Bishop Richard’s Weekly Video Message and Transcript 01.10.2026

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Bishop's Weekly Video Message #306 – 01.10.2026

Video for October 1^st, 2026

Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s video and welcome to Tanzania!

Yesterday we were part of the celebrations for the 100^th anniversary of the diocese of Masasi, a diocese with which we’ve had a link for 40 years. It is humbling that many of the ordinands we sponsored through their theological training have gone on to fruitful ministry.  Both Archbishop Maimbo, Bishop James of Masasi and several of the other Bishops were sponsored from our diocese to train at St. Mark’s Theological College in Dar Es Salaam – which we visited on Thursday last week. I hope and pray that that link will continue for many years.  A very small investment – a year’s training costs around £300, bears a remarkable return.

Inevitably, a trip to a different culture invites reflection on our differences.  There is a commonality in our Christian faith which creates a genuine familial bond. But we can see elements of their culture that may owe more to culture around them than the gospel, just as they can see the same in us.

At the ordination service, I preached from Philippians 2. There are elements of this passage that may be a fragment from one of the earliest Christian hymns. It speaks of Christ’s humility.  From verse 3 of chapter 2, “In your relationship with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the form of a servant”. The Tanzanians themselves acknowledge that this model of leadership is profoundly counter-cultural.  The way in which deference is offered to those in leadership both secular and spiritual here carries significant dangers. Many priests serve faithfully and with a servant heart. For others ordination can go to the head.  The authoritarian, hierarchical model that Jesus was so keen to discourage amongst the disciples can easily manifest itself. Sadly, the Church of England is not immune. We have learned that our historic culture of deference was fertile ground for the unscrupulous with all the heartbreaking safeguarding failures that followed. Worse still was the misplaced institutional loyalty that put the reputation of the church and protection of abusers before the needs of victims and survivors. Those who complain about our processes now seeking to create a safer church should bear that in mind.  The shame of what has gone on will not be easily atoned for.

Inevitably the correction of past errors can swing too far in the other direction before a new equilibrium is reached.  In matters of leadership the pendulum in the UK is most certainly way over on one side now.  The rapid turnover of prime ministers over the last few years is a case in point.  Of course, each has made mistakes, some of them serious ones. However, they are probably no worse than those made by leaders in previous generations.  There aren’t mobs storming the gates of 10 Downing Street but mobs on social media that seem to be the current court of public opinion can be equally powerful. Each new incumbent of the office is greeted briefly as the new great hope before the next round of assaults begin.

With the widespread adoption of the internet, it is possible here (when the Wi-Fi works) to keep up with the latest news from home very easily.  When I was in Pakistan in 1984, I had to book a call back home with the operator who would call back after two hours and a five-minute phone call cost a third of my monthly allowance! So, it is with some distress I have read about the of the current petition doing the social media rounds demanding the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Let me say unequivocally I think it is ridiculous, and, judging by some of the comments in some quarters blatantly misogynistic.  Of course, the incident that has provoked it is regrettable.  Mistakes have clearly been made, and the archbishop was likely to have been poorly advised.  However, to demand a resignation when she has been in post for such a short time is absurd.  Leaders are human.  They make mistakes.  One hopes in humility such mistakes are acknowledged and remedies are made, as they have been here.    

We are very much looking forward to Welcoming Archbishop Sarah to our diocese this weekend.  I have experienced nothing but kindness and pastoral support from her, both before her appointment and since.  I’m sure those who meet her on her visit will experience the same.

In the political arena we need to grow up and make allowances for humanity.  Leadership is a heavy calling. Paul asked us to pray for those in authority and even submit to the office – and these were brutal Roman Emperors. All organisations need leadership to function. I dare to hope the church might show a better way.