Video for July 9th, 2026
Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s video.
I’m recording this from the ordination retreat at the Palace. In a few days I’ll be ordaining 3 new deacons and 7 priests to serve the diocese. This is a key moment in their journey of discipleship. I’ve been here long enough now to have seen them from their first tentative steps asking whether ordination was for them, through training, to this next step when they prepare for curacy or the next phase of ministry moving from deacon to priest.
All organisations inevitably establish a form of hierarchy. That’s partly human nature – we like to know who is in charge; the one who co-ordinates and gives permission for action. Few if any human structures operate in a completely egalitarian, democratic way. We set in place checks and balances to limit the power of those in charge, but ultimately decisions must be made for the health of the whole. In Jeremiah 6: 17, the prophet records the Lord as saying, “I appointed watchmen over you and said, “listen to the sound of the trumpet!” Watchmen were a key feature of ancient Israelite life. Secure within their walled settlements the watchmen from on high looked out for coming dangers and warned people to prepare for them. Their higher vantage point meant they could see the bigger picture. It meant that people weren’t taken by surprise. Jesus was conscious of how easy it was for those in authority to abuse it and be seduced by power. That’s why, whilst recognising the importance of leadership, he modelled a radically different way of exercising it. He washed feet, saying to his bemused disciples, who in context were looking to who would be Home Secretary and Chancellor in the new regime they thought Jesus was about to inaugurate, “the greatest among you must be servant of all”. The grotesque failures of this principle are behind the terrible safeguarding and leadership failings in the church since its inception.
For those in ordained leadership, another aspect of this re-framing is our calling to be looking out for and encouraging gifts in others. Our friends being ordained this week are examples of that. Others, often their vicars, saw something in them; a gift that very often they weren’t aware of in themselves. Every time I licence a new incumbent, we read the classic passage from Ephesians 4 which talks about a multitude of gifts, not by all means given to clergy! Clergy are reminded of the call which was part of their diaconal ordination – the foundation of all ordained ministries, to draw out and encourage the gifts of others. I remember the challenges of this as a vicar myself. It can be a risk to give someone responsibility. Almost inevitably, one sees their first steps knowing that one could do it better oneself. There is the risk (if we’re honest) that eventually they will do it better than us! When I was a curate there were many people on the preaching rota, the majority not ordained, several of whom I considered much better preachers than I was. Not all vocations amongst Christians will lead ultimately to an up-front ministry. I’ve had the privilege over the last few weeks of relicensing all our marvellous Churchwardens. These are wonderful often behind the scenes ministries, without which the church would simply not be able to function. I believe every christian has a vocation, both outside the church family in witness and inside in service of some sort. The privilege of discipleship is that there is no retirement in the kingdom of God.
A dear couple in my parish in Sussex who had served the Lord through their local church for decades. In their 80’s they led a house group to help nurture new Christians in faith. As energy and frailty increased this ministry changed, although John was still leading in his early 90’s. As they approached the final call home their ministry became increasingly focussed on prayer. I know that if they asked what they could pray for they would. Pru died a few years before John who was an intercessor right to the end. Intercessory prayer is the foundation of a church that is truly dependent on Jesus Christ. It is a ministry we can continue all our lives. Our culture might think that only active things count. We know better. Those if us who have the physical strength to exercise more ‘active ministries’ are borne up by those who are prayerfully active even if frailty prevents more than that.
Last week I said, I’d say a little more about how ministry might have to change in our current challenges. The releasing of lay ministry of all types in all ages of people is a crucial foundation. Vocation may be a grand word, but I believe the Lord has a task for each one of us. We need to prayerfully discern what it is and trust the Lord for the grace to do it. Part of that discernment is a preparedness to listen to the advice of others. May we all hear the Lord’s gentle whisper to us as our friends to be ordained have done.
+Richard