#26 October 1991

WHIMEMON

Cricketers in cup hat-trick For the third year in succession, the Oxford Diocesan Cricket Club won the Church Times Cup, defeating the London Diocese by seven wickets at Southgate Cricket Club. The performance, against a strong team was arguably the best that the ODCC have ever produced in the competi-tion, reflecting the good team spirit and strength in depth which characterise the current team.

London won the toss on a glorious sunny day and elected to bat. They made a solid, but slow, start against a tight attack reaching 63 for 3 at lunch, having lost a wicket immediately before the interval. The key breakthrough after lunch came when Gordon dismissed dangerman Wookey with his first ball and, with a good fielding performance maintaining the

pressure on London, they were dismissed for 134.

In reply, Oxford lost a wicket in the first over, bringing Mitra and Bradshaw together in what proved a match-winning stand of 111. Both batted beautifully, Mitra being particularly severe on the attack after the tea interval when 62 runs were scored in 9 overs.

Victory was finally achieved in 29.3 overs (Mitra 70, Bradshaw 42), bringing a successful and enjoyable season to an end. The Club dinner is being held in Oxford on Thursday 14 November when John Barclay, the former Sussex CCC captain, will be the speaker. Further details may be obtained from the club secretary, Jonathan Gordon.

John Sam ways

Number 26

The Diocese of Oxford Reporter: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

October 1991

Good News from Blackbird Leys "We love Blackbird Leys because the sun is shining," said the message attached to a red balloon floating up into a cloudless blue sky. "We love Blackbird Leys because we like the people, and the football, and the church", other messages read when, after a week of bad news, local MP Andrew Smith• cut the first string and the sky was dotted with balloons bearing messages of all that's good in Black-bird Leys.

The launch took place on September 7, outside the Church of the Holy Family in the middle of Blackbird Leys. The estate, on the southern edge of Oxford, hit the national headlines at the beginning of September when a police move to put a stop to joyriding displays escalated into a week of street disturbances.

The idea that a group of residents and children should help to boost local morale came from Mrs Alison Delaney, a member of Holy Family Church. One balloon landed on a bonnet on Salisbury Plain as an army officer was cleaning his car, and encouraging telephone calls came from as far afield as Southampton and Stone-henge.

The Bishop of Oxford attended one of the prayer vigils held each evening dur-ing the week of disturbances. Christians from all over Ox-ford also joined the congre-gation at Holy Family on September 8, for a festival of celebration, praise and prayer for healing within the community.

A collection for local un-der-fives groups, "the teen-agers of tomorrow", was placed within a circle of Church Urban Fund candles on the altar. "1 wanted to make the point that though we endlessly talk about inner city problems, our problems are quite different. We are outside the city centre and not on the way to anywhere

and this leaves a great sense of anonymity," said James Ramsay, Priest in Charge of Holy Family Church.

Jim Hewitt, a local Church Community Worker attach-ed to the church is confident that there is a sense of community in the area. Resi-dents have enthusiastically supported his work in setting up under-fives groups and also a Credit Union on the estate, he says.

Responding to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury's re-cent comments on the root causes of urban disorder Jim Hewitt said: "I think that both the affluent and the impoverished are treat-ing community resources as if they don't matter, andas if life is for getting excite ment however you can get it. We have a powerful central government on one hand, and small nuclear fam-ilies on the other. In between are local government and community groups, starved of funds and pushed out of any position of influence."

James Ramsay also com-ments on page 8. Also in this month's DOOR:

• What to do if you have a vocation on page 4 • All about the new ordi-nands on page 7 • Also four-page One World Week Supplement

It was all the fun of the Witney Feast for the Bishop of Oxford on September 15, when he joined the town Mayor, Michael Chadwick, and local clergy led by the Vicar of St Mary's, Roland Meredith, for a service on the galloping horses roundabout. The Feast dates back to 1343 when the King presented two deer to the Rector of St Mary's Church for a 'feast' in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose nativity is celebrated on September 8. Hymns at the traditional fairground service are accompanied by the gallopers' own steam organ. Photo: Frank Blackwell

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Veterans and novices And more. Craft made; skilfully designed; affordable.

They did it on tandems, tricycles, on foot and even by canoe. Teenagers came on mountain bikes in psychedelic colours, children straggled in excited convoys behind their parents, octo-genarians pedalled bravely on stately octogenarian bicycles. But whatever their age or transport, all who took park in the 1991 Historic Churches Cycle Ride on September 14 agreed that it was "the best ever"

The DOOR was represented by the Revd John Crowe, Rector of Dorcheter and Chairman of the Editorial Support Group, taking part for the third year. With his son he visited 31 churches and raised well over £200. "This event allows more people to appreciate some of the churches which are off the beaten track; We visited some fascinating churches that we had never seen before, like the Roman Catholic chapel at Milton Manor and the St

Bartlemas Chapel off the Cowley Road," he said.

One of the heroes of the day was Gina Scott-Smith (pictured) who a few weeks ago not only had no bicycle but didn't even know how to ride one. Her husband Brian solved the first problem by buying her a shining new machine, while his in-trepid wife did the rest.

"It wasn't easy to find a comfortable lane for falling off," she said. Finally, after several bruises, cuts and grazes, Gina was pronounced 'roadworthy' and was able to join the other Oxfordshire cyclists on the day. She collected many sponsors, including one friend who laid a bet that she wouldn't reach the first parish. In-stead, Mrs Scott-Smith cycled more than 32 miles and visited 17 churches.

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f Sharing the Good News in the Decade of Evangelism -;_

With Bible and plough C

They say that the first essay I wrote, aged eight, began "I want to be a

mishonry (sic) and sail the ocean blue". It was the romance of the whole thing that appealed to me the idea of being an explorer. In fact, my experience of God in my life has been like one enormous explora-tion, because the God I understood as a young man is hardly the same God I know now.

We never talked about religion at home. It was all assumed. However, there was one dramatic incident when I was 19. 1 was in Trafalgar Square when there was a riot between the facists and the communists, and I was suddenly aware that as a Christian I ought to protest. I found myself getting up on a bollard, and though I hadn't had any

experience I knew that the Bible said: "At a time when you know not what to say the Holy Spirit will give you utterance". So I thought something would be given to me to say. And something was.

I simply said that we, as Christians, believe in the Prince of Peace and did not treat one another in this way. The crowd gathered around jeering: "Tell me the old, old story," and eventually knocked me off my pedestal but afterwards I felt a tremendous sense of elation. God had given me something to say. At that point I knew I was going to be a missionary.

The great slogan after the 1910 Edinburgh conference was 'The conversion of the world to Christianity in our Generation,' and when I got to Africa I remember climbing a mountain and looking over my area, which was almost the size of Wales, and praying to God that these people would become Christians. But I very quickly began to understand that the Christ I was presenting was for their whole life. I realised that I had to be as interested in how they grew

their food and had their babies, as I was in teaching them the Scriptures. So they called me the missionary with the Bible and the plough.

I was led more and more into trying to understand Christ as the deliverer from all their fears, and that was what got me into politics. I became very friendly with Kenneth Kaunda, and he has been the most influential African in my life. We shared our common Chris-tian beliefs, but he had a very African awareness of God in nature.

He asked me to leave the work I was doing, and first to head up the National Youth Service for all the unemployed youngsters, and then to become the chief land settlement officer. For seven years I lived in an African village in a house made of mud bricks, along-side people who already worshipped God before I or anybody else appeared. It was the most exciting experi-ence of my life, as I began to realise that people who weren't Christians actually believed in God. Ever since then, I've had this growing awareness of God, above

and beyond all religions. When I retired I said I

would give one year to the Peace Movement - so I cycled all around Britain. When I got back, I was living in a caravan and suddenly I was offered the use of an acre-and-a-half of land near Pangbourne to make an organic garden. Africa seemed to have re-ceded into the background, but Reading University had a course for overseas women students in agricultural edu-cation, and groups of them began to come to see me in the garden. I suddenly realised that what I was doing was of enormous sig-nificance to them.

Mistaken technology

What I have seen is that we from the West have given the Africans a totally mistaken technology for their food production, which is based on the importation of tractors, fertilisers and pesticides. And it is leading to more poverty and terrible degradation of huge areas of land. The only hope can be that we help the people to return to many of their old understandings of how they produce their food. It is a religious issue about how you use the land.

In 1989 I got a call from a Zambian who said I should go back to Africa, because they were in trouble with pollution and soil degrada-tion. While I was there I

travelled with a bicycle for 3,000 miles in order to discover what damage had been done to the soil by the use of artificial fertilizers. My purpose was to establish a centre for organic farming in Zambia.

Watching creation It was when I returned to

Africa that I became fully aware of God as Creator, and had a sense of working in creation with Him. It's not working for God but with him, as you handle the soil, as you keep the rules of harmony by not killing wasps and bees, and recog-nise that it's a whole inte-grated system which you must not destroy. Watching creation every day in the garden, and knowing that this ties up with my experi-ence of God and with my whole view of how we can handle the huge problems of hunger in Africa, is a totally fulfilling experience.

If you ask what Jesus taught about Creation The-ology the answer is, He didn't. He was a Jew, and He just accepted the basic belief from Genesis that God made the world and made it good, and that man was made in the image of God and entrusted with it. This idea of an integrated creation, a whole world, has been the accepted view of Christianity, Judaism, and I believe of most other relig-ions. It is only now in our present generation that the sacredness of the earth has been challenged by a man's arrogance. So now I see myself as one of those who is called by God to address man's terrible violence to the Creation and to say STOP. Merfyn Temple was born in China where his parents were missionaries. He is married to Audrey, the daughter of a missionary, He himself spent 30 years as a Methodist missionary in Zambia, though for part of the time he was seconded to Kenneth Kaunda's govern-ment as Land Resettlement Officer and Adviser on Vil-lage Development. After Africa he became Minister of All Saints' Methodist Church, Abingdon, but since retiring from the ministry he has run The Small Gar-den, an organic market gar-den in Upper Basildon near Reading. His latest book, New Hope for Africa, is available from him at 40, Thames Avenue, Pangbourne, Reading, RG8 711Y. Price £5.95 (postage 75p).

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The Door, October 1991 3

A residential home and a drop-in centre in Cowley, Oxford, for homeless single parents were opened by the Bishop of Oxford, the Right Revd Richard Harries, and the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Alan Pope, on September 3 (pictured right). They are the result of an unusual partnership between the Oxford Diocese and the City of Oxford to try to deal with the growing prob-lem of homelessness.

The new facilities were a small but significant contri-bution to resolving an over-whelming problem, said Bishop Richard. The Mayor, who is also a member of Cowley Deanery Synod, said he felt the joint provision was "one of the great things in the Diocese's response to the Faith in the City Report".

Micklewood House offers six bedsittin rooms with kitchen facilities and a shared lounge and bathroom for six homeless women and their children. Each family will be offered a programme of development tailored to their particular needs.

Housed in the same build-ing is SPHere (Single Parents Here), a staffed drop in centre with play space and equipment for children un-der five and single parents (of either sex) who are living in temporary or inad-equate accommodation.

Micklewood House is a former guest house which has been converted to a high standard by Oxford City Council. Their Housing Department will also be responsible for referring possible residents to the project manager, Karen

AT 7.30pm on Saturday, October 5, Windsor Parish Church will resound with more than 400 glorious voices performing Haydn's Creation. And, almost to a note, 120 choirs throughout the country will be doing the same thing. The giant sing-in has been organised by the Voices for Hospices organisation, a charity set up last year to raise money for the hospice movement.

International musicians, singers and conductors have given their time for nothing and the event is sponsored by Scottish mutual Assur-ance. BBC Radio 2 is broad-casting the event from vari-ous locations around the

In the bad old days the term 'Russian' was often misused by journalists to cover a hundred nationalities, causing not only confusion, but some-times offence. The events of the last few months, if no-thing else have shown how ludicrous it was, even under Stalin, to portray 'Soviet people' as conforming to some universal stereotyped communist ideal.

The Churches, having played such a sterling role in counteracting this, are now essential players in the emerging democratic system. They do not need to be taught the Gospel. Miracu-lously, and with a strength beyond the human, they have preserved it against all the odds. What they do need is technical 'know-how'.

Kuehne. She is employed by the Oxford Diocesan Council for Social Work (ODCSW), and has until recently ran a similar project in America.

The twin projects were born two years ago when Shirley Kay, Director of the Oxford Diocesan Council for Social Work (ODCSW) and Muriel Halliday, the Ox-ford's Principal Homeless-ness Officer shared their ideas on how the city and the Church could work to-gether. The Council for So-cial Work already adminis-ters a SPHere group in Reading, and was planning another for Oxford.

It became clear that SPHere could be combined with a residential home pro-ject, and a steering group including both City and Church representatives was formed. It will eventually become a management group.

Its chairman is Gwen Ranklin, who is also chair-man of the Cowley Deanery Synod. Paying tribute to the support of local churches and particularly to Gwen's efforts Shirley Kay said: "without the tremendous help of Gwen and her hus-band the project would not have been as viable as it has been.

Volunteers are needed for both projects, and at the time of going to press the following items were also needed: bikes and books for under-fives, strong safe toys for toddlers, small dining tables, garden tools, kitchen utensils and equipment etc. Please ring Karen Kuehne on 0865 794913.

country, starting with a countdown at 702pm.

In Windsor, 360 singers have already registered to perform under the baton of well-known conductor Bene-dict Gunner to raise money for the 15 - bed Thames Valley Hospice.

Rehearsals are on October 2 and on the performance day. If you would like to join the singers (fS) or just sit and listen (3), contact Anne Ayres, concert secre-tary, (0753) 855173). Or you can make a donation at any branch of the Trustee Savings Bank until October 18 or send it to Thames Valley Hospice, Pine Lodge, Hatch Lane, Windsor SL4 3RW.

In the European commu-nity there are now endless discussions about establish-ing such funds - "they have the grain, but they don't know how to harvest it". It is odd that those words can be applied almost verbatim to the Christian scene. There are indeed millions of unreached souls who could be part of the harvest, but the technical equipment and experience for re-establishing the life of the churches in a free society are absent. Christians in the first world can supply that 'know-how', but they must not assume that they hold the key to interpreting the Scriptures. This is a task to be undertaken by Russians - and Ukrainians, and Armenians and BaIts.

The opportunities are end-less, and there are no limits

Ringing in The Diocesan Guild of Bell Ringers is celebrating the Oxford Diocese's 450 anniversary next year with its own calendar. Produced jointly with Ringing World, the calendar will feature post card-sized colour photo-graphs of 12 churches

The calendars are being sold in aid of the Guild and cost £3 from Mrs P.M. Nugent, 44 St George's Hill, Widmer End, High Wycom-be, Bucks HP15 6BE (Cheques to: Oxford Di-ocesan Bell Fund).

to the funds which could be expended if they were avail-able. At Oxford University we have established a scheme for bringing over theological students who have been deprived of essen-tial teaching in their own countries; and, of course, many other countries will also be involved in similar enterprises. Among many other needs are: training courses for Christians who wish to do hospital or psy-chiatric work, the establish-ment of Christian printing presses with modern equip-ment, and helping untrained teachers to introduce moral and Christian values into the curricula of public schools and universities. Head teachers are crying out for such guidance, but there is literally no-one with the experience - though

The Focolare Movement will be holding an open after-noon on Saturday, October 5 for the first time for many years.

The name means 'hearth' and it began in Italy in the midst of World War II when a group of young women realised that only God is worth living for. Since then, Focolare has become a worldwide ecu-menical movement with sev-eral groups in the Oxford area. Its emphasis is on mutual love and a desire to live as much as possible according to the Gospel.

The open afternoon starts at 1pm at Headington Parish Hall with shared packed lunch and will include talks and slides. Details: 0295 265836.

Lights go out Thieves recently sawed through the great west door of Nether Wichendon Church in Buckinghamshire in the middle of the night and stole four priceless chan-deliers which have been a special feature of the church for 300 years.

some clergy, already over-worked, are doing their very best.

It is clear, among this welter of need and oppor-tunity, that detailed study undergirding prayer, as well as close contact with Soviet believers in a situation of great complexity, is of essen-tial importance and will con-tinue to be for the foresee-able future. Canon Michael Bordeaux is the founder and director of Keston Research (33a Canal Street, Oxford, 0X2 6BQ) which urgently needs the support of the Diocese to develop this work, which it began in Kent over 20 years ago. Canon Bordeaux recent-I published a book on the Church in Soviet Union, Gorbachev, Glasnost and the Gospel (Hodder & Stoughton, £8.99).

One Village - another shop

One Village, the Christian Oxfordshire-based founda-tion which serves the Third World has just opened a new shop in King Edward Street, Oxford, selling rugs, quilts, cushions, lighting and accessories made in some of the world's poorest places.

The new shop adds to existing shops in Woodstock and Cheltenham and a national wholesale service. Nothing is sold unless it contributes to community development and works towards social change.

Full and part-time staff (both paid and voluntary) are needed. One Village also needs further financial help to provide working capital to producers' organ-isations.

Lent Course A Lent Course for 1992 is being prepared by Christian Aid, CAFOD (Catholic Fund for Overseas Develop-ment) and SCIAF (Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund) - on behalf of the Council of Churches in Brit-ain and Ireland.

"Living the Good News" will use stories from Luke's Gospel and present-day Latin America to explore how the Bible relates to people's everyday lives and to current issues.

For more information con-tact Sandie Schagen at Chris-tian Aid 071-620 444, Brian Davies at CAFOD 071-733 7900, or John Dorman at SCIAF 041-221 4447.

The news of the

Decade Decade News is a new maga-zine which has been produc-ed by the Abingdon Deanery Decade Working Group. Its aim is to encourage Christians in the area to-support each other in prayer, hear about new initiatives and learn from one another.

In his editorial, the Revd Leighton Thomas, Vicar of Sutton Courtenay, says: "We wish to facilitate the process of cross-fertilisation between the parishes. We may well want to share ideas, and consider future action in our parishes with colleagues in other parts of the vine-yard."

News from the parishes and plans for the tuture are all included in what may be the first of a series of newsletters. Readers are ask-ed to let their parish repre-sentatives know their feel-ings about Decade News.

In Abingdon itself, the Church in Abingdon is fol-lowing up its Abingdon Alive month last October with an intensive week of looking outward this October 6-13. Called 'Alive and Belonging to Abingdon', its main aim is to encourage more con-tacts between local caring organisations and the people of the town. However, there will also be some major events including 'The David-son Affair' a presentation of the events of Jesus' life seen through the eyes of 'Imperial Roman Television's best re-porter'.

Throughout the week, there will be open house at St Nicholas's Church to pro-vide a shop window for 14 local caring organisations and at the final service at St Helen's on October 13 at 6.30pm, Mother Frances of Helen House Hospice will be the preacher. Full details of all events from Peter Hills on 0235 521077.

City harvest Church Urban Fund Week this year is from October 6 to the 13, and includes two Sundays. A new CUF Week harvest and Worship Pack includes worship material with a specially written 'sunflower' hymn and also has some ideas for services linking harvest and urban themes. Details from Tom Diggle on 071-620 0917/8,

Initiative on the homeless

City links up with the Church

Sing-in for hospices

Prisoners' Week (November 17-23), is a national week when all Christians are called to focus their thoughts and prayers on our prisons, and on the work of their chaplains and chaplaincy teams

In Reading Prison there will be a special service in the chapel for inmates and visitors from local churches at 215pm on Sunday November 17, followed on Wednesday 20, by a chap-laincy open evening at 6.lSpm. On Friday 22 Oscar Wilde's famous 'Ballad of Reading Gaol' will be per-formed at the prison for inmates. There will also be an exhibition of prisoners' art and craft, 'Art Inside' at Reading Central Library during the week.

For more details contact the Revd David Hastings, HM Prison, Forbury Road, Reading RG1 3HY.

Open hearth

OBITUARY

Bishop Eric Wild At the sign of the Fish

This month The Fish Good Neighbour Scheme, which organises teams of volun-teers to help the house-bound, elderly and sick, celebrates its 30th anniver-sary with a thanksgiving service at St Andrew's Church, Old Headington - where it all began on 15 October 1961.

The scheme was started by the parishioners of St Andrew's, together with the late Canon Derek Eastman, then Rector of Headington, and a local doctor, Donald Richards. They set up the reservoir of emergency of volunteer helpers on stand-by to give neighbourly help in times of great need.

The fish is the sign of St Andrew, the patron saint of Headington Church, who was a fisherman. It is also one of the most ancient graffiti signs found in the catacombs of Rome to show that Christians had been there.

Since the scheme started in 1961 about 20 schemes are up and running in and around Oxford and a few elsewhere in the country. They aim to fill gaps that statutory bodies cannot fill, often at very short notice. Posters with local contact numbers are placed in health centres, churches, libraries and community centres.

Shopping and fetching prescriptions for house-

bound people, cooking oc-casional meals, providing transport, visiting, caring for the sick and convales-cent, and looking after pets or gardening for disabled or elderly people are just some of the things Fish volunteers undertake.

"Fish work is the sort of work all Christiafls are con-tinually being inspired to do, whatever their denominational dif-

ferences," explains the Revd William Pryor, Chair-man of Oxford Central Fish which supports the local schemes.

If you would like to volunteer please telephone Elizabeth Pryor, co-ordinator. 0865 515102.

The thanksgiving service is at 3pm on Sunday Octo-ber 13 at St Andrew's Church, Old Headington. and will be followed by a birthday tea party.

The Revd William Pryor, Chairman of Oxford Central Fish Scheme, and Mrs Elizabeth Pryor, co-ordinator, delivery meals on wheels to an elderly resident in Summertown.

Schools notice board Wardington C E (Aided) Primary School finally lost the fight to remain open, after its school roll fell to nine.

In 1986 there was a successful bid to avoid closure, and since then the school has been informally amalgamated with Cropedy School. However, the numbers finally be-came so small that the governors, in consultation with the Diocesan Board of Education and Oxfordshire County Council, agreed that the remaining pupils should transfer to Cropedy at the start of this term.

However, the school is closing on a celebratory note and, on October 12 at 2pm there will be a thanksgiving service in the parish church, followed by a buffet tea. Anyone who would like to come will be

most welcome, but please notify Cropedy School.

• Heads of Church schools from all over the Oxford Diocese will come together on October 3 for a Eucharist at Christ Church Cathedral.

• Chesterton School has converted a house originally built for a teacher into a new accommodation for the school. The official opening is on October 4.

• Princess Margaret is expected to open a new environment area at The Princess Margaret Royal Free School in Windsor on October 10. The school is one of only three Church of England secondary schools in the Diocese.

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For more years than seemed humanly possible, Eric Knell was vicar of the vast parish of Christ Church, Reading and Archdeacon of Berk-shire and Bishop Suffragan of Reading. But at last he was liberated. First, he sadly relinquished his parish. Next, in 1967 the bishop was able to shed the arch-deaconry. So a new arch-deacon was needed, and Eric Wild was invited to succeed the other Eric, living at Milton, near Didcot. And so began Eric Wild's rela-tionship with the Diocese of Oxford, which continued un-broken until his death in August.

Eric's robust and tradi-tional churchmanship deriv-ed from Lancashire: Man-chester Grammar School, two Merseyside curacies, and a vicar of St George's, Wigan from 1946 to 1952. I can picture him striding in a cope through the cobbled streets, flanked by servers and preceded by the Salva-tion Army band for the annual Whit walk - and loving every moment of it.

It was quite a change to switch to education adminis-tration, first in the Diocese of Peterborough and later in London with the National Society and as Secretary to the Board of Education.

Five years in Church House, Westminster, did not endear Eric to the bureau-cracy of the Church of England, which he thought too expensive. (He invari-ably used only second-class post.) When I was Diocesan Director of Ordinands, he often expressed his strong distaste of ACCM and its machinery for selecting can-didates for the ordained ministry. And, as Bishop of Reading (he left Milton and moved, as bishop, into The Well House in 1972), he had no qualms about urging the Diocesan Bishop to over-rule selectors' decisions not to recommend someone of whose vocation Eric was totally convinced. He had taken a lot of trouble to know the person concerned, had made abundant enquir-ies and was in no way deterred by the verdict of an ad hoc committee of selectors.

I do not think Eric had cause to regret his advice in these crucial judgements, and there are several priests of ability serving in this and other dioceses who owe their present ministries largely to Eric's importunity. He saw this work as a vital part of his pastoral responsibilities (he had made a conscious decision to concentrate on the pastoral work of a bishop and declined to pursue his education interests on boards and councils) and he was conspicuously successful in winning the affection and loyalty of Berkshire clergy and their families.

When Bishop Kenneth Woollcombe retired in 1978, Bishop Eric Wild, who as the senior area bishop was to hold the fort with aplomb during the interregnum, said at the diocesan synod that working with Kenneth had been "such fun", and much the same tribute could be paid to Bishop Eric. His conversation was, in turn, devastating, cynical, amus-ing, and never dull. Passion-ate anti-smokers came to tolerate his pipe, and the young priest who was in full spate of a long-winded but perfectly valid speech at Synod did not bear a grudge when the chairman cried out "Oh, shut up John". He, like everyone, had come to respect and to love this outspoken Lancastrian Anglo-Catholic even when they disagreed strongly with his views, which were, I suspect, more in line with the notorious 1987 Crockford Preface than with (I hazard a guess) the July conference in York of the Affirmation of Catholicism group.

I shall long remember Eric's joyful jubilee in St Giles', Reading in 1988, and give thanks for a friend-ship which fOr me began in Whalley Abbey, in Lanca-shire back in 1963. We are grateful to Moyra, who must have spent many lonely evenings while Eric was miles away in Maidenhead or Marcham. Our love to her and the two children.

Wilfrid Browning Canon Browning is the for-mer Diocesan Director of ordinands.

Father Martin Smith writes:

I shed tears when I heard of the death of Bishop Eric. For many of us priests, Eric was truly a Father: he cared about our welfare, spiritual and otherwise; he chastised us firmly when we went astray; he congratulated us and shared in our joy when things went well. And, like a Father, retirement did not diminish this caring relation-

.ship.

During a fairly long inter-regnum at S. Giles' Reading, hardly a week went by without that stentorian voice on the phone - "Is every-thing alright Martin? Do you need any help?"

Two reminiscences of Bishop Eric at services at S. Giles:

On enthroning a Relic of the True Cross obtained from the Patriarch of Jerus-alem at a request from Bishop Eric: "It matters not to me if someone can prove that this Relic is not authen-tic, but do not pay too much attention to Protestant chemists."

At the end of his Jubilee Mass, after presenting Moyra with a bouquet of 50 roses, he started to get a little weepy. I said quietly to him: "Let's get this service over, and then we can have a drink." As we returned for the blessing he said loudly: "As Father Smith has just remarked, Let's get He then added quietly: "That'll teach you, Smith."

God bless you dear Eric, and please continue to pray for your priests.

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A sense of vo; cation Christopher Hewetson, the With 80 unfilled places in the country's theological colleges, the Church's ministry as we know it today is under threat. Yet the Church has never before offered such a variety of opportunities to men and women.

Vocation is a much overused word. What does the Church mean by it and what is the function of a Diocesan Vocations Adviser?

The general understanding of the word vocation is a call to full-time ministry, whether ordained or lay ministry. For earlier generations it meant, exclusively, ordination to the priesthood. But now the Church offers men and women many different types of ministry. This Diocese, like most others, has appointed a Diocesan Vocations Adviser and a network of 16

locally-based Advisers to encourage voca-tions of men and women to serve in the Church in a variety of ways. We are not only helping the Director of Ordinands and the Adviser for Lay Ministry in the early work of interviewing and assessing candidates who feel they have a vocation, but we are also helping the parish clergy to understand their role.

Surely a vocation is something between God and the person concerned. If a young man has wanted to become a priest he has generally gone to his own priest or spiritual adviser. Do you really think you can offer a better approach than this?

We have got to be more 'up front' in this area of the Church's life. This September, there are 80 vacancies in the country's theological colleges, or about eight or nine per college. This will lead to such a dire shortage of men and women in the ministry, that we really wonder whether the present system of parish clergy covering

every square mile can continue. The traditional response to someone offering hemselves for ministry has been one of,

caution and under-enthusiasm. But now the Church of England is deliberately taking up a more positive policy towards encouraging men and women to come forward. In fact, the current thinking in the Advisory Board for Ministry (the new term for the old ACCM) is that parishes could say to individuals: "We think you have it in you to be a good parish priest," or: "We think that you should offer yourself for ministry. You've got the gifts."

There are career talks in schools about say how to be a bank manager. Will you and your advisers be going into schools to actively canvass for potential priests?

We will be aiming at all levels and ages within our communities. So, in our work we will be going not only to deanery chapters and synods but also to schools and universities. And the suggestion has already been made within the network that there should be opportunities for our late teenagers who have enjoyed being members of their parish church to recognise any

Diocesan Vocations Advisers Chairman: The Revd Christopher Hewetson. Archdeaconry of Oxford: The Revd Christopher Hewetson (0865 62931 Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry, Oxford OX 8NU. (Deaneries of Oxford, Cowley and Oxford University). The Revd Martin Gorick (0865 244566) Diocesan Church House, Oxford 0X2 ONB. (Oxford, Cowley and Oxford University). The Revd John Samways (0865 243434) 60 Abingdon Road, Oxford OXI 1SN. (Oxford, Cowley and Oxford University). The Revd Ron Lloyd (0993 845954) Shilton Vicarage, Oxford OX8 4AE. (Witney, Chipping Norton). The Revd John Furness (0491 641249) Swyncombc Rectory, Henley-on-Thames RG9 6EA. (Henley, Aston and Cuddesdon). DSS Ann Shukman (086 983 761) Old School House, Tackley, Oxon OXS 3AH. (Bicester, Islip and Woodstock). The Revd David Thompson (0295 264003) St Paul's Vicarage, Prescott Avenue, Bretch Hill, Banbury OX16 OLR. (Deddington).

Archdeaconry of Berkshire: The Revd Ailsa Beech (0865 863224) 2 Ashcroft Close, Boticy, Oxford 0X2 9FF. (Abingdon, Vale of White Horse, Wantage). The Revd Tony Coulson (062 882 2000) White Waltham Vicarage, Maidenhead SL6 3JD. (Bracknell, Sonning, Windsor & Maidenhead). The Revd Ray Smith (0734 427234) St Mary Magdalen's Vicarage, 270 Kentwood Hill, Tilehurst, Reading RG3 6DR. (Reading). The Revd Valerie Hicks (0635 72004) 28 Masefield Road, Thatcham, Newbury RG13 4AS. (Newbury, Bradfield, Wallingford).

Archdeaconry of Buckingham: Mrs Hilary Unwin (0494 725228) Moreton, Chilton Road, Chesham Bois HP6 5PH. (Burnham, Amersham, Wycombe). The Revd Peter Lockyer (0494 672750) St Thomas House, Holtspur, Beaconsfield HP9 1UF. (Burn-ham, Amersham, Wycombe). The Revd Stephen Weston (090 855 221) The Rectory, Stoke Goldington, Newport Pgnell MK16 8LL. (Newport, Milton Keynes, Buckingham). Sister Jean Harris C A (0908 613161) Il Thames Drive, Newport Panell MKI6 9DS. (Newport, Milton Keynes, Buckingham). The Revd Stephen Rowe and the Revd Christine Rowe (0296 432677) St Peter's House, 18 Bronte Close, Haydon Hill, Aylesbury HPI9 3QB. (Mursley, Aylesbury, Wendover, Claydon).

are already in place and have been very productive, because they enable men and women to explore and share their own sense of a call with others and to hear from men and women already serving the Church.

If a young man or woman feels a call to the priesthood or reader ministry or any other ministry in the Church, what is the first thing they should do?

They should talk to their parish priest or a priest they know well, who will send their name forward to either one of the Directors for Ordinands or to the Adviser for Lay Ministry. Their name will then be sent to one of us in the network and a

The Revd Christopher Hewetson meeting will be arranged in informal surroundings so that the candidate can begin to talk about his/her calling to the ministry. Next, the Adviser will send a report to the Director of Ordinands who, if that is thought right, will interview the candidate him/herself. It then goes to the area bishop and, if everyone agrees, a recommendation for a selection conference will be made. For lay ministry the set up is shorter but similar.

The Church is not the prestigious institu-tion it once was, and the life of a parish priest can be an uphill struggle with diminishing returns. What can the Church offer anyone with a vocation today?

There is great joy in being a parish priest, tremendous variety and fulfilment and no two days are the same. I've been thinking about my own ministry and I suppose the greatest joy and privilege is in leading people in the worship of God and in bringing people to Him. Whether it's an old man who suddenly comes forward to make a new commitment, or a young couple coming back to church after the birth of a first child because they suddenly realise life has deeper questions and meanings. Then there's the fellowship of the Church, where many people find the atmosphere of acceptance, care and trust which they need. There are also wonderful opportunities for creative work in the community and in the important work of teaching and visiting and most important of all in the work of prayer, let alone looking after a church building and the opportunities that brings.

new Diocesan Vocations Adviser talks to the Editor vocation they might have, and to consider full-time ministry as an option open to th m.

ome parish priests seem to have a gift foe encouraging vocations. Do you think that other priests have be 1n neglectful in this area? / I suppose that many of us have tended

t think that' God will supply the Church *ith what it needs, and that we don't really have to do very much. But this emphasis has changed. The members of the network will be organising Saturday and evening 'ministry enquiry days' so that the parish clergy can be more open and say to people: "We think this is an event you might like to come to." Some of these

frw

Just two weeks before the disturbances at Blackbird Leys, the Oxford housing estate, members of the Oxford Ministry Course were taken to watch police in training cope with a realistic simulated riot at the Public Order Training Centre at Hounslow (pictured above).

Introducing the ordinands


God in his 'naughty world' It looked like hell. The dusk was lit up by home-made incendiary bombs bursting in the street, light-ing up swiftly moving figures who darted from telephone boxes, kiosks and doorways to hurl bricks at the police lined up at the end of the street. The noise was deafen-ing, and the ordinariness of the street made the battle going on below us seem even more horrific.

The police moved forward behind their riot shields One man burst into flames as an incendiary exploded at his feet, quickly put out by his colleagues. A sergeant fell, either hit by a brick or twisting his ankle on a bro-ken bottle, and was taken out of the fight by a medic. And then the police horses charged. The crowd fled - and the exercise was over.

Restoring peace Members of the Oxford

Ministry Course on their Summer Residence had been watching a simulated riot at the Public Order Training Centre in Hounslow, where police are trained to restore the 'Queen's peace' when it has broken down. Coming as it did only two weeks before the horrifying disturb-ances in some of our cities - including the Blackbird Leys Estate in Oxford - this experience emphasised the importance of providing opportunity for those train-ing for ordination to reflect on issues underlying commu-nity life in Britain today, and to gain a greater under-standing of how society at-tempts to deal with it.

During the earlier part of the same day the course was in Southall - an area of London with a 70% Asian/Afro-Caribbean popu-lation. Following a Eucharist celebrated by an ex-Brahmin Indian Christian priest of Canadian nationality, we were introduced to commu-

nity leaders of Christian and other faiths who shared with us how they are attempting to build what the new Chief Rabbi calls "a community of communities" through the patient process of inter-faith dialogue. "We are concerned for people not for protecting traditions," said one of the leaders.

Pastoral practice For those being ordained

at Michaelmas, the experien-ce provided a dramatic finale to a training that has includ-ed three years of academic hard grind, wrestling with the Bible, its interpretation and presentation in today's world, attempting to discern the nature of the Church, gaining skills in pastoral practice. All this has been a necessary backcloth to the active task of exploring how the Bible and tradition helps us to discern what God is up to NOW in what the old Prayer Book called "this naughty world."

The ordinands from the Oxford Ministry Course have a rich experience of that world in a variety of capacit-ies. One of their final assign-ments was to produce a theological reflection on some aspect of the world of work. Richard Fordham, on his experience as a manager in industry, Christine Pratt on social education in the framework of the new National Curriculum and Philip Ringer on the chang-ing nature of police work in the community, all offered us a chance to reflect on ethical issues and values in a changing society.

How can a 'ministry of presence' at work be developed after ordination and how can the ordained minister in secular employ-ment bring back to the parish issues that light up the expression of our faith at work?

Perhaps one danger is

Vaughan Roberts: It's a long way from Hampshire where Vaughan was brought up, to the University of Witswaterrand in South Africa, but that is where Vaughan went after com-pleting a degree in law and theology at Cambridge. He says he was in his late teens when he first heard the Gospel clearly presented and began to follow Christ. He became president of his University Christian Union (besides playing lots of sport), and worked for the Christian Union as a Bible teacher at Witswaterrand before deciding to return to England to train for the ministry in Oxford at Wycliffe Hall Theological Col-lege. Vaughan will serve his title at St Ebbe's in central Oxford.

Will Stileman: Will was brought up in a Christian home, and had planned to follow in his father's footsteps and become a soldier. However, while reading archaeology and anthropology at Cambridge he had "a fresh realisation of the wonder of the Gospel" which made him con-sider full-time Christian work. So, instead of joining the army he taught for two years before going to Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, to train for the ministry. He met Rebecca at university and married her in 1988 and they have one small daughter. He will serve at St Andrew's, North Oxford, and if time allows, may play the odd game for Oxford

igby Football Club.

that the expectations of what an ordained person does (based on a parochial minis-try) may overlay new insights and opportunites that a var-iety of ministries may offer in our changing world.

The variety of ministries of those being presented for ordination at Michaelmas includes also Tom Shortland in a rural ministry and Aud-rey Phillips at Princes Risborough - both as assist-ant curates in parochial min-istry. Nancy Taylor is Assist-ant Chaplain at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Beth Monk will continue to work on the Ministry Course, bringing her scien-tific expertise to the staff team, while gaining pastoral and parochial experience in the United States.

God in the world Theology is not simply an

academic discipline. It is done by reflecting on our experience of God in the world - but doing so in the light of the Christian Gospel and tradition that is part of our heritage. It is both (as St John suggests in his letter) what we have heard, but also what we have seen and our hands have handled con-cerning the word of life; and the work of theology is to help us gather from both the tradition and our experi-ence, so that they may form a unity in our life and in our message.

Because of their experien-ce and their training those being ordained this Michael-mas have a special opportun-ity on behalf of us all, to focus the ministry of discern-ment of what God is up to in His naughty world: which, we do well to remember, is the choice place of His love.

Vincent Strudwick Canon Strudwick is Principal of the Oxford Ministry Course.

Audrey Phillips: A grand-mother and mother of six and a Reader, Audrey studied for a degree in nursing in the USA be-fore returning to Buck-inghamshire. (Princes Risborough).

Pictured (above and right): The seven ordi-nands from The Oxford Ministry Course, and (below left) the four non-Course ordinands.

Barbara Doubtfire: Many DOOR readers will know Bar-bara already. Since 1988 she has been Diocesan Parish Development Officer for Ox-fordshire, and she will continue in that role while serving her title in Kidlington. Not everyone knows, however, that after read-ing science at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford before moving into research and teaching, she joined the Wantage Sisters. "While primarily giving express-ions to a life-long interest in Christian Spirituality, my time with the Community also open-ed up opportunities to work in the fields of alcohol and drug addiction in a range of parish ministries, and in chaplaincy work with undergraduates," she says.

John Longuet-Higgins: Some would say John has the perfect background for a vicar-to-be because before he trained at St John's Theological College, Leeds, he worked not only as a church lay worker but also as an accountant and in a restaur-ant! He was brought up in Cambridge and went on to study international history in Leeds. He is married to Diana, a former nurse and they have two small children, Philip (3) and Joanna (11 months). The Longuet-Higgins' are a lively family who enjoy outdoor activ-ities, music and meeting new people, and they are looking forward to their new life and ministry at St Mary's Kidlington.

Tom Shortland: York-shire born and bred, Tom moved to this Diocese in 1970 and since his retire-ment from a career with a foods company has con-tinued to exercise his Reader ministry.

Nancy Taylor: Nancy trained as a midwife, married a consultant sur-geon, and after having four children, became As-sistant Chaplain at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. (Weston Turville).

Elizabeth Monk: After Reading University Beth worked as an electronics engineer for Plessey Communications before moving to America with her husband and two children.

Christine Pratt: Christine has worked with young people for many years, and also teaches at John Mason School, Abingdon, where she co-ordinates the social edu-cation programme.

Richard Fordham: A for-mer engineering officer in the Merchant Navy, Richard is now Purchas-ing Director for a valve distribution company and a licensed Reader. (Cookham).

Philip Ringer: Philip join-ed the 'Met' as a con-stable in 1967, and is now a Chief Inspector at New Scotland Yard where he hopes to exercise 'a ministry of presence'. (Chalfont St Giles).

Preparing for ordination on the Oxford Ministry Course

It's Oxford, 2 Kidlington 2!

Nearly home! A welcome rest for the Bishop of Reading on July 14, as he takes a break in Tilehurst's Arthur Newbery Park on the last day of his six-week trek round the Berkshire Archdeaconry. Photo: Courtesy Reading Newspaper Co Ltd.

Space for Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, at times we are like strangers upon this earth, disconcerted by all the violence and harsh oppositions. Like a gentle breeze you breathe on us the Spirit of Peace. Transfigure the desert of our doubts, and so prepare us to be bearers of reconciliation wherever you place us, until the hope of peace arises in our community. This prayer appeared in the newsletter of Maranatha, an ecumenical community committed to healings and reconcili-ation. This month your prayers are asked for: The clergy and community of Blackbird Leys in Oxford, and all who work for peace there including the police. The Most Revd John Drury, who is being installed as Dean of Christ Church Cathedral on October 12. The new ordinands and their families (page 7) One World Week (October 20-27)


COMMENT Be troubled Media coverage of the riots in Blackbird Leys ranged from sensational-ism, to articles so lauda-tory about the estate and its facilities that reading them was like being sedated.

Riot police on an estate where hanging baskets re-main un-vandalised, and not all shops have graffiti-ridden steel shutters: a social enigma. People sought explanations, wanted answers.

Comfortable answers abound. "A spoilt gener-ation, criminal minority", etc. It is comforting to blame parents, teachers, politicians. It is comfort-able, in the familiarity of one's own geographical and intellectual environ-ment, to consume the news, weep and pontifi-cate.

Yet the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth, tears through set inclinations and preconceptions with wind and fire.

The spiritual, and ulti-mately effective, response to trouble is to Let oneself be troubled. To listen, however uncomfortable or seemingly incomprehen-sible the words we hear ("Others, mocking said: They are filled with new wine"); to open the clos-ed doors of reactive analy-sis and instant judgement, and embark on the adven-ture of witness, compas-sion, and service.

The rioting in Blackbird Leys was a sign of, and to, a society segmented into desirable and bad areas, which seeks through material prosper-14 ity and the leisure indus-try to cope with a funda-mental disjunction: be-tween an ideal of subur-ban security and comfort on the one hand, and on the other, the basic human need for danger, excite-ment, adventure (what used to be called glory).

We have far to go in showing forth, in our lives, the glory of God, sharing the Good News that in Christ we find both ultimate security, stability, and peace, and at the same time a richness and intensity of life ap-proachable otherwise only through a moral excite-ment and conflict.

James Ramsay The Revd James Ramsay is Priest-in-Charge of the Church of the Holy Fam-ily, Blackbird Leys, a Local Ecumenical Pro-ject.

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Feet firmly on the ground Time for thought

The DOOR is published 10 times a year by the Diocese of Oxford

Editor: Christine Zwart, Sub-editor: Ian smith. Distribution Manager: Tim Russian. Editorial Support Group: Jane Bugg (Brill), Frank Blackwell (Dorchester). John Crowe (Chairman), Richard Hughes (Whitchurch-on-Thames), John Morrison (Aylesbury). William Purcell (Botley), Tim Russian (Long Crendon), Richard Thomas (Communications Officer), John Winnington-Ingram (Cottisford), David Winter (Parish Re-sources). Editorial address: Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford OXI ONB. Telephone: 0865 244566. Advertising: Goodhead Publishing Ltd, 33 Witney Road, Eynsham, Oxford 0X8 1PJ. Telephone: 0865 880505. The DOOR is published by Oxford Diocesan Publications Limited (Secretary - T. C. Landsbert) whose registered office is Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford OXI ONB. The copy deadline for the November issue is October 11 for features and letters and October 18 for What's On, news and advertising.

John Bone, the Bishop of Reading, looks back on his walk round the Berk-shire Archdeaconry - which took him from Greenham Common to the Rutherford Labora-tory, from an encounter with shoppers in a Read-ing supermarket to a con-versation with tourists outside Windsor Castle

The razorwire-topped fence around Greenham Common airbase is a potent symbol. For years it has safeguarded the Cruise missiles, and ex-cluded the Peace Women camped around the per-imeter. The missiles have gone now: recent Soviet visitors came to ensure that the weapons they saw de-stroyed in the USA were indeed from Greenham. They had stood - as I did - in the concrete vaults so recently occupied by those deadly missiles targeted on their country. Now empty, the silos have the acoustics of a cathedral, but the at-mosphere is still menacing.

At Greenham the crew from TVS, making a programme for the 'Human Factor' series, had begun the day with me at the primary school. To spend a day making a film and trying to keep to a previously arranged programme is an experience. "Can we do that again?" the producer said a dozen times. "Be patient, Bishop," I said to myself each time. "They have a job to do as well as

±youY And others had to be patient, too; among them a large party assembled at Donnington Castle to walk with me in the afternoon.

When asked whether my walk achieved what I had hoped, I reflect on that day in the Newbury Deanery. There were three objectives in my mind when, with the help of the ten Berkshire deaneries, we planned the programme. First, to cross boundaries; second, to bring to the parishes a fresh sense of belonging together; third, to achieve good publicity for the Church - local and diocesan. These three were set in the context of the Decade of Evangelism.

The bishop is a high-profile, symbolic figure: what he does is seen by others to be the Church doing it. It seemed a simple idea, this walk around the Archdeaconry of Berkshire - anyone might do it. Yet I knew that the signals it

Indeed, one of the lovely things was the genuine pleas-ure people derived from coming and meeting their bishop, and walking along with him for a while. The simple act of walking from one parish to another helped forge links, and in some way brought home the mess-age that we are with others in this business of discipleship. The same was true of deanery gatherings.

The lesson for the Church is clear. We have a message which people will attend to.

The way of drawing attention to it may be as simple as a walkabout but we have to prepare the ground, speak the language of the world, and be prepared to work hard.

How are your feet? Mine are fine.

I was thinking. . . about time. Time is a funny thing. It's a bit like the wind, which you can't catch. But at least the wind can be felt and heard, while the only time we hear 'time' is by the ticking of a clock - and that's man-made.

We say odd things about time, as if it were a solid object. We 'make time', 'find time', 'lose time', and so on and so on. What do we really mean by 'time'? Is it what happens between two major events - our birth and our death - and all the things that happen in between?

Sometimes, 'time' seems to fly by, when we are happy and enjoying our-selves, but when we are miserable or bored it just drags along. Some people seem to have 'all the time in the world' (how much is that?) while others say they have no time at all for something or somebody they don't like. Yet we all have the same 24 hours in a day.

Some people seem able to 'make time' - is this possible? Or are they just better organisers than others? Someone has 'the time of their life' at a party or on holiday, while others less fortunate, or perhaps less wise, may have to 'do time'.

Whatever we choose to do with it, time is part of our lives: in fact, it is our span of life. Some have only a short time, others a long, long time. People sometimes say: "If only I had my time over again meaning, sadly, that they would have used it different-ly.

We can only make the most of the time we have, and if we lose it or waste it, we can at least try to find it or make it for the things and people that are really important to us.

And there's no time like the present for doing that!

Diana Good

gave out would be received differently, because it was a bishop on foot.

We know - at least we keep saying it - that the Church is not confined to what happens in its build-ings. It is also God's People living their daily lives - at home, at work and as they have their fun; in factories and offices, in hospitals and prisons, in schools and super-markets, in leisure centres and clubs.

However, this is not what most people understand by the Church. To the majority it is a club for people who enjoy worship a place where Christians meet, and where others may go at the crisis moments in their lives. For a bishop to meet people in their place of work, for a bishop to be seen in the Rutherford Appleton Lab-oratory or the Berkshire

The effectiveness of the Christian presence in daily life depends largely on the vitality of our life together as disciples in the local Church. There were many heartening experiences for me as I made my way from place to place - great picnic gatherings; open-air services; prayer with two or three in a country church; confirmations and united worship; informal prayer and

College of Agriculture, for Bible reading; and just walk-a bishop to meet shoppers ing and talking with groups. in the supermarket or tour-ists outside Windsor Castle - all says something in a pictorial way about the Church being there, about the Church caring, about the Church being involved in everyday life. It speaks of God's involvement in his world. The wire mesh bar-rier, topped with razorwire, is crossed.

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Much ado about Synod I was surprised and shocked by your editorial on the General Synod (Sept DOOR). This seems to me to be an example of journal-ism at its worst provacative, flippant, inac-curate and superficial - and unworthy of a quality newspaper such as the DOOR. It would be good if DOOR

could give more room for a serious discussion of some of the issues which were discussed, such as the causes of family breakdown, the Gospel and culture, as well as what the real issues are in the topics you dismiss as irrelevant. For example, the con-

fusions in the C of E about the meaning and practice of Baptism, Communion for the unconfirmed, and Con-firmation, have led to serious problems for clergy and peo-ple, and have major implica-tions for the Church's outreach and evangelism. Belief and practice on Chris-tian initiation, and admission to Communion before Con-firmation determine our exclusiveness or inclusiveness, and our ident-ity as Christ's body. Unlike you, I believe God is prob-ably very concerned about our exclusive attitudes and welcomed our discussion.

Not discussing contentious issues seems to be what you are advocating in your com-ments about the feminist theology debate - which, incidentally, is only margin-ally about feminist language for God. Again, a serious discussion in your pages on what feminist theology actually is might lay this ghost. I would simply point out that the scriptures them-selves as well as the Christian tradition have always affirm-ed that God is like a mother as well as a father, so why do you find it so absurd?

Lastly, the Nescafè debate which you dismiss with such scorn . . . Many people I have spoken to outside the Church have applauded the fact that the stuffy old C of E, with its conventional im-age of the Tory party at prayer, should for once have taken a radical decision in support of the children of the Third World. That the Synod is not, seen this time to be 'contemplating its ec-clesiastical navel', but is deeply concerned about the terrible consequences to child health of bottle feeding in developing countries, and the contribution of infant food manufacturers to this, is surely to be welcomed.

Finally, I would mention

that this Synod, more than the other two I have attend-ed, did feel rooted in prayer. We had some very good worship time together which were well attended, and spent the first part of two mornings doing bible study in small groups. The Revd Dr Susan M. Cole-King (General Synod member)

Burcot, Oxon

Intolerant reaction

How right the Editor was to draw her readers' attention to the latest absurdities per-petrated by the General synod (Sept DOOR). How courageous too, for she will almost certainly have put herself in bad odour with the more trendy elements in the Diocesan Establishment.

Typically, there. was the usual intolerant reaction from a General Synod mem-ber, who pronounced the editorial to be both "extra-ordinary and bizarre" (Ox-

(i

ford Mail August 31). Quite frankly, the only thing we find extraordinary and bi-zarre about this matter is that anyone should seek to justify an organisation which is not only a costly bureau-cracy, remote from the ordi-nary churchgoer (which will cost our parish £1,500 this year), but seems to harbour most of the Church of Eng-land's more eccentric press-ure groups.

We are at the sharp end of a parish committed to bringing Christ to those out-side the Church. We can assure Mrs Zwart that her views have the support of many of those in the pews. Our only criticism of her editorial is that she has not gone far enough; she ought to have advocated scrapping the whole synodical system.

Jane Bale, John Browning, Churchwardens

St Andrews Old Headinglon

Oxford

Moral decline It is indeed very encouraing to read about the activities of the Mothers' Union in the Diocese, and I would support them in every way. But the moral decline you speak of will only be halted by a new vision of God at work in His world. The three issues from the Gene-ral Synod July agenda that you picked out as a waste of time are all of deep concern to many folk both within and without the Church today.

The significance of Infant Baptism is highly relevant when many of the fastest-growing churches in England reject Infant Baptism com-pletely. How to pray to God as

Father in a world that seems to be out of control is of concern to all. While many are 'quite happy', as you put it, to say 'Our Father', there are others who are not.

As to the Nestle boycott, this is an issue that people are concerned about when they know the facts. I had hoped that The DOOR would have dealt with this major news item, since two General Synod members from this Diocese have been quoted as speaking in the debate - John Madeley and Susan Cole-King. You say that it is of no interest to the average churchgoer. Well, at a recent service before I left the pulpit after mentioning the Nestle de-bate in my sermon, I had the only question from the pew that I can remember in 39 years of preaching!

The General Synod may not always make the right decision, but I think you are way off beam if you think these three issues are not important.

Canon Bill Whiffen (General Synod member 1980-

1990) Beaconsfield, Bucks

Breath of fresh air

Except for the injunction to join the Mothers' Union, which does not quite fit my position, may. I say how much I enjoyed, and how much I agree with, your editorial in the September DOOR - especially the bit about abolishing the Synod. What a wonderful breath of fresh air! I agree that God must

have, and certainly needs, a somewhat quizzical sense of humour; but why must the jokes which we offer for His delectation always be in such bad taste? I do hope that you will

not be drummed out of the Brownies - that would be a joke in very bad taste. After the plug you have given the Mothers' Union, you should be safe there.

Russell Spencer Maidenhead

No fun Many of your readers will have seen the advertising on TV for the International Air Tattoo. Held in our Diocese, at RAF Fairford, this was called a 'family fun' weekend. The 'fun' included a fly-past by B52 bombers.

My wife and I were woken in the early hours of many cold January mornings by the heavy drone of the B52s. We knew.they were returning from their bomb-runs in the Gulf War as they flew over Wantage.

We were told that the Iraqi troops, ever deep in their concrete bunkers, would be totally demoralised, if not killed.

I saw no reason to salute the B52s, nor to celebrate the waste of human skills, technology and resources which characterised the Air Tattoo.

We prayed. We gave out leaflets. We fixed posters to the fence. But the crowds lining the grass verges, with their expensive cameras, bin-oculars and radios, did not want to make the connection between aerobatics and the death of the innocent.

When can all this wonder-ful human energy and ac-complishment be used for the benefit of the hungry, homeless and refugees we pray for so often?

The Revd David Platt Wanlage, Oxon

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lona of .my heart THE first time I heard of Iona it was comprehensively described as 'amazing'. Many visitors seemed most touched by its stillness.

Iona is a small island, and its serenity and tranquility has certainly not been unin-terrupted over history. St Columba arrived on lona in 563, establishing monastries and settlements. The monks had little opportunity to live a secluded life, due to in-vasions by Vikings and Norse

From organising a Hallowe'en party years ago, to totally banning Hallowe'en, we are now planning another Hallowe'en and All Saints' Party after such a success last year. It is almost a case of: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" - but not quite.

There is no doubt that young children in our village, and the occasional teenager, love dressing up as baddies, ghoulies and ghosties. I can hardly resist a treat for a tiny grinning vampire, or a grizzly witch with large inno-cent eyes, but I hate what they are trying to imperson-ate, and the sinister black-mail in a lightly tossed "trick or treat?". I find it intimidating, annoying (who wants to wash blue flour off the front doorstep?) and disturbing. I already loath Hallowe'en, and do not need stories of occult threats to convince me that it is not helpful to the Kingdom of God. In addition, some el-derly people and people living on their own are at best disturbed and at worst frightened.

However, the children (and some mums!) didn't share my feelings, so last year all the children in the village were sent a bright red invitation to a party in fancy dress - goodie or baddie, saint or sinner (but if a baddie or sinner "you must wear white under-neath!"), at 5.30pm in the village hall, with tricks and treats and supper. Each child had to pay £13 the tricks

pirates who killed many of the monks.

My first glimpse of lona revealed green hills dotted with small houses, and an abbey standing clearly out against a silver grey sky.

Even the drizzle and wind could not dampen my eager-ness for setting foot on the island. I arrived full of expectations and hope that it would provide the peace, relaxation and self-discovery I had been told it would. I could see people running

were provided by a conjuror, supper was hot dogs, green fizzy drink and bob-apples and treats were party games, grizzly cheapy sweets and a red balloon for All Saints!

Enthusiasm, excitement, energy and exuberance were in excess at 7 o'clock and I was about to panic when the Headteacher stepped in to exercise some control. After a parade of the wild and wonderful, young teen-agers organised games, and mums served the food. At 7.30pm all the lights were switched off, some costumes discarded, and after a few seconds the lights came on again with a shower of red balloons. As we sang "0 when the Saints come march-ing in", we marched and were finally gathered up by waiting mums and dads.

All that remained in the hall was the odd fang and false fingernail, a witch's cloak and a half-bitten apple. From the dark and evil symbolism of our costumes.

The whole evening was well received in and outside the village hall. There were only a couple of children knocking on doors earlier in the evening and they event-ually turned up at the Party. Evil had been overcome, at least for one evening!

Jane Bugg

Jane is married to the vicar of Brill where she runs the Children's Church. (Hallowe'en, always on 31st October, is the eve of All Hallows, or All Saints, al-ways on 1st November).

around on the jetty and felt relieved my arrival had not been forgotten by my friends who had travelled up the day before.

I eagerly disembarked to greet my friends, only to discover that the people I had seen were tourists await-ing the return ferry. A little disheartened, as I looked for the sign to the centre where I was staying, I be-came aware of the calm unrushed stillness of the place. I trudged up to the centre along a windy track. On the way I passed a craft shop, nunnery, the MaClean Cross and, most important, the coffee shop. I was late arriving for the Youth Week, but everyone was very friendly, already at ease with each other. I was soon caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Rammy çnoise). The group I was meant to travel with had come on a pilgrimage from Oxford, havin& met at Springboard, a Christian weekend, earlier in the year.

The whole week at lona was packed with scheduled and non-scheduled activity. We met in small groups each day for discussion on ourselves and how we affect each other by the way we live. There were workshops

Micheal Tucker is a student at Sandhurst School, who is an avid supporter of Liver-pool FC and a keen angler. At a time when the number of young men wanting to become priests is falling, it is perhaps surprising to learn that he also wants to enter the Ministry one day - his ambition has led to his being chosen for a pioneer-ing Work Experience pro-ject.

His parents are not church-goers, but they hav-en't been discouraging, and his teachers have given him lots of support. His music teacher, for instance, en-couraged him to join the choir at the Royal Military

each day, some funny, some serious, including drama, music and discussion.- all of which left us with things to think about.

The pilgrimage made us appreciate the history, and provided a chance to meet new people and form new friendships. Evenings were occupied by discos, ceilidhs, barbecues and concerts. The days' activities began with worship in the Abbey and at 9pm there were services of healing and commitment and other special services.

The hardest part was leav-ing. To say goodbye to such peace and tranquility and re-enter the world of viol-ence, suffering and pain, made us determined to strive for smiling, happy faces and peace within our own lives. The dates of next year's Rammy (18-25 July) were firmly imprinted in our minds as we said goodbye to new-found friends, prom-ising to meet at the same place next year. For, as St Columba said: "Iona of my heart Iona of my love Instead of monks' voices Shall be the lowing of cattle But ere the world come to an end Iona shall be as it was."

Alison Jenkins

Alison is a member of the Springboard Planning Group, and comes from North Stukeley.

Academy and as a result he has developed a great love of choral music.

Next year Micheal (yes he does spell it like that) takes his GCSEs, and he has begun to think more seriously about his future. As a result he was chosen to be the first person in the Oxford Diocese to take part in an arduous two-week Work Experience program-me in the parish of Easthampstead to show him what life as a priest can be like.

Some of his days were so hectic that he had to leave home at 630am. He spent the first day with Father David Tonkinson, an Indus-

trial Chaplain who took him to visit Bracknell's Council Offices, the waste disposal depot, the Manpower Servi-ces offices and a local dairy.

Apart from time spent with the rest of the clergy staff— Father Oliver Simon, Father Gerald Shaw and Canon Margaret Clarke - Micheal also attended nu-merous church services (including 7am Commu-nion), visited a hostel for disabled people, sat in on a wedding preparation meet-ing and an adult Confirma-tion Group. A visit to a church fete, a Communion

service for elderly people and even the Deanery Synod were also built into his two weeks, and so was a day with John Howard, who has recently been ordained a priest.

Micheal wants to do missionary work in the Third World after his A levels, before going onto theological college. The strenuous two-week programme at Easthamstead hasn't put him off at all. In fact, he says he thoroughly enjoyed it and now has a much better idea of the life of an anglican minister than he did before.

Saints march in

Work experience fuels ministry ambition

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Help to enable the elderly and in-firm remain in their own homes.

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Post operative care. For further information contact us - free brochure available.

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LUTTERWOIITh, LEICS tEl 7 4A[.

(CONSULTU Services Agency

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BETHANY HOUSE Single and double rooms are available in this small Residential Home for the Elderly, situated 50 yards from Harrogate's elegant and peaceful Valley Gardens.

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ta,ng.stay and short-stay residents all enjoy the restful atmosphere, with home cooked meals using only fresh ingredients.

DHSS funded welcome.

Please contact the resident owner, Mrs Jennifer Chew for a brochure on Harrogate (0423) 501650 or write to Bethany House, 3 Margaret Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG2 OJZ

DIAL BERKSHIRE Can you spare two hours per week to answer the telephone in our

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a growing population of disabled people. Provided you can use the telephone, no previous experience is required as

training will be given. If you are interested please contact Mrs Shirley Mills, Reading 598472

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/

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U. a 0 .. U. INTERBROOK NURSING HOME

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WinterbrOOk Is a purpose built nursing home providing luxury accommodation for the elderly in need of nursing care. It provides tastefully decorated bedrooms with TV, telephone socket for private telephone line and nurse call system. Double bedrooms are available for couples. Other features of this lovely home Include a passenger lift and many thoughtful touches to make moving about as easy as possible for the elderly.

The guiding philosophy at Wlnterbrook Is to offer a friendly, home-from-home environment that Is not in the least institutional and which gives residents a sense of warmth, dignity, and self-respect. It Is a place where you are very much enabled to do what you wish, with a minimum of restriction. Many outings and activities are arranged for the pleasure of the residents,

A State Registered Nurse is on duty 24 hours a day. and there is a close connection with the local health centre and its doctors. A chiropodist, a hair(resser and other caring professionals call regularly too.

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Rivermead Centre Abingdon Road

INFORMATION CENTRE Tfo d. el Oxford

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Good range of information held on most topics. Some equipment on display for kitchen, bathroom,

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Long/short stay accomrnodt,on and Day Care facilities are available, with superb food and special diets prepared by our

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Denham (0895) 834470

The Nursing Agency which provides a caring, flexible service for all your nursing requirements. Please telephone Madie Bills, on 0753 662298 or 0494 677118 Licensed by Bucks County Council

ICNS

ST LUKES

NURSING HOME

Latimer Road, Headington, Oxford 0X3 7PF

St Luke's Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Centre is situated in a quiet residential part of l-leadington. It is purpose built, homely and has many modern facilities, including X-ray, hydrotherapy pool and a well equipped physiotherapy department. Many of the com-fortable rooms have en suite facilities and televisions, and all rooms have their own telephone. There are spacious lounges and dining rooms and all the food is home made. Full nursing care is provided and St Luke's has its own medical officer.

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RESPONSIBLE FOR

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Brendoncare homes at Exeter, Tooting SW London, Winchester and near Hunger-ford also

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Brendoncare Foundation is a Charity operating on a non-profit making basis. All Homes have

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TOTS

FOR The ELDERLY

THE

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• Warm homely Tudor cottage surrounded by open countryside • Established reputation for high standards and quality care • Caring. Supportive professional staff • Short and Long stay. • Living room with open fireplace • Latest modern aids • Social activities to suit individual preferences

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• Easily accessible garden

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE We are a Registered Nursing Home, specialising in the tranquilliser-free care of patients with Alzheimer's disease. We have qualified and ex-perienced staff, large gardens and grounds, and beautiful views. If you are interested in long term, or respite Care, contact George Tuthill, who will be pleased to show you around.

Wardington House Nursing Home near Banbury, Oxon 0X17 1SD.

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A QUESTION OF CARING

Mrs. Monica Evans QUALIFIED

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The carpet store that comes to your door!

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An everyday faith

Arnold Peters is better known by his voice than his face. As Jack Woolley in 'The Archers' he kept us all on tenterhooks while he wooed his bride-to-be, and in tears as he mourned his beloved dog, Captain.

Now, he and other members of 'The Archers' cast and production team have helped to produce Faith in the Countryside-Parish Study Pack, four sessions for house groups and parish discussion groups. It includes local publicity material, leader's notes, and a sound cassette which includes some familiar Archers voices. The pack is available for £5 plus £1 p and p from ACORA Publishing, The Arthur Rank Centre, National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LZ.

Badge of faith A new Diocesan badge has been commissioned by the Diocesan branch of the Guild of Vergers, designed by Martin Partridge, a graphic designer and non-stipendiary priest in Wargrave. The first badge was presented to the Bishop of Oxford who has agreed for it to be worn not only on verger's gowns but also on readers' and choristers' cassocks, on scarves and on blazer pockets.

Pilgrims through the ages have worn symbols proclaiming their faith, like the shells worn by pilgrims to Compostela, says John Lazenbury, the branch secretary. "Today we are in the Decade of Evangelism and one way we can express our Christian commitment to our faith is through wearing our own Diocesan badge" he says.

The vergers' original plan was that it should be based on the more complicated Diocesan coat of arms. However, when this was replaced by a new modern emblem it was decided that the badge should also be updated.

The badge shows a black cross over a gold circle on a cream field, all enclosed within a gold circle. It symbolises the resurrection over the cross but the '0' represents not only the stone at the entrance to the tomb but also for the '0' in Oxford. It is hoped that churchwardens, beliringers, Mothers' Union members and anyone connected with the Church in the Diocese will wear it.

The new badge is £5 including postage from John Lazenbury, 16 Broadmead Walk, Nythe Swindon, Wiltshire SN3 3PD.

UNEMPLOYED

EXECUTIVES Support, advice and

encouragement offered by an experienced, qualified, ex-senior manager/director.

One-to-one consultations, help with job search, preparation and production of CV's,

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with no obligation.

Please telephone UEX-TIMESLICE

21 Broadway, Maidenhead, Berks

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* USA * * AFRICA *

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SOCIETIES, CHURCHES AND INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS FROM APPOINTED RAPTIM

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DAVID WASLEY M.A. ATC AMGP ARTIST IN STAINED GLASS. CONSERVATOR and FERRAMENTA specialist. Tel: 0494 23978. Somerset House, 145 London Rd, High Wycombe, Bucks HPI1 1BT.

AUTHORS WANTED

BY UK PUBLISHER All subjects considered for co-partner-

ship publication Write for details to

Dept. J4, JANUS PUBLISHING COMPANY

Duke House, 37 Duke Street, London, W1M OF

DON'T THROW IT

AWAY REPAIR IT We are specialists in the repair of quality pens. We're one of the few for Parker "51" and "61" models whether it's a major fault or simply a general service. This is just an example, we can repair '99' per cent of makes from 1920 makes to

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DO YOU REALISE

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TRUE VALUE? Like a classic car, old pens have high value and pen collec-tors may often pay hundreds of pounds for what may appear to be an ordinary pen. So, regard-less of condition, telephone or write for further details and advice for valuable pens. Simply pop your pen in the post for free

quotation, excluding postage. Dept Door, I Chartbury Mews,

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WITHOUT THIS ATTRACTION YOU MIGHT NOT SEE THE OTHERS

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AUCTION SALE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd, 1991

at 93Oam UNIT 1, MANTON ROAD, RUSHDEN,

NORTHANTS VIEWING FRIDAY 1st NOVEMBER

from 9am-6pm Contents of School Workshops (From Yorkshire, Coventry, Birmingham) and By Order ot the Official Receiver and County Courts. 100 Advertising Signs (enamel & wood). Qty of Old Railway Signs Etc. City of Antique Furniture, Bridgeport Milling Machines, 10 Woodtuming Lathes, 20 Bench Grinders, 10 Pillar Drills, Startrite Universal Woodworker, Kity Universal Woodwor-ker, Oty Steam Models, Contents of Model Engineers Workshop, Wadkin Bandsaw, Planer Thicknesser, De-Walt Cross Cut Saw, 20 Engineering Lathes, Boxtords & Mytords, Multico Chisel Morticer, 2 Bench Milling Machines, 4 Dust Extractors, Forklift Truck, Panel Saw, 200 Sash Cramps, Inspection Equipment, Qty timber, Disc & Belt Linisher, 4 Compressors, Chain & Chisel Morticer, City Sheet Metal Machines. Collection of Bassett Lowke Models, 2 Taylor Hobson Engraving Machines, 30 Various Record Hand Planes, Qty of Electric Power Tools, Contents of Tool Hire Shop, Contents of Bankrupt Stoke on Trent Cash & Carry, Royal Doulton, Bull In A China Shop, Brass & Copper Ware, Pictures Etc. Under Instructions From County Court Qty of Safety Footwear, Toyota Hylux 4 x 4 Diesel Pick-Up, Morgan Plus 8. Approximately 800 Lots. For Auction Catalogue send 6in x 9in SAE to: Warner Auctions, 45 Allen Road, lrthlingborough, Northants NN9 50X or fax 0933

411044. For enquiries phone 0831 339334.


Towards a world ethic

BOOK STALL

CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP/MAR-RIAGE INTRODUCTIONS. Singles Fellowship Groups. Social Events (Ox-ford). Holidays. CFF, Dept C6, Eden-thorpe, Doncaster.

PLANNING YOUR

WEDDING? Make a lovely service even better, have your favourite

music sung during the signing of the Register.

For friendly advice contact:

Alison L' Estrange

Tel: 084428 427

PRATTS OF DORCHESTER

Established 1945 Engine Centre, Short & Full Engines, Gearboxes. Large stock of manual gearboxes. Differentials large stock. Cylinder Heads - large

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The Salvation Army

RED SHIELD SERVICES CAMBRIA HOUSE IS a 60 bed hotel situated in Central London close to Kings Cross/St Pancras

and Euston stations. We offer the following accommodation Single Room £15 per night TwiteDouble room £25 per sight Double £35 per night (private bathroom)

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Hotel in London

When one reads in Hans Kung's Global Responsibility (SCM, £12.95) that he has set out the programme he will be pursuing for the rest of his life, one is bound to take the book seriously. The book addresses adher-ents of the world faiths. It postulates that, if the human race is to survive, the world needs one ethic expressed in shared principles on which we can all agree. What is required is not a uniform world religion or ideology, but some binding norms, values, ideals and goals.

As is to be expected, Kung argues his case closely and cogently. Three major sections cover why there is no survival without a world ethic, no world peace with-out religious peace, and no religious peace without relig-ious dialogue.

Many Christians will per-haps be startled or even shocked, when Kung does not develop an apocalyptic scenario to demonstrate hu-man arrogance about our capabilities, and proceed to incorporate the Christian re-ligion, or even Christian churches, as saviours from all ills; in this context, the word 'Gospel' is not to be found here. However, a theological openness to other religions demands neither that Christians give up the essential elements of their

The publication of Gerda Erika Baker's Shadow of War (Lion £3.99), about family life in wartime Ger-many, coincides with the most momentous changes in the constitution of modern Germany since the Second World War. For me, it also filled in some of the blanks I'd experienced in my atti-tude to what I ashamedly still thought of subconscious-ly as the former enemy.

This is the sensitively told story of a young German girlgrowing up from carefree childhood days in the late thirties, through to the de-feat and degradation of 1945. The chaos, the utter annihi-lation of parts of Germany and the seemingly hopeless-ness of the situation is graphically told. Then comes the blossoming of a new life - as she meets and event-ually marries Frank, a British serviceman.

The story is told without sentimentality or sensation-alism, just as it must have happened. Raised in a Chris-

own religion, nor deny the truth of God in Jesus Christ.

Rather, an essential tenet of. Kung's argument is that the virtue of capacity for religious dialogue needs the virtue of steadfastness; both virtues belong together. The final goal of all our efforts, he writes, cannot be a unitary religion, but an auth-entic peacemaking between religions.

Kung draws us, therefore, to think hard about our faith and the nature of inter-religious dialogue in the postmodern period. His views will challenge those who cling to an exclusivist mediaeval Roman or Protes-tant fundamentalism, or an enlightened modern relativism which makes all truths, values and criteria a matter of indifference, and precisely in so doing passes over the reality of human life. That this book is only a beginning on the complex questions of an ethic which would bring together world religions, Kung acknowl-edges.

Brian Blackshaw Brian Blackshaw is Assistant Curate (NSM) at St Mary's, Amersham.

tian family, where her moth-er, in particular, held to her beliefs through thick and thin, one of the main threads of the story is Gerda's spiritual struggle. Caught up in the enthusiasm for Hitler's 'New Age' and the mass euphoria that eventually swept her country to disas-ter, Gerda's anxiety about her beloved father - missing for a time on the Russian front - almost breaks her. She (and later her mother) eventually find happiness and spiritual peace when she settles in England. This is a book I could not put down.

Sadly, after I was asked to write this review, Gerda Erika Baker, known to her friends as Peta, died on 11 August 1991 at Burrswood, where for some years she and Frank, her husband were involved in the Ministry of Healing and Wholeness.

Heather L Harris. Heather Harris is the Area Organiser of the Media A wareness Project.

Gerda tells her story

HOLIDAY HOUSE in Cotswold village Sleeps six plus cot. Loving care available for disabled. L1C') per week. Tel: Davenport 0608 7300-14.

BLUE ALTER frontal, bur3cm and veil. Pulpit, lectern falls, stole ,inni offertory bags. Phone: 0296 63004.

AUTHORS Your book published All subjects including

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Write for details to: ADELPHI PRESS

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A 13 Cal4qrapI1i

for your Wedding Album, Greetings Cards, Testimonials, Mementos,

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The DOOR opens on

California

The world is its church fmk4k141 Ten years ago on September 8, the Feast of Our Lady's birthday, the late Bishop Eric Wild added the name of St Mary to California's original dedication to St John "because the parish has gone through much tra-vail." And the way of the cross which the two saints followed is the road that California has chosen to follow ever since.

For there is no church in the Diocese quite like St Mary and St John, California which has decided to do without its own church build-ing. The resulting freedom gives the congregation an air of excitement and mission which is reminiscent of the New Testament Church.

The parish was a response to new housing and a rising population. Around 1,700 houses have been built since 1981. The electoral roll is growing, too, and is now 166. There are many more on the fringe, and the Sun-day morning congregation totals up to 200.

The purpose-built vicarage was dedicated by the Bishop of Reading last year. It is unique because the Church Commissioners agreed that a parish use should be built into it, and also because of

its unusual situation. You approach it through a council estate where there is con-siderable deprivation. In fact, some questioned its location, but, says church-warden, Anne McKay, the choice was deliberate and is part of the church's outreach.

The visitor feels immedi-ately a special atmosphere. With no traditional building to maintain, the congrega-tion can channel its energies into mission and ministering to the community, rather than into roofs and drains.

The parish has a close relationship with Gorse Ride junior school, where Sunday services are held. The church has twice extended the school hall as the congrega-tion grows, and a sanctuary and vestibule have also been added. Although the Dio-cese help financially with the sanctuary, the congrega-tion paid for the vestibule.

"Because the school is a daily factor in people's lives, the church itself is accepted as part of everyday life and those who are not naturally church attenders find it eas-ier to make their way in," says Canon Ken Humphreys,

Vicar of California. "It has to be worked at, though. Gorse Ride is not a church school. We are not there by right, we are there by virtue of the relationship."

The' familiar school build-ing means that children from the local estate often venture into services which they might not otherwise attend. They also drop in to see Hilda, Ken's wife, at the Vicarage.

Toddlers' services are sometimes held in the nearby old people's home, and older people are involved in setting up the vicarage room for the midweek Communion, making them active members of the church community.

Pastoral care is significant-ly high on the California agenda, and Ken Humphreys was recently appointed a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral in recognition of his pastoral and counselling work. Some of the congrega-tion with relevant skills and experience form a counsel-ling team, and thereare courses in befriending.

"Everyone is encouraged in the pastoral role but obvi-

ously some are more invol-ved than others," Anne McKay explains. As a result, California has become centre for pastoral counselling.

Their team offers help not only locally but also to clergy under stress from other parts of the Diocese. They also offer training in pastoral care under the Berk-shire Christian Training Scheme.

As one might expect, this church without a building can more easily look out-wards towards the concerns of the world. There is a very active World Concern group, each of whose mem-bers is responsible for speci-fic interests. The group meets once a month for Bible study and reflection, and concerns are then presented to the congrega-tion for prayer and action.

"There are all sorts of concerns for the world," says Ken, "not just far away but here as well. Caritas (a recently launched housing association to help the young homeless) arose from World Concern." So, too, did the activity groups run during school holidays.

Unorthodox as it is, Ken believes that his parish - with no church building of its own, could well become a model for future develop-ments. There are risks, he admits, in handing so much over to the congregation, but he doesn't want any other clergy staff. "The mission of the church should not depend on my being here. The trauma would be far greater if some of the core people moved," he says. In any case, says Anne McKay, "a lot of people I meet would find working in Ken's way very difficult."

For most of us, a parish without a church building is difficult to imagine. How-ever, it is clear that Ken and his congregation would not have it otherwise. "We are blessed in not having a building. Once a year we have a bazaar for our own coffers, but everything else goes elsewhere. Ninety-nine per cent of our time is for outreach and mission," he says.

Monica Parsons

Monica Parsons is a freelance journalist who lives in Wokingham.

HISTORY: The parish, near Wokingham, was formed in Jan-uary 1981 as St John's, Califor-nia. Services have for most of the time been held in Gorse Ride Junior School. In Septem-ber, 1981, the church was given an additional dedication to St Mary. The vicarage is unique because the Church Commis-sioners agreed that it should have a parish use built into it. Clergy: The Revd Canon Ken Humphreys. Church Wardens: Anne McKay and Bernard Lingham. Sunday Services: 8am - Com-munion once a month; 945am - Parish Communion; Evening services at 6pm or 630pm vary, and include Prayer and Praise and a Healing Service. Weekday Service: lOam Commu-nion service on Wednesdays at the Vicarage. Weekly mothers and toddlers service. Hymn Books: Mission Praise; New Standard Ancient and Mod-ern. Choir: Informal choir and a music group. Sunday School: Uses school classrooms. Pool of 26 teachers plus helpers work in pairs with about 60 children of all ages, divided into groups. Youth Club: Riders Group for young teenagers and a youth group for older ones. Other activities: Groups include Bible study, meditation, interces-sion, pastoral care and World Concern Group. A Decade of Evangelism enquiry group is being launched. The parish offers counselling to clergy under stress, and training in pastoral care under the Berkshire Christian Training Scheme. Close relation-ships with the Gorse Ride School and with an adjoining parish, St James', Barkham. Without whose cooperation the parish would be disabled. Weddings are celebrated at Barkham and many are baptised there.

December DOOR We are planning a Christmas issue with more popular ap-peal. We hope that it will be of interest to non-Church goers as well as more com-mitted Christians and that some parishes will consider putting a copy through every door along with details of Christmas services. If you would like to order extra copies please contact the distribution manager, Tim Russian by November 16 on 0844 208605.

Diocesan year planner

Diocesan wall planners will be delivered with the De-cember issue and we hope that one will eventually reach every incumbent! These have been produced at no cost to the Diocese and will run from December 1 1991 to December 1 1992. Major feast days, Diocesan Synods and DOOR deliver days have been included.

Ten year olds help celebrate at California's candles at the beginning of the service.

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The Cross above all Building work at Diocesan Church House at North Hinskey, Oxford is well on the way to completion ahead of schedule. At the topping out ceremony on September 6, John Prodger (pictured centre right), Chairman of the Diocesan Board of Finance added a cross to the cupola housing a stairwell for the new extension. With him (left to right) were David Rathbone, the architect, Stephen Pound, the site manager and Tim Oseman, the contracts manager.

The work will provide a small conference hail and much needed office accomodation, and will enable the Schools Department to move into Church House from temporary accommodation in Forest Hill. "The work has progressed with minimum disruption to staff, and should be almost complete by the end of the year," said John Prodger. "I feel strongly that topping our building with a cross is a symbol of the work that goes on at Church House, which isn't just about finance and administration but about strengthening Christ's ministry in the Diocese." Photo: Frank Blackwell

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WHAT'S ON OCTOBER

Sat 5 BURNHAM. Grace Notes' a lively and varied programme of words and music - voice, organ and piano - with Stephen Armstrong & Mike Woods. Includes works by Debussy and Bach. 730pm St Peter's Church, Burnham. Bucks. £6 (4 for parties) or £5 in advance from St Peter's Cornerstone, or send a cheque (PCC Burnham) to Mrs L Ford, St Peter's Cornerstone office, Church St, Burnham, Slough, Berks SLI 7HX. Thurs 10 MAPLEDURHAM, nr Reading. Andrew Cronshaw, on his 'Splendid Venues' Tour plays Chin-ese gong & flutes, silver steelpans, zither, concertina, whistles & little synthesiser. St Margaret's Church. To book & check time phone 0734 477444. Fri 11-Sat 19 OXFORD. Leon Week

events for Oxford's twin town in Nicaragua. Programme includes details of the Rio Chiquito project from Lorna Edwards on 0865 252581.

Who's Who in the

Diocese The BISHOP of OXFORD The Rt Revd Richard Harries Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford 0X2 ONB. Tel: Oxford (0865) 244566. AREA BISHOPS AND ARCHDEACONS: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE: The Rt Revd Simon Bur-rows, Bishop of Bucking-ham, Sheridans. Grimms Hill, Great Missenden, Bucks, HPI6 913D. Tel: 024 062173. Archdeacon: The Ven John Morrison, 60 Wendover Road, Aylesbury, Bucks HP2I 9LW. Tel: 0296 23269. OXFORDSHIRE: The Rt Revd Anthony Rus-sell, Bishop of Dorchester, Holmhy House, Sihford Ferris, Banbury, Oxon OXIS 5RG. Archdeacon; The Ven Frank Weston, Christ Church, Oxford, OX! IDP. Tel: 0865 276185. BERKSHIRE: The Rt Revd John Bone, Bishop of Reading. Greenbanks, Old Bath Road, Sonning, Reading RGI OSY. Tel: 0734 692187. Arch-deacon: The Ven David Griffiths, 21 Wilderness Road, Earley, Reading, RG6 2RU. Tel; 0734 663459..

Sat 13 WARDINCTON. A celebra-tion/thanksgiving service for Wardington CE Aided School which is in the process of closure after 150 years. 2pm in Wardington Church followed by a buffet tea. Anyone who has had an association with the school throughout its life or has a particular fondness for it, is welcome to attend. Please telephone the head teacher Joe Pitt 0295 750210.

Sun 13 WITNEY. Deanery Festival of Evangelism. The Revd John Stott preaching. 6pm St Mary's Church. Details: 0993 701517.

Tues 15 OXFORD. Pusey House. The Oxford University C S Lewis Society. Meetings during the 8 weeks of each Full Term, usually Tues, but with one Wed., 30 Oct. 815pm in the flood Room. More details from David Llewellyn Dodds 0865 67689.

Wed 16 WANTAGE. St Peter & St Paul's Church. Healing Service. 800pm. Enquiries 02357 2829.

Thurs 17 OXFORD. Your parish, CMS & the World Church. Gill Poole Secretary Oxford CMS Assoc. presents representatives of local churches. 730pm for coffee to begin at 8pm at St Andrew's, Linton Road. Details: 0865 245509.

Sat 19 AMERSHAM ON THE HILL. Oxford Diocese branch of the Move-ment for the Ordination of Women Annual General Meeting. 1045am at St Michael & All Angels. The Revd Cathy Milford, Moderator of MOW, will speak about the role of MOW following the Diocesan Synod votes on the issue & the preparation for the General Synod vote in 1992. Bring a picnic lunch, coffee & tea provided. Details: 0993 772413.

Sat 19 OXFORD, Summertown. Cof-fee morning and B & B at 122 Banbury Rd. 10.30-12.00. Proceeds to Intercontinental Church Society. Enquiries Marion Boult 0865 511636.

Sat 19 FARINGDON, All Saints Church. Isis Chamber Orchestra. 730pm. Details Judith Heathcoat 0361 241468.

Sat 19 HAVERSHAM, St Mary's Church. 'As I Went By The Way'. An entertainment in words and music. 800pm. Details from John Foakes 0908 510698.

Sat 19 STEVENTON, St Michael's Autumn Fair in Village Hall. 2-5pm. Charities invited to take a table for £5. Details from Mary Thompson 0235 832077.

Sat 19-Sun 20 HITCHAM, near Burnham. Flower Festival at St Mary's Church arranged by 3rd year City and Guilds Flower Arrangement Course students from Windsor and Maidenhead College, 10am-6pm. Also on Saturday 'Ode to Autumn' at 730pm, an entertainment by the Hitcham Players. Sunday services 8am Communion (BCP), 1030am Parish Communion (Rite 'A'), 630pm Evensong (BCP). All welcome and for morning coffee, afternoon teas.

Sun 20-Sat 26, BANBURY. One World Week programme includes: Oct 20 United Nations Association service at St John's Church, 630pm; Oct 22 Canon Christopher Hall will lead a discussion on 'A Matter of

Interest', the Third World debt crisis, 730pm, Friends Meeting House; Oct 26 All day One World Fair at Marlborough Rd Church.

Wed 23 NORTH CRAWLEY, St Firmin's Church. 'As I Went By The Way'. 800pm. See Haversham above.

Sat 26 CASTLETHORPE, St Simon & St Jude's Church. 'As I Went By The Way'. 800pm. See Haversham above.

Sat 26 OXFORD, St John's Home, St Mary's Rd. Autumn Fayre. 230pm.

Sat 26 LITTLE COMPTON, St Deny's Church. Concert by Banbury Salvation Army Band and Chipping Norton Male Voice Choir, 730pm. Tickets £5 at the door or in advance from Bob Ford 060874 217.

Sat 26 OXFORD, St Giles' Church. 'Farnaby's Knot' early music for voices and instruments. 800pm. Tickets at door.

Sat 26-Wed 30 BIRMINGHAM. World Urban Missions Convention. An international meeting to tackle cities' social problems hosted by the Birmingham City Mission. The theme is 'A new vision for the 90s'. Open to anyone interestedin extend-ing the outreach to needy people in urban areas of the UK. Details: Edwin Orton, Birmingham City Mission, 126 Arden Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham B27 6AG, 012-707 9422.

NOVEMBER

Sat 2 STANTONBURY, Milton Keynes. Sharpen the Focus - Mission in the Decade. 10am-3.30pm at Christ Church. An invitation to all concerned in the worldwide mission of the church, missionary society representatives and sup-porters to take part in a day of discovery including seminars and workshops. To book and for details: Miss Glenys Williams, 11 Priory Court, Harlow, Essex CM18 7AX.

Sat 2 BUTLERS CROSS. Village Hall, Autumn Sale in aid of The Children's Society. Sales tables for other charities. 10am-12.30pm. Details: Elinor Mills 0296 623573.

Sat 2-Sun 10 COWLEY, Oxford. St James' Church, special services for All Saints and All Souls Festival. Flower festival with favourite hymns theme, Old Cowley photographs, concerts, sponsored 'Hymn Binge' on Sat 9. Church open daily. All in aid of restoration appeal. Details: Gwen Ranklin on 0865 779742.

Tues 5 CHESHAM. St Mary's Church Rooms, Church St. 'Lunchbreak' (affiliated to Christian Viewpoint) welcomes Sarah Smith at 1230pm, who will talk about her work in the orphanage she has opened in Venez-uela. Details: 0494 785896.

Fri 8-Sat 9 ABINGDON, St Helen's Church. 24 hour Sponsored Musical Happening in aid of 'Painted Ceiling Fund'. Helpers required and willing participants please to Ceridwen & Robin Rees 0235 577905.

Sat 9 WANTAGE. Day Seminar. Ministry: Tony Pearce MA. Messian-ic Testimony. The Church - Israel, the people and the land - in this Decade of Evangelism. 11am-230pm. The Guildry, St Mary's Convent, Denchworth Rd.

Sat 9 MERTON. Cohn Dexter un-ravels the Mystery of Inspector Morse at the Village Hall at 8pm. Tickets £5, in advance, in aid of St Swithin's Church from Diana Procter on.086733 294.

Sat 23 OXFORD, St Giles' Church. Paul Alexander reads selection from The Psalms. 800pm. Enquiries Mar-garet Williamson 08675 2498.

NOTICES LONDON BIBLE COLLEGE. Even-ing Classes. 'The Gospel of St Mark & Communications' from 30 Sept, 'Nehemiah' from 3 Oct. 7.45-9.30. First lecture free. Ring Michael Thornton 09274 26061.

NCEC, National Christian Education Council will be visiting Banbury. Swindon, Oxford and Reading be-tween November 11 and 14 to offer training, consultations and resources. More information from Simon Oxley 0737 822411.

PRISONERS WEEK - is November 17-23. Events include an exhibition of Prisoners' Art and Craft work called 'Art Inside' at Reading Central Library. See also page 3.

TIME AND EXISTENCE. Two talks by Professor Russell Stannard, Head of Physics, Open University and lay reader at St Barnabas, Linslade. The first talk will deal with the mystery of time and why some scientists regard the future as already existing. The second talk examines the grounds for believing in God and how this compares with our belief about the existence of physical and mental realities. 8-930pm, St Barnabas Church Hall, Linslade, Wed 20 and 27 November. £5 book by November 13. Details: The Revd Judy Rees, Cottesloe Christian Training Programme, 15 Weston Road, Horwood, Bucks MK17 813P, tel 029671 3603.

READING THE BIBLE TODAY. An autumn lecture series at Univer-sity Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford. Oct 28: 'The Early Genesis Stories' by the Revd Prof John Barton; Nov 24: 'Understanding & Using the Psalms' by Dr Sue Gilling-ham; Nov 11: 'Understanding the Character of St Paul' by the Revd Dr Tom Wright; Nov 18: 'Making Sense of St John's Gospel' by the Revd Canon John Fenton, Christ Church; Nov 25: 'Wrestling with Abomination of Desolation - a look at the first three gospels' by the Revd Prof Christopher Rowlands, Dean Ireland Professor of Exegesis of Holy Scripture All start at 8pm in the Old Library. Details: 0865 243806.

A NEW CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU is operating fortnightly in St Mary's Church, Datchet, on alternate Wednesdays (i.e. Oct 2, 16, 30 etc) from llam- lpm.

THE WORLD IN THEIR HEART. A course of lectures organised by Bracknell New Town Studies in Christian theology. Oct 7: 'Sent empty Away - the Rich or Poor' by Canon Christopher Hall, Co-ordinator Christian Concern for One World; Oct 21: 'Global consumerism - Christians in the Market Place' by Phil Wells, New Consumer maga-zine; Nov 4: 'God's Creation - Our Responsibility' by John Madeley, journalist and broadcaster; Nov 18: 'The Health of the Nations - Political Morality' by the Revd Robert Can de Weyer, writer, broad-caster and economist; Dec 2: 'Icons of Christ around the World' by Dr Janet Hodgson, area USPG secre-tary; Dec 16: 'Ethics of Third World Debt' by Anne Kesterton, Inter-national Development Centre, Uni-versity of Oxford. All Monday even-ings, 8pm in the Langley Hall,

Bracknell. £12 for all six or £3 each. Full details: Maureen Beadsley, 6 Greenham Wood, North Lake, Bracknell, Berks RG12 4WJ, tel 0344 56201.

OXFORD UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION. To coincide with One World and United Nations Association weeks and United Na-tions Day (October 24) presents: Oct 22 - public ecumenical service at Jericho Synagogue. 8pm Oct 24 UNAIUNICEF Flag Day and a public meeting at Oxford Town Hall with political leaders from the Oxford

Wgiving their views on "The UN:

The hope for the future," 730pm. Details 0865-59610.

TAPESTRY WOOL. Left-over wool available. Shades of brown, gold, fawn and dark red. Apply Miss Dulley 06285 524760.

N7FJ Dt

The Cloister and the Corridor

I was recently asked by a radio interviewer how I could possibly reconcile the 'peace of heart', to which Christians aspire, with the active involvement in the world to which we are called. It was a good question, to which I gave a somewhat stumbling answer. So perhaps I could attempt an answer in print.

There are striking examples in history of Christians who have found ways of combining peace in the presence of God with demanding activity in the world. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1143) yielded to no one in his devotion to the monastic ideal, but at the same time (as his letters reveal) was deeply involved in the ecclesiastical and secular politics of his day. He even found time to preach a crusade. Teresa of Avila (1515-82) was undoubtedly a mystic, but at the same time an energetic founder and organiser of numerous monastic houses. Nearer to our own time, William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was up to his neck in politics as member of Parliament for Hull and was persistently in the public eye as a tireless advocate of the emancipation of the slaves, who yet treasured and nurtured a personal relationship with God as the constant accompaniment of his work in the world.

So it is possible to pray: "Drop thy still dews of quietness till all our striving cease; take from our souls the strain and stress and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace" (Whittier's hymn), and at the same time to he fiercely engaged in the political and social issues of the day. Indeed, the Christian's contribution may be all the more effective in the world, if it proceeds out of an inner, unflustered calm.

The cloister and the corridors of power are, and are intended to be, interconnected. And the secret, common to prophets and mystics, is at all costs to put God first. Wilberforce, for example could well have said - God first, the slaves second, myself last. That remains the secret of the Godly man, who is at the same time effective and valued in the world.

Stuart Blanch Lord Blanch is the former Archbishop of York and the author of many books. He lives near Banbury.

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PEOPLE WITH A PURPOSE

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Renewal comes through openness and obedience to God the Holy Spirit. It brings new life and power to Christ's Church: the willingness to launch out in faith - in evangelism and in working together for justice. CMS aims to be an agency of that renewal.

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The ONE WORLD COMMITMENT has been endorsed by the Oxford Diocesan Synod, These four pages of The IYX)R were corrpiled and the

and ccnrrencd to all Christians by the Bishop of Oxford, the first Patron of c . c .0 .W., lay-out designed by the Revd Christopher Hall,

who has been joined as Patron by the Ecumenical Moderator of Milton Keynes Co-Ordinator of

and the Pman catholic Bishop of Portsmouth. Christian Concern for One World

#26 October 1991

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Transcript of #26 October 1991