Web Page Letter
Most people know the story – when I was invited to accept the benefice of Lobley Hill I told the then Bishop of Durham “I will stay for 5 years and not a day longer”. That was of course 29½ years ago (the moral being – Don’t make rash promises to Bishops). I had been worried that “it is not an easy parish to come to” – but no parish is ‘easy’. It was clear that we needed to make changes to make the church relevant to the people of Lobley Hill in the 1980’s. One of these changes was the introduction of ‘lay administration’ at Holy Communion. This was a ‘hot potato’ in many churches – up to this point Holy Communion (the bread and the wine) was ‘given’ by “The Vicar” (perhaps assisted by a Curate or in some cases by a ‘Lay Reader’). The idea that this ministry could be ‘shared’ was considered revolutionary by many people – and they said so!
But to a young vicar in his first parish this was important – and he said so! It wasn’t just about what we were doing but more about why we were doing it. I even remember the words I used – “as long as I am vicar,lay ministry in its widest form will be the norm of this parish”. That was clearly setting out what kind of church All Saints (as it was then) was going to be. 29½ years later I still stand firmly behind that belief. I remember saying in a sermon in 1982 “I want people to stop coming to church and start being the church” (Some people only heard the first part of the sentence – but that took the opposition away – and enabled us to re-focus our life).
The rest – as they say – is history – today I give thanks for all the folk who preach,lead worship,read,pray,minister and serve in a host of ways in what has become Hillside Church. Yes as I travel around the Diocese – and as we seek to work more closely with other churches in the Deanery I still come across a ‘consumer’ attitude towards the church. What I mean is that the church is a ‘provider’ (of a ‘service’ – no pun intended!) and those who come are the ‘clients’. Being the church not just coming to church is still a live issue in many parishes.
A general reduction in clergy numbers brings this into even sharper focus. In the early 1990’s what is now Hillside Parish was served by 4 clergy. Now there is one! It is clear therefore that “lay ministry in its widest form will be the norm in this parish” and although influenced by necessity it will nevertheless be driven by the same belief in ‘every member ministry’ that has underpinned our life for the past 29½ years. It is that conviction which will continue to determine what kind of church Hillside will be – because it will actually determine the future of the Church of England.
With every good wish
Canon Bob Hopper
Vicar of Hillside
