oops...

Panic and pandemonium set in downtown New York as a jumbo jet followed by fighter jets was seen flying close to buildings in Manhattan. Offices were evacuated, panic set in and emergency services mobilised, as people thought another 911 was happening.

It turns out it was Air Force One!! Well not technically as the President needs to be onboard for it to be called Air Force One. But it was the President's plane, in what was apparently later described by the White House, as a "photo opportunity".

It seems in booking the photo op, no one thought to tell the Mayor of New York who was livid!! I wonder who will get their backside kicked for this?

Empty to be full

I am at Archbishops' Council today in Sheffield, and it is always hard work. Long meetings, challenging agendas, complex papers to read and master, and highly intelligent people to discuss with. Even someone as confident as me, feels small in a place like this. But the joy of being here, is to hang out with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and to hear his remarks in Chapel when we meet for worship. He speaks without notes, just reflecting on the Bible reading. He is always a joy to listen to, and such wisdom he gives! Today he was especially on form, and I wanted to share what he said. We had the reading from Ephesians 1:15-23, and Archbishop Rowan decided to focus on the last part of that "the church, whcih is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all"

What is that fullness? The Church so often thinks its about words, and actions and we fill church with activity and busyness. But Rowan argued it is only when we empty ourselves, do we create the space for God to come in his fullness. Our hearts need to be hollowed out through faith and trust, creating space for God to inhabit. We need a willingness to empty ourselves. The alternative is we are too full of ourselves. We need, said Archbishop Rowan, to model a life not full of itself, but a life full of resurrection fullness. When we create the space, God comes in. It is what the Hebrews called the "shekinah" presence, the glory of God.

Archbishop Rowan said "the church is where the fullness of God takes up residence". I think I need to do a little emptying.....

Jackie Pullinger

Last week was our Church Army conference, and many of our Evangelists and staff gathered from across the UK and Ireland for a week of community, fellowship, catching up and fun. It was also a week to be inspired, challenged and stretched.

We were thrilled to have Jackie Pullinger with us. Jackie, originally from England, went to Hong Kong in 1966 and has been there ever since working in the Walled City there. She has worked in the midst of sex workers, the homeless, the destitute and drug dealers and addicts. She has had an amazing ministry seeing thousands of lives transformed. She said many things which were hard hitting and challenging, but what blew me away was her story. The work she does and has done, the things she has seen, the fact that here is a woman who literally has walked the streets like Jesus would have done. In an off the cuff remark, she said something that will stick with me some time, she said - there is no good telling someone Jesus loves them, unless you do too.

The Church forever says Jesus loves you, to a society that doesn't see us as very loving, and to a society that isn't asking a question. The challenge for us, is to do what Jackie has done. To live a counter cultural life, to live a live that blesses and serves others, that so inspires them to ask us, why? Which allows us to say... God loves you. That is what Graham Tomlin would call "Provocative Christianity". That is the Christianity I wanna be part of

Giving

Talking about the Prime Minister yesterday, one of my colleagues gave me a great quote from Winston Churchill. He said "you make a living by what you earn, but you make a life by what you give"

I have been running this around in my head, in a culture where what we earn appears to be to many the definition of their life. Bigger cars, houses and better clothes. Sometimes I fall into that trap myself. Whereas Churchill is right, it is in what we give that we make our lives. Of course that means money, and in a time when charities are facing financial hardship, we should give what we can. But it also means giving of our time, and our talents. In our busy lives sometimes it is hard for us to simply make time for other people. To give the time over to listen and care for someone in a time of need. And of course, how often do we give to God? In terms of our money and our time? So often in our manic lives, we don't make the time, to give the time over to silence and stillness, to allow God to speak.

Churchill's quote is going to exercise me some more today.

Confidence

Tomorrow its our Church Army conference in Swanwick for 4 days, and we are excited to have Jackie Pullinger with us to challenge and inspire. The conference kicks off with a keynote address from me as the CEO. I have to try to inspire and enthuse people, set the right note for the rest of the conference, and also outline some of the challenges we face in the year ahead. I have taken a long time to prepare this speech, in many ways it feels a bit like a Prime Minister making his speech to Party Conference!

As I have been writing my speech, I remembered the saying attributed to Lincoln, that the challenge for a leader was to make sure the good angels in his head were not shouted down by his demons. As I pondered that saying I have been reflecting on the state of affairs in our political life as a nation. I don't think in my lifetime I have seen such disillussionment with politicans. We have the outrage of MP's expenses, the way in which as our nation is tightening its belt our politicians are riding the gravy train. We have Labour peers apparently willing to negociate speeches in the House of Lords for the right fee, and we then to cap it all off we have the email scandal and smearing from Number 10.

I like Gordon Brown. I believe he is a good guy at heart. His work on international aid, fair trade, and his reforms to make Britain a fairer place are all good. But over the past few weeks we have seen the smear tactics, the control freakery, and the bunker mentality. The Gordon who led the G20 so ably, seems intent as well on plotting in smoke filled rooms. I wonder are the demons in his head shouting down his better angels.

Thin places

I have had the privilege of spending three days this week in Canterbury, at the Cathedral. On Monday I had the real honour of preaching at the Easter Monday Youth Pilgrimage, with nearly 1000 young people from all across the Diocese of Canterbury. The Bishops of Dover and Maidstone were there, as was the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. Such a joy to see so many young people excited about their faith, and joining their voices in worship in this magnificent Cathedral.

As many of you know, I have the privilege of calling the Archbishop a friend, having served on the Archbishops' Council for over 3 years now. This picture was taken on Monday, with Archbishop Rowan, and my wonderful godson Josh.

I have then spent 2 days here on a retreat with my Senior Management Team from Church Army. Three days in a row at Canterbury Cathedral is a real blessing for the soul !! In celtic theology, the celts had a term, a "thin place" where the space between heaven and earth feels smaller. For me, Canterbury Cathedral is a "thin place". To sit this morning in the crypt for the morning communion service, knowing that this is holy ground. For over 1400 years, prayer and worship to God has been offered on this spot. You realise this ground is saturated with worship, prayer, and thanksgiving. you realise that in our generation, as we seek to share Christ with our world, that we stand on the shoulders of giants, those who have gone before.

I wonder, where is the "thin place" for you. The place where God seems that bit closer, where you feel his wonder and presence more acutely. As a leader you realise once in a while you are giving out what you haven't got. You are running on empty, your're preaching when your well is dry. I am going to find these places a bit more often - they are good for my soul !

Archbishop's Reflections on Easter

I came across Rowan Williams' reflection on Easter. As ever the Archbishop of Canterbury speaks fluidly and beautifully. I hope you are as inspired as I am as you reflect on his words.

What do we do to our leaders

I have been thinking today about leadership. I have always believed leadership is a calling and actually as a Christian, I believe a spiritual gift. What tends to happen is people who demonstrate this gift tend to find more leadership roles stick themselves to them, and they get called to lead at a higher level. A good clergyperson, who leads an active dynamic church, will get called to be an Archdeacon, or a Bishop or an Archbishop. Or a good youth evangelist gets to be called to be a CEO of a mission agency!

No one should ever come into Christian ministry just to become a Bishop or Archbishop, or even a CEO! They should come into ministry to serve, to love, to preach, to bring people to Christ. I know leadership is important, but Christian leadership takes people away from the very thing that fires their souls, and energises them. Leadership of course takes people away from the coal face, and they become more strategic and management focussed. But I wonder if part of the soul of a Christian leader is eaten away by not doing the very thing they got into ministry for?

If I look at myself. I think I got this job, because I can communicate with younger people, and I can be relevant. I think I got it because I am a pioneer and an evangelist, a practitioner. My colleagues can look at me, and say yep he understands what I am doing and facing. Yet leadership will, despite your best intentions to the contrary, isolate you.

As the church faces financial difficulty,we will probably cut the number of bishops that we have. Because we cannot afford the cost of these set apart bishops. But I think a church in a missional situation like ours, needs MORE leadership not less. We need MORE bishops! Or maybe I should say we need more episcope! More leadership, because not always do bishops give leadership !! (controversial!) However, I think they should be over smaller areas, and should have pastoral charge over a church. Therefore keeping their feet on the floor in the real world of mission and church life.

Maybe this is just a personal cost for me, but the very thing I think got me selected for high leadership, is the very thing that is being set aside to enable me to lead. Maybe that is the cost leaders are required to make, to give up their first calling to serve and to reach out. Maybe I will be a better leader for understanding that. Maybe to be an effective Christian leader, I need to always want to be back on the front line, and not enjoying the spoils of high office. I pray I never get to enjoy them so much, I would be afraid to go back.