of mindless gang violence, in some of the Borough’s of East London over 60% of the children are living below the poverty line and there is a growing anxiety about where our society is heading in these uncertain times.
Let me quote to you from the latest Joseph Rowntree Foundation Consultation on today’s social evils:-
“People feel a strong sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society. People are concerned about the way our society has become more individualistic, greedy and selfish, seemingly at the cost of our sense of community. As one website participant said, “We are in danger of losing sight of what is important in life, like kindness, playfulness, generosity and friendship. The immaterial things that cannot be bought and sold”. Then the sting in the tail for us, “Is religion,” they ask, “or its decline a social evil?”
If the love of God in Jesus has to work its way in the face of these grim human realities the passage reminds us that it also has to contend with the institutions of faith. There is a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty in the life of the church. In moments like these the temptation is always there to retreat into a world of religious disputes and divisions that are of little or no concern to the people beyond our borders. When out there people are desperate for food – spiritual, moral and bodily food – the church is caught up arguing about who is fit to break the bread.
The Gospel is to be preached to all the nations. In the mercy of God we have a special responsibility for this nation. Bishops are consecrated to oversight of the church in its mission in obedience to the call of Jesus. The Church of England, working in partnership with its ecumenical colleagues, has a duty to ensure that all the people of this country are offered the ministry of the Gospel. Unlike the Post Office we cannot shut up shop where the work is hard and go where the trade is more profitable. We have an obligation to every community in whatever state of life, culture and faith they exist.
God has been kind to us this day. God has given to the church three people who have that mission obligation deep in their hearts and lives. To the wider community we say, ‘welcome them in this ministry’. To the church we say, ‘do not compromise their vision’. To them we say, ‘hold fast to this ministry, fight for it and resist all the beguiling forces that threaten to take you away from it.’
That we are called to such ministry in times like these of anxiety and uncertainty and of a future yet to be revealed means that those who are to travel obediently to our Lord’s calling will need to depend more and more on the unseen yet life transforming grace of God. We can live with our own frailty and even with the exasperating folly of the church if our hearts and lives are rooted in the resurrection life of Jesus Christ. Remember how Mark’s Gospel ends – with the women amazed and afraid because the tomb was empty. The church needs more Bishops who are driven by that holy fear and amazement and who know that a new future is being shaped through the pain of the present.
Archbishop David Gitari – that very great and courageous East African Christian – had a saying. ‘Never let the urgent take your eye off of the important’. The art of episcopal ministry is to win the battle to ensure the urgent serves the important.
· Urgent – parish priest has run off with the Church Warden’s wife. Important – nurturing clergy confidence and ensuring care for their households
· Urgent – the diocesan housing budget is overspent. Important – liberating the rich resources God has given to us for the work of the Gospel
· Urgent – press have picked up a complaint about the rudeness of a priest at a funeral. Important – raising expectations of what can be achieved through the pastoral offices.
· Urgent – a pile of E Mails await your return from a day across the diocese. Important – time for God in prayer, for reading, for family and friends, for recreation and fun.
That is a persistent struggle in all ministry. If there are no struggles, no moments of conflict and anxiety and even of stress, we are probably not getting near the heart of the Gospel life of the emerging Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ. Those words of the Gospel speak a demanding truth – the one who endures to the end will be saved.
In the company of Jesus what are we given? Food, life abundant, joy laughter and fun and hope in a world and a church that might easily drive humanity to despair.
In the great wonder of this service, - Mark, Christopher and Robert - we pray these gifts for your new ministry as we thank our Lord for giving you to us all this day.
Amen