Once again the three of us set out on our mammoth journey to Brittany. Starting at a very uncivilised hour in the morning, we drove the 1025 kilometres to St Jacut de la Mer just outside St Malo, arriving just in time to register and hurry down to the opening Eucharist, celebrated by the archdeacon Father Ian Naylor (you may remember him as he came to St Pargoire for Roger’s licensing).
The first evening is usually devoted to Diocesan business and so after supper we all went back to the large hall and Father Ian told us that the Church Commissioners had decided not to give the Diocese of Europe the money for three new full time archdeacons. Instead the money had gone to support other churches. It is very disappointing but not likely to change within the next three years. Instead there will be some extra money to support two new area deans who will support the work of Father Ian as Archdeacon. He also told us that there would be a press release about the new Bishop of Gibraltar on Tuesday 6th May (so you will probably already know who he is!). The process of choosing a new Bishop is long and involved, although to some extent the wishes of the Diocese are taken into consideration!
David Bean then gave his report on the finances of the Diocese which I managed to understand this year (unlike last year) but the Diocesan Secretary Adrian Mumford had been delayed by fog in London so we finished early and with the business side of things over , I was grateful to collapse into bed.
The next morning I slept in and only woke up at 8.30 which meant that not only had I missed Morning Prayer but was in danger of missing breakfast as well! I just made the Bible Study session in time and thank goodness I didn’t miss it. Revd Dr Clare Amos gave an inspirational talk on the final verses of the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. The theme of this year’s Synod was “Equipping for Mission” and she focused on the ending of the Gospels to show how the Disciples had been sent out on their mission. She was not only extremely interesting but also had a wonderful sense of humour. It is amazing how really clever people can make complicated ideas sound really easy to understand.
Dr Clare Amos
 |
| Dr Clare Amos |
The next talk was by Revd Canon Keith Lamdin on the subject of “Learning about God changes us”. It was another deep and wide ranging talk which ranged from whether it is possible to change to the experience of God and prayer. He used examples from the Psalms, to Mother Teresa through the poetry of George Herbert, St John of the Cross, R S Thomas and others to modern jazz.
But the morning wasn’t over yet and although the talks had overrun we managed to make it over to the other building for Eucharist, led by Revd Canon Debbie Flach, one of our new area Deans. Oh, how things had changed from last year!
There was time for lunch …. just …… although I missed the cheese course and coffee … before I went to a fringe meeting held by Elaine Labourel for Readers and Readers in Training. Elaine had come down from Paris to the Hérault to interview me in February, so I was able to ask her when she thought I might be receiving the first module from St John’s Nottingham. By this time I felt there is just so much that body and soul can cope with in one day and a late siesta seemed essential so I missed the next meeting.
Bishop David’s address to Synod went over the fact that the request for funding for new full time archdeacons was turned down and hoped the new bishop would address the issue of archdeacons, or lack of them, a priority. Although the new bishop will be announced on May 6th it will be several months before he takes up his post. There are 35 clergy vacancies in the Diocese (11 of these in France) as fewer clergy are retiring to Europe who are young enough still to do a few years as priest in charge. As there are about two and a half million British nationals living in the European Union with only about 12,000 who worship in the Church of England chaplaincies, there is great scope for the growth of congregations and there is funding for mission projects.
 |
| Revd Canon Philip Mountstephen |
After Bishop David’s address to Synod we had another talk, this time by Revd Canon Philip Mounstephen, formerly from the Paris chaplaincy but now leader of the Church Mission Society on the theme “Mission, Global and Local”, perhaps not an exciting title but the talk was amazing.
The CMS does not just work abroad.Philip told us about a couple working in a run-down area of Hull. They organise a breakfast club for children and other support to help families.
He showed us many photos of people who are working in some of the most forsaken places, including one of a small girl, about eleven years old, standing in front of a hut, somewhere in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She had been raped by soldiers. The only civilian organisation working in the area is the CMS.
That was not the end of the day, however, as at 6.30pm we had Evening Prayer led by John Errey a Reader.
It was the feast day of SS Philip and St James and immediately after the service, Bishop David commissioned the two new area deans. The clergy were all wearing red.
Finally it was time for supper. Afterwards I decided to go for a walk on the beach, as the year before I had not been able to walk very far. What I didn’t realise is that the tide was coming in very fast and as I was talking to Helen, from the chaplaincy at Marseille I didn’t notice the only way up from the beach was by clambering over some rather large rocks. Not the best thing to do six weeks after a knee operation. Thank goodness Helen was there to help me.
In fact talking to other Synod members is one of the best things about Synod. You begin to realise that we are not the only chaplaincy which is so geographically widespread. Even in Marseille most of the congregation live outside the city and have a long way to travel. Other chaplaincies have several priests and the chaplaincy of the Aude serves an area as large as Wales!
The next day was a lot more relaxed and this time I managed to get up in time for morning prayer because it was led by Brenda Juntunen who was licensed as a Reader in the Gard last year and is a friend of mine (well of lots of people!) Again it was lovely to see that the Readers were given much more responsibility this year. It was great to give her a big hug afterwards! So, this time I didn’t have to eat breakfast in such a hurry.
Dr Clare Amos gave her second talk on the end of the Gospels of St Luke and St John. In St Luke she commented on fact that the road to Emmaus was part of the journey away from Jerusalem and involved the breaking of bread, i.e. food “Christian mission is offering the hospitality of the face of Christ” (David Ford) and that at the end of St John, Jesus issues the command to Peter, for the first time “Follow me”, having asked him three times whether he loved him, bringing back painful memories of the night before the crucifixion.
Then we had another fascinating talk from Revd Canon Keith Lamkin about the different kinds of leadership.
This was followed by Eucharist celebrated by Bishop David before he left for London.
In the afternoon we actually had an hour’s free time. No prizes for guessing where I spent that!! followed by a talk about a new web based course called Foundations 21 written by the Bible Reading Fellowship. It’s free!! You can find it on www.foundations21.net.
If you want to follow it, you have to do a quiz to decide what sort of learning style you have, whether you are a Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. In fact, I thought it a bit too quirky but it might be great for you. Why don’t you try it? It doesn’t cost anything!
So, the Synod was drawing to a close. The archdeacon led the closing meeting and after supper a lot of us met together in the bar. Well, the abbaye of St Jacut might be a monastery but there is wine and beer too!
The next day the Eucharist was at 7.30 and thanks to Roger phoning from Delia’s mobile I did make it. Roger and Delia were leaving by car to catch a ferry to England and I went by taxi with new friends to catch a train to Paris.
I learnt so much in those few days and made so many good friends. I cannot thank enough the chaplaincy of All Saints Hérault for sending me.
Julie Johnson
No comments:
Post a Comment