Rector's letter February 2009

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00)

"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." So say the adverts on 800 buses around Britain and 1,000 posters on Tube trains, following the Atheist Bus Campaign which has raised £140,000 to place the ads.

Some of the media coverage following the campaign fosued on the word 'probably'. Why not say what you mean and leave the word out? Answer? It apparently has something to do with advertising guidelines and the need to provide reassurance to non-believers instead of criticising the devout.

 I have to say that I am with those who have chosen to see the campaign as a positive opportunity. Instead of getting miserable about it, it's a fantastic opening to initiate discussion, respond to questions, get the conversation going. After all, as Professor Richard Dawkins who is involved in the campaign rightly concedes, you cannot say there is definitely no God.

No you can't! Indeed, in my view, quite the opposite. Insofar as one can say anything for sure, it seems to me that the evidence still colosally outweighs any evidence that can be mustered for his non-existence.

However, I'd want to take the conversation further than simply arguing for God's existence, important as this is. For I wonder how much use a God who merely existed, but who didn't do much more than that, would really be? But a God who speaks and acts and is engaged in the affairs of human history is a different proposition altogether.

Here is the life-enhancing, world-transforming, declaration with which the writer to the Hebrews begins his letter, "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe."

This is fantastic news. Not a mute impotent God who can do no more than look on from a distance. But a speaking acting God who has spoken decisively in the past and who, despite what might occasionally seem to be the case in the present, continues to speak and act today.

Communication is, then, at the heart of God and at the heart of his relationship with this world.

Which all leads me in a round about way to the subject of the parish magazine (which is also about communication).

You may know that for a long time now we have been without an editor, although we have been very grateful to Emma Cooper who has efficiently collated copy and laid it out, and to Tim and Di Reeder who have kept a watching brief on the magazine, not least by proof-reading copy. During 2008 the Parochial Church Council (PCC) undertook a review of the magazine and agreed some changes which we believed would build on its strengths and continue to make it a useful and appreciated document for some time to come. However, we were still without an editor.

WIth effect from the February edition, I'm pleased to say that Chris Bridges has agreed (once again) to take up the reigns, albeit assisted by a small team of willing volunteers. All being well you should start to see some changes, not least an increase in the number of articles and features and the introduction of a tiny bit of colour. There is still scope, however, for expending the team with which Chris is working. So please do offer yourself if you can; we want to see the magazine go from strength to strength.

In Christian Love,

Alan Jenkins