At last!

This week's Church of England's General Synod vote on women bishops was a landmark decision for our Anglican friends.  It comes after such a lengthy, and at times painful process of debate and discussion.  There have been moments when it seemed impossible to see a way forward and at such times I guess many involved in the 'behind the scenes' engagement must have felt like giving up.  But the point is they didn't - and this week our Church of England colleagues took a big step 'together'.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said in conversation with Andrew Marr on the BBC this Sunday that the Church isn't to be thought of as a political party so much as a 'family'.

All families have quarrels from time to time - yet our deepest desire is that we work our way through these difficulties and stay together despite our differences.  That all takes time, patience and a willingness to see another person's point of view. We might say it takes love - but let's be clear what we are taking about here - it's 'tough' love rather than 'sentimental' affection.

Of course all analogies break down but I think there is value in thinking of the Church using this honest perception of 'family'- not least because of the enduring nature of it.  Whatever we do to our relationship we still remain a father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister.  And however much I might take a different view to someone in my church they still remain a fellow pilgrim.

I think such an understanding simply encourages us not to give up or walk away from the ongoing desire to live in peace with each other - a peace based on mutual understanding.  And none of this will be passive or sentimental - instead it means honest and sometimes painful debate held always in the context of a covenanted community seeking peace.  And that, I suspect, is what the debate about women bishops has been about - of how those, united by so much yet divided on particular points of interpretation, can walk together in a relationship of integrity.

It's not easy being family.  It's not easy being Church.  But no one said it would be - and whenever was 'easy' the same as thing as 'worthwhile'.

With best wishes,

Ian