Chapter 20: Focusing on the Needs of Others in Lent

Christian Lenten reflection takes many forms, all of which are active, not passive. Lenten prayer and repentance is not a matter of sitting in our pews and nodding off while the choir sings a beautiful anthem, nor is about the Church praising itself. Christian music should take us beyond petty ambition, it is meant to involve us God's love for humankind and creation to such a degree that we can't wait to go out into the world and put Christ's words into action. 

When we listen with open ears and faith, worship of God that is focused on Christ's Gospel teachings leads us to Christian mission - in spite of inevitable human deficiencies, annoyances, ridiculous mistakes and excesses. God sees far beyond our liturgies, which may be skilled and praiseworthy, but at best can only give us a brief glimpse of God's glory. If we continually close our ears and minds to Christ's urgent message, over-congratulate ourselves on our moral excellence and worship skills, and gorge ourselves with luxurious living while millions starve, there is something badly wrong. 

Lent reminds us that we are fallible and mortal, and that we have a serious, daily obligation to reject personal and communal greed, and share God's generous gifts to the very best of our ability. Conversely, there is no Christian imperative to be so overcome by sin and guilt that we are reduced to silence, shame, starvation and immobility. God loves and values everyone, and when we call upon Christ, God lifts up servants to help those in need.

Opposition to helping and supporting those in need, according to God's will, is rampant in our time. Christ firmly opposed oppression and victimisation of vulnerable people, and taught his followers to do likewise.  Overt or covert subjugation of women and girls – historical, cultural, religious or legislative - was never part of Christ's teachings. Christians are obliged to do everything possible to eradicate practices and prejudices that condone or promote the subjugation of women. A sermon on active Christianity, podcast from Birmingham Cathedral on February 16th, put me on the right path this Lent. Download  the Podcast App and search Birmingham Cathedral sermons to find it.

My 2014 Lenten resolutions are therefore to translate my Christian faith more rigorously into sharing what God has temporarily loaned to me, and to pray for all women involved in Church ministry. This morning I reduced my wardrobe to essentials, washed and ironed the excess, and packed them into my "granny trolley" to donate to the Salvos down the road. Then I called a Church friend, and arranged to share prayer and a sandwich lunch with her. The Church is strengthened and reassured when well intentioned Christians meet to pray together.

May your Lent be filled with healthful prayer, mindful contemplation, and service of others.

Chapter 18: Dr. Sarah Macneil - First Australian Anglican Diocesan Woman Bishop

Today, Saturday March 1st 2014, the Rev. Dr. Sarah Macneil was consecrated the 11th Bishop of Grafton Anglican Diocese at Christ Church Anglican Cathedral Grafton, to loud applause. The Very Reverend Bishop Sarah Macneil is now our fifth Australian Anglican woman bishop, and the first Australian woman elevated to Anglican Diocesan episcopal leadership. Her consecration reflects a forward-looking movement towards cooperative inter-diocesan Anglican ministry that respects the diversity of the Australian Anglican communion. Bishop Macneil was  consecrated by Bishop Stuart Robinson of the Canberra-Goulburn Anglican Diocese, as the official delegate of the Metropolitan Bishop of Sydney, the Very Rev. Glenn Davies. In January 2014 Bishop Davies, speaking at an Anglican Bishops' Convention at Goulburn attended by male and female Anglican Bishops, opened the way to increased communication and collegial ministry cooperation between the Sydney Anglican Diocese and other Anglican Dioceses. 

Bishop Macneil's capable ministry as Dean of St Peter's Anglican Cathedral Adelaide demonstrated her integrity, skill, good judgement and dignity, and following further archdiaconal ministry in the Canberra-Goulburn Diocese she has risen to eminence rapidly. Bishop MacNeil is well capable of applying sound justice and a true sense of Christian values to situations of grave conflict, such as the Grafton Diocese is currently facing.

Rev. Dr. Macneil's consecration places Australia well ahead of the UK in the international Anglican female bishop stakes, despite the fact that Australian Anglican bishops do not currently enjoy "established national Church" status or parliamentary seats. Taking a leaf out of our (de facto if not de jure) disestablished Aussie Anglican book, the UK's tortoise-like waddle towards female Anglican episcopacy may

(according to UK PM David Cameron, as reported in The Telegraph, see

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10462311/Church-of-England-votes-overwhelmingly-for-women-bishops.html)

be shackled to reactive legislation that will deprive the UK's first female Anglican bishops of the House of Lords seats their episcopal brothers have traditionally occupied for centuries. Lest they be made scapegoats of a coincidence, it should be noted that none of the UK Anglican female bishops-in-waiting have been instrumental in the proposed demise of Anglican religious representation in the UK parliament.