When I was preparing my sermon I was struck by the words in the Gospel about child abuse which made me feel it right to address the sense of hurt many of us have about the failings of the Diocese.
If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. Mark 9.42
We cannot hear these words of Our Lord this morning without sorrow.
We belong to a great Diocese that’s been let down.
Since Saint Wilfrid came to Sussex in the 7th century the Christian faith has been taught here. The body of Jesus Christ has been built up. The sacraments have been celebrated.
Some 35,000 Anglicans are with us this morning at worship, many of them children, in some 500 churches from Rye across to Chichester and Brighton up to Crawley.
Tomorrow morning some 37,000 children will be attending 159 church schools across the Diocese.
Each week St Giles Church engages with up to 140 children through our school, Toddler Plus, Sunday Club, servers, choristers, Brownies and intermittent contact with village youth.
We’re part of a great Diocese, in size at least, but also - I speak as a former diocesan adviser – in apostolic vitality, engagement with young people, and in the quality of our leaders from Saint Richard through to Bishop Bell.
A great diocese let down to the chagrin of priests and people.
There are diocesan priests both charged and in jail for child abuse.
In recent weeks we’ve been made aware of the grave failings of a number of clergy and church workers in Chichester Diocese, some committing the unspeakable crime of paedophilia.
In last week’s diocesan bulletin our area Bishop Mark Sowerby writes:
I realise many people want to know how the diocese is responding to the Interim Report of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s visiting Commissaries report and its recommendations. We have been responding to... the recommendations... A full action plan is almost complete and will be presented to diocesan synod on 10th November.
Our new bishop believes considerable progress has been made since the Commissaries began to compile their report. We are shaping a programme for the diocesan response to the recommendations... addressing concerns at the November Diocesan Synod.
I would add that the PCC has the updating of child protection policy on its agenda as we await the new Diocesan guidelines. You can read our policy statement reaffirmed in February of this year up in the porch. We are grateful as ever to our child protection coordinator, Linda Allan, who coordinates Criminal Record Bureau checks of our volunteers. Linda, Chris Wheatley and I have attended the diocesan child safeguarding foundation module.
If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. Mark 9.42
In today’s Gospel Our Lord has a strong word for us as Christians about the betrayal of trust. So much is at stake in the work of spreading the good news. Priests particularly have responsibility for clearing away obstacles to faith in themselves and in their people. Yet there are times when we do the very opposite.
The sins of priests in Polegate and Burgess Hill like any sins affect the whole world but they have a particular impact on God’s work in Horsted Keynes. That’s why I felt it right to address the evil this morning, and our hurt concerning it, and to lead us in offering solemn prayer in a moment for the victims of abuse.
This focus apart we are reminded of the two Puritans watching the man ascend the scaffold, one saying to the other ‘there but for the grace of God go I’. My sins, your sins, my and your failure to love as widely as God loves, contribute to the evil of the world. I was put in the world to be a channel bringing love and not a drain sucking it away into myself – so I need his mercy to become what I was meant to be.
How great is the Lord’s forbearance and mercy! He is always ready to forgive and to help us grow out of our selfish attention seeking to engage with the plans he has to purify and change the world we live in.
If we set Our Lord’s saying in its widest context his reference to little ones doesn’t just refer to children but to those little in faith. Can we honestly say that our own life has never put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in Jesus? Are we not guilty at times of careless words, conniving in destructive talk, viewing indecent materials, being inattentive to young people and holding a certain exasperation and even hardness of heart towards those far from Christian values.
In these and many other ways we put stumbling blocks before people who want to travel the Christian way. As Father Keith McRae reminded us people nowadays need half a dozen positive experiences of the Church before they take Christianity seriously. Not-yet Christians are ‘spiritual little ones’ to be cultivated and not impeded by the sins of church members.
In focussing on this topic I do so aware that Bishop Martin Warner is already taking up responsibility for us as diocesan Bishop. He has already impressed those of us who’ve heard and met him. Our prayers this morning will naturally include him alongside the victims of abuse and the forward mission of the 35,000 folk in our 500 churches and the spiritual well being of the 37,000 children in our 160 church schools.
Let us kneel, if we possibly can kneel, this morning for the prayers.
Loving and holy God we come before you in sorrow and penitence for the sins of priests and people as we lift to you in a minute of silence the victims of abuse in our Diocese.
O Lord look upon the thoughts of our hearts as we agonise over the harm done to our brothers and sisters. Breathe wisdom into our prayers, soothe restless hearts with hope, steady shaken spirits, especially those of our priests, with faith.
Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people's wounds and transform our brokenness. Grant to our leaders, especially Bishop Martin, courage and wisdom, humility and grace, so that they may act with justice and be instruments of your healing.
Purify your Church, Lord, and start with me! Remove all stumbling-blocks before the little ones who believe in Jesus, so that their faith in you may grow strong. Bless Chichester Diocese in its mission and all who teach in our church and in our school, that the children in our care ‘may develop fully as individuals with Christian values and contribute to, participate in and enjoy the world in which they live’.
Almighty and everlasting God, the comfort of the sad, the strength of those who suffer: hear the prayers of your children who cry out of any trouble, and to every distressed soul grant mercy, relief and refreshment, especially those commended to our prayers......
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
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