The synod decides (by an extremely close vote in the house of clergy) to allow a religious community to elect a voting member of Diocesan Synod.
I speak against on the grounds that religious communities can be a haven from the politics of the church.
I also ask whether religious communities will now be expected to pay quota. (Apparently that will be up to each diocese).
Almost everybody I meet on a regular basis, except my family and one educated friend, were voting out. and that in Scotland. I am shattered but unsurprised. My partner reports that, in her office, those with a degree and under 35 all intended to vote remain, and those without and over 35 to leave.
Some people I know didn’t vote at all because they were annoyed that their ‘first ever in their fairly long lives’ voting experience (Independence) didn’t go the correct way. Strangely two friends who spend half the year living in Europe (and benefit from the reciprocal healthcare arrangements) voted leave and I’m bewildered by a dear friend of 60 years who unexpectedly climbed angrily aboard the anti immigration juggernaut. I’d dared to hope (and ignore the signs online) because everyone else I knew seemed to be voting remain…
I fear ultimately that Brexit won in part because the EU became a rather soulless bureaucracy to which people could not emotionally attach. Financial benefit does not always secure attachment on a large-scale and if enough people start to perceive themselves to suffer and not participate in those benefits then the inevitable happens.
I fear the UK is going the same way but for different reasons. Since the 80s there has been a tendency amongst those seeking power to focus on groups and not the country as a whole; remember election night and the swingometer and the presenter saying things like “such and such an area has gone red but in order to win the Conservatives just need to win over Essex man and Worcester woman….”? Of course Labour did something similar in 1997 and in later elections.
So any uniting sentiments have been undermined which means that the problem is no longer just with politicians but with the electorates also.
I liked what Kelvin said in his referendum sermon, and more than ever the churches need to discover their ministry of reconciliation and think about what it means to try to offer everyone a spiritual home. It would be ironic if the church became the main place that differences could be dropped. but I have to confess I’m rather gloomy about even that looking at the way other controversial issues within the church have been dealt with.
Today I am a pilgrim. We are having a St Saviour's pilgrimage from Elie to Pittenweem along the Fife Coastal Path. Not a long way, but a journey nonetheless. The last time I went on anything described as a pilgrimage, it was the one at Haddington which happens in May. This was so very strange…
I'm meeting Jim Wallace tonight, to take him up to the University for a public meeting. Jim will be speaking in the University room A4 at 1945 on the theme “Partnership for Scotland”. Everyone is welcome and there will be the chance for questions afterwards.
Back to Perth Royal Infirmary yesterday to have my mouth poked around with by my oral surgeon again. I seem to be there all the time. This time, the cause of my visit was that my mouth has healed far too quickly. However improbable this seems, it is true.So, another hole in my gums and…
Yesterday, we had a wedding in church. I always enjoy getting to know people who want to get married. They have a lot of things to decide. What kind of music? What kind of service? What bible readings? I have never had anyone choose the first reading this morning (the wife of good character from…
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