Members

I have been known to ask someone the annoying (to them) question: 'But what does that mean?' Sometimes the same person, in a different context, has asked me exactly the same eminently reasonable question (as it now seems to them). Well, I want to ask the same question about the 'Body of Christ': what does it mean? We all know in a vague sort of way that we are part of the body of Christ, and we may even be somewhat aware of the function ('gift' in the New Testament) that we have - although many of us seem to be much more certain about the gifts we do not have! But what does 'being part of the body' mean? The simplest answer is that it means being joined together. But what does that mean? Perhaps two things. It means being joined together so that we ourselves are nourished and grow, and it means functioning in a way that benefits the whole body, or helps the body as a whole achieve the purpose for which it is there; in other words, exercising our gift to help the whole body grow, whether locally or in the wider church. In human bodies, body parts that only feed so that they can grow are described as cancerous. Perhaps we should check up on some of our church activities, and check whether they are performing a useful function for our whole church, or for the wider church. If they are not, perhaps we should arrange a bit of corrective surgery.

Clergy are (or should be) part of the body's working system. They have a primary function: trying to keep the body working together; and a secondary function: exercising the spiritual gifts they happen to have, for the good of the whole body. Part of their primary function is to encourage lots of vital activities, but not necessarily to lead those activities themselves. (Ideally, clergy should only lead those activities where they have a specific gift.) This month I want to emphasise two vital activities and ask you to think about the primary function of the clergy. The two vital activities are house-groups and evangelism programmes, the latter of which in our case has meant Alpha.

One of the joys of coming to Bern was (and is) that there were established and successful house-groups. House-groups are a vital part of a living and growing church (if you have not yet experienced one, you should give it a try). Alpha courses (or something very like them) are another key body part.

By the time you read this, the Alphalive-Znacht will be over and, God willing, our Alpha Course will have begun. Also, but no less importantly, our new Friday evening Bible Study Group will be underway. Please pray for the Alpha Course (and support it in practical ways if you can). Please pray for all our house-groups, especially the new 'family' one on Fridays, and please, if you are not already a member, consider making the effort to join one. Last month I wrote: "Soon we will be able to announce details of Wendy Hough's official appointment as Assistant Chaplain in Bern. This can only be done after the Diocesan Office have completed their procedures and the Bishop has signed the licence for her appointment." I had hoped to be able to tell you more in this magazine. However, the constraints of 'copy date' mean that I still cannot give you any official news. It is now hoped that we can have the joy of officially welcoming her on Sunday 16 October at the 10.00 service, so please put that date in your diary, and please watch the church notices, or the church website for final details.

I trust that the considerable task of obtaining residence permits and making other arrangements, and preparing an apartment, will be at an end by the time that you are reading this magazine. That will also mean that we are embarking on a new task, of working out what it means to have an assistant chaplain rather than a curate. Curates, like apprentices in other walks of life, are expected to spend a lot of their time shadowing the chaplain so that they can learn their "trade". They are also expected to try their hand at almost everything: becoming 'a jack of all trades', before they strive to become 'a master of one' (or more). Of course, at first Wendy will want (and need) to be part of everything that is going on, so that she can find out about all the possibilities for ministry. When that stage has been completed, she and I (with advice from the wardens and church council) must decide which areas of responsibility each of us will take on. One area of responsibility is clear: Wendy will be in charge of youth work; but everything else has still to be decided.

This will mean changes for us all. It will not make sense for Wendy and me to attend everything together, so that there will be various occasions when only one of us will be present. Nor does it make sense for both of us to attempt to provide the same degree of pastoral care for every individual. Some people will be mainly Wendy's pastoral responsibility and some will be mine. Exactly how this will work out is not yet determined. However, this may be a very good point in time to take another look at starting a 'pastoral care scheme', and considering other ways of ensuring that the two clergy are used to best effect. I know this is a concern of many in the church, especially our two wardens, so do try and join in the debate about the best ways of utilising clergy time, and that of the many gifted lay people that make up St Ursula's congregation, and the congregations at Neuchâtel and Thun.

Yours in Christ,

Richard Pamplin