A plea for 'duller and lazier' priests!

This work life balance thing is hard to get right. Many of my colleagues are unashamedly workaholic and I wish I could get a better balance of leisure and work in my own life. I seem to live with a strong sense of 'He could do better'. So I felt quite excited to read Anglea Tilby's reflections in the Church Times (15 July 2011) on the life of Barbara Brown Taylor who was one of the most admired priests, pastors and preachers of the Episcopal Church in the United States. After 20 years of ministry at what appeared to be the height of her ministry she decided to leave it all behind; burnt out, washed up, exhausted....on the brink of losing faith.

Angela Tilby expressed a 'kind of irritation at the way in which both community and individual let themselves be seduced by a perfectionist and workaholic model of ministry'. 'The memoir', Tilby concludes, 'made me wonder whether a duller and lazier priest would have produced a more mature and reflective congregation'. YES!

I believe so that I may understand

'Lord, I am not trying to reach your height, for my poor mind could never approach it. But I do want to understand the little of your truth which my heart already believes and loves. I do not seek to understand so that I may believe, but I believe so that I may understand; and further, I believe that unless I believe I shall never understand'.

(Anselm 1033-1109 36th Archbishop of Canterbury)

communityof3@row33.... deeply spiritual thoroughly post modern

The flight home didn't look too promising. Bishop Greg dropped me off at Regina Airport at 6.00am and it was clear that my flight from Chicago to London had been cancelled despite the fact that I had checked in on line the night before. So I was rerouted to add on an extra leg from Chicago to Washington before the Tranatlantic flight. Once again I faced very lengthy and slow queues at Chicago and only just boarded the flight to Washington before the gates were closed.
On the London flight I found I had been allocated a window seat with additional legroom. Next to me was Ronda, who sold software to hospitals and besides her was Brady who designed clothing for the trendy Spyder range of winter sports clothing. Somehow we got chatting, sharing dreams and hopes of transformation. Ronda was heading off for a holiday in Turkey. She spoke of her hope to have a B&B in some Developing Country with 6 rooms which could be left to the community when she died. Brady came alive when he was making sustainable furniture out of wood damaged by the Colorado Beetle. He showed us a picture of an amazing chair he had made.
Ronda doubtless helped the community on row 33 to form by generously buying us each a small bottle of wine to go with our meals. I shared a few insights from my journey of faith and hope and pray that our time together will have helped each of us to move a step closer to becoming fully alive and realising God's dream for each of us.

First Nation Ministry

Revd Dale at the Clergy Diocesan Conference, with the drum she was given recently which was a sign of her being accepted as an Elder in the First Nations Community.








Patty with Vicky Young.

Patty told me; 'I live in two worlds; my traditional Indian world and the modern world. I teach my grandchildren about the circle, the circle of life; to enter from the left and to go right round before entering within the circle. I was given two eagle feathers; they are most special, a sign of goodness'.

Vicky with key members of the Day Star Church Vicki was ordained in 2007 as an ordained Local Minister. She gives her heart and soul in ministry amongst the First Nation people with whom she has worked for many years. She had formerly been a teacher and spoke about the traumatic experiences for First Nation people who were taken away from their families and communities to stay in the the Residential Schools.
I noticed in the Vestry Book at St Luke's, Gordon's First Nation, the following entries:
Jan 6th 2009 'No church, minus 50 degrees with wind chill'
August 24th 2008 'No service. No one came. PowWow'.

Some Ways Forward

St Chads Volunteers: I met with two young people who are seriously interested in coming over to Lichfied on the SCVP: Asha Kerr-Wilson (Regina) who might come in Sept 2012 for at least 6 months and Andrea Wall (Swift Current) who hopes to come for 12 months in June 2013.

Clergy Exchanges: Bishop Greg was particularly keen to provide opportunities for Ordained Local Clergy to gain experience through a placement in Lichfield Diocese. However there are also clearly openings for all stipendiary clergy to do a 'church' swop for say 3 to 6 months.

One-off placements: Rob spoke of how valuable a placement had been in his parish for someone from Lichfield who was exploring / reflecting on his calling. Being in a different though similar context can be positive and healing for such review and reflection.

Sabbaticals: Plenty of scope for arranging these.



St Michael's Retreat House / Shallowford Link: I began to explore possibilities of setting up a link between these two conference / retreat centres. They could be good praying partners.



Parish to Parish Links: I found congregation members of Weyburn (Debbie Hubrick and Kim Lohse) were curious as to why a group from their link parish had not been out to visit them. Many people spoke positively about earlier visits - approx 1994/2001/2204/2008 - including a combined visit to West Malaysia. It is difficult to sustain these but I think such experiences are still valuable even though they may only be sustained in a meaningful way for a 'season'. Several churches asked specifically for a link and I was able to speak with Del, vicar of Big Country parish, about a possible link with All Saints, Wolverhampton.

School to School Links: Gordon's First Nation School would like to establish a link with a school in this Diocese. I took some photos and Rev Vicki Young has details of contacts at the school. The school liason officer has herself been over to Lichfield. The school links would be more possible I gather with First Nation Schools than with the highly secularised national schools.




Art: With the artistic gifts of the Archdeacon Rob and Rev Kim Salo there would be a good starting point for some creative arts focus. Also worth noting are the four paintings inspired by First Nations Art done by Brian Covington from Lichfield Diocese following a visit he made. One of the paintings is hanging in St Luke's First Nation Church on Gordon's Reserve.




First Nation Awareness: I would like to see visits which could lead to friendships through the sharing of experiences and stories, which would enable marginalised groups within our Diocese to learn from and share in solidarity with the First Nations People in Qu'Appelle Diocese.

Book of Alternative Services

I found a number of clergy very attached to the Book of Common Prayer (1928) including Claude at St Mary's which is experiencing considerable growth in the congregation. These words from the introduction to the Book of Alternative Services (1985) were revealing:

Liturgical change is sometimes treated as a phenomenon unique to
the twentieth century, a counter-current in the flow of Anglican piety.
The truth is that the distinctive ethos of Anglicanism emerged in a
period of reformation which was characterized by even greater
liturgical change than our own. This comparison of the present day
with the Reformation era is important for an understanding of the
contemporary liturgical scene. The spirit of reformation is neither
anarchic nor destructive, but is rooted in the conviction that in times
of great insecurity and change the centre cannot be held by a blind
preservation of the forms in which tradition has been received, but
only through diligent and passionate search for fresh expressions and
evocations of the tradition. The wonder is not that so many twentieth
century Christians are open to change but that the experiments of the
Reformation era appeared to be treated as definitive for nearly four
centuries. The gospel always has a reforming, reinterpreting edge to
it, and the gospel is always the proper subject of the liturgy.

I do like this prayer with its reference to the golden fields of wheat:

Celebrant Creator of all,
you gave us golden fields of wheat,
whose many grains we have gathered
and made into this one bread.
All So may your Church be gathered
from the ends of the earth
into your kingdom.

Eucharistic Prayer 4 has an impressive environmental focus. All the prayers are available on line. (see http://www.anglican.ca/resources/liturgicaltextsonline/)

I came across some incorporation of First Nation Spirituality in two of the services I attended, notably through the burning of sweetgrass at the beginning in the context of blessing. I didn't find any clear references in the Book of Alternative Services.

Clergy Conference

I arrived at St Michael's Retreat House mid afternoon and headed off for a short walk. I found a board with St Francis' prayer to Brother Sun and a bench nearby on which I lay down and soaked in the warm late afternoon rays. It felt good to be there and I was looking forward to the three days ahead of the Diocesan Clergy Conference.

The atmosphere was relaxing, prayerful and friendly. I enjoyed talking with and getting to know the clergy. Dean, recently ordained in the Diocese, spoke on Luke/Acts and inspired us to reflect on parallels between the two, on Paul's conversion, Peter's conversion and our own and on being in missional mode. Nich Brotherwood from St Stephen's, Montreal (a congregation depleted by 80% in fallout over same sex blessing issue) and Fresh Expressions, Canada, urged us to 'Put out into deep water and let down the nets' and for us to engage in some eye rolling discipleship and to do so 'only because you say so even though we know it's a waste of time'.I met Catherine who used to be priest at Weyburn who is now based at St Michael's and we talked about a possible link with Shallowford House in the Lichfield Diocese.

The chapel is circular and in the centre of the building - good symbolism - though I could have wished for some natural light. We followed the offices though one evening prayer for healing was offered instead of Compline. I took the chance to be prayed for and asked for fresh resourcing.

The last night I sat out with Jonathan and Del waiting for the Northern Lights to appear - as they had evidently the previous night. Some time after midnight I went to bed having seen little more than a vague lightening of the lower skies. Then I awoke two hours later and it looked to me as though there was a good bit of light outside.

St Aidan's Moose Jaw

This church is the amalgamation of four parishes and not surprisingly this has not been without its problems. Alan and Denise Diorksen, (brother of the famous composer of ‘Come now is the time’ and other global worship songs) had been there for 5 years or so but had recently left to take on a parish in the now divided Diocese of New Westminster. On arrival we were welcomed by Ross who shared about the theological insights of the novels by Marilynne Robinson, and recommended me to read 'Gilead'. The church has had a seriously impressive reordering in recent years – with the help of Del as Carpenter now priest of Big Country Parish. St Aidan’s attracts significant numbers from the Pentecostal Bible College at Caranport. This has brought life, youth and fresh energy as they have become involved and have taken on leadership. These discoverers of the Canterbury Way seem to appreciate the structure and shape of the liturgy which the Anglican church offers. After the service there is a shared lunch and a 'Ministry Fair' which provides an opportunity for people to see all that goes on and a chance to sign up and use new gifts.

Unfolding programme

Rob speaks of beginning to learn to go with the flow – Greg’s influence? – and he was clearly more than a bit thrown as the Moosamin programme which was due to kick in after a brief appearance at Diocesan Council failed to materialise because of lift difficulties. However that worked out very well and though sorry to miss seeing Michael Last’s last parish it meant I was able to stay for the whole Council (!), attend Diane’s farewell event which was not exactly a farewell as the person appointed to follow her as Diocesan Treasurer proved not to be suitable. Then on Sunday morning I was able to accompany Bishop Greg to Moose Jaw, experience his inspiring intuitive improvisatory sermon delivery - (it's not that he is not prepared, rather that he does not use notes and had a varity of options he could take, like a good jazz musician). I was then able to attend the first Pub Church at the Tap in Regina where the beer flowed and Nachos were consumed as we responded to a thought provoking talk on why people outside the church do spiritual but not religious. Then it was off to St Paul's Cathedral to represent Lichfield Diocese at Michael Sinclair’s installation as Dean of the Cathedral. I guess a Dean's post can be quite demanding so it was good to be theer and to pray for Mike and his young family.

Rob; archdeacon, artist, administrator, archangel....

Rob Hardwick as Executive Archdeacon is a dream archdeacon and makes a dream team with Bishop Greg. He is thoroughly well planned, strategically shrewd and efficient; open, self-aware, humble and possessing humour and turns of phrase worthy of a man from Nottingham way. He sees the spiritual basis of his work and prays accordingly. He organised a wonderful programme for me and I was glad to be able to share several journeys with him driving me to Weyburn, to Swift Current. He shared about his six valve heart bypass, his vision for the Qu’Appelle School of Mission and Ministry, his call to Swift Current, the welcome he and Lorraine received on their arrival and in the following years.... He took up art and dispelled demons of old which had taken root following a teacher saying he couldn’t draw. Boy does he draw but what I really liked was his large painting of a grain elevator which is in St Cuthbert’s House.

Happy in our own skin?

I don’t think I have ever met someone who seems so happy in their own skin as does Bishop Greg. Not only does he look like Jesus he behaves like him. Perhaps I have been overly influenced by the bearded laughing Jesus from the ‘Jesus We Share’ series. During the installation of Michael Sinclair as Dean at St Paul’s Cathedral there was a particular moment when I looked up and saw Greg and Mike sharing a joke; big grins on their faces. Here is a man who is alive, who laughs, who loves, who is himself. ‘Fully human, fully alive’…..why do we find it so difficult to be happy in our own skins?

Breaking News at Leaderpost.com / Regina, Sakatchewan

‘Regina expected to host 2013 Grey Cup’.
This is big news for Regina. I now have the ‘Roughriders’ shirt to show my commitment to the mysterious game of football which so grips this nation. As we were eating dinner yesterday I had a phone call; ‘Hi, this is Gordon here. Your breakfast buddy. I’ve got something I want to drop off for you’. That was very kind. He was very generous about how I’d helped giving out the sausages at the Cathedral breakfast for the local homeless and needy.

‘SIGA’ chair Goodtrack ousted again’.
The chair of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority has been caught up in scandal following concerns over the ballooning board size and cost, the millions in administrative costs for the community development funds and other matters which have brought SIGA into disrepute. Morley, my host when I stayed at Gordon’s First Nation Reserve, spoke of how First Nation ‘delegates’ were taking vast sums in ‘per diem’ allowances. Such things seem to play into the hands of those who are critical of the financial arrangements made with First Nation peoples and who are quick to generalise about their dependence on social security.

Climate Change could cost Canada.
Underneath a photograph of a polar bear the caption reads: ‘Canada could spend as much as 43 billion dollars annually by 2050 because of climate change; a new report says’. This comprehensive study, titled ‘Paying the Price’ is the first of its kind to analyse Canadian trends in the growth of green-house emissions, population and the economy in the context of climate-change science. Reference is made to ground breaking Stern Report from Britain which concluded that climate change could provoke the greatest market failure ever in the global economy. However despite a commitment by the government to reduce green-house gas emissions to 1990 in about 10-15 years no plan has been introduced to meet its target and stop the growth of pollution. Enough said.

Canadians gotta have faith: report.
Under the heading of Religion which is in at the back of the ‘Arts and Life’ section, Misty Harris begins by saying ‘You could call it religion’s hallelujah’. She highlights that though certain faiths remain in dire straits, the Catholics and Evangelicals (Baptists, Mennonites, Pentecostals, Alliance and Nazarenes…) are actually flourishing in the light of recent immigration patterns. According to research for ‘Beyond the Gods and Back’, sociologist Reginald Bibby reveals that 4 in 10 Canadians don’t value religion, whilst 3 in 10 are ‘ambivalent but receptive’ practicing their spirituality a la carte, whilst the remaining 3 in 10 continue to strongly value faith. The United and Anglican churches are struggling; ‘close to being on life support’. The proportion of Anglicans has dropped to 6% from 16%. This makes the current missional focus I observed not only desirable but essential. But where what will the Anglican church look like in 20 years’ time? Very different certainly; so we need the visionary spiritual leadership of Bishop Greg as he inspires priests and congregations to be imaginary and missional.

Land of Living Skies

Religious number plates are not allowed but Rob Hardwick, Executive Archdeacon, managed to sneak Joshua 1:9 in. Saskatchewan is well named 'Land of the Living Skies'. Skyscapes was term I came across as a student; and very beautiful and inspiring they are too.
I'm back from Diocesan Council which had a positive and well natured feel to it. It's good beginning to get to know people in the Diocese - like Vicki and Patty from Gordon's First Nation reserve. We remember a former chief who has just died suddenly at the age of 52. His wake and service is on Monday. Meanwhile all is very quiet in Regina as their beloved 'Roughriders' have a game (not match, I'm told) this afternoon. After 3 consecutive wins this game is critical if they are to make it to the play-offs. Bishop Greg started the Council with his rewording of the Riders theme song where the colour was purple instead of green and so it went on. Got us off to a good start.

Back to Church Sunday at Swift Current

The day began at 6:30am at the Cathedral with the first serving of porridge, freshly made pancakes, sausages and maple syrup at the weekly breakfast for the homeless and those in need in the city centre. Most of the takers are First Nation people which is a sign of the economic and social pressures they face.
Then after about 100 had been fed - the numbers are greater in the winter - we head off for Swift Current. The service sheet mentions the Companion Links with Lichfield, Muyinga and West Malaysia. Plans are in place for this coming Sunday's 'Back to Church' service, including lunch for all afterwards in the typically useful hall and kitchen attached to the church. The two hours and fifteen minute drive each way passed quickly thanks to wonderful conversation with Rob Hardwick, the Executive Archdeacon for the Diocese. Rob shared how he came to be called initially to serve at Swift Current and the moving welcome he and Lorraine received. The Deanery Chapter meeting gave an opportunity to meet the new incumbent Jonathan Hoskin who may come to visit Lichfield next year, as well as meeting Peter, a retired Archdeacon, who has visited Lichfield several times and also Eleanor who visited West Malaysia for 5 weeks with a combined group from Qu'Appelle and Lichfield.
Rob tells me of how positive a placement had been for a Reader from Lichfield who had had spent 4 months with him at Swift Current. Perhaps we can look more actively for future placements and exchanges. I have encountered a strong sense of hospitality and generosity amongst the people I have met. Furthermore I sense that there are similarities in many of the challenges and opportunities we face in mission and ministry. The wheat comes from a recently made stained glass window at Swift Current which connects us with the Prairies. Rob tells me there are 5 shades of blue in the Prairie skies but only 3 in England.

Gifts in use at Weyburn

The congregation of Weyburn are used to discovering their gifts. In the group of ten people who shared the meal in a local restaurant, four were local preachers and others led and prayed in the services. They are without a priest at present and seem to be getting on pretty well. Debbie and Kim were there also; they had been to Lichfield and wondered why groups from Lichfield hadn't come to stay with them. We discussed how we might make that happen. The topic came up as it often does about how Canadian history is very recent compared to British history. 'But you are overlooking the First Nation people' said Debbie. 'They have an ancient history but we don't appreciate it because theirs is an oral tradition'.

Canon Missioners

Kim and Susan Salo have been appointed 'Canon Missioners' to the Pelly Deanery. They oversee, enable and resource four parishes made up of seven congregations. This is one of many ways in which Bishop Greg is seeking to move the Diocese on from the 19th century Chaplaincy model to patterns more fitting for the 21st Century. Kim has made a small studio in his garage where he paints - these three inspired by the horizontal lines and layers which make up the Prairie landscape.

Pot Luck Supper at Saltcoats

Edith, Lorraine and Melissa all came over to Lichfield in 2008 and speak warmly of their memories. As I speak to Edith I recall how we have prayed for someone who has been very ill who turns out to be her husband. So good when the link enables us to pray in an informed and caring way. Melissa had been at the Dovedale House event for the younger people. She found the house very enclosed. 'Goodness!', I said, 'But it's in the open countryside'. 'Ah', said one of her friends, 'Melissa is a true prairie girl'.

PowWow!

This child entered the 'Tiny Tots' section at the Fort Qu'Appelle PowWow commemorating Treaty 4. That treaty was established between Queen Victoria and the Cree and Saulteaux First Nations and covered the area which is most of current day Southern Sakatchewan. A PowWow is a gathering of North American Native people and as well as connecting with tradition provides opportunities for awards to be given. People of all ages participate in the dancing accompanied by drumming and a particular rhythmic singing. Oh to understand a bit more of what it all signifies. My host Vicki Young has lived in this area for so long and has taught for over 20 years before being ordained she is well known and many people want to talk with her and say hello.

On the road

You can just about make out the words 'Saskatchewan' and 'Southey' on this archetypal grain elevator, now being replaced by metal storage silos. Vast open areas of Priairie. Long straight roads going as far as the eye can see. Journeys can be timed quite precisely as there are unlikely to be any significant traffic delays and the speed limits are quite rigidly enforced. Vicki, vicar of churches at Gordon's and Day Star First Nation Reserves drives me 450 kms on the Saturday we meet and seems to think little of it.

A Declaration of the First Nations

'We, the Original People of this land, know the Creator put us here. The Creator gave us our spiritual beliefs, our languages, our culture, and a place on Mother Earth which provided us with all our needs. We have maintained our freedom, our languages and our traditions from time immemorial'....from 'The Assembly of First Nations; A Declaration of the First Nations'. And so perhaps with this in mind, and full of conversations I had had with people on Gordon's First Nation Reserve it was not surprising that as I reflected in the early morning hours on the parable of the workers in the vineyard which I was to preach on that morning, that I came up with a rather different take........ Those who began work at the earliest hour were the Native First Nation People. Then those who came late in the day were the settlers who took the land and claimed it for themselves. And those who came last were not content to receive the same payment, but in fact insisted that those who had been there from the beginning should receive nothing.

Inflight Listening

Unites Airlines seems decidedly downmarket compared with say Arab Emirates - perhaps a sign of the shift of global economic power. It was difficult to actually use the inflight film facility though I did manage to peer at the tiny angled screen and see enough of 'The Tree of Life' to see that this is an unusual and ambitious film seeking to engage creatively with the origins and meaning of life. I suppose it couldn't avoid sounding a bit twee at times but then since I was clasping the earphones to my ears to drown out the engine noise I wasn't really in a very good position to assess what I was hearing or indeed seeing. Afterwards I listened to talks I'd recorded given by Bishop Mark MacDonald at the 75th Qu'Appelle synod. He spoke of how native people perceive God's revelation in ways which are indirect, dreamlike, fragmentary and which unveil the reality which is there all the time. He showed how for indigenous peoples cosmology, theology, geography and spirituality are one and the same. Exciting times ahead.........

The SWAN flies to Qu'Appelle Diocese, Saskatchewan, Canada

Back to the Blog as I prepare to depart for Qu'Appelle Diocese, Canada. A fascinating contrast to the three other Companion Links: Mecklenburg, Matlosane and South East Asia. I am looking forward to encountering First Nation Spirituality, to experiencing the vast expanses of Prairie Space, to seeing what mission means in this context, to seeing where conversations about sexuality are heading, to meeting the Bishop who looks like Jesus, to the Diocesan HQ named after Cuthbert, to following the Bishop of Lichfield who was the first Bishop of Qu'Appelle.... now that is one of many stories I am going to have to get wised up on.......

Home Again

I have now returned after my three week visit to Matlosane. I will try to add some pictures to the blog entries and perhaps offer some further reflections.

The Cathedral Church of the Resurrection

The Cathedral Church of the Resurrection at Isokeng was formerly in the town of Potchesfroom but was forcibly closed down and demolished in the era of Apartheid. It was rebuilt in Isokeng township and called the Cathedral of the Resurrection to show the power of Christ over evil and all forces of destruction.

A selection of extracts from Southern Anglican; Jan 2011 Vol 27

‘The Province’s renewed focus on encouraging young people into the priesthood. With the average age around 57 years it’s no wonder we are not attracting enough young people into our pews’. Editor. 'Your church can have a Christian school. With around 40,000 Christian Churches in South Africa, imagine the difference if each church started one school. Let us show you how your church building can be used the other 6 days of the week to educate the children in your community'. Advert by Acclerated Christian Education. Archbishop Thabo Makgoba spells out at the November Provincial Synod the goals for the Province; to be Anchored in Christ, Committed to God’s Mission and Transformed by the Spirit; Anglicans ACT. Bishop Ndwandwe issues a call for a Commission to assess process and methodology of theological education and spiritual formation in a seminary and non seminary context (the latter using Theological Education by Extension). Archbishop Thabo: ‘The coming of democracy to S Africa in 1994 ushered in a new era for the Anglican Church in Southern Africa. With this came the need to consider what was at the heart of our calling to mission and ministry within these changed circumstances. Especially since we are no longer being sucked into looking at pretty much everything through the lens of apartheid, to a greater or lesser degree'. The Church in Southern Africa is needed to ‘play a reconciling role’ amid the current disputes over human sexuality in the communion (Covenant adopted by Anglican CSA – to be ratified in 3 years). The Covenant ‘is not a guarantee of an easy solution to the problems we face in the Communion’, but hoped it would be a way forward of healing and moving the Communion forward….. A document which sought to ‘describe our common identity in the Anglican Church’. ‘Growing the Church’ of Anglican Church of South Africa; a conference held in Cape Town. 500 gathered ‘Touching Heaven, Changing Earth’. (Also with support from the Archbishop of Canterbury's Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative). Men of the Cloth Indulge Too by Seabo Gaeglwe 'Given this background it never occurred to me that society was concealing the worst drunkards of our age – holy men of God…they abuse alcohol in style, in secluded places way from the preying eyes of society, while only a few do it openly. Congregations at times provide drinking wells and protection to ensure that members of the other denominations don’t see their priests in compromising positions'. Priests who drink are very good at denying it. At a funeral years back I witnessed a not so sober man of the cloth being saved from falling into a grave while trying hard to perform burial rites……another with expensive taste had Chivaz Regal whisky smelling like perfume all over him on Sunday morning. Priests drink a lot, and like all of us, they need help too. I subscribe to Benjamin Franklin’s words on my favourite T shirt ‘Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy’. However I have a problem with over indulgence'. (Seabo Gaeglwe)

Hector Pieterson Museum, Soweto

Hector Pieterson was the 13 year old schoolboy who was killed on June 16th 1976 in the Soweto protest march. Others were killed too but this boy has become, perhaps through the iconic photograph of his blood smeared body being carried away, a particular focus of this uprising. Internationally Soweto came to epitomise the evils of apartheid. On the march people used, like a psalm of lament the sorrowful Senzeni Na. They sang: ‘Isono sethu bubumny ama iamabhuna ayizinja’. ‘What have we done? Our crime is blackness. These white rulers are dogs’. Being taken to this museum by Bishop Steve and Father Edward Sithole is a privilege, albeit a painful one as we are exposed to the frightening abuses of the apartheid era. For instance during the economic downturn of 1975 black schools were starved of funds. For every 644 Rands the Government spent on a white student, 42 Rands were spent on a black student.

'Act the Gospel, not just say it'.

According to Father Tom Mafora; ‘My belief is we need to act the Gospel not just say it’. And this is what he has and at the age of 69 is still doing. He is passionate about the needs of young people; he has been active in the Siyafundisa initiative and been involved in various Garden Projects. He chairs the group at St Anne’s Stilfontein which engages in effective ways with community needs. He emphasises the importance of training and for this to be not just something for the church but for the whole community. He now has new parish responsibilities at Hartebeestfontein where he is setting up new community ventures. He speaks of Father Bisigo - now at St Andrews Lichtenburg, as someone whom he had hoped would assist and take on new resposibilities in this area of community development.

A Prayer for the Church

Lord God
We ask you to give your blessing
to your church, holiness
to the world, peace
to this nation, justice
and to all people knowledge of your love.
Keep safe our families
protect the weak
heal the sick
comfort the dying
and bring us all to a joyful resurrection.
We ask these through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
(from the Anglican Prayer Book of the province of Southern Africa 1989)

An Anglican Prayer Book – Church of the Province of Southern Africa 1989

Bishop Steve gave us a lovely gift of a copy of this Prayer Book which I have come to appreciate and enjoy during this visit. The General Preface begins: ‘The creation of this Prayer Book has been a joyful and inspiring task during a period of 20 years of liturgical experimentation and renewal. The same period has been a crucial one for human relations in our sub-continent, with the church, in spite of its own inadequacies and sinfulness, lifted into a prophetic and pastoral witness to both the perpetrators and victims of ideologies, conflict and violence’. It asks: ‘Is liturgical revision an offensive luxury at such a time as this? The answer is an emphatic ‘no’ because the Church’s worship of God in prayer and sacrament is a priority in every circumstance, and very particularly in times of crisis and change’. A little later we read ‘Liturgy in Africa should be African. We hope that this Prayer Book will serve as a stimulus to the continuing development of indigenous liturgy...’ and reference is made to Form C of the Intercessory Prayers at the Eucharist. I certainly echo this hope........

Post apartheid tensions

Shortly before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the extreme right wing leader, Eugene Terblanche, was brutally shot and murdered by two of his farm workers in Ventersdorp. The government was worried that this would reinforce the perception that South Africa was not a safe country. However the murder highlights a number of other issues. Black farm workers often face very difficult circumstances; white farmers are now legally bound to provide land when the farm workers have been living there for a number of years. However many white farmers have instead forced their farm workers off the land perhaps with small financial incentives, moving to the edge of towns and living in considerable poverty. Ventersdorp had been a powerful centre of the AWP; White Right Wing Party, and it had been a notorious town. The funeral was a very tense affair which was attended by Archbishop Thabo.

Home Based Learning Project

Having spent a number of nights in Guest Houses or B&B’s during my week long exploration of the Southern and Northern Archdeaconries, it was a particular pleasure to be welcomed into the home of Father Tiru and his wife Margaret for a night. They live in an attractive brick built house in a very large and extensive village. How lovely to watch the sun go down and to listen to the incredible variety of sounds – birds, crickets, sheep, dogs……After so much red meat it is a relief to be given fish and a great selection of vegetables. Father Tiru did mention later that he had been a bit surprised to see I had been given red meat on a Wednesday in Lent as parishioners try to keep Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent as fast days when vegetables are eaten. When I mentioned this to Archdeacon Ngidi some time later he said that is because they are from a more conservative area, perhaps under the influence of the missionaries.
Father Tiru show me round three of his chapelries and I meet Lay Ministers, Church wardens and treasurers and see new church buildings in varying stages of development. Next morning I was glad to visit a Home Based Learning Project he is involved with. I meet a number of women cultivating the garden plot, growing spinach, beans and other nutritious vegetables. Inside the building I meet nearly twenty volunteers; again mainly women, who offer to go round the community providing support and medical advice and guidance to vulnerable families and to people with HIV/AIDS. In another room a preschool group is meeting. It is encouraging to see this community and church project working so well when clearly from the evidence of some other garden projects I have visited sustainability is an issue. Perhaps they have accessed some funding which enables them to provide a small but very strategic payment to the volunteers.

Wing mirror clipped by Donkey Cart

Father Sem Diboyani was driving us at speed along the dirt road. Heavy rain had made the surface quite slippery and we were approaching a stretch of road where deep muddy ruts meant there we were restricted to one part of the road. I could see a donkey cart approaching us being pulled by three donkeys at quite a fast speed. As it came closer I was waiting for Father Sem to slow down and allow the donkey cart to keep to the terra firma but he had other ideas. As the donkey cart passed us I heard a loud knock as the wing mirror was struck by the cart. Father Sem stopped and inspected the damage, muttering some words in the direction of the two men on the cart who showed no sign of stopping themselves. In the end we did manage to retrieve the mirror which had fallen into the mud and was still in one piece. It could have made an interesting insurance claim.

Bishop's Lent Appeal 2011

Bishop Steve was very disappointed that an excellent woman, Boitumelo Lebone, he had lined up for a post with the Diocesan Siyafundisa programme to educate young people about HIV/AIDS had been ‘poached’ by another organisation and accepted the job as Provincial Officer for Health and Community Development. She has however agreed to supervise the young man Philip Kgowe Molene who has been appointed instead who seems to have plenty of potential. He has worked in this programme previously under the supervision of Boitulo. Bishop Steve is very keen for him to empower and engage young people who are leaving the Anglican church. The Siyafundisa project is the recipient of the £5,000 allocated from Bishop Jonathan’s 2011 Lent Appeal.

Introducing Esther 22 March

Time at the Diocesan Office enables me to go on line and check e mails and even update this blog. Esther Leeuw, vice president of the Mother’s Union, passes through and introduces herself. She came over to Lichfield for the 2008 Crosstalk Conference and stayed as guests of St Barts, Penn.....so close to our home. Esther had enjoyed the visit to England though laughed gleefully as she recalled how ‘Your people are just not able to sing and dance at the same time!’

Public Holiday

Today is a public holiday; human rights day. Charlotte (who arrived safely at Jo’burg on Sat) and I join the Diseko family for a full day trip to Pilensburg Game Reserve in the North West. We are on the road shortly after 6.00am, passing through the stadium in Rustenburg where England managed to lose 1-0 to USA in the wonderfully successful (for S Africa) 2010 World Cup and seeing giraffe, elephant, rhino and zebra by 9.00am. Bishop Steve drives us around the extensive Park throughout the whole day. Lovely to share the experience with Brenda and the children who are such fun and so responsive to all that we see. Ngata and Brenda do not like being at all close to the elephants!

We visit St Mark the Evangelist in Bodibe; a Chapelry of some plus or minus 60 families. Ngidi refers to an occasion when Desmond Tutu was a deacon and he was referred to as Father Tutu. ‘No’, the priest responded. ‘Mr Tutu is a deacon and a deacon is a glorified server’. I hear more about the apartheid era; of how the white churches had halls but not the black churches; of how there were separate theological colleges for blacks and for whites; that blacks had no vote; Bishop Ambrose Reeves told of how black deacons were given bicycles whilst white priests had cars; the white bishop would sleep in a hotel in town, not in the rectory or township. I guess Trevor Huddleston was one of the big exceptions to this rule.

Branches of the very active Mother’s Union are enrolling new members and collecting annual subscriptions of R500 in advance of the Lady Day service at the Cathedral on 31 March. Here at St Peter’s Itsoseng the members gather looking impressive in their so white uniforms. I tell them of the impact my mother had on me and they murmur in surprise that my father doesn’t seem to believe in God. Ngidi quotes an former Bishop who said that the Mothers Union is like a bee. Be nice and cooperate and you will get honey…..they can be very generous. But be funny and you’ll get stung!’ Reminded me of Tony Blair’s enforced apology to the WI when he was Prime Minister some years back.

I am shown the outside of the enormous house lived in by the former president of the Homeland known as Bophuthatswana under the policy of forcing different tribal groups to live in different regions. Margaret Tiro, President of the Matlosane Mothers Union, tells me of those years when stones were thrown through their windows as the ANC used violent ways to seek to overthrow the Tswana stronghold.

Extracts from ‘The Citizen’ Tuesday March 15 2011

‘Nearly 20% of Africans have access to electricity, with 30 Sub Saharan countries suffering from chronic shortages leading to forced shutdowns to ease pressure on grids that often leak power, Africa needs large scale infrastructure spending, requiring private investment to boost power supplies’. An Africa Development Official. ‘North West road carnage claims 9 lives’. ‘Man fined R40,000 for speeding at 216km/h’ ‘More heavy rain still to come’ ‘Rescue South African Quake mission to Japan’ ‘Two suffocate at opening of Universal Church of the Reign of God; a Brazilian based evangelical church: very popular in Africa especially in Mozambique’

The Archdeacon was Principal at Treasure Trove School in Bakerville for 24 years. He was born and brought up in the village ‘under terrible conditions but now it is very much improved'. He came back to Bakerville after training and teaching in Krugersdorp with the desire to improve his home community. This is a diamond producing area. We drop by on some Dutch miners whom Ngidi knew from of old. A pity money from mining wasn’t and isn’t returned to the community. As the Archdeacon drives me round he tells me of his parish ministry after retirement; ‘I made many friends in Zeerust Parish; I was nothing less than a father to them….’ Back in Krugersdorp he was a leader of a very successful choir which at one time had over 60 members. He rates the cathedral choir very highly with an excellent director. Ngidi is 70 soon – what energy.

An interesting view.....

‘We are a westernised developed country trapped inside an African developing country’. This helpful analysis of South Africa comes from Father Bosigo Moloi who has a refreshingly radical theology shaped by his formation at Grahams Town Anglican Theological Seminary. After a glass of wine we discuss the Anglican Communion and issues of human sexuality. Bosigo is critical of his church; ‘They just won’t make up their mind. They don’t have a position’. I suggest that in fact not to decide is a positive decision; a position. He likes that.

Visiting the Chapelries

The middle week involves visiting churches in the South and North Archdeaconries. This was a wonderful way of getting off the beaten track and of spending varying lengths of time meeting Lay Ministers and church members. We managed anything between 3 to 12 church visits per day, being driven around by the Archdeacon or the Priest in charge of the main Church. In one village the chapelry may be little more than a simple corrugated iron structure, often with a new building in different stages of progress beside it. In other villages we found some wonderfully completed churches where members have contributed generously.

Alternatives to being an Anglican

Despite the popular Diocesan sticker of a few years back, ‘We love being Anglicans’, it is clear that many people are loving the newer independent churches quite a bit more. Take the ‘Tyranni’ Church for example. Father Hendrick as he drives me between the vast fields of maize and sunflowers, tells me that many are leaving the Anglican Church to join this very big new church which provides transport in free coaches, heavily subsidised food at big supermarkets, offers of riches and debt reduction. They do not worship God but the man in charge who lives in South Africa. Then there is also the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) which attracts enormous numbers of adherents who wear the special uniform associated with the church.

Possible ways forward.....

So what are the possible ways forward for our Lichfield Matlosane Link? In no particular order and awaiting further discussion with Bishop Steve I’d like to suggest a few:

• The visit by Lichfield Cathedral Choir would I think be possible and welcome, from both a musical and liturgical point of view. Perhaps we could organise a tour round the Diocese – centred on the Cathedral in Klerksdorp but including other venues such as St Andrew’s in Boikhutso Township, Lichtenburg in the North and Atamelang in the South. The Cathedral has by common agreement and by the evidence of trophies from the Diocesan and inter Diocesan choir competitions the best choir. I was impressed by their Ash Wednesday contributions. We’d need to work out accommodation and a programme. Perhaps families could host. There are also Guest Houses. The programme, as well as a tour (tour tee shirt needed), could include a visit, perhaps even overnight, to a Game park and visits to some of the cultural centres.
• Important to plan for a return visit by the Matlosane Cathedral Choir – or at least a selection of members as it is an enormous choir. I would think 24 would be maximum number – maybe 16. To include for them too a tour, visits to schools, engagement with transforming community initiatives, perhaps with help of community musician Peter Churchill to compose and perform an African / Western musical fusion, …..
• The Bishop’s Lent Appeal contribution to the Siyafundisa HIV / AIDS project has I think been made. People I have spoken to have all said what a good and strategic initiative Siyafundisa is.
• The Bishop’s wife Brenda was instrumental some 3 years ago in setting up a coordinated Sunday School programme for the Diocese. She is very excited at the possibility of LD (Lichfied Diocese) identifying a small team of experienced ‘Sunday School’ workers who could come and offer say two 3 day training workshops for SS teachers in the Diocese as well as reviewing and ensuring ways of providing appropriate material. The small group could come for say 2 weeks.
• Archdeacon Guma in the South with his extensive experience in the Dept of Education is looking to identify at least one school for a school to school link (it seems all schools now have internet access). He is keen for LD to assist with Kindergarten / Reception stage education as schools are now having to take children a year earlier. Special experience with the teaching of English at this stage would be welcomed. In addition to this there is scope with sharing in an initiatives promoting education with those with disabilities.
• Archdeacon Ngidi is keen to have catechists to assist in parishes. Perhaps they could be regarded more as missioners who could be trained to work as the exiting Lay Ministers do. Maybe good training material already exists. Some Theological Education by Extension Material (TEE) is available an some indeed in the local language of Sitsuana. Maybe LD could assist in identifying and providing suitable material and resourcing this training.
• The sponsorship of an ordinand by LD in his final year at the well rated Grahamstown Theological College is much appreciated. The cost of this has increased to over £4,000 per year. Continuing support to enable a further ordinand to be supported seems a good use of resources.
• What of possible skills share and work share visits? I have outlined a few openings above. If we an offer appropriate Skills sharing and training then we avoid promoting dependence and adding to any sense of a hand-out culture. Time and again, alongside some voices simply pleading for manna from heaven, I hear people quoting the proverb which tells us to teach people to fish rather than giving them a fish.
• Parish to Parish Links? Communication is likely to be difficult especially in the more rural areas, but these could surely be developed.

• Planned visit by members of Lichfield Cathedral Youth Fellowship in October 2011.

An Anointing

Earlier I had been asked by Father Botshelo to anoint a very ill elderly woman in a tribal village. She lay in blankets on the floor in a darkened room scarcely able to open her eyes. I knelt down and made the sign of the cross on her forehead, prayed for her, said words out loud of the 23rd Psalm and we joined together in saying the Lord’s Prayer together.

Exploring the North

Today Archdeacon Ngidi has driven me 425 km in his faithful old Mercedes as he shows me round the Northern Archdeaconry. We visit most of the ten Madwikwe Anglican Chapelries, smaller churches which come under the responsibility of the energetic and hard working self supporting priest, Father Patrick Botshelo. Perhaps I’m beginning to feel the pressure of trying to respond positively to numerous requests for financial donations to enable church buildings to be completed. Perhaps there will be ways of meeting some of their requests; perhaps it is shocking that congregations are meeting in small shacks constructed from corrugated iron sheets where they get wet in the rainy season and experience awful heat the rest of the time. Any way I find myself telling the small gathering in one chapelry that we can either call the glass half empty or half full – that we can make real progress if we go for the half full option. Then in another, maybe St Monica’s, I find myself using John 3:16 to say that God so loved the world that he sent a ......cheque! No he didn’t, he sent his Son and our partnership must be based on relationship, relationships of trust and mutuality. 'You have so much that we are blessed by', I tell them through translation; 'Your passionate worship, your resilience, your endurance and way through the horrors of apartheid, showing us the way of truth and reconciliation……'

Going with the flow

Wi-Fi not available this evening at Wimpy! I have finally managed to get to Wimpy’s in Lichtenburg only to find that the Wi-Fi is not available. I’m told it’s because of the lightning and heavy rainstorms. I somehow hadn’t reckoned on finding it quite so hard to locate somewhere where I could get on line to update my blog and to send a few e mails. I bet the wildlife lodges have Wi-Fi but I am here to engage with people not the Big Five. In a way this is all part of the particular experience I am being exposed to; allowing each day to unfold and being away from my normal familiar patterns of control.

We can all get along together......

Doctor Guma drives me to Coligny, in the Northern Archdeaconry, where we are met by Archdeacon Ngidi; another very impressive self-supporting Archdeacon. We see St Michael and all Angels in Coligny, then St Barnabas in Lichtenburg and finally St Andrews also in Lichtenburg where we finish with a 6:00pm communion with some spectacular sensing. I’m introduced to 92 year old Mr Taylor from St Barnabas church, a church for whites and coloureds, who was a lawyer in Lichtenburg all his working life. What an amazing meeting of different life experiences as this wizened white Afrikaans speaking Mr Taylor welcomes these five priests – three black, one coloured and one white - to his room in this complex for older people. He has clearly throughout his life been generous towards the black population even when this has caused criticism from his fellow whites. We then move to Maisy de Klerk’s house for a delicious lunch. Her parents lived in Scotland and she too is a member of St Barnabas Church. As the time comes to leave she asks someone to pray for me and then, whilst shaking my hand, says with restrained emotion in her eyes; ‘See we can all get along together’.

Manifesto for Lent

Sunday 13th
This morning Archdeacon Guma picked me up from my B&B ‘Salty Waters’ at 8:30am. He had left Pretoria where his wife works at 4:00am. His energy seems unabated. We drive to St Joseph’s, Atamelang where I find myself putting on a Chasuble and sensing the Altar, neither of which I have done before. Rather than translate my sermon as I preach he gives a full summary at the end, saying that I must have seen the text of his address to the newly appointed Church Council such is the extent of the common ground. In referring to Jesus’ temptations I speak of the temptation to misuse power for our own ends and of the opposition we meet when we hold fast to Kingdom values. He is very taken by the prayer that Charlotte liked, which I give as a manifesto for Lent:
Fast from criticism
Feast on PRAISE,
Fast from self-pity
Feast on JOY,
Fast from ill-temper
Feast on PEACE
Fast from resentment
Feast on CONTENTMENT,
Fast from pride
Feast on HUMILITY
Fast from selfishness
Feast on SERVICE,
Fast from fear
Feast on FAITH.

Self-supporting Archdeacons.....

I hadn’t heard of self-supporting Archdeacons before. Archdeacon Marshall Guma works for the Department of Education and doesn’t receive a stipend from the Diocese of Matlosane. In addition to overseeing and directing this Southern Archdeaconry he also has his own Parish of St Joseph’s, Atamelang. He tells me how the parish had not paid its Diocesan Share for nine years. Such is his drive and strength of leadership that the entire debt has now been paid off and the last quota was paid in advance. He is a man of high and exacting standards who brings vast experience from his work which has focussed on community development. He shows me a training centre, a library and computer centre which he set up. Wherever we go people wave at him and greet him as ‘Father’ and have their stories of how he has helped them to find work and progress.

Gardening Opportunities

‘We have the congregation but the problem is they are not fit and healthy; they are old and pensioners. There is much unemployment and few professionals such as those who work for the Government. Others work far away in Jo’Burg or Pretoria and may only be back at the month’s end’. Joyce Ditato, as articulate and effective spokesperson for the Garden scheme at St Augustine’s, Gaanalaagte, explains some of the reasons why the Garden has no longer been tended and cultivated. The vegetable gardens seem a great idea as a means of involving the unemployed and providing nutritious vegetables as well as generating some income for the poor and needy. Many churches have a plot of land beside their building for this purpose but I haven’t seen evidence of them being sustained. Is this something we could help with? A group could come and give it a once over as a sign of encouragement. Archdeacon Guma doesn’t think this is such a good idea. ‘If the people themselves are not motivated to keep it going then the same thing will just happen again’.

Watching cricket at Wimpy

We arrive back in Delareyville later than planned and Archdeacon Marshall Guma takes us out to the local Wimpy for a meal. I’m able to watch England being defeated by Bangladesh in the cricket. He has thoughtfully booked me in for meals there tomorrow. I will have had more Wimpy meals in Delareyville than I have ever had in England.

Teach a person to fish......Friday 11th March

Father Hendrick drives me from the Diocesan Offices in Matlosane to the Southern Archdeaconry. We pass vast tracts of expansive flat landscapes with maize and sunflowers looking healthy and tall as well as land no longer being cultivated. We visit three rural churches which are all under construction but where work has come to a halt with a new roof or walls needed; St James, Mooipan; St Paul’s, Naawpoort and finally St John’s, Khunwana. The experience at this last church felt particularly positive as we met several members of the congregation who talked of a church which is growing and which is seeking to engage through a pottery project, work with older people and a rural development project. The roof for this church would it seems cost 19,000 rands; nearly £2,000. It is hard to know how best to respond to such possible donations. What is expected of me? What will be for the long term good?

A minor disturbance

There was a massive crash in the night, shortly after midnight. I jumped out of bed shouting ‘God!’, fearing an earthquake. Dogs were barking and birds called out in alarm. I learned next morning from Brenda, who is married to teh Bishop and who works as an environmental consultant in a mine nearby, that it registered 4.7 on the Richter scale and was one of the biggest explosions for some time. It was apparently a ‘natural’ explosion in the extensive mines beneath us in Klerksdorp. No wonder there are cracks in the walls.

In the doctor's waiting room

Bishop Steve’s youngest child Ngato is poorly. We have an appointment at the doctor’s at 11:45am. One hour later we are still waiting. Bishop Steve is very fed up and surprised by this long wait. As I wait I become aware of my prejudice directed towards the white Afrikaans speakers in the doctor’s surgery. Over all these years we have sought to share with our black brothers and sisters in their battle against apartheid and felt horror, outrage and disgust towards the perpetrators of this instrument of injustice. We have pointed the finger at the Dutch Reformed Church for their justification of apartheid from Scripture. So that white Afrikaans voice, and very presence, spoke to me of something hateful and destructive.
I share my feelings with Bishop Steve. With characteristic wisdom he comments that there are both white and black people who haven’t caught up with the times but that despite large mixed gatherings in real terms there is a limit to the mixing that goes on. A little later we pass Klerksdorp Hospital. ‘That used to be for whites only’ he said. ‘Now it is for all people’.

sorry out of contact

Sorry I can't get internet access and am unlikely to be able to do so for quite a few days here in the Southern area of Matlosane Diocese.....but will write just as soon as I can!

Ash Wednesday

Tsogong Cathedral Church (Anglican) is packed for the Ash Wednesday Eucharist; more than 800 people of all ages are present. The service sheet requests us to 'Kindly switch off your cell-phone during the service'. The new priest Father Edward Sithole, who met me from Jo'Burg airport the day before, preached with passion telling us that Lent is not about what we can do for God but what God has done for us, and that we are his treasure. Many familiar points in the service and how uplifting it becomes as the 50 strong choir leads us in worship that not only gives dynamism to some well known tunes but also takes us into a powerful experience of responding to God; I see for the first time bibles used as percussion instruments - people would beat them rhythmically and strongly. The sermon is translated from English into Setswana, some Xhosa and even a bit of Afrikaans. Bishop Steve was priest here for 16 years before he was made Bishop; how moving it is to sit alongside him in the congregation where he has come to receive and to worship. The liturgy for Ash Wednesday for the Province of South Africa includes the prayer to 'Free us from dependence on material goods and the worship of power, and from all that hinders our union with you'. Indeed.

Birmingham - Dubai - Johannesburg

Dubai airport seems to be a good place to buy gold. I spotted a very smartly dressed clergyman in a white suit with what looked lke a purple clerical shirt at the gold shop. He was handing over a number of 100 dollar bills. It transpired that he was from Pakistan on the way back from a mission in Sri Lanka. He spoke of remarkable evangelistic openings in Afghanistan; of how the official church in Pakistan had in his judgment lost its way, of the fruitfulness of his mission team and of how the Lord provides for His work so that he was able to fly business class on a recent mission trip and of how he would welcome opportunities to pioneer mission in England.

Matlosane - here we come!

Off to spend time with Bishop Steve Diseko in Lichfield's Companion Diocese of Matlosane in South Africa; (two hours drive from Johannesburg). I am looking forward to getting a sense of the issues which the Diocese is facing and to visiting and staying with people in the North and South of the Diocese. I sense there is much potential for our partnership to develop in mutually enriching ways and will greatly value your thoughts, prayers and comments during the next three weeks.

Sin

'Saint Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–394)—one of the Eastern fathers of the church, and one of my favorites—defined sin as “the refusal to keep growing.” The saint and the true elder grow from everything, even and especially their failures'.

(insights from Richard Rohr's daily meditation - more information and details of how to receive this from the Cente for Action and Contemplation - http://www.cacradicalgrace.org/ )