He was addressing the Governing Body at the start of its two-day meeting at the University of Wales, in Lampeter, on Wednesday.
His theme was “Better, together” — a maxim he applied to the environmental summit due to be hosted by the Church in Wales in November (News, 8 September 2023). More than 70 academics, environmentalists, and representatives from the farming community and water industry, and other interested groups in the UK, are expected to attend. The focus is on how to restore the water quality of polluted rivers.
It was a complex issue, the Archbishop said. “There are competing demands which will require strong engagement and clear articulation if conversation is to both shape public opinion and become policy or ambition in the political realm. Our intention is to create agreement about the principles and direction of travel required, and commit to ongoing conversation where complete agreement is not possible.”
The secretary-general of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, is due to address the Governing Body this week. Archbishop John said: “Over the years, we have built up partnerships and links with churches overseas, which have richly blessed us and developed an important international perspective to our ministry.”
Speaking about mission at home, he said that the Church in Wales “ought to feel the discomfort of a Church that is trying new things and breaking new ground”.
Replacing the parish system with ministry areas, each with a leadership team of laypeople as well as clergy, over the past decade (News, 11 March 2022), had enabled mission and ministry to be “offered differently, to focus on sharing resources and a common commitment to a distinct area, to build teams which include the gift of all God’s people, to look outward because God loved the world so much, and to be joyful bearers of good news for one another in worship and fellowship”.
The Church Growth Fund, through which churches can bid for money for mission and ministry initiatives, needed, therefore, to be incarnational, he said, “to rise up from within the vision, life, and story of what God is doing in the dioceses, rather than be fitful bursts of energy which bear no relation to any direction of travel being set.
“Secondly, they need the underpinning of governance arrangements that ensure delivery and accountability. Throwing money at projects will not bring people to Christ necessarily: God does this. But we can invest well in those with the gifts and heart to make Christ known.”
Archbishop John had earlier reiterated the African proverb which, he suggested, had become a kind of motto for the Olympics in Paris: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Much of his presidential address was based on the story of Elijah, in the book of Kings. “I doubt for a second Elijah felt comfortable with the way God asked him to go into the wild places and become dependent upon ravens for food. But that was the way in which blessing came and lives were transformed.
“Sisters and brothers, the question stands, ‘What are you doing ? Like Elijah, will you heed His advice and go to it? Together, better and with joyful confidence, attend to the work of God to make Christ known? The answer is of course, Amen.”
Key areas for discussion and action at the Governing Body meeting this week include proposed amendments to the clergy terms of service, which would give clergy additional rest days and holiday entitlement, to achieve a better work-life balance. The issue was raised in a Private Member’s Motion at the April meeting, and attracted keen debate (News, 26 April).
The persecution of Christians is another key topic: the meeting will hear an update on the work of the charity Open Doors UK.
Among the listed questions is a call for the Bench of Bishops to “support a robust course of action” on banning conversion therapy in all its forms.