tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333499722024-02-28T10:49:19.261+00:00The Bees in my BonnetSazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-59336285636763796392016-06-18T12:57:00.000+01:002016-06-18T12:57:27.549+01:00Why I'm for staying in<br />
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Over the last month or so you may have noticed that I have
been travelling around Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
part of my sabbatical time and I did to spend some time alone experiencing
other cultures and ways of being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
travelled (Interrailed actually!) by train through Spain, France, Italy,
Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Holland, Belgium and France, before returning
home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Throughout all of this journey I was faced with constant
reminders that this huge area of land has been almost constantly the scene of
bloody warfare, consuming and destroying the land and people involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Spain, the mediaeval castles on the
hilltops, the tortured images in Picasso’s Guernica, in Italy the Renaissance
city states, in Vienna the reminders of the Austro-Hungarian empire that fought
over much of eastern Europe, in Berlin not only the very stark history of the
Cold War and the terror it created, but the previous terror of the Third Reich,
in Holland Ann Frank’s house, crossing the battlefields of northern France, and
finally in Paris the memorials on almost every building to resistance fighters
who were killed all through WW2.<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">
Like it or not we, on our little island stuck of the coast of this, have always
been part of this – many of us are descended from Vikings from Scandinavia,
Angles and Saxons from Northern Germany, Normans from France.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we have participated in some way in the
conflicts that have dominated Europe, either as instigators, supporters,
participants, defenders, liberators. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">In another post
doing the rounds on Facebook this quote from Winston Churchill </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "System Font"; mso-fareast-font-family: "System Font"; mso-themecolor: text1;">addressing the Congress of Europe in 1948 </span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">appears:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "System Font"; mso-fareast-font-family: "System Font"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A high and a solemn responsibility rests upon
us here ... If we allow ourselves to be rent and disordered by pettiness and
small disputes, if we fail in clarity of view or courage in action, a priceless
occasion may be cast away forever. But if we all pull together and pool the
luck and the comradeship - and we shall need all the comradeship and not a
little luck … then all the little children who are now growing up in this
tormented world may find themselves not the victors nor the vanquished in the
fleeting triumphs of one country over another in the bloody turmoil of … war,
but the heirs of all the treasures of the past and the masters of all the
science, the abundance and the glories of the future.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "System Font"; mso-fareast-font-family: "System Font"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This was
the vision of the founders of the EU – that never again would lives be wasted
fighting back and forth over the land which could be so fertile. </span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">It makes me mad that some argue that those
who fought in two world wars didn’t fight for what we have now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bet this is exactly what they fought for –
so that their children would never have to do what they so bravely did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Yes, there
are probably some things that need fixing with the EU, but there is a higher
vision here, a vision that says that despite the problems we are still better
working it out together, than carrying on fighting each other. It seems even
more important now in light of the murder of Jo Cox MP allegedly by someone who
has named himself in court as </span><span style="color: #16191f; mso-bidi-font-family: "System Font"; mso-fareast-font-family: "System Font";">"Death to traitors,
freedom for Britain." When you have stood between a piece of the Berlin
wall and the ruins of the Gestapo headquarters in Berlin it focusses the mind
on the need to stand up and be counted and say “I do not want a future that
looks like this.”</span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">So after
spending a month getting up close and personal with Europe, I’ll be voting to
remain in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-85895459485595045352016-05-23T19:11:00.001+01:002016-05-23T19:11:33.971+01:00What does a teacher make?Can you remember how to do something you were taught forty years ago and haven't practiced since?<div><br></div><div>What might it be about the teaching that increases the likelihood of this happening? Your answers to this will probably include the quality of the teaching and maybe the personality of the teacher themselves. So this blog is a salute to the quality of the teacher, namely Mr Hay, who taught German at Biddulph Grammar School, then at Biddulph High School in the 1970s. I got a B in my German O level and have some good memories of German lessons and a school trip to St. Goar in 1976.</div><div><br></div><div>Today, 40 years later I find myself in Austria and I can still speak it, and as I speak it more and more comes flooding back, and usually I can hear Mr Hay's voice saying it. </div><div><br></div><div>And because I understand what is said to me, and can have a stab at saying something sensible back, I don't feel so isolated. I feel a sense of connectedness and belonging with strangers - I even helped an elderly Austrian gent find his way on the tram! </div><div><br></div><div>I kind of hope or wish that Mr Hay might still be alive so I can tell him what a good teacher he was. I think a lot of my teacher friends and relations these days feel undervalued, and unappreciated, so may this be an encouragement to you - that what you're doing now is making a difference to the students at the time, and that it lives on a long way into the future, not just as a grade on an exam paper but as something that enriches and empowers.</div><div><br></div><div>Vielen dank, Herr Hay.</div>SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-85362543912036678832016-05-11T17:32:00.001+01:002016-05-11T17:32:18.249+01:00Come on in...<div><br></div><div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>One of the main themes that underlies my work is hospitality, making people welcome, and in particular making people feel welcome into the house of God and introducing them to his generous hospitality. This travelling experience has put me on the receiving end of many different kinds of hospitality, but my experience at the rather wonderful Ostello Bello in Milan has been such a fine example of it.</div><div><br></div><div>I arrived at about ten o'clock last night, tired and dirty after twelve hours on French and Italian trains. My feet were hurting and my backpack felt heavy on my shoulders. I found the address of the hostel and thoughts I'd made a mistake - it looked like there was a huge party going on. I stood in the middle of the crowd of people talking, drinking, laughing, and wondered if I'd made a mistake-I felt like I was somewhere I didn't belong.</div><div><br></div><div>The check-in guy saw me across the room and rushed over saying "You must be Sarah, here let me take your pack off. I undid the straps and he lifted it of and tucked safely behind the reception desk. He handed me a form and led me over to a table where a load of people were talking. He introduced me and then said "I bet you could use a drink and a plate of pasta. Sit here and fill in your form and I'll bring it over" The beer and pasta duly arrived- simple but delicious and just what I needed. After I had finished, I took the form back and he checked me in. There is a guest tax for everyone staying in Italian guest houses and hotels, and he explained that they pay that included in the price so I didn't need to worry. Then he picked up my pack and showed me where everything is in the building, finally leading me to my bed.</div><div><br></div><div>The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming and the staff seem to naturally create an atmosphere that encourages people to talk to each other. They do things with love and care, so they did my laundry, and returned it neatly folded. There is food in the guest kitchen that you can help yourself to - it's pasta with a sauce but take as much as you want. Happy hour is 7-9pm and includes free dinner, breakfast is 7-12 and is a generous and tasty selection of things, with good coffee, scrambled eggs and chunks of brownie.</div><div><br></div><div>This place is so nice that the locals come and drink there in the evening - hence the party atmosphere when I arrived. Despite that there are a couple of tables reserved for the folks staying in the hostel, so there is always a place for you. The whole thing makes me feel at home, makes me want to stay, and be with these people, to join it with what they have.</div><div><br></div><div>So what words do I tag for this blog entry? Generous, open, love, care, community, welcome, free, kind, thoughtful, responsive, inviting...</div></div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-76180345278287612222016-05-10T22:23:00.001+01:002016-05-10T22:24:15.380+01:00Travels Part 1: Spain<div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Today is the seventh day of my thirty day journey around Europe. Its traditional to spend some time on sabbatical doing something challenging that stretches and enlarges one's horizons. When I was thinking about what to do I knew I wouldn't find something very spiritually focussed helpful. Instead I chose to travel, to Interrail in fact, around Europe. I planned to see some of the art I've only ever read about, to spend time with myself, and to be stretched by having to live my life with only the resources I have on my own.</div><div><br></div><div>It would be fair to say at this point in the proceedings that I am achieving all of the above. The travelling has not been as simple as I thought it would be - trying to cover long distances using the Interrail pass has been complicated and stressful, particularly as my Spanish is non-existent, so I've never been entirely sure if I got the right ticket.</div><div><br></div><div>Yesterday I left Spain and traveled to Italy, with a quick stop in Nimes. I planned my route to go round the Spanish and French coastline, passing through Marseilles, Cap d'Antibes, Cannes, Nice and Monaco. Sitting on the train gives me chance to ponder and reflect on the journey so far, so in the tradition of my youth group at church, here is my Good Thing/Bad Things:</div><div><br></div><div>Bad things:</div><div><br></div><div>The rain - apart from two sunny days in Granada it has poured with rain fairly solidly. Spain is still beautiful, but sunshine would have suited it and me better.</div><div><br></div><div>Travel arrangements - I deliberately didn't want to nail everything down before I left to allow for some spontaneity but that has added a lot of work and stress that I hadn't realised would happen. I'm going to try and make it simpler from here on.</div><div><br></div><div>Loneliness - my family have been lovely and kept in touch via What's App and FaceTime, but I haven't actually had a conversation with anyone about anything other than ordering food and other necessities since a lovely chat in the hostel in Seville with Armando the Brazilian...and that was Friday! I think this is actually a good thing in the making because it pushes me to spend time with myself, which I don't often do, so I think that's a work in progress - I'll let you know.</div><div><br></div><div>Good things:</div><div><br></div><div>Moorish architecture - the Alhambra is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. You've seen the photos; it's like that, only it's real! (See below)</div><div><br></div><div>Art - two museum visits in one day, the Prado and Reina Sophia, gave me a crash course in Spanish art. I've seen some paintings I've loved for a while: Bosch's Garden of Earthy Delights, Las Meninas, along with all the other Velasquez, Goya (they've got a lot of Goya in the Prado)' and then Dali, Miro and Picasso, including Guernica. The last was more moving than I thought it would be, and to see it alongside works that put it in context, its image of shattered humanity destroyed spiritually as well as physically by war was very powerful, emphasised by its monumental size.</div><div><br></div><div>People - the utterly charming and delightful Eli, who works at TOC hostel in Seville. She has a rare gift for welcome and hospitality that was a blessing to be on the receiving end of. </div><div><br></div><div>On balance Spain has been a delight and this taster session has made me want to come back and see more. On to Italy now...and the weather forecast is...more rain!</div><div><br></div><div>P.s. Also on the plus side, I have walked at least 10,000 steps very day, with a record breaking 16,440 in Seville on Friday! That was 11km!!!</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF9Zw7l9XlEbAEw6iJB4qs3vc9ZxWhMneFpgOaruU1uckMEvUkhDW-lrWKkAvQWYpEB4uwp-6FOBjy62JI3F6IOde6kPPgnTQEmGofR_dy5eBIOyDH5I2cdKcP1wtskYIZyIo/s640/blogger-image-419691833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF9Zw7l9XlEbAEw6iJB4qs3vc9ZxWhMneFpgOaruU1uckMEvUkhDW-lrWKkAvQWYpEB4uwp-6FOBjy62JI3F6IOde6kPPgnTQEmGofR_dy5eBIOyDH5I2cdKcP1wtskYIZyIo/s640/blogger-image-419691833.jpg"></a></div>SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-51065261659641106432016-04-30T11:41:00.000+01:002016-04-30T11:41:04.861+01:00What I learned about Church from going to see Rocky Horror Show Live!<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we walked towards the venue you could tell who was going
the same way because they were dressed appropriately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you caught the eye of total strangers, you
looked each other up and down and smiled in recognition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never met before but you already had
something in common, you were already part of the family. You took your seat
and the room buzzed in anticipation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The music started and the first song was sung.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You knew all the words and sang along with
gusto, as did your neighbours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you sang
and swayed you felt embraced by the warmth of a group of people coming together
around something they love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Words were spoken and you joined in, shouting back, together
making an event that belongs not just to the people in that room, but to
similar people in similar rooms all around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can go anywhere in the world and find an
event like this, with people like this, and you can join in and feel welcomed
and included.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The story unfolded, a story so familiar that there were no
surprises – in fact so familiar that we all know most of the words off by heart
– that’s what unifies us, brings us together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the familiarity of the story doesn’t make it stale – the magic is in
retelling it to one another and knowing that it means something to all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We learn and relearn that it’s important to love one
another; to be honest about who we are; that no matter who or what we are,
there is a guiding star.</div>
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The event reached its high point, we stood together, and as
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met we knew that we were sharing something special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we did this, we remembered all the other
times we did it, the people we did it with, the things it has meant at
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SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-41597960198235435992016-04-24T10:42:00.000+01:002016-04-24T10:42:02.076+01:00An Important DifferenceI spent some time this week pondering the difference between tolerance and affirmation. It’s something I didn’t realize I had been affected by, but as I reflected on some conversations I realized that my experience as a woman in ministry made the difference very real. <br />
<br />
When you tolerate someone you don’t really like what they are or do, but you put up with it. It may be that you would prefer that your pastor was a man but your church voted for a woman so you’ll have to put up with it. It’s not a very nice feeling – it’s very conditional, and not very generous.<br />
<br />
When you affirm someone, you may also not agree with what they are or do, but you make a decision to affirm them as they are. You decide that you will acknowledge their humanity and affirm that that humanity makes them valuable. As a Christian this means that, at rock bottom, I recognize that they, like me, are made in the image of God, and that he loved them so much that he gave his only son, so that they would not die, but have eternal life. I also believe that God might also be at work in and around their lives, even if they wouldn’t call themselves Christians, doing things that are far beyond my meagre understanding. <br />
<br />
So how does this work out in real life? I think it’s the difference between thinking of people as categories; migrant, refugee, homeless, drug addict, woman in ministry, and thinking of them as individual people; Lukas, Fatima, Jim, Maggie, Sarah! And saying “You are valuable, precious, gifted, worthwhile.” This is a much nicer feeling.<br />
SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-92109003059599099632016-04-23T10:41:00.000+01:002016-04-23T11:19:19.771+01:00A New SeasonMy life has changed a lot recently. After nearly eight years as the Youth and Children’s Pastor at West Bridgford Baptist Church, I am currently on sabbatical, and then at the end of June I will be unemployed. <br />
<br />
This sabbatical time is giving me chance to rest, to think, to spend time with God, to reflect on the last few years and to seek God’s will for the next few. <br />
<br />
The different pace of life is giving me chance to do some of the things I love: some more reading, some socializing, some travel and out of all that, some writing. Some of the fruits of that might appear here.SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-54802068167152558882015-01-15T22:04:00.000+00:002016-04-23T11:20:22.083+01:00Musings on MemesSo I see my blogging rate is about one every 7 months or so...I'm not really going to change the world at that rate. The problem is that I'm often busy with doing other interesting stuff so doing writing in a focussed way has been rather pushed to the side. <br />
<br />
But In recent days I've been reading some things that have stirred me up and then one particular tiny straw pushed me over the edge and I needed a place to howl. <br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
I've been reading some blogs and other stuff about how one of the tools of systemic misogyny is to silence women. So women who are raped or otherwise sexually assaulted are not believed, their stories don't get told, perpetrators go unpunished, and women are blamed. Lots of people write about this kind of thing in all sorts of places. And example was much discussed in the British media today. A 44 year old male teacher received only a suspended sentence for abusing the trust of a 16 year old student by sleeping with her because apparently she groomed him! In other words, he is the victim and the young woman is to blame for the whole sorry mess. The Radio 4 Today programme (a very good source of news IMHO) invited a well respected Head Teacher, Dame Joan McVittie, to comment. She was absolutely adamant that this teacher has completely gone against his code of conduct and there was no excuse, so hurrah for Dame Joan. But it's interesting to note that the judge in her ruling (sadly female...) described the girl as "manipulative." So what if she was? The adult teacher should still have abided by the code of conduct. The underlying narrative here is the old one that men are merely weak victims of powerful female sexuality. The trouble with this kind of thinking is that it doesn't, in the end, do men any favours either.<br />
<br />
Also, it isn't just a product of misogyny; people who are abused in many ways have these tactics used against them. There is a constant trickle of stories of spiritual and other types of abuse by church leaders, where powerful people are protected and supported by a group with a lot to lose in terms of reputation or revenue, if the structure is shown to be rotten. Again survivors of this kind of thing are often silenced through a variety of unpleasant tactics.<br />
<br />
So I mentioned a tiny straw. I keep seeing a quote, often on Pinterest and various other social media places that goes as follows: <br />
<br />
"She wears her pain like stilettos, no matter how much it hurts, all you see is the beauty of it.”<br />
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In light of what I said before you can probably see what a load of tripe this actually is. In other words, keep your mouth shut, sweetie, don't tell what has been done to you, and your reward will be that you will be beautiful to my gaze. And no, putting a sepia tinted picture of a pair of anonymous legs in unfeasibly high stilettos in the background doesn't help.<br />
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And the sad things is that I see this referenced by a lot of young women who have swallowed this insidious message hook, line and sinker. Young women who really believe that suffering in silence makes them strong and noble women. <br />
<br />
And that makes me sad and a bit angry. Another internet meme that caught my eye this week is this one, and I think it might be applicable in this case.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6ee_a0e_X7WmnUy5Bugu0Rh98FML_b1bB05C0BQJ_DJdlirBziHO8-TFHopsyJLiuJUBR5qR9yhzJsA-00W7ze1n9_-Xn0HQbQOLFCP6JVj8NERrNbtAFT9vbhTyyeaBBrPt/s1600/what-would-jesus-do-flip-tables-chase-whip-mb+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6ee_a0e_X7WmnUy5Bugu0Rh98FML_b1bB05C0BQJ_DJdlirBziHO8-TFHopsyJLiuJUBR5qR9yhzJsA-00W7ze1n9_-Xn0HQbQOLFCP6JVj8NERrNbtAFT9vbhTyyeaBBrPt/s320/what-would-jesus-do-flip-tables-chase-whip-mb+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-42304246175446528412014-05-15T09:37:00.000+01:002014-05-15T09:37:40.937+01:00Too Many Chiefs and Not Enough IndiansIn the interests of reflexivity I have to start this blog by saying that I am a Christian Leader! I also don’t have a particular problem with churches and other organisations being well led. In fact, I think poor or absent leadership accounts for a lot of our problems.<br />
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Having said that, I feel moved to ask why the Christian world seems to have such an obsession with leadership, and in particular with encouraging people to be leaders? There are all sorts of Summits, Seminars and training courses available for leaders, and potential leaders, which are designed to “release” people into their leadership gifts. This is particularly the case with young people – there’s lots of talk about them as the leaders of the future, and the need to ‘raise them up,’ to ‘equip’ them etc. It is true that leaders need to be gifted, and training is a good thing, but I have a few questions about whether we’re getting the balance right.<br />
<br />
My first question lies in thinking about what Jesus showed us in his life and teaching, and what is written in the rest of the New Testament. I don’t see a lot of teaching about leadership, but I do see a lot about followership. Even when specifically addressing people who were going to be leaders in the church, Jesus’ command was not “lead my sheep” but “feed my sheep.” Jesus was not concerned with structures and programmes, but with people loving each other and becoming more like him. Paul was more interested in leadership, but mostly focused on the character of leaders, not which leadership methods and styles they should adopt.<br />
<br />
I wonder if our current obsession derives from a more recent mindset that the New Testament. Ian Stackhouse wrote a book that has changed my thinking about church in so many ways. In “The Gospel Driven Church” he argues that much of the way we view church life has been shaped by the Revivalist movement of a hundred years ago. Our emphasis on individual conversion leads to an obsession with numbers, growth, and size, and this in turn leads us to strategies, programmes, structures and hierarchy. Andrew Root makes a slightly different, but related point in “Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry: From a Strategy of Influence to a Theology of Incarnation.” He refers to the over-emphasis on the need in youth ministry for Christians to have influence in wider society. A word often used in youth ministry is ‘impact:’ we need to do work that will impact our young people so they will have impact on their friends. I find the discourse worrying: an impact is what occurs when a car hits a wall!<br />
<br />
I was privileged this week to hear Mark Yaconelli speak about ministry and was reminded again that he suggests that often ministry is operating from a place of anxiety: it seeks control, conformity, results, operates by programmes delivered by experts using products, it gives answers. He offers an alternative: ministry rooted in love. This offers contemplation, processes and presence, relies on guides, in relationships, encourages creativity and questioning. <br />
<br />
Maybe it’s because I’m a Baptist, or maybe this is why I’m a Baptist, but I can’t help but think that we’re in danger of having “too many chiefs and not enough indians.” The risk is that we create a culture in which leadership is valued above all other spiritual gifts, and those who don’t have it feel like second class Christians. By way of further confession I have to say that I led our church in prayers for leaders last Sunday, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that (Paul tells us to do it) but maybe we need to be a bit more balanced and pray for those who have gifts of giving, administration, tea making, cleaning and all those other “unsung hero” things that people do. Would it help to have a Global Followership Summit? Or to have Young Servant seminars? <br />
<br />
SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-2511552061050162722013-11-04T10:37:00.000+00:002013-11-04T10:37:07.210+00:00Men, Women, Children and the new Bishop of Durham<br />
It's a really big question: Why are there more women than men in the British church? I could, and have, write lots about this subject, but I was forcibly struck by one possible answer to it last Saturday. The occasion was the East Midlands Baptist Association Day and our main speaker was Bishop of Durham Elect, Rt Rev Paul Butler. This question was raised and he talked about reaching out to men, but stated very clearly that he didn't believe that the so called 'feminisation' of the church was the cause of the problem.<br />
<br />
After the main session, I was leading a workshop on children's ministry and I think part of the answer might be found in that seminar. Of the twenty or so attenders only three were male. John Westerhoff talks about the 'hidden curriculum'; in other words our practice sometimes doesn't match our words, and it's our practice that teaches children what we are about. If little boys are taught that church is 'women's business' from their earliest days, they will struggle to see it as something for everyone regardless of gender when they are older. <br />
<br />
It's a challenge to the men in our congregations: do you ever consider working in the Sunday School? Or is that women's work? Patterns of child care in the home are changing so where once men would actually be incompetent with children because they never looked after even their own children, they now regular care for, and spend time with small children. Is the problem to do with safeguarding? Perhaps men feel that they might be regarded with suspicion if they work with small children.<br />
<br />
Whatever the problem is we need to address it, and we made a good start on Saturday. I'm pleased to say that one of the three men in my workshop was Bishop Paul. Given that he started his ministry in children's work with Scripture Union and has continued to prioritise this side of his ministry, I did feel pretty nervous about having him there - talk about teaching your grandmother to suck eggs! But most of all I think it sends a message that this workshop was as valuable and important as the others, because children are valuable and important, whether they are boys or girls.SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-91648953621076188532013-05-23T11:35:00.000+01:002013-05-23T11:35:21.512+01:00A book review: 'To such as these' The child in Baptist thought by Andrew Goodliff<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Here's a copy of a review I wrote of a colleague's recent book about children in baptist theology. It's almost essential reading if you're a person working in a baptist context with children and young people, but pretty useful if you work with them in other denominations. The review originally appeared in Regents Reviews here: <a href="http://www.rpc.ox.ac.uk/downloadlibrary/Regent's%20Reviews%204.2%20May.pdf">http://www.rpc.ox.ac.uk/downloadlibrary/Regent's%20Reviews%204.2%20May.pdf</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Annie Dillard wrote </div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of the conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake some day and take offense, or the waking god may draw us out to where we can never return. (Teaching a Stone to Talk, Harper & Row, 1982)</span></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal">As a Youth and Children’s Pastor I often listen to the words we say in Baptist churches when we present an infant soon after its birth and experience a similar sensation to the one described by Annie Dillard. Along with the family of the child, congregations make a series of promises to support both the family and the child in the task of reaching mature adulthood, and hopefully growing in Christian faith. I think about the various approaches these same congregations then have to the child in later years when she or he throws up on the new carpet, runs about during services, asks awkward questions, smokes in the toilets, speaks prophetically about what Jesus is saying and all the other things children do as they grow. I wonder whether they didn’t realise what they were promising, or whether they have forgotten that they did.<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">In this slim volume Andrew Goodliff has looked at the words Baptists have used over their history in services of Infant Dedication or Presentation and asked some key questions about what we mean theologically when we say them. He has thoroughly summarised Baptist theological approaches to the child and his work contains a useful discussion of those approaches. He notes that usually these approaches have been responses to the question “Where is the child?” This question has been asked by Baptists since our earliest days, because of our belief that salvation can only be received by those professing personal faith, signified by believer’s baptism, and that the church is made up of these believers gathered together. This raises questions for us about where the child is in relation to Kingdom, salvation and the church. The book contains chapters discussing the theological issues raise by each of these questions.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">The chapter on the child in relation to the Kingdom focusses mainly on Jesus’ response to children in Mark 10:13-16, arguing that this is the text Baptists use to support the rite of Infant Presentation, although there is a variety of interpretations of its meaning; are children simply signs of the kingdom, or are they included within it? What is it about the child that makes them a sign of it? Most of the writers quoted argue that it is the child’s deficit, its weakness and vulnerability that make it a sign of how the Kingdom is to be entered, but Goodliff argues that most readings have been defensive, whereas a creative approach might be more helpful.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In chapter 4, Goodliff explores the relationship between theologies of sin and salvation and approaches to the child, seeking a new language to discuss the development of faith that places more emphasis on salvation as a process rather than an event. This leads on to a discussion in Chapter 5 of the child in relation to the church and here the problems inherent in a very binary in-or-out approach become even more obvious. Goodliff notes Nigel Wright’s use of the term “gathering” rather than “gathered” in relation to the community of the church; again taking a process view and applying it not just to children but all those growing in faith.<o:p></o:p></div></div></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">In his conclusion Goodliff returns to the rite of infant presentation, examining it in more detail in light of the discussion so far. He invites us to look at the rite afresh and to imbue it with deeper meaning and significance, with a focus on the child, rather than is often the case, the adults. As a Youth and Children’s Pastor, the final Post Script section offered the most interesting and challenging thinking. Goodliff draws on his experience as a Youth Pastor and now Pastor and looks at some examples of what it would mean for churches to take seriously the promises made at infant presentation and become more radically all-age congregations.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">This is a helpful book for those wanting to take seriously the place of children and young people in Baptist churches. It would make useful companion reading to the “Today Not Tomorrow” material recently produced by Arise Ministries in conjunction with the BU Mission Dept (See: <a href="http://todaynottomorrow.org.uk/">http://todaynottomorrow.org.uk/</a>), offering a thorough theological background to it. Goodliff has also helpfully added an amended version of the liturgy for infant presentation taking his thinking into account. Although much has been written by Baptists on this subject over the years, this book may encourage not just youth and children’s workers but congregations more widely to think afresh about what they mean when they participate in an infant presentation.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
If you want to buy a copy they are available here<a href="http://www.baptist.org.uk/store-children-youth/store-children.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=248&category_id=10">: //www.baptist.org.uk/store-children-youth/store-children.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=248&category_id=10</a><br />
<br />
SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-49921789512713468672013-05-07T10:17:00.004+01:002013-05-07T10:17:44.150+01:00Spiritual Disciplines in a Digital Age No. 1<br />
This short blog is the first in an occasional series that might only contain one entry!!! <br />
<br />
Anyhoo...I twitter - I like twitter; I think it encourages people to be creative, it doesn't seem to take up too much time. It's simple and very obvious that it's public, so you shouldn't do drama on it (although some do, a la Facebook!)<br />
<br />
I like that my friends 'follow' me and I 'follow' them and a few other folks 'follow' me and I choose not to follow them. By teenager standards I'm a bit of a 'billy no mates' because I only have 157 followers...or at least I did until about half an hour ago! Now I've only got 156. When I first started on twitter and had 10 'followers' it was easy to spot who had dropped out, but now it would mean I would have to obsess so much over my 'follower' list in order to know who it was. <br />
<br />
My spiritual discipline is to decide not to. I see the changing number and I have a tweak of fear that it's someone I really value that has left me, but it won't be, will it! It will be one of a few spammish 'followers' and I shouldn't worry about them.<br />
<br />
You might be saying "If you didn't do Twitter in the first place you wouldn't have the problem" but that's a bit like saying you shouldn't have friends because they'll hurt you. The discipline comes in conquering the deep fear that I'm not loved, when I am loved by many people, and by God.SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-52417640679416510092013-04-25T14:03:00.000+01:002013-04-25T14:03:20.222+01:00A VERY BIG BEE!!!<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over past few weeks I have felt a surge of pride in being a
Baptist, what with the JPIT paper on poverty (<a href="http://www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Truth-And-Lies-Report-smaller.pdf">http://www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Truth-And-Lies-Report-smaller.pdf</a>
) and the St. Georges Day declaration of unity (<a href="http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/index.php/news-national-news/885-reclaiming-st-george-as-a-national-symbol-of-inclusivity-rather-than-a-symbol-of-hatred">http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/index.php/news-national-news/885-reclaiming-st-george-as-a-national-symbol-of-inclusivity-rather-than-a-symbol-of-hatred</a>
). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt proud to be part of a movement
that was prepared to speak out prophetically to our culture to call us to see
things in new ways. I felt that we might
be reclaiming some of our radical heritage, being prepared to build church and
community in a different way that allowed all voices to be heard and freed
people to be who they are in Christ without recourse to stereotypes and out
dated oppressions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when I read an article in the Baptist Times with a
picture of a speaker standing in front of a poster that says the group want to
be a “catalyst for change in a hurting world” and whose keynote speaker
apparently says: “<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">We tend to put God and people in to
packages” I think it can only be a good
thing, yes? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><br /> <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">Apparently not. The Baptist Men’s Movement, whose conference
this article is reporting, then goes on to suggest that the reason men don’t
come to church any more is because the church is “too feminine” and go on to suggest a range of
stereotypically “manly” activities to attract more men in. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">I’ve blogged on this “Feminisation of the
church” this before (see here: </span><a href="http://sarahfegredo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/feminisation-of-church.html">http://sarahfegredo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/feminisation-of-church.html</a>
) and I can’t help but feel that if the report in the BT reflects the mentality
of the BMM then it’s a pretty sad state of affairs. The report finishes with what I assume are
the closing remarks, or summing up of the conference are as follows: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">We need to lay down the
old ways, to start to dream a bigger dream and to challenge the impossible.
Don't be afraid to ask for a bigger vision.</span>” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;">Exactly BMM…we need to lay down the old sexist stereotypes that demean
men <b><u>and</u></b> women, challenge the packing of people into little boxes, and dream a
bigger dream…how about this for your bigger vision: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;">“</span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">So
in Christ Jesus you are all children of God</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">through
faith,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span id="en-NIV-29130"><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">for
all of you who were baptized into Christ</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">have
clothed yourselves with Christ.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span id="en-NIV-29131"><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">There
is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,nor is there male and female,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">for
you are all one in Christ Jesus” </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">You
know where it’s from and it’s the vision I’m asking for.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-52341504983231094042013-03-18T13:47:00.002+00:002013-03-18T13:48:35.749+00:00A Confession<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those of you who know me well already know this, but it
might come as a surprise to some of you to learn that I have a guilty
pleasure. And I’m going to confess it
now! I love vampire stories. There, I said it…and the world keeps turning,
although you may already have suspected as much from the way I went to see the
marathon five-film premier of Twilight: Breaking Dawn 2. I tried to pretend it was something I was
doing for my daughter’s sake but really she came along as my carer!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Needless to say, this on-going fascination with the
supernatural/fantasy genre has caused me much reflection: Is this right? Can it be appropriate for someone like me to
like such a thing? Isn’t that what
fourteen year old girls do? Maybe…but I
think there is something about these stories that conveys some profound ideas
that interest me, and they interest me because I’m a Christian…or I’m a
Christian because these ideas interest me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My latest musing about the genre (fuelled at the moment by
The Vampire Diaries!*) is on the scene that occurs in most of these
stories. It’s the scene where somebody
ordinary, a ‘muggle’ to use a term from another incarnation of the genre, is
suddenly faced with the reality and truth of the existence of the supernatural. They get a letter to Hogwarts, fall in love
with a vampire, discover they are actually a Shadowhunter, and suddenly they
have to look at themselves and their world with new eyes. I had an experience similar to this when I
first realised that Jesus was real, and that he did love me, and that he would
give up his own life to save mine. This realisation
then sent me on an epic quest, to be part of a Fellowship, to face up to the reality
of the existence of the Volturi. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having
seen the new reality I couldn’t go back and pretend it wasn’t there
anymore. When I watch Bella Swan, or
Elena Gilbert, or even Bilbo Baggins as they negotiate this paradigm shift, I’m
reflecting on my own journey into a new story, and that’s why it’s fascinating.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*OK for the genre-not high art but entertaining. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-36925705428894488612013-03-11T10:28:00.001+00:002013-03-11T10:28:32.043+00:00What if…<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was talking with a group of youth work students the other
day and we were discussing the different roles youth workers adopt when working
with young people. One of the roles we
were discussing was the advocate; the youth worker speaking to others on behalf
of the young people they work with. As
we were talking I started to think about the role and what it implies. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Firstly it is a role that’s needed because the structures
are such that the young people in question can’t speak for themselves. Why is this?
What is wrong with a structure that renders a member of it
voiceless? Can that be a just and fair
structure?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Secondly it suggests that power imbalances are at work. The young people are voiceless because
someone else has more power than they, and uses that power to silence them in
some way. What kind of a structure
creates and then sustains this kind of power imbalance?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thirdly it implies that the young people have some kind of
deficit that disqualifies them from speaking.
What could that be? Could it be
that they don’t have enough understanding?
Is their language insufficient?
Who makes that judgement? Why
does a deficit mean that some are excluded?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I should perhaps contextualise the conversation: we were
talking about the way youth workers advocate for young people in church life. The discussion caused me to think again about
how the church includes (or excludes) children and young people. The need for an advocate says some very
disturbing things about how we view the role of the child in church, but I
think it also says some very disturbing things about our churches.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This led me to ask myself the question: What would our
churches have to look like for there to be no need for an advocate to speak for
children and young people? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-6783024853966667102013-01-17T12:31:00.002+00:002013-03-11T10:32:25.739+00:00Grey sky thinking<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
At a group I was part of today we were led in some acts of
worship by one of the members. She
played this video clip: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBCCP5Lf5DY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBCCP5Lf5DY</a>
and invited us to reflect on the verse from Psalm 19 that says “The heavens
declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love dramatic skies and they do cause my
soul to respond to the mighty works of god’s hand so I was able to respond to
this. I then moved to another room with
a big window and I noticed that the sky was a flat uniform grey. It’s cold here, below freezing and we’re
waiting for more snow, so the sky is covered with thick cloud, there’s no wind
and it’s just a solid mass of grey, with no differentiation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I sat reflecting on the Psalm 19 verse, I suddenly realised
that even this sky declares the glory of the Lord. Somehow in this flat, monochrome greyness the
Lord is present. And that’s just as
well, because glorious sunsets are few and far between…most of the time the
skies above where I live are some shade of grey. Spiritual life is like that too; there are
moments of richness and glory, but most days we’re just getting on with getting
on. Things are a bit grey, a bit
uniform, a bit static; not very inspiring at all – but God’s glory is still
being declared by this sky, if I only have eyes to see it.<o:p></o:p></div>
SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-9898212303957949802012-11-25T21:24:00.000+00:002012-11-25T21:24:56.437+00:00A blog about Headship<br />
Yesterday I read this article on a blog:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://krwordgazer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/men-must-be-spiritual-leaders-real-life.html" target="_blank">http://krwordgazer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/men-must-be-spiritual-leaders-real-life.html</a><br />
<br />
I found it really sad - here are people feeling unhappy because the expectations they have about marriage and relationships are based on ideas that don't seem to connect with their real lives. I particularly feel sad for these decent, Godly, caring men who are not able to live comfortably with a set of expectations laid on them by their churches, their pastors and those around them.<br />
<br />
The reason I feel a degree of sadness and empathy for these men, and others like them is because I know what it is like to live with the tension of having a set of gifts and abilities, inadequacies and lacks, that seem to be god-given but which some people want me to think are a result of my sin, are not right for me to act on, that I shouldn't develop, that I shouldn't use in ministry in the church. I know that because I am a woman pastor. So with kindness and grace I want to say to these men "Welcome to my world" *<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
*Can we try and change this world, so that we can be who we are, who we have been made by God, rather than be defined by our gender?SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-45521867207722066742012-11-13T15:43:00.001+00:002012-11-13T15:43:06.522+00:00A book reviewI've just finished reading this:<br />
<br />
<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51h4sshTRpL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Is-God-Still-Englishman-Britain/dp/0349122245/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1352821138&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Is God still an Englishman? </a><br />
<br />
And I found it very instructive. As someone who is interested in faith in England (and the rest of the UK) this book brought home some very interesting developments in the faith of English people. It's written by someone who has been a christian of many and varied hues over the years and now seems to find himself as one who still believes in something but doesn't find organised Christianity very helpful in exploring that belief. I think if we want to talk to younger generations about belief we need to listen very hard to books like this.SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-25029163955081088602012-11-01T20:58:00.000+00:002012-11-01T20:58:10.623+00:00A contribution to a debate about Empowerment and Theology<br />
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My friends and colleagues Becca Dean and Jo Dolby have been having some blog discussion about these topics here:</div>
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<a href="http://beccaislearning.com/post/34759763689/empowerment-and-theology-in-youth-work" target="_blank">http://beccaislearning.com/post/34759763689/empowerment-and-theology-in-youth-work</a></div>
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and here:</div>
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<a href="http://beccaislearning.com/post/34772684733/jo-dolby-a-response-to-empowerment-and-theology">http://beccaislearning.com/post/34772684733/jo-dolby-a-response-to-empowerment-and-theology</a></div>
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There were a lot of connections with some of the reading I've been doing so I thought I would put in my two penn'orth.</div>
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I’ve been thinking and reading about the end of Christian discipleship. To clarify, when I say end, I don’t mean the
finish of it, but rather the eventual aim of it, what is sometimes referred to
as the <i>telos. </i>I noticed that a lot of writers on
Christian education were talking about different sorts of ethics and how at
different times Christian discipleship had been shaped by different ethical
styles. Ethics is often divided into
three styles: deontological or rules-based ethics, where behaviour is governed
by a set of externally derived rules or laws; consequential ethics, where
behaviour is governed by the outcome of a course of action, as in
utilitarianism where the greatest good of the greatest number is sought; and
virtue ethics where the character of the person is so imbued with virtues that
in any given situation that person will behave in accordance with those
virtues. </div>
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In the Christian education
context, the different styles have prevailed at different times, so at times
Christians were taught that in order to be good they need to follow God’s
rules, at other times they were taught that they needed to seek the good of
others. At the moment the underlying ethic
seems to be moving towards virtue ethics and there seems to be some biblical
warrant for the importance of shaping the character of a person so that they
will then do what is right. Educationalists such
as Westerhoff and James K A Smith base their arguments on the originator of
this approach, Aristotle, and it could be argued that the call to be
transformed inwardly described in Romans 12:2 and Romans 5:1-5 is in line with it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think this is significant to the discussion Becca and Jo
are having for two reasons. The first is
that it connects with the idea of absolute truth. I think I agree that there is absolute truth;
I’m just not sure that I (or anyone else) can be absolutely confident that I know
what the meaning of that is. I’ve noted
elsewhere in my blog that Jesus says that he is the truth, and so I think my
calling as a disciple is to know him rather than to seek for truth. Absolute
truth tends to fit more with a rules-based ethic and way of teaching; it suggests
that if we could just know what the rule is, we could get it right, and we
could then tell our children that rule and then they will be good. It even tends towards a form of Gnosticism,
which is not helpful (it’s actually heretical!)
<o:p></o:p></div>
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The second connection with Becca and Jo’s discussion is more
methodological. If the telos is to
develop Christian virtues and character then we need to be equipping and
empowering young people to develop those Christian virtues in themselves. Aristotle develops his virtues based on Plato’s
virtues of courage, temperance, justice, and prudence and
suggests that these virtues and other minor virtues are developed in children
by doing virtuous acts and thereby developing good habits leading in turn to
human flourishing. Wikipedia summarises
it: “people become virtuous by
performing virtuous actions, which they might not have chosen themselves when
young. They must develop proper habits during childhood and this usually
requires help from teachers, parents, and law-makers. A good community is normally required for the
development of good people.” This seems to me to connect with Jo’s
scaffolding idea; young people need to be surrounded by a scaffold that
supports them as they develop the inner habits of virtue. These habits then become the ultimate
empowering because young people are able to act in ways that make for the good
life, for human flourishing not because of rules imposed on them, but because
of their own internal virtue.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m still pondering the practical outworking of this, and my
reading continues but I think it’s the beginnings of a paradigm shift for me in
terms of my understanding of the task of discipleship which fits with the youth
work value of empowerment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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p.s. In the interests of academic probity I should say that
my thoughts and ideas at this stage are being shaped and refined by reading James K A Smith’s Desiring the Kingdom, Samuel Wells’ Improvisation: The Drama
of Christian Ethics, John H. Westerhoff’s Will Our Children Have Faith, Plato’s
Republic and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, as well as Wikipedia. I also own a copy of MacIntyre's After Virtue...but I haven't read it yet!<o:p></o:p></div>
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p.p.s I am aware of the irony of using a pre-christian
philosopher in my thinking but arguably both Plato and Aristotle have always
been influential on Christian education.<o:p></o:p></div>
SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-38185775042008457402012-10-29T18:50:00.000+00:002012-10-29T18:50:04.444+00:00Reflections from Missing Generation Conference 13th October 2012<br />
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I recently spent a day with my favourite sort of people –
young people. True they were a little
older than the young people and children I usually work with but they were
mostly under thirty, so younger than me.
I love young people for their energy, their passion and their desire and
commitment to changing the world and making a difference.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today’s group were no exception; I was very challenged by
their ability, their passionate love for God and their giftedness. They are from the generation that is often
missing from our churches, the 18-30s and I have to tell you that if you don’t
have people like these in your church you are the losers. (<a href="http://missinggeneration.com/" target="_blank">This</a> is their website in case you're interested)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was also personally challenged; we were invited to ask God
what we were being called to and what our dreams were and today was a step
towards me gaining clarity about my next steps in ministry. About six years ago I felt called into
ordained youth ministry in the Baptist church.
I was, and remain, committed to the church, with all its failings, and
particularly to the Baptist corner of it.
I’m also committed to the place of young people in it; all my work and
study for the last ten years has deepened that sense of commitment. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The call was founded on several things, but today I was
reminded of one of them. It was this
passage from the Old Testament Prophet Zechariah, Chapter 8:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with
great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. Thus says the Lord:
I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem
shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall
be called the holy mountain. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women
shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of
their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls
playing in its streets. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems
impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem
impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts? Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will
save my people from the east country and from the west country; and I will
bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their
God, in faithfulness and in righteousness. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Let
your hands be strong--you that have recently been hearing these words from the
mouths of the prophets who were present when the foundation was laid for the rebuilding
of the temple, the house of the Lord of hosts.</blockquote>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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For me it’s a vision of what God’s plan for his people
is. It’s a place where all can be
themselves, where all can be safe, can play a part, where young and old (slave
and free, greek and jew, men and women) live together and where God makes his
dwelling place. It seems like an
impossible dream, but in verse 6 God acknowledges this and remind us that it
will not be impossible for him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The vision reminds me that I need to “Let my hand be strong”. For me this means to keep on speaking to
whoever will listen, about the need to be including young people as the church
today and not losing out on what ALL God’s people have to offer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-79995471788702745102012-10-12T09:36:00.004+01:002012-10-12T09:36:59.115+01:00Does Theology Matter?<br />
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I’ve just been thinking about a situation where I had
reservations about what the underlying theology of a course of action was, and
indeed, whether there even was an underlying theology. I was in conversation with some other
Christian people about an aspect of social action and I was reflecting to
myself about whether it matters what the underlying theology is if there are good
results. I was thinking about social
transformation and a desire to transform the world from the way it is to the
way it should be. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s a bit like motherhood and apple pie isn’t it? Who in their right mind would speak against
transforming the world from its current state into something better? But as I started to think about that idea I
realised that theology does matter.
Theology tells me what is actually wrong with the way things are and
tells me how it should be, and that will be different to someone with a
different world view. That doesn't mean
that we can’t work together to tackle social issues, but if we do, then I think
we need to understand where we’re coming from otherwise we might find ourselves
at odds somewhere down the line. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For me theology does matter because it underpins everything
I do. It shapes who I think I am, who
each young person I work with is, and what it is I am trying to do with
them. It also tells me what the
transformation I’m wanting to bring about and the hope that I’m holding out are. Without that foundation I’m not sure what my
work would be.<o:p></o:p></div>
SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-25523412132237207252012-10-07T13:34:00.001+01:002012-10-07T13:35:16.869+01:00Young People take another beating!<br />
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I’ve just seen the new advert encouraging participation in
the elections for the new Police Commissioners.
See here for a news report including some of the ad:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19854155">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19854155</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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It makes me so mad; it’s mostly images of young people being
yobs! Is this all that the new Commissioners
will be responsible for? Where are the
images of white collar crime? The credit
card fraudsters? The MPs claiming
expenses? The bankers doing dodgy deals?
The newshounds bugging people’s phones?
In other words where are the images of adults committing crime?</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Basically, the government want people to vote for another
layer of elected officialdom, and because they can’t encourage us any other way
they try to make us so scared of unruly yobs we’ll rush out to vote thinking we
might make a difference. To do that they
turn yet again to the usual scapegoats – young people! Young people do commit crime, but so do older
people and actually David Cameron I’m more concerned about the level of
criminality and corruption in government and financial services which goes
unchallenged and unchanged than I am about anti-social behaviour by a minority
of young people. Show me an ad about a
Police Commissioner that arrests those types of criminals and you might get me
excited.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Perhaps if the budgets for youth work, family services, education
and health weren’t being slashed all over the place, something could actually
be done to remove the reasons why young people end up in some of the situations
they do without trashing them as human beings.
Instead our taxes are being spent on elections for a totally unnecessary
layer of government while ignoring the real problems that divide us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I despair! But not of
young people…of the adults who govern us.<o:p></o:p></div>
SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-44432818315348504392012-08-30T17:06:00.000+01:002012-08-30T17:06:21.982+01:00What is Youth Work?<br />
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I just read this blog:<br />
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<a href="http://www.gemmadunning.com/2012/08/christian-youth-work-40-glimpse-into.html">http://www.gemmadunning.com/2012/08/christian-youth-work-40-glimpse-into.html</a><br />
<br />
And felt I couldn’t not respond to it. I came to Christian Youth Ministry late in life, post children, and so had a choice in seeking a qualification that enabled me to work with young people. I did consider teaching, but in the end did the Youth and Community Work with Applied Theology degree with CYM (Midlands centre – the best IMHO). This means I looked at both ways of working and made some conscious choices, so I’ll respond to the point Gemma makes by saying why I chose Youth Work <br />
<br />
“1) Lots of meaningful connection opportunities with actual young people”</div>
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Lots of face time, but at a ratio of 30 to 1 with a very prescriptive curriculum which restricts teachers to delivering certain things. Time constraints mean that there isn’t much space for creativity or spontaneity. <br />
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Power imbalance – young people have no choice about whether they are present, and this often means that their bodies are there but their hearts aren’t in it. For this, by definition, removes any meaning I want to find in my work.<br />
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“2) Measures of success that can be seen - you can measure your impact on young people"<br />
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But success in what – achievement of certain grades in exams isn’t the kind of “success” I’m looking for in my work. I also have very strong opinions that it isn’t the purpose of education; for me education is more to do with each young person becoming the best human being they can be. Our current educational system is about equipping young people to be units of economic production and consumption in a market place that doesn’t have jobs for all of them. <br />
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“3) Semi regulated hours - I know teachers don't work school hours but there is a rhythm to the hours they work”</div>
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Whether or not I have a rhythm to my life and work is up to me – many people in Christian ministry seem to operate on the basis that only chronic busy-ness and a state of near exhaustion are measures of the quality of their work. As a community of workers we rarely challenge this idea by actually trying to adopt biblical patterns of work and Sabbath that enrich us and our ministry. I see this a lot, not only in youth workers but in pastors and church leaders all over the place. I heartily recommend Ian Stackhouse’s marvellous book “The Gospel Driven Church” for an entirely different perspective. <br />
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“4) School holidays - I appreciate many teachers work during the holidays but they definitely get more than 4 weeks annual leave <br />
5) WEEKENDS”<br />
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My sister is a secondary teacher* and I know how much work she does at home in evenings and at weekend, how many times she goes in to school to do preparation or for holiday revision sessions, parents evenings, etc. Things have improved a bit recently, but it’s not a doss. <br />
<br />
“6) Not having to live every six months wondering if funding for your post will happen” <br />
<br />
I think the world of Christian Youth ministry needs to take a good hard look at how we resource the work we do. If we really believe that the work we do amongst young people who are NEET, young single parents, young offenders or whoever else, is part of the ministry of the church then we should fund it properly and control and manage it in the ways we think are right. If we take the government’s pound to deliver outcomes on their behalf, then we have to do it on their terms. Personally I think it’s appalling that really valuable projects with young people can operate on a knife edge all the time; it just confirms what young people already think: that they aren’t worth it, but that’s one that I need to have a go at the government for. <br />
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“7) Regulatory provision for sickness, maternity & employee rights” </div>
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Everyone who is employed should get this – it’s the law. <br />
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“8) You can get a job as a teacher with or without a VAGINA”</div>
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I have a vagina, and, shock horror, it’s quite an old one! Plus I work within a denomination that isn’t doing terribly well about employing women ministers (the Baptists) and I take a lot of issue with that…all the time. But I’m still working and being paid for it. Yes the pay is poor, but it’s poor for secular youth workers too, because it’s such a poorly understood profession, and many of the pressures we face are the same for them too. <br />
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I think Gemma is right to ask whether the current model of youth ministry is sustainable, and I’m not convinced that it is, but I think that’s more to do with our current models of church and ministry rather than our employment provisions.<br />
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The questions I want to be asking start like this:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Why is “bigger” always better? We’re obsessed with numbers; numbers in our youth groups, numbers coming to Christ, numbers being baptised. </li>
<li>Why are we entertaining young people instead of discipling them? When did we last tell our young people that the Christian life is hard and painful and will cost them everything? Then when they walk away from that, why don’t we let them go?</li>
<li>Why aren’t we challenging the model of church that keeps children and young people separate from adults, instead of working out how we can be together in a meaningful way?</li>
</ul>
So my youth worker friends – if the model isn’t working, what should it look like?<br />
<br />
*And I respect and admire what she and her colleagues do enormously.SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-33499465629020121542012-08-28T13:55:00.002+01:002012-08-29T20:08:01.433+01:00Standing tall<br />
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I really should stop looking at Pinterest...it just makes me mad...although it's also starting to make me bored too so it won't be long. But while I'm here, here's what's making me mad today:<br />
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<img alt="Skinny cargo!!" height="200" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/45880489924170967_62D88scj_f.jpg" width="132" />
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<br />
Well, it's an example of it. Can you see what I mean? Let me tell you: look at the way she's standing! Have you noticed that not only do lots of women in fashion shots look so thin a good breeze would blow them away, they also stand as if they haven't quite learnt how to do it yet? What is that strange stance for? Toes turned in, legs slightly awkward looking; it's like those nature films of baby giraffes struggling to stand for the first time. Since when did looking like you could barely walk upright become a standard of beauty for young women? It has a weird kind of apologetic look about it, like we shouldn't really be out in public.<br />
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This is how a woman should stand; upright, feet firmly on the ground, ready for what she needs to do and making no apology for who she is or what she's doing. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="http://www.whathouse.co.uk/sites/default/files/imagecache/property/jessica_ennis.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessica Ennis not apologising for what she's doing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I've just been reading Tina Fey's great book Bossypants (thanks for the recommendation Becca) and she talks (a lot!) about what it is to be a woman in a male dominated industry. She expresses her admiration for her female colleague whose response when a male colleague says he doesn't like a gag she has written says "I don't ****ing care if you like it" In other words, no apology for failing to please, or for existing, or participating in the world. I bet she stands like Jessica Ennis.<br />
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<br />SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33349972.post-26983287908994617632012-08-15T11:05:00.002+01:002012-08-15T11:05:49.267+01:00A Writer's Life<br />
<br />
I occasionally fancy myself as a writing type of woman; I
read Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own” and I admire and appreciate good
writing. I read critically and wonder if
I could do better. I’m supposed to be
writing part of my dissertation right now, in fact, so I could argue that I am
already writing as part of my career…but clearly not because I’m avoiding it by
writing this piece instead.<br />
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You can imagine, therefore, how encouraged I feel to read
<a href="http://timesonline.typepad.com/dons_life/2012/08/how-many-words-can-you-write-in-a-day.html">the convoluted machinations</a> that a highly respected and established writer and
academic such as Mary Beard goes through in thinking about her writing. You’ll also notice that my other avoidance
tactic is finding interesting writing on the internet!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://timesonline.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451586c69e20176171a8ad9970c-320wi" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="IMG_2065" border="0" height="150" src="http://timesonline.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451586c69e20176171a8ad9970c-320wi" width="200" /></a>I’m also extremely jealous of her library bed and tidy
study.<o:p></o:p></div>
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SazzaFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14852739125384486562noreply@blogger.com0