Liam Cartwright

Exactly this from the Bishop of Chelmsford. On how morale in the church can get sapped from the centre. “When I was still relatively new in Chelmsford, I explored some of this during an address to Diocesan Synod and this is what I said. As a rule, I'm not so comfortable with the language of “Vision and Strategy” being deployed in the Church. It risks, it seems to me, putting too much emphasis on our human powers: that, if only we try hard enough and pull together well enough and all follow the same programme,then we can solve the problems and challenges and ensure the future survival of the Church - either much as it has been in the past or, preferably, producing a shinier, bigger, better version.   The language of Vision and Strategy risks ignoring the reality of frailty, brokenness, sin - all of which can of course be redeemed, but it risks missing the blessings in that which is small and vulnerable and marginal. It leaves us relying heavily on our own strength, instead of remembering that everything depends on our faithfulness and our reliance upon God.   These reflections seemed to chime with a number of people and, to my great surprise, gained a little bit of traction on Twitter (as it was then). I should also say that they earned me a slap on the wrist from central church (laughter and applause)- who told me that such talk undermines the work of the Vision and Strategy department (laughter).   That was definitely not my intention. I'm not a troublemaker. I was simply speaking with my own Diocesan Synod, reflecting on what I was discerning locally.   But I was shocked that one lonely voice could be regarded as so threatening within the wheels of power, especially in a Church that claims to want more diversity.  The whole experience was quite a learning lesson for me, if nothing else,about the strength of the pull of the centre.”