Dear People of God
in the Diocese of Saldanha Bay
...So, What gives You Life?
What are the things that inspire you? What do you do when life gets you down... when you are tired, sad or depressed?
Do you need to be alone or find a busy shopping mall in which to be re-energized?
Where do you meet God, to be refreshed and renewed?
Planned Quiet Days, Retreats, the daily rhythm that you have worked at for years, does provide the frame-work for providing the answers to the questions I have raised.
...but still, how do we pattern our lives and relationships, so that we can remain healthy and strong, when buffeted about by the unexpected strong winds and turbulence that come our way?
My family is long suffering, and they provide much of the support that is needed to gain equilibrium.
Unconditional acceptance... ready to provide the little needs of daily life... cup of tea... supper.
And these are a few of my favourite things.
My Herb Garden... growing in pots at the back of the House, provides huge volumes of energy and insight...the mint, celery, parsley, rocket, basil … the colour, the texture, the different aromas... the eyes, nose hands, tongue all are addressed by my Herb Garden.
I am grateful to God for my family and my Herb Garden and the Birds that come to feed on the seeds that I put out regularly... these are things that give me life, when life gets me down.
THE SYNOD of BISHOPS
This took place from 27th to 29th September 2010. I will place material from the Synod of Bishops that are relevant to our Diocesan Life on the website for your attention and perusal.
The Synod of Bishops is always a time of refreshment... the bonds affection and camaraderie amongst the bishops are remarkably strong and supportive.
The Bishops enjoy each others company and for me the deepest significance in our meeting is the strengthening of relationships.
THE PROVINCIAL SYNOD
The Provincial Synod met from 29th September to 2nd October 2010. Again, I will post to our Website, the material that has emanated from the Synod.
The Archbishop’s charge was foundational and inspirational, and much of the Synod was shaped around it, as the delegates engaged with its contents.
Entitled 'Anchored in the Love of Christ
Committed to God’s Mission.
Transformed by the Holy Spirit'
The charge captured the eight priorities of the Provincial Vision Statement, viz.
(i) Liturgical Renewal for transformative development
(ii) Theological Education
(iii) Leadership Formation
(iv) Health, including HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
(v) The Environment
(vi) Women and Gender
(vii) Protection and nurture of children and young people
(viii) Public Advocacy
Our own Diocesan Vision Statement:
'Inspired by our belief in God through Jesus Christ, we are committed to serve all in ways that continually affirm, equip and transform'.
We will seek to apply these eight Priorities and link them to our own context. I think it is at the coalface of Parish Ministry, where the actual day to day engagement of ministry takes place, that will be the testing ground for the vision statements of Province, Diocese and Parish.
The Quill and Quiver congratulates and thanks the Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba for presiding so skillfully and lovingly over the Synod.
THE CLERGY SCHOOL
The Diocesan Clergy School was held in the idyllic Boland Mountains with the burbling Hot water springs of Goudini providing daily baptisms of healing, warmth and restoration.
The school focused on one of the significant outcomes of the Provincial Synod, viz. the amendments and re-ordering of the Canons on Discipline in the Canons and Constitution of ACSA.
Bishop Peter Lee, with wit and wisdom, and his vast experience in pastoral care, brought excitement, provocation, controversy and insight into the dull and boring subject of Canon Law.
Bishop Peter rooted the matter firmly upon the principles of Pastoral Care, and demonstrated that this should be our priority... 'to care for one another'... invoking the Canons is really a last resort when all else has failed.
The Clergy School provided a lovely space for the Clergy to raise issues of concern ranging from Pastoral Guidelines in Parish Ministry to fiscal planning by the Diocese to provide the best possible pension emoluments when the Clergy Retire.
A special Task Team was put in place under the chairmanship of the Revd Canon Kulana Makhalima to prioritize the issues raised, and set some plans in place for further discussions and implementation of these ideas that were posited.
RENEW AFRICA
Remember the 'Seasons of Renew?' It was certainly a very successful Spiritual Programme of Renewal in Parish Life.
Renew International have met with some of us in the Diocese, to tell us about a brand new presentation, called ‘Renew Africa’... a process of spiritual renewal through small Christian communities (SCCs). I have asked Canon Andrew Wyngaard to be our Liaison Person on this, and to keep the Diocese informed about the programme material availability, and possible adoption and launch in the Diocese.
The Clergy in the Diocese have all been given a summary leaflet, that gives you an excellent overview of the programme content.
CONTINUING INDABA
...is another way of saying conversation, conversion, collaboration.
Through the Office of the Archbishop of Cape Town, the Diocese of Saldanha Bay has been invited by Anglican Communion Office (A.C.O.) in London, to participate in a pilot project, which stems from the Lambeth Conference... called 'continuing indaba'.
We are being invited to participate with two other dioceses (one in EAST AFRICA and another in WEST AFRICA) in a pilot conversation within Continuing Indaba.
Continuing Indaba aims to
(i) Intensity relationships across the Communion
(ii) Energize local and global mission
(iii) Enable genuine conversation across difference
Conversation is expected to take place across many layers of difference. The focus will be on how we in global communion can support one another in local mission. The aim is not to solve the differences that divide the communion, but will be seeking to discover models of ways we can discern the mind of God together.
The first meeting will take place in Nairobi, 16 – 20 November 2010 with the three bishops of the dioceses. This will be followed by Link Representative from each diocese meeting in London from the 6 – 9 December 2010.
The aims of these meetings will be:
(i) To discuss together a plan for action
(ii) To get a better understanding of each others contexts
(iii) To set the questions for conversation.
During February 2011 and January 2012 the conversations will take place between teams of participants from the three dioceses. It is not expected that the Bishop will dominate in these conversations, but that representatives of the laity and clergy will participate.
Towards the end of 2011 a mutually agreed process will begin to reflect on the conversations, their results, and the process.
I am hoping therefore that this will be a worthwhile and exciting project for us to take part in... and so doing making a modest contribution to continuing indaba in the Anglican Communion.
With good wishes, thoughts and Prayers
Yours in Christ
+ Raphael