I feel that the church as it is now has detoured from the path that it was supposed to take. It has become obsessed with issues about gender, marriage, and budgets. When I preach on what the Gospel says to me, I hear comments of, ‘Thankyou, I always get fed when you preach. You challenge us.’ I am sick of reading about division, strife, betrayal and sometimes absolute ignorance of what is happening in our society and what the church is called to do, (or not do.) I am weary of ministering to people who feel marginalized and rejected, not by society but by the church.
However, having said this. I had not answered the question formally before. At my age, I don’t expect to be around in 2019. I kept my vision to myself, except when it was appropriate to express it in sermons etc.
I am now forced to reply, having received that inane poster of a baby wearing a mitre. Is the vision of the National Church a church in which white male Bishops still rule? I hope not. My vision is of an inclusive, multi cultural, gender inclusive church in which the ‘people of God’ means all those who have chosen to take up the cross and follow Christ, whether they are straight, gay, black, white or whatever. It should not matter. This cross section of humanity would not gather in huge buildings that cost the earth to maintain. They would meet in small groups, doing eucharist and then going out to be Christ in the world.
I could go on and on, but this is briefly my reply to your questions.
Lettie J. Montreal
