Jesus stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you’. After he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you’. (John 20:19-20)
I’ve always been moved by this moment in John’s gospel. The scene comes after the crucifixion, and after the resurrection (if you are reading this at the start of April, then this passage is next Sunday’s gospel reading). By this time Jesus has overcome death and the tomb, and now stands before his friends. Christians like me believe that Jesus is God, who created the universe out of nothing, and so you might expect Jesus to be dressed accordingly, radiant in glory, surrounded by angels. But no, he meets with his friends bearing the wounds that caused his death, his broken body on display. Kintsugi is the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken pottery, bringing the pieces back together to restore their wholeness in a new way. The craftsperson uses a pure gold lacquer to bond the broken pieces into a treasured work of art. All the cracks and damage are not only on display, but they are honoured by the preciousness of gold. Western methods of repair work do their very best to hide the cracks, attempting to fool the owner that nothing has been broken, and nothing has been repaired. The best examples can be seen on the wonderful BBC One tv programme – The Repair Shop. Not so with Kintsugi. And not so with Jesus. His body showed the cost, as well as the glory. Kintsugi pottery is beautiful. Somehow through its renovation it becomes more complete, and more treasured than it was before. And so it is with God’s grace and our lives. The grace which we receive from God is the gold lacquer that binds us together, a gold seam, like lightning dancing through life of the church, bringing not only each of us together, but heaven and earth to. It is spoken in words of peace and forgiveness, in words of love and understanding. It means that even in the most difficult and challenging of times the peace of Christ can make us whole. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. ‘And also, with you’, we say. As Ruth and I move on, we go having been recipients of grace, and of peace. We leave here having received far more in kindness than we feel we could ever repay. And we leave having shared life with many we now call friends. Thank you for everything. May the peace of God be with you, and with all whom you love, now and always. Revd Jeremy Putnam Dear Friends,
During our church services on Sunday 10th March I shared the news of my resignation as Priest in Charge for the parishes of Offwell, Widworthy and Farway, this was following a meeting with the churchwardens and following the tendering of my resignation with the Rt. Rev’d Jackie Searle, Acting Bishop of Exeter and Bishop of Crediton. The decision to resign was not made lightly or quickly but came after much discernment and prayer over many weeks. The decision was made in response to several clear indications that my ministry didn’t have the full local support and trust that I needed to continue. Ruth and I feel deeply saddened that we will be leaving Offwell so soon. We have both felt tremendously welcomed by the village community in Offwell since we arrived in 2022, and have felt at home here from day one. We don’t currently know where we will be moving to, but we trust in God and expect that we will find a home in due course. Just in case there is any doubt, and to help clear things up, I have not received a better offer. And I was not asked to leave. I am also not going on to ‘bigger or better things’ as has also been said. Nor am I leaving parish ministry; or moving into town or city ministry. When I moved to Offwell, it was because I felt deeply called to support rural churches, that so often find being a parish church harder due to limited resources and reduced priestly ministry. In addition to this, my ministry in Offwell, Widworthy and Farway also helped inform my paid job as Mission Enabler for the CofE across Devon, in a way that added further value to the perspective of rural parishes in strategic decision making. More importantly however, Ruth and I moved here because, before applying, we met and spoke to people living and working in these parishes, and we were made to feel very welcomed. We also read the ‘Parish Profile’ which is the document that the parish churches use to articulate what they are looking for from their parish priest. Ruth and I felt at ease, and had a sense of peace that we could do some good here, and make Offwell our home. We feel very sad and very sorry that it hasn’t worked out. My intention was to lead the church services through Holy Week and then finish on 31st March with an Easter sermon. However, for reasons I will not share here, I no longer feel able to do that. The Archdeacon for this area, the Venerable Andrew Beane, has offered his support, which I am incredibly grateful for, and he has spoken to the churchwardens to offer cover for the services. My notice period has not yet been served in full, and I will be using this time to continue offering pastoral support and prayer ministry. I will also attend events as much as possible in my capacity as a resident priest. I have not disappeared. I will attend events where I am invited, up until when my last day of ministry is announced. Ruth and I have received many lovely and kind messages from residents and church members which we have really appreciated. It has felt like a big warm hug from friends and neighbours, which has certainly helped to pick us up from the sadness of having to make a decision like this. Thank you so much, it has really helped. Revd Tracey Voysey has also been a wonderful support to me, and to Ruth over the last few weeks. Tracey has been a wise voice, a listening ear, and an understanding and supportive friend. And for that we feel extremely blessed. My last pastoral message for the parishes will be in the Link Newsletter this month, and with it I convey my sincere and heartfelt thanks to you all. For everything. It has been a lot of fun with plenty of joy, and there is more to come for these parishes. For that I am certain. Yours in the love and faithfulness of Christ. Jeremy (and Ruth). The Mothering Sunday Service at St. Mary’s, on 10th March, will be taken by Revd Canon Jane Wilson. Now retired, Jane was Rector of the United Benefice of Offwell (then five churches) between 2007 and 2012. This March the church also celebrates the 30th anniversary of the ordination of women priests into the Church of England. In March 1994 the first women were ordained in Bristol and on 16th April 36 deacons, including Jane, were ordained at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Alongside her was the Rt. Rev Jackie Searle, Bishop of Crediton, who at the time was eight months pregnant with her first child.
The Movement for the Ordination of Women was founded in 1979. After 19 years of debate it was on 11th November 1992 that the Church of England’s General Synod finally voted in favour of women’s ordination. The day was described as ‘a day of tension’ and the public gallery as well as the press gallery of the assembly hall in Church House had been packed from the moment the doors opened; the expectant crowd overflowing into other halls with television screens. The debate would continue for an exhausting six hours. The arguments for and against were powerful, anguished and emotional. Dr. David Hope, then Bishop of London, spoke with ‘considerable reluctance and anguish’ against the motion, saying that “in all honesty I am very open to the fact that I may well be wrong”. Dr. Carey, then Archbishop of Canterbury, acknowledged the pain some would inevitably feel but hoped: “with all my heart that Synod will affirm the place of women in the priesthood”. John Gummer, MP, ‘came out all guns blazing’ deploring, according to one witness, ‘that the Church should waste time on this issue instead of winning souls for Christ.’ And the Bishop of Fulham felt he could not compromise with tradition “otherwise I risk my soul”. By late afternoon everyone was exhausted and the tension was unbearable. During the vote many were in tears. When the result was announced women hugged and kissed, singing ‘Jubilate Deo’ well into the evening: ‘The relief was like a tidal wave engulfing us.’ Those who felt defeated came out distraught, even some of the men were in tears. By the time the General Synod next met many priests and lay members had taken the decision to leave the Church of England. Jane’s ordination in April 1994 was hardly less dramatic. A determined opponent of the ordination of women, the Rev Paul Williamson, had fought an unsuccessful campaign to prevent the Church of England ordaining women priests. During every ordination ceremony the congregation are asked: “Is it your will that these people are ordained?” To prevent Rev Williamson from disrupting this part of the ceremony the Bishop of Willesden, the Rt. Rev Graham Dow, allowed Rev Williamson five minutes to state his objections before the question was asked of the congregation. The 36 women deacons about to be ordained had spent the previous week in Retreat, in quiet prayer and reflection. Now they were gathered in St. Paul’s Cathedral with supportive family and friends for this joyous and momentous occasion. Rev. Williamson stood up for his allotted five minutes and continued to lambast the congregation with accusations of ‘heresy and apostasy’. As the onslaught continued beyond his allotted time the male priests in the congregation began to wave their service sheets and shout ‘TIME – ENOUGH!!’ When the 36 women deacons finally stood, faced the congregation and Bishop Graham asked the question: “Is it your will that these people are ordained?’ two thousand people leapt to their feet, cheered and shouted YES – IT IS OUR WILL!” Many of the women were in tears and emotional at this great moment of joy and celebration, as was Jane in the re-telling of these events. After so many years of struggle the Church had finally come to this momentous decision to ordain women as priests. CAROL HAYES March 2024 |
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