Ad Clerum

Ebrill 2020 April

Annwyl Gyfeillion,

The normal rhythms of life and Lent seem a long way away now, as the new normal of life in isolation or social distancing takes root.  We have no idea for how long current patterns of life will need to be maintained.  I hear until the end of April, the end of October, or even Spring 2021 being mentioned.  I found myself reading Paul’s Epistle to the Romans recently, and this passage spoke to me:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. (Roman 5.1-5)

For those struck down by Coronavirus or those close to them, suffering is very real and intense; for those isolated and afraid, it is severe; for some of us blessed with a garden in which to walk and continued ability to work and to be paid, it is an irritating restriction on normal ways of living.  But we are in this together, and we are in it for the common good.  This passage from Paul calls us to consider coronavirus from the point of view of faith.  Whatever level of our “suffering” in this present time, we are all called to perseverance – to keep on doing our pastoral work, to keep on being the face of God’s love in the world.  And doing this will change us.  Coronavirus will change us, and, by God’s grace, give us character.  We will have been reminded of what is really important, we will have found new ways to support one another, to appreciate one another, to be Church.  And there is hope.  I find it marvellously encouraging when Paul writes “hope does not disappoint us”.  Why?  Because it is based on God’s actions in and through Christ to pour transforming love into our hearts.  Beloved colleagues, at a time like this, let us have courage and under God, seek to be bearers of Hope for “if God is on our side, who can be against us?” (Romans 8.31)

Responding to Coronavirus

You are reminded of the guidance issued by the Church in Wales, which has already been circulated, and which is available at on the dedicated section of the website.  Should matters evolve, further guidance will be reissued as appropriate.  The latest guidance from the Bench of Bishops, which was issued on Tuesday evening, 31^st March (co-incidentally the 100^th anniversary of disestablishment), follows closely the restrictions backed by legislation by the Welsh and UK governments, but there is some leeway in interpretation being offered to us in our dioceses.  Nevertheless, I strictly enjoin you to abide by the guidance offered.

The Care of Church Buildings

The RB has prepared some guidance for local churches on caring for church buildings following the Bench of Bishop’s latest pastoral guidance.  They have tried to keep this as simple as possible to guide sensible decision making going forward.  It can be found on our diocesan website and on the Provincial site.

Key Workers and Pastoral Visiting

The government has designated clergy as key workers, allowing us some greater freedom of movement and action in order to discharge our duties of caring for the vulnerable in our society and ministering to our flocks.  This has to be interpreted carefully and not as a licence to do as we wish.  Clergy can be challenged by the police if we are travelling out and about, and you are therefore advised to carry identification of your status with you.  For those who have it, the diocesan identification card issued a couple of years ago should be sufficient, and I advise you to carry it with you when out on pastoral work.

Bench guidance also allows “essential” pastoral visits.  I understand these to be visits to ensure the life and well-being of our elderly and vulnerable members, delivering food or medical supplies, or ensuring that they have the ability to meet their essential needs.  It may also be deemed essential to visit those recently bereaved, although clergy in all cases should allow their practice to be led by the needs and wishes of the individuals to whom they are ministering.  Telephone and other media can be sufficient in many, if not most, cases.  Where physical visits are made, you are advised not to enter homes, but to speak across the lintel observing prescribed social distancing.

 Visiting Church buildings and Recording Liturgy

Clergy are also explicitly allowed by government regulations to visit their churches.  I have no wish to curtail this right, but again I suggest that it is used judiciously.  We should not give the impression that we are free to ignore the restrictions by which others have to live.  I have seen many creative acts of worship live streamed or recorded from our churches, and I am thrilled by them, so I do not wish to restrict this activity, although I do think that Mission Area Shared Ministry Teams should reflect upon how their provision complements one another and diocesan provision.  The Nurturing Team in the diocesan office, for example, are exploring ways of preparing and making available worship aimed at younger members of our congregations.  Where worship is recorded in Church, it must be by the cleric alone inside locked premises, with other contributions being recorded from homes and edited in.

I advise you to read carefully the bishops’ guidance with respect to other visits to church, and those items set out above.

Bishop’s Liturgical Provision

As some of you will have discovered, I am seeking to offer some provision of worship by inviting people to join me for prayer in the chapel at Esgobty.  I have received some kind feedback on this, and I am very grateful to my son, Edward, who acts as my cameraman as he is living in the household, and to Karen Maurice, who as diocesan Communications Officer, has done sterling work in editing material together, and producing the finished work.  This appears on the diocesan website, together with all other material relating to the present time at https://dioceseofstasaph.org.uk/coronavirus/digital-prayer-and-worship/worship-from-esgobty/  I should be pleased if you could communicate this information to all your faithful.

I am also grateful to various clergy and members of the diocesan team who have recorded material from their own locations to enhance and contribute to this worship.  A service will be released from Esgobty for Palm Sunday, which will include the blessing of palms, and which will encourage people to lay their own palm crosses or other items in front of the screen to be include in the blessing.  (I am not entirely certain whether blessings need physical presence to “take”, but it will at least allow people to identify with the ceremonies of the Church).

I have also worked with the team to produce an Eucharist.  I am aware that I am immensely privileged by having the location, wherewithal and household, to be able to celebrate the Eucharist at home, but this liturgy has been designed to be used at any time to encourage people to share in the liturgy virtually and to make an Act of Spiritual Communion.  I do hope that you will feel able to commend it to your faithful.

Services are planned to follow for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter (including a Ceremony of Light), and then for Sundays in Eastertide.  Mission Areas are being asked by Michael to assist with Sunday worship, and Mission Area Leaders will be notified by Michael directly asking for assistance with this.  The Maundy Thursday Service is intended to be a proxy Chrism Eucharist, about which more is said below.

Funerals

Three questions have arisen – who should conduct funerals, funerals on a Sunday, and funeral fees.  I am happy that clergy should accept commitments to lead a funeral on a Sunday, so long as they continue to meet their regular commitment to lead people in worship.  The funeral fee, I understand, should be the Commital fee only, as a full service is not currently an option.  So long as government guidelines permit, serving clergy may conduct funerals, but please see my guidance below to those who are in high risk categories or over seventy.

Ministry by those over 70 (Licensed and PTO)

Those over seventy, or those who fall into high risk categories, have been recommended by the government to self-isolate for up to four months.  This affects two categories of clergy and licensed ministers particularly in this diocese.

First, there are those who are licensed for specific pastoral charges, such as house for duty priests, in the diocese.  I must advise you to conform to government advice and to self-isolate.  I trust that you will sustain your life of prayer, and your ministries by electronic and remote means, including co-ordinating closely with your colleagues in the shared ministry team.  I cannot recommend however that you break isolation, even for undertaking the exceptional aspects of ministry outlines above.  Your safety and well-being are paramount in my concern.  Please discuss any questions of detail with your archdeacon, who will advise accordingly and sensibly, and remember that you are part of a shared ministry team, whom, I am sure, will be prepared to assist where necessary, and also liaise with your Mission Area Leader.

The second category are holders of my Permission to Officiate.  Reports are reaching me of clergy with permission to officiate who are not following government guidelines by self-isolating, and particularly still taking services, including funerals.  I wish to reiterate to them the advice given above to the over 70s and those with high risk vulnerability not to leave their homes, which applies equally to them.  With the closure of our churches, there are no public acts of worship which currently require your presence, and I am afraid to say, the essential aspects of public ministry which do apply to serving clergy as key workers and who may therefore undertake public ministry such as funerals, do not apply to those who voluntarily offer to exercise ministry with my Permission to Officiate.

Ordinations

When the Bench discussed ordinations a couple of weeks ago, there was no clarity whether government restrictions would remain in place by the end of June.  There is no further clarity yet, and I do not intend to make a final decision until there is.  It is highly possible, however, that our priestly ordinations and diaconal ordinations, planned for 27^th June and 4^th July respectively, will not go ahead, and almost certainly not in the form to which we are accustomed.  I have advised our ordinands accordingly, although my hope is that public ministry in some form may be enabled for our diaconal candidates in July.  In the meantime I have earmarked Saturday, 3^rd October, and Sunday, 4^th October, as reserve dates for the ordinations, and I should be grateful if you could enter them in your diaries.  Of course, there is no certainty that they will be able to happen even then, but I am acting in faith.

Pastoral Contact from the Bishop’s Staff

You will all be conscious of the effort put in by the archdeacons over recent weeks to provide us with a daily dose of uplift in the form of pastoral emails.  As we move into the middle range of our quarantine, we have decided upon a more sustainable pattern.  The archdeacons will be taking it in turn to write to clergy by email on Mondays and Fridays, and I have been encouraged to write a weekly letter to all the faithful on Wednesdays.

Stewardship and the Collection for the Saints

In the background of the apostolic age, there is a story which is referenced in the New Testament, but not explicitly addressed.  It is clear that there was a severe famine in the Middle East during the ministry of the apostles.  There is a prophecy about it in Acts 11.28 about it, and many classical authors refer to a famine in the time of the Emperor Claudius.

Paul’s response was to organize a collection from all the churches that he had founded for the Church in Jerusalem, so that their love for one another might be strengthened.  2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 may be read as it sets out Paul’s thinking.  Each should be as generous as possible in a time of need, so that everyone is supported.

Why, you may think, does the bishop tell us about this now?  There has been some talk about how the current crisis affects mission area share, and some have advocated a ‘share holiday’.  You will have seen the material which came out from the diocesan office about share in recent days.  We believe that we need to keep moving forward as normally as possible, and encourage everyone to continue making payments as normally, but as generously as possible.  We must act as the early Church did in Paul’s day.  To put off paying when we may is to store up difficulties for the future.  Of course, the diocesan team will seek to be as helpful and constructive as possible where problems arise, but if we can keep to normal schedules if at all possible, it will be a great help to everyone.

Vestry Meetings

The bench of bishops has approved a text with guidance on the conduct of Vestry Meetings.  It does not fit exactly the situation in St Asaph, so the registrar has written a commentary which relates the guidance to our situation here in our diocese.

Wellbeing

In these days, it is vitally important that we care for ourselves and for each other.  Such care involved not just nourishing our physical bodies, but nurturing our mental well- being as well.  Resources are available on our website, and Michael has recently produced the accompanying summary of some valuable material received here at Esgobty about trauma in the context of coronavirus.

The Chrism Eucharist

One of my chief disappointments in this season, as you will probably be well aware, is the necessary postponement of the Chrism Eucharist which provides us all with the opportunity to re-dedicate ourselves in ministry, and to bless the sacred oils. It was my first commitment in the diocese eleven years ago – with my consecration having happened the previous Saturday – and it is one where I rejoice in the special link we have together as fellow servants of Jesus Christ.  Michael and Karen have therefore been working with me and others to do the best we can.

An abbreviated form of the liturgy will be available as a videocast on Maundy Thursday and I invite you to join me online in renewing your vows and witnessing the Holy Oils being blessed.  The Oils will be available for your use thereafter – but of course, not in the usual way. If you do need holy oil it , you are advised to make contact with the Cathedral team, and they will make such arrangements with you as may be possible.

Diary

The following engagements are intended for either office holders as indicated or for the support of all clergy.  Please record the following particularly in your 2020 diaries as professional commitments: the Clergy Synods, Chrism Eucharist, the Service to mark the Centenary of Disestablishment, Ordinations and the Diocesan Conference.

All the events struck out below have been cancelled due to coronavirus.

09 April                      11:00  Chrism Eucharist & lunch (Cathedral)

11 April                      19:00 Easter Vigil and Confirmation (Cathedral)

26 April                      15:30 Licensing of Rebecca Sparey-Taylor as a Priest in Denbigh Mission Area & Pauline Walker as Mission Area Leader (Corpus Christi, Tremeirchion)

02 May                       11:00 Patronal Festival of St Asaph (Cathedral) including Admissions to Order of St Asaph and Anniversaries of Ordination.

31 May                       15.30 Pentecost Confirmation (Cathedral)

07 June                       15:30 Diocesan Service to Mark the Centenary of Disestablishment (Cathedral)

Ordinations

27 June                       10:00 Ordination of Priests (Cathedral)

04 July                        10:00 Ordination of Deacons (Cathedral)

OR

3 October                  10.00 Ordination of Priests (Cathedral)

4 October                  14.30 Ordination of Deacons (Cathedral)

Later in 2020

09 December            18:30 Advent Confirmation (Cathedral)

 2021

20-23 September  Clergy Residential School at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire.

Hwyl a Helo

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Canon Timothy Lipscomb as part-time Priest in Bryn a Mor Mission Area.  Timothy already holds my PTO and will be based at St Bridget’s, Dyserth, where he along with others has been providing a much appreciated ministry during the vacancy.  I hope to celebrate his new ministry in the fullness of time, but Timothy is currently already offering ministry in the Mission Area.

I am also pleased to announce that the Rev’d Janice Brown will be joining us from the Diocese of Bangor to join the Teulu Asaph as part-time priest in Aled Mission Area, based in Llysfaen and Llanddulas.  At this stage we cannot predict when it will be possible to inaugurate Janice’s ministry among us, but we offer congratulations to her on her appointment.

In addition to the roll of the eight candidates for the diaconate at the Petertide Ordination announced over the last couple of months, I am pleased to confirm that Toby Jones will be joining them to serve in the Pool Mission Area.

We were sorry to learn of the death of Tim Hall’s mother, Dorothy, at the beginning of March, and send him our thoughts and prayers.

I do apologise for the length of this Ad Clerum, containing, as it does, so much important material.  I do give you permission to take a long rest after having read it.  I wish to record my profound thanks to everyone, clergy and lay ministers and the diocesan team, who are doing so much to ensure that we remain a Church during these pressing circumstances.

In Christ,