View from the Vicarage

Things aren't what they used to be! Embracing Change

Things aren’t as they used to be! Embracing change


I wonder if the line above is one you echo. With all the argument within the church about women bishops and practising gay clergy I sometimes look back to those seemingly halcyon days of the 1970’s, soon after I came to faith, where church life seemed so uncomplicated. In 1972 Jesus came alive for me in a way I’d never imagined, or perhaps more accurately he stirred up new life within me. I worshipped at Christchurch, Cockfosters, a highly reputable Anglican Church in North London, and many of these contentious issues weren’t on the horizon.


There were other issues however; one was that the Bishop of Edmonton seemed to make it more difficult for evangelical ordinands to jump through the selection hoops than for his more liberal candidates. A friend of mine in 1976 was seeking to get ordained and had to read liberal books and attend non evangelical churches. Bishop Bill felt that evangelical candidates needed to be broadened out. Liberal candidates in contrast didn’t seem to be asked to read evangelical books and attend Bible believing churches.


Also in the 1970’s there was the aftermath that resulted from highly liberal books such as John Robinson’s book ‘Honest to God,’ and John Hick’s book ‘The Myth of God Incarnate.’ These books sowed doubt in the minds of believing Christians as to the truth of our faith.


Not everything was perfect, but somehow the problems of the 1970’s didn’t seem to touch me. For me personally it was a wonderful decade, university, faith, married life and a career in teaching. Yet as I look back at the 1970’s it is easy to forget that there were huge problems facing society. Some of you will remember the disastrous industrial relations that existed at that time. Power cuts caused by strikes forced a three day working week. One election slogan had the telling phrase, ‘Labour isn’t Working,’ and unemployment edged up to the three million mark. I was watching the news today only to see unwelcome riots in Belfast reappearing, but what a nightmare they were in the 1970’s.


Yes, things aren’t what they were, but we can’t look backwards and try and live in the past. Whereas good and godly scholars had to tackle the liberalism of the 60’s and 70’s which denied the virgin birth and the resurrection and most of the miracles of Jesus. Today we face other issues and in 30 years’ time they will be different again. Not all change is bad and we can all point to wonderful improvements in our lives that were not dreamt of 40 years ago.


With all the Strength that God can give us we, as members of All Saints’, are to remain true to the faith that has once and for all been delivered to the Saints (see Jude 1v3). I was asked recently if I had any intention of jumping ship if the Church of England were to become yet more liberal. My response is that here at All Saints’ we will stick firmly to what the Bible believing evangelical church has always believed. It is not my intention to leave the Church of England but to stay within it and as far as All Saints’ is concerned, to let it be a place where orthodox Christian truth is upheld with conviction.


Our faith is a living faith. We shall not stand behind shields as in a fortress formation under attack. We shall reach out with our faith, pointing always to the name of Jesus. In some respects All Saints’ will want to nurture and encourage change for good. One such change is to reorder the church building. Many will look with great affection at our church building; they will think of weddings, festivals and precious times and want those memories preserved by discouraging any further change. However this would be a mistake. We want our building to be used more and not less. We want it used Monday to Saturday and to be flexible and comfortable. This is why, amongst other things, the PCC is considering replacing the pews with chairs.


So instead of being suspicious of change let us look with openness to change that is good.


One other important change is that after many years of being editor of this magazine Robin Weldon is stepping down. We need a new editor, or perhaps a team, to take on the mantle that Robin is letting go of. This magazine has been a source of strength and encouragement to generations of people connected to All Saints’ and, on behalf of us all, I want to express our grateful thanks to Robin Weldon for all his hard work. Yes, change continues. Things aren’t as they were. Often things improve and get better. The Halcyon days do not lie in the past – we await them in heaven. In the mean time let us work for change that is good, let us not hinder progress that is good, and let us work for the glory of the name of Jesus.


Robert Lovatt