End of Sabbatical

Well, that's it then. End of sabbatical. Back to work tomorrow for 3 months, and then off to Cumbria. Still can't quite get used to it: certainly not what I intended at the beginning of November. I've managed to catch up with a bit of study over the past few days, but there's also been some stuff to do with the move e.g. setting up the licensing service. (5pm, Sunday 17 May if you want to come. Tea from 3.30pm, so those travelling can be refreshed on arrival and get away fairly handy afterwards.) Today, after church with Chris & Debbie (rocking baby Chloe to sleep during the sermon!) I've been tidying the study in readiness and begun the task of emptying my shelves of books. I'm aiming to reduce by 50% by the time we move!

I've particularly enjoyed reading a new document published for General Synod next month, called 'Growing the Rural Church.'  Where I'm going is not entirely rural - Cockermouth is a small town - but the difference in scale between here and there is pretty enormous. This parish has a population of 23,000 whereas the entire population of Cockermouth is only 8,000! And the population of the villages which also form part of the Team is only about 1000 each. One of the things I think I will have to get used to -as the document makes clear - is that the church is often more 'enculturated' (sorry about the jargon!) within the life of the local community than it is in the suburbs. So you tend to find the same people active in both church and community, and the major festivals of the year have a greater significance. In other ways, as the report suggests, the challenges are the same: helping people to be the church, rather than go to church, being much more collaborative both within churches and across denominational lines, and - for clergy - learning to be 'episcopal', encouraging and promoting the ministries of lay people rather than being the minister.

At my interview, I was asked if I was good at delegating. I said I think I am, in the sense that there are certain things I am not good at and others do better. But I went on to say that maybe the question implied that ministry belongs to the ordained person who shares his or her ministry with others. Not so: ministry belongs to the church (well, actually to Jesus!) not the vicar. As I sometimes say, 'it's not the job of lay people to help the vicar run the church; it's the task of the vicar to help lay people change the world!'

It's not all been serious stuff while I've been off duty. There was the holiday in Antigua, Jude's building project, and several family events, including a triple birthday party yesterday. I've enjoyed finishing work earlier in the evening than usual and watching more TV. Silent Witness is a favourite of mine, and I'm specially enjoying Wolf Hall on a Wednesday night. The lighting is so good that it not only makes the production seem more authentic but it also helps to give that sense of foreboding around the court of Henry VIII.

I've also read a fair bit of fiction. I enjoy a good crime thriller, and have been working my way through the Swedish Millennium trilogy (not in Swedish, I hasten to add!): The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo/Who Played with Fire/Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest. The author, Stieg Larsson died sadly at the age of only 50, by which time the 3 manuscripts were with his publisher. Lisbeth Salander is a kind of anti-hero, subjected to terrible abuse as a child, a damaged person as a result, but with phenomenal intelligence, great physical strength, a strong moral compass and immense courage. It's one of those stories - of intrigue, corruption, crime, political cover-up - which makes a great story but you can't help wondering whether it's rather too close to reality. Larsson has a particular concern for the abuse of women and the power of good journalism. It's well written, and the violent and sexual narratives are neither gratuitous nor indulgent. Not sure I'd want to see the films though!

Sabbatical 10 (The Leaving of Liverpool)

We've been away this past weekend: my brother-in-law's 60th birthday, down in Rugby. A good time to meet up with my family, and meet some of his friends too.

While we were away, 'the announcement' was made: we will be leaving Liverpool at the beginning of May for a new post in Cockermouth. I will be Team Rector of the Cockermouth Area Team, consisting of 4 churches: 2 in the town, and 2 in outlying villages. (You can check it out at www.cockermouthareachurches.org.uk.) This has come completely out of the blue, and yet seems to connect in many ways with what has gone before. For one thing (and not a lot of people know this!), I think I am a country boy at heart. I was brought up the son of a vicar in rural Hertfordshire, where I lived for most of my childhood. When we first came to Liverpool in 1975, neither Les nor I thought it would be for more than the 3 years of a first curacy! I have often thought I might serve in a rural parish, but it has just never happened - even though I have applied. It seems that every time we thought of moving, God said 'Stay in the city'. So we have.

But I love to be in the country, especially the hills and lakes of Cumbria. Seven years ago, we bought a small apartment in the less touristy area of Dalton, not far from Barrow, south of the Lakes. We have loved to go there for occasional breaks, and enjoyed exploring the whole area around the Furness peninsula. We had wondered about the possibility of eventually retiring to Cumbria (diocese of Carlisle) but more recently we had been thinking it would be Liverpool, mainly because all our family are here now. My sabbatical leave had a two-fold purpose:

• to draw breath, listen to God, and consider what my priorities should be here in my remaining years before retirement
• to begin to prepare for retirement (when & where?), and do some more work on coaching and mentoring, as a ministry I might offer when the time comes.

We had been back from Antigua less than a week when I was texted a message: would I like to consider this post in Cockermouth? The person spec seemed to fit me. I laughed! Moving now was not remotely in my thoughts, but it seemed as if God might have other ideas. So, early in December, Les and I travelled to our flat, and from there spent a full 12-hour day in Cockermouth. We visited all 4 churches, talked with countless people (including an extremely helpful and supportive Archdeacon and Team Vicar), and arrived back in Dalton buzzing. Would I apply? Yes I would - so I filled in the requisite form, nominated 3 referees (thank you - you know who you are!) and waited. Just over 2 weeks ago,we were back in Cumbria, this time for interview. First, there was a presentation to an invited audience of 70 people, representing the 4 churches in the Team, other denominations and the local communities. This was followed by a Q&A and social time. The following morning, there was an interview by a panel of 12 and subsequently I was offered the post.

It was a very good process of discernment, I thought. I'm not just saying that because I got the job! It enabled a large number of people to be part of it, so I can go not only sensing that I am called, but knowing that others think so too. The amazing thing is that, as far as I know, though a large number of people met me, knew my name etc, there doesn't seem to have been any breach of confidentiality. So huge thanks to all concerned. And thanks especially from both Les and me to all those we've met so far who gave us such a warm welcome and seemed so eager to support us on this journey.

Now the news is out, the reality is setting in. Packing up after 20 years, down-sizing in the process! It will be such a wrench leaving behind family, friends, and a city we love. There have been many warm messages of support, encouragement, and appreciation of our time here. So thank you if you are one of those. We won't be that far away of course, and I'm sure we will return often. And - who knows? - maybe we will retire here after all. But it looks as if that could be 5 years away now - if all goes well! Meanwhile, I might keep chickens, if I can first persuade Les!