Simon Says ...

A sermon for Evensong   Ezra 1 ; John 7.14-36 All that I have to say in the next few minutes is contained in a very helpful visual aid that is built into the fabric of this Cathedral.   The Baldacchino, the canopy over the altar, is a sign and reminder of all that I will say.   You could, of course, decide that means that all that follows is redundant, and you would be right to a point.   However, as a Baldacchino is rather uncommon in Anglican architecture, it may be that it would benefit from some explanation as to what it is a sign and reminder of! It was, the Gospel tells us, the middle of the Festival of Booths when Jesus had this rather difficult exchange.   The Festival of Booths is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot.   It is a harvest festival at the end of the agricultural year.   It is also an annual reminder of the forty years that the people of Israel lived in the wilderness on their way to t...

Wednesday 14th Se ptember 2016, 6.00pm for 6.30pm   Derby Cathedral Café    You are invited to the launch of Imitation and Scapegoats a new book by Simon J Taylor, Canon Chancellor of Derby Cathedral, Area Dean of Derby and Director of Curate Training.   The book uses the work of René Girard on violence and religion to ask how minsters and pastors can deal with rivalry, conflict and scapegoats in their own lives and ministry. The ideas are explained through stories from the Bible, case studies and questions for reflection and discussion.   Please come and mark the launch of the book, with refreshments and a brief introduction to the themes of the book. Copies will be available for purchase.      

Now the Report of Proceedings from the July Synod is available online, I reproduce these two extracts from the question time when I asked two supplementary questions.   As ever, this is about transparency in relation to what happens at Synod. The first relates to Safeguarding, and to the difference in cycles between DBS checks and training requirements.   I have been involved in working out a Diocesan training schedule for Safeguarding and we have found that it misses a trick to combine the two cycles making record keeping (and hence reminders and up to date training and checks) simpler. 35. Revd Canon Jenny Tomlinson (Chelmsford) asked the Chair of the House of Bishops:  Can it be confirmed whether or not DBS checks are in future to be required every three rather than five years; and, if they are, what is the estimated cost to the whole Church, and benefit, of such a change? The Bishop of Durham (Rt Revd Paul Butler) replied as Chair of the Joint Safe...