Message from Bishop Robert, 30 May 2023

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” And he said, “Go…” (Isaiah 6, verses 8 and 9)

One of the delights of my ministry is to be the ‘Sponsoring Bishop’ for our diocese. Working with Ann Sargent, our Diocesan Director of Ordinands, I have the privilege of meeting with those who are exploring God’s calling on their lives, asking if this might take them into training for ordination.

As part of that process, those who come to see me will have spent some time reflecting on the stories of their life, seeing how God has been at work in different ways, sometimes in joy, often in sorrow and sadness, and discerning within this God’s call to them. It is always moving to read and hear these stories and reminds me every time of a fundamental truth about the nature of the God we know in Jesus Christ – that God calls and that God sends.

Being called and sent is, of course, not exclusive to the clergy, it belongs to us all. Known by name, sent to share the love of God and work for the Kingdom. More than this, it is also always shared with others; it is the faith of the Church, and we are the Body of Christ.

Next month we will rejoice with a good number of those who have made this journey and come to ordination as Deacons and Priests in the Church of God, and there will be much rejoicing. But before this, I wonder if we might each reflect on the story of our life and on how God has been at work in us, seeing those times and places God has called and sent us. Such an approach will help us rejoice even more with those who come soon to be ordained, recognising that we share in the ministry of the Church with them. It will also help us respond to the ‘what next?’ of God for us, to be open to the possibilities of what might be, however surprising! Though this we can find the courage to make our ‘yes’ to God and to say with Isaiah, however tentatively, ‘Here I am; send me…’.