Throughout the summer and early autumn of 2015 the news has been
dominated by the great wave of migration into Europe by people from
places like war torn Syria. We have seen images of migrants trying to
board trains in Calais, landing on Greek islands in ramshackle boats or
trying to cross from one nation to another in Eastern Europe. We cannot
but be impressed with the perseverance of so many in risking so
much to escape the intolerable misery of life in their native lands.
The news image which has had the most impact on the British public so
far, was undoubtedly that of a young migrant child who had died on a
beach. We later learnt that his father had lost not just this child but
that his wife and all of his family were dead as a result of their
attempt to escape the horrors of their homeland.The plight of this
family stimulated a great wave of sympathy and changed many people's
attitude to migrants and asylum seekers.
However, the TV item which made the most impact on me, was of a much
happier moment. It showed asylum seekers arriving at a bus station in
Germany following their long and harrowing journey to be met with a
warm welcome and indeed the applause of local German people. I was
particularly pleased to see that among the welcome party were a number
of clergy who were shaking the hands of everyone coming off the buses.
In a world in which Christians and Muslims are frequently portrayed as
enemies it was good to see representatives of the Church showing such
hospitality to
those who had come in such need.
It raises the whole question as to what our attitude as Christians be
to this crisis? Scripture and Christian Tradition make it clear that we
have an obligation to care for the stranger in our midst. For example
in the book of Leviticus we read this: 'The alien who resides with you
shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as
yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: (Leviticus
19:3)4.In this verse God's people are reminded that they themselves
were once aliens in a foreign land and so they above all people should
understand God's demand that strangers should be treated with
compassion.
So we can be in no doubt that as Christians we have an obligation to
care for those who have fled intolerable conditions in their own
country and wish to live among us. But does this mean that in we should
be prepared to accept any number of those wishing to come?
Worries about our ability as European nations to absorb so many
migrants and genuine concerns about who will bear the large costs
involved do have to be taken seriously.
Everyone would agree that the key to resolving this situation is to
bring peace to places like Syria. Most people love their homeland and
would only wish to leave it if conditions there are intolerable for
themselves and their families. If the nations of the world can get
their act together and work seriously to sort out what is a very
complex situation in Syria then people would stop wanting to migrate,
and many who had already left would wish to return. Easier said than
done of course! But if world leaders really want to deal with the
migrant crisis this is what would really help.
Until this happens I believe we have an obligation to welcome and care
for those who feel they have to escape from the misery and danger
around them. Despite the public concern about immigration I believe
Britain should be doing far more than hitherto in accepting our fair
share of those who wish to come. We should be putting pressure on our
political leaders both to do accept more refugees and to work harder to
bring peace to troubled lands.
The end of an era
As I write this I have just ceased to be Area Dean of Arllechwedd and
indeed the Deanery itself has ceased to exist. Following decisions by
the Diocesan Conference the number of Deaneries has been reduced to
four - corresponding to the new Synod Areas.
The Deanery - a local unit comprising a number of parishes presided
over by one of the incumbents of these parishes acting as Area or Rural
Dean - has been part of the structure of our Church for many centuries.
It has been useful in many ways, not least in enabling clergy to come
together to share information and to support each other.At the same
time it has to be admitted that the majority of church folk have never
found the Deanery relevant to their lives. They tend to relate to their
own parishes of course and to the Diocese, but the Deanery has seemed
of much less value.
With the creation of large Ministry Areas in our Diocese the former
deanery structure became untenable and the new structure makes a great
deal of sense. We are now in the Deanery of Bangor which covers the
whole mainland part of our Archdeaconry. The new Area Dean who will be
Clerical vice-chairperson of the Bangor Synod, working in collaboration
with the Archdeacon, is Canon RobertTownsend and
we wish him well in his new role.
While welcoming the new arrangements I also feel that this is a
historic moment and that we need to mark the end of a Deanery
which has existed for a considerable time.To that end I have arranged
to celebrate a special Eucharist in Holy Trinity Church at 11.00 am on
Saturday 10th October. Canon Peter Jones (Area Dean before me) will be
the preacher. Do come along to mark this change and to thank God for
the contribution that the Deanery has made to church life through the
years.
Fr.
John
