|
|
The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
|
a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
Bishop's reflection |
|
|
||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
What are the characteristics of a ‘permission giving’ church? Firstly, knowing we are the Body of Christ. In baptism we are baptised into Christ and therefore into his Body, the Church. Knowing we are ‘in Christ’ gives identity, meaning and purpose. This gives us permission and confidence to embrace life. Knowing the Holy Spirit has called and formed us into the Church, giving gifts for ministry. All believers have a gift or gifts with which to participate in God’s work in the world. This is a great privilege. We are confident in encouraging the ministries of our brothers and sisters in Christ because we know that the Holy Spirit is at work in them and in the world into which they (we!) are sent. We therefore actively help people to find a ministry. Knowing God is at work through the Church we seek to say, ‘Yes’ to ideas and dreams. We are encouragers who delight in the enthusiasm of brothers and sisters taking risks in servant ministries. We do all we can to give permission to ministries. We pray for their success. Knowing we are the Body of Christ, we work together in teams. We avoid being ‘lone-rangers’. We organise, act and review our ministries. We also understand that life is chaotic, ‘messy’. We work and plan with difficulty and we see as in a ‘mirror dimly’. Therefore, we proceed awkwardly, yet full of faith in the Lord of the Church. We will continually rejoice in the sunrays of God’s grace breaking through the ‘messiness’ of ministry and the uncertainty and gloom of too frequent chaos. Like William M. Easum in his Sacred Cows make Gourmet Burgers we recognize the danger of not acting and of the tendency to be over-cautious: ‘It’s as if some people would rather see a church die, without ever making a mistake, than see it thrive and make some mistakes along the way.’ In permission-giving churches it’s okay to make mistakes. In the words of Nancy Bird Walton, pioneering Australian aviatrix, ‘Whatever you can do or dream, begin it.’ Are there limits to permission-giving?Relationships lie at the heart of the Christian faith - God is relational within Godself, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Relationships are at the heart of permission-giving churches: relationships of love, trust, loyalty and forgiveness. Love gives freedom to leave. Love gives freedom to stay. We had a poster in our home in Buenos Aires that read, ‘If you love something, set it free; if it comes back it's yours, if it doesn't, it never was.’ Love allows true commitment and service. Love is the heart of permission-giving churches. I have often said that with goodwill anything can be achieved. Without goodwill no amount of ordinances or rules can protect us from ourselves. Boundaries are needed; please do not misunderstand me.Our boundaries come from our values, vision and mission. For permission-giving to be effective these must be known, understood and due accountability readily given. Transparency, good communications, mentoring, review, small group and team ministries all encourage healthy relationships. The Holy Spirit has formed the Church. The Holy Spirit enlivens the Church. The Holy Spirit guards, guides and blesses both the Church and the world through the Church. Let us give permission to one another to be the Church the Spirit wills us to be. Shalom
|
|
||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
