What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • The Questions

    I’ve just done one of those Knowing Me, Knowing You sessions that I do from time to time that allow members of the congregation to get to know me a bit and ask any questions about who I am and where I come from.

    I asked the group for permission to share the questions. Here’s what they asked me.

    • How did you get from the Salvation Army to the Scottish Episcopal Church?
    • Why were you into politics and why did you leave it behind?
    • How has the congregation changed and why?
    • What was your curacy like? Were you really in charge of a cathedral when you were a curate?
    • Is there a God shaped hole in everyone?
    • Do you have a boyfriend?
    • Where in Yorkshire do you come from?
    • Where in Scotland do you come from?
    • Did you come here as Provost?
    • What do you mean when you say you hated your training?
    • What are the good points and the bad points of being Provost of St Mary’s?
    • How do have you used the Maths and Computing skills you got in your first degree?
    • Do you want a new cat?
    • Where are you going next? And when?
    • Do you believe in Predestination?
    • Is there space for more razzmataz at St Mary’s?
    • Salvation Army vs High Church. Is it very different?
    • Prayer? How do you pray?
    • How do Bishops and Provosts get on?
    • What’s a Canon?
    • How do you relax?
    • What did Chaplaincy work teach you?
    • Where would you like to work?
    • Where have you been overseas?
    • What TV do you like?
    • What’s the difference between the role and the person?

    Great questions and as always a really interesting session. I think a lot of congregations would like their rector to do an any questions session from time to time. It is always worthwhile.

    Want the answers?

    I’m repeating it in September.

7 responses to “The Antisemitism Notice”

  1. Gordon Avatar
    Gordon

    Helpful, thank you

    What is the concern with the reproaches? I’m not familiar with them

    Reply
    1. Kelvin Avatar
      Kelvin

      They can be interpreted as being directed at us the listeners. But they can also be interpreted as speaking to Jewish people as all the imagery is from the Hebrew Scriptures and doesn’t reference the experience of those who actually were around Jesus during his life on earth.

      For example:
      “I led you out of Egypt, having drowned Pharaoh in the Red Sea:
      and you have delivered me to the chief priests.”

      Who is being addressed here?

      Reply
      1. Nick Drew Avatar
        Nick Drew

        That’s interesting, because whenever I have sung the Reproaches I have always felt them as being expressions of personal repentance rather than accusations thrown at the listener.

        Reply
  2. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    I must admit I had always read the Reproaches as directed to the listener. That the Egypt from which we are delivered is the Egypt of the modern world, the slavery of ghastly jobs (I’ve had a few, in fact a lot) and the oppression of terrible political systems. But I come from a totally different thought world to that of most people today, and I absolutely see they wouldn’t commonly be read that way.
    But I think it would benefit everyone to find a way of expressing BOTH what faith can offer in terms of freedom AND the mess we do make of the world, and sitting with that tension.
    And I think the church as a whole urgently needs to find a compelling and deep reaching way of doing both.

    Reply
    1. Kelvin Avatar
      Kelvin

      You might be interested that we’re looking at Isaiah 59 as a helpful text for this year, given the current ways of the world.

      Reply
    2. Christine McIntosh Avatar
      Christine McIntosh

      I’m of much the same mind. (A mind that is still blown away when I hear them sung)

      Reply
  3. Dan Floyd Avatar
    Dan Floyd

    Thank you

    Reply

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