on Licensing of Gavin Knight as Priest-in-Charge St. Andrew, Fulham Fields 19 September 2002
Today is the feast of St. Theodore of Tarsus - who sounds somewhat exotic for an Archbishop of Canterbury! He was Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of the 7th century. I am sure that the Archbishop of Wales is at present anticipating his move to Canterbury with a sense of privilege, of awe - and not a little trepidation! It has never been an easy job - and Theodore came to be Archbishop without having first been a Bishop. In fact, overnight, the humble sub-deacon found himself appointed by the Pope to be Archbishop of Canterbury. But he was clearly chosen and equipped by God because he immediately began reforming the Church with quite spectacular results.
The early Church historian, the Venerable Bede, wrote of him: "Never had there been such happy times. The people eagerly sought the new-found joys of the kingdom of heaven and all who wished for instruction in the reading of The Scriptures found teachers ready to hand. Theodore was the first Archbishop whom the entire Church of the English consented to obey." I am thinking of making Theodore my personal patron, in the hope of similar effects in the Kensington Episcopal Area!
Reading St. Andrew's requirements for their new parish priest I did wonder whether the PCC was looking for the next Theodore of Tarsus, or even an archangel. The requirements have a summary of the right person: "A dynamic, empowering inspiring and collaborative priest who can help us serve the parish community and grow in numbers and holiness…. A well-developed sense of humour is an advantage!" Tonight I bring to you, the people of St. Andrew's, Fr. Gavin Knight. He comes to us from St Alphege, Solihull, in the Diocese of Birmingham, and he comes with strong experience of ministry and with generous words from his Bishop. As the Pope sent Theodore to bring flair and care to the people of England, so I bring Gavin to bring flair and care to the ministry in this parish. Like the Pope, I'm hoping for similarly spectacular results! I just hope, Gavin, that your sense of humour is well-developed!
One of the words that the St. Andrew's PCC have used frequently in describing the characteristics of their new parish priest is 'collaborative'. The people of St. Andrew's are looking forward to working with you, Gavin, working alongside you in partnership for the Gospel. And tonight, as you begin together a new chapter in the history of this church, I will ask you to re-commit yourselves, priest and people, to doing just that - working together for the Gospel in this place.
St. Luke's Gospel tells us that when Jesus wanted to spread the good news of the Kingdom more effectively, he didn't do it by himself. He sent out the 12 disciples. They worked together - and I want to point out three principles from that Gospel which may guide you as you seek to work together, priest and people in this place.
In the first place, we are told by St. Luke, that Jesus called the 12 together. There was no individual conversation, no favouritism, no hierarchy. They are called together.
In any collection of individuals, in churches as with anywhere else, there is always the possibility that because some have particular jobs and responsibilities that they are thought to be more important. But Jesus reminds us that we are called together, equally, by God: and are valued, equally, by God. We share a common baptism, a common inheritance, we are children of the same heavenly Father, for whom there are no favourites. I regularly think on St Augustine's words: 'First I am a Christian along with you; second I am a bishop for you' - yes, we as disciples are all called together.
I hope that after the pattern of our Lord, Gavin, you will gather people together, draw people in, so that all feel valued and included. Listening - not only to the regulars in church but also to the wider community who live and work here - is an important part of your ministry to the whole parish.
And you the people of St. Andrew's, remember that although Gavin is your parish priest, he is not the only person to exercise God's ministry in this community. Jesus called the 12 together because he wanted them to share in the proclamation of the Gospel.
He calls all of you together in his name because he wants you all to share that task today. Not just Gavin. There were 12 disciples, not one, and there is a whole congregation here, not just one priest. The task of proclaiming the Gospel in this place is yours together, because Jesus calls his disciples together. And that means that there will be new challenges in the future.
But secondly, when Jesus calls together the 12, he knowingly calls 12 very different people to proclaim the Kingdom. He called fishermen, two of whom, James and John, were known as 'Sons of thunder' because they were quick tempered. He called a zealot, violently opposed to the occupation of the Romans, and a tax collector, a collaborator with the Romans. They were not the most obviously cohesive group of people.
Gavin, you may find the disciples here a little easier! In this congregation there are, as you may have discovered already, many people with a variety of gifts, needs, traditions, backgrounds and opinions. And they all want to be inspired and empowered by you! Diversity is a strength which is often overlooked. People often worry when the PCC does not agree, when decisions are questioned, when different opinions and beliefs are expressed. But unity does not mean uniformity - it means commitment to work together with people who do not always hold your views, or share your enthusiasms.
St. Paul, writing to the very diverse congregation at Corinth, described the Church as being "like a Body with many parts". This is a very familiar image, but I want you to return to it together not only in St. Andrew's, but in the wider context of this part of Fulham as well. The different parts of our body are all necessary, but they are all different. "If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear?" asks Paul. We need others, other Christians and other Christian communities to be different. We need diversity.
Jesus sent out the 12 very different disciples to preach the one message, probably in their own voice, in their own way, with their own style. Jesus trusted that, by this variety of expression, the kingdom would be preached and the Good News would be shared. This is what we hope and pray for in Fulham. Do not be anxious about difference, but proclaim the Gospel using all your varied gifts. Find out more about the strengths and gifts you have here, listen to members of other congregations in this area and rejoice that God uses all of you to proclaim the Kingdom.
Thirdly, and most importantly, in unity of love, in variety of gifts, hold fast to the Gospel that you proclaim to this community - as the disciples were instructed to do by Jesus. I do believe that the greatest challenge that faces all of us every day is to hold fast to the Kingdom of God. If we do not, then church buildings, PCCs, style of worship, flower rotas, hymn books, all these things become worthless and unimportant.
If we do not hold on to our fundamental purpose of sharing the love of God with our neighbours, then church becomes a matter of mere habit. All those things we get ourselves worked up about in church life become mere politics and squabbling. So remember that that is your calling. "Seek first," says Jesus, "the Kingdom of God. And all these things will be given to you as well." The Kingdom of God is fundamental. Everything else is not. In the nitty gritty of Church life, holding on to the Kingdom is often the greatest challenge.
I began by talking about Theodore of Tarsus. The Venerable Bede said of him that he used all manner of approaches to reach people with the Gospel. He instructed people in the Scripture, he also taught poetry and astronomy, Greek and Latin. Some people were clearly interested in mathematics, so he taught them how to calculate the Church calendar. Gavin, you have many personal gifts to use here I know, not least your interest in art and literature and your great love of people. I hope you do, indeed, use the gifts that God has given you for the building up of the Church in this place. But make good use of the gifts that are already in this congregation, and build the confidence of those who have them. Remember that your task together is to proclaim the Kingdom of God, to reach out to the people round about and to show them the love of Jesus Christ, like Theodore, using all the gifts you have.
Tonight begins a new chapter in the life and ministry of this Church. Enjoy the years to come, enjoy working together, enjoy working alongside your brothers and sisters in your neighbouring churches. These three things I ask of you tonight, priest and people together: Grow in unity, rejoice in diversity and hold fast to the Kingdom of God. Make this your commitment to God, and to one another. I can ask no more of you.