… that delivers what God expects for his people.

It is time for all of us to reflect on what we are here to do. It very easy for the different factions to say this or that, or occasionally the other thing, in support of their particular viewpoint. However, having just completed the season of joy peace and goodwill to all men etc, my view is that what is most important is what unites us rather than what divides us.
I am not denying that there are big issues that appear to want to divide our Church. What I think I am saying is that our Lord is probably grieving more over our misguided confrontations than over the minutiae of our disagreements.

We are called to proclaim the Good News about Jesus Christ to all the world. At the moment, it seems to me that many are just preaching that the Church is divided. That seems counterproductive.

Someone said that the Open Synod Group is the hard centre of the Church of England. The reason for that is because it sometimes confronts the 'Apollos' and 'Paul' mentality with options that they can’t understand. These options involve inclusivity and compromise and are difficult because they espouse causes that aren’t black and white.

How can we move forward? My hope is that the Open Synod Group will flourish by continuing to be the home for those who want to talk about difficult issues but in a spirit of wanting to learn how differences can be accepted. Let us continue to be that space where people can come without fear of having their views disrespected.

So what does God expect for his people? Life in all its fullness! Not a life full of nonsensical rules that are designed to exclude. Let us reflect on each of the issues that divide us and ask whether they are just differences or radical evils that have no place in our society.

The differences we can use to enrich the community of the faithful recognising the joy of diversity. Otherwise it will be ...
'Led like a Lambeth to the slaughter!'

Tim Hind
Chairman, Open Synod Group