Plenary, 21 Dec 2005
Meeting date: Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Official Report
383KB pdf
Time for Reflection
The first item of business is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is the Right Rev David Chillingworth, the Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane.
The Right Rev David Chillingworth (Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane):
Henry Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State, once passed cynical comment on the world of student politics, saying that the reason why there was so much in-fighting was because there was so little at stake. A bishop should be challenged by that because, of course, it is a comment that might equally be applied to the world of church politics. A church is not a Government or a Parliament, which means that we do not run anything and are free to practise political in-fighting in its purest form. Time after time, I have seen people of simple faith and clear vision finding church committees difficult. Sometimes they retreat disheartened, shocked that we worship a God of love but do not always find it easy to love one another. Perhaps it is also because we talk of drains and lead valleys when we should be speaking of heaven. I suspect that politicians sometimes speak about heaven when they should be talking about drains.
Of course, that situation poses a profound challenge to all of us—to the public representatives in this chamber, to me and to all who exercise leadership in church and community. The business of doing business, whether in church or state, will always involve a certain amount of push and shove because it is, at heart, about issues that matter, and the people involved—if they are worth while—will be people of vision, commitment and strong character. However, we must never lose sight of what it is all about. It is about the care and protection of the weak and the voiceless, the big issues of justice and peace and our shared calling, which is to care for people and to enhance their lives. If we have to struggle a bit with one another along the way, surely that is precisely because there is so much at stake.
Jesus spoke of life abundant—fullness of life—as his gift and his vision. May our working together and our struggling together in both state and church be the means of bringing that to people across this community this Christmastide and in the days to come.
Father God,
You sent your Son born as a child at Bethlehem.
Bless the meeting of this Parliament today
In speaking and action,
May we work always with humility and care
And enhance the lives of the people of our community.
Amen.