The Church of England’s stand on Murdoch makes the world a little better; Report from an Olympic Chaplain
The Church of England’s stand on Murdoch makes the world a little better
The C of E’s pension fund does not easily mix with its principles. But disinvesting in News Corp sends an ethical signal – Andrew Brown comments in The Guardian –
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/aug/07/chruch-of-england-murdoch-pension-fund
Wish you were here – Report from an Olympic Chaplain
Rev Andrew Wingfield Digby writes: ” I am on the late shift in the multi faith centre (2pm till10pm). That includes two official Christian meetings – a short service at 6pm and a Bible study on Luke at 8.30. Numbers have dwindled a bit at these services for good reasons – many athletes have left the Village and others are enjoying the action in the Stadium and elsewhere – more of that later.
On Sunday we had a marvellous service in the Christian prayer room. Perhaps 70 or so athletes and officials joined us from many countries including 7 or 8 from the GB team which was encouraging. There was testimony to faith in Jesus from many athletes including contrasting stories from a very successful US sprinter and a marathon runner from the Congo. Brothers in Christ but from different planets in background and experience.
The preacher, a Scottish minister who is chaplain to Kilmarnock football club (someone has to do it) spoke about identity in Christ. “Who are yer?” he asked quoting the aggressive and nasty football terrace chant. Does our identity lie in our performance, in the case of the Olympics in sport, but it could be anything, or does it lie in the great mystery that our lives are actually hidden in Christ? He, not our gold medals or are disappointments , are where true life is to be found. It resonated with me as someone who has competed hard all my life and believes in playing to win and I know only too well how are self esteem can be dependent on our performance rather than in the wonderfully reassuring truth that we are unconditionally loved by our Creator and Redeemer.
I had also been touched by an encounter with a pistol shooter who had underachieved in his event. He had come to the Bible Study I had fortuitously prepared on 1 Samuel 1; Hannah is disappointed at not having a child and bullied by her rival for her husband’s affection (Read the story!). She prays to God, has Samuel and dedicates him to God by asking Eli, the Priest to bring him up in the Temple. What a huge sacrifice she made to give what was most precious to her and most longed for (her gold medal) to God. But how God blessed her (with more children) and the nation through Samuel. His ways are not our ways! The pistol shooter told us later that his Good Friday had turned to Easter sunday as a result of the Bible study.
You may be feeling sorry for me that I have seen nothing of the Games. It is true that much of the amazing sport has only been seen by me on the screen. Like you the GB success has been very exciting for all concerned here. Personally I have not been into the Velodrome or to Eton Dorney for the rowing…but feel sorry no longer; I was invited into the Stadium to see Usain Bolt win the 100metres – wow! And last night I was asked to accompany leaders of the Zoroastrians, the Janes and the Jews to the athletics! If you had asked me the day before what I would be doing last evening it would have taken me a long time to guess that. The Jewish gentleman did not show up but the other two were quite delightful.
We are winding down gradually and I have a few days off from this weekend before beginning duties for the Para Olympics.There is also the small matter of the crucial Lords Test to attend! (Had you noticed cricket is still going on?)
Pray for those last encounters with athletes going home. Quite a few come for a gift of the special sports Bible the Bible Society has produced with More than Gold. We write in them and give them a verse. Yesterday I was reminded that we first did this at the World Student Games in Sheffield in 1991. An American swimmer took a Bible, never read it till several years later when life was in a muddle. God spoke to her, she became a Christian reentered competitive sport and got selected fo the US swimming team where she shone as a light for Jesus….so you never know what seeds are sown.