Leadership by example!

Archbishop of Wales Andy John                                    Source: Church in Wales

'Happy' and 'glorious', two words from the National Anthem that have been used to sum up the celebrations of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee. A tribute not only to HM The Queen but to the skill of all those who arranged and took part in the various events.

Among the events was the magnificent Thanksgiving Service held in the splendour of St Paul's Cathedral but there were two notable absences, that of Her Majesty The Queen which was explained, and that of His Grace the Archbishop of Wales which, so far as I can establish, was not.

Glancing at the order of procession in the Thanksgiving Service booklet (page 8), the only dignitary to send a representative was the Archbishop of Wales.

Curiously 'The Representative of the Archbishop of Wales' was not the next most senior bishop, Gregory Cameron, bishop of St Asaph, but the most junior, the recently appointed assistant bishop in Bangor, Mary Stallard.

Why? When Ms Stallard was appointed the archbishop said "I am delighted that Mary has agreed to take on operational responsibility for much of the life of our Diocese to assist me while I take on the role of Archbishop of Wales."

What, one wonders, was so pressing in the archbishop's diary that he was forced to absent himself from probably the most important event since he was elected archbishop, representing the Church in Wales at the Thanksgiving Service for a monarch who has led by example, keeping the faith when too many bishops have not.

Postscript [08.06.2022]

More embarrassment caused to the Church in Wales by its leadership: "The Church of England has its Mississippi and that's called the Church in Wales".

Anglican Unscripted's take on the Archbishop of Wales' Thanksgiving Service snub (starting at position 41.30):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKfBGINajXY

Archbishop follows suit

Archbishop of Wales, John Davies                  Source: Brecon & Radnor Express

From the Brecon & Radnor Express: "In his message for St David’s Day, the Archbishop of Wales, John Davies urged his followers to follow the example of St David to make our society strong, robust and caring."

A comment which sums up what has gone wrong with Anglicanism.

Followers of the former Archbishop of Wales, Barry Morgan, now lead the Church in Wales.

Followers of Christ have been left to fall by the wayside.

In his St David's Day message the archbishop talks of society, not the Kingdom of Heaven.

Following the example of the bishop of St Davids, Joanna Penberthy, John Davies quotes from the life of St David:

"Community, commitment and concern are things that can make our society strong, robust and caring, and that an ability to live in harmony alongside those with whom we might have significant differences mark us out as decent, honourable, people."

The archbishop has overlooked the fact that the bench of bishops would be ruled out of being "decent, honourable, people" since they have no time for anyone who follows Christ not them.

Church in Wales Bishop's Easter Message prizes

He and his diocese have been the subject of some criticism by commentators on this blog but, for me, despite some reservations about his views on the "refugee" crisis, the outright winner is the Bishop of Bangor who poses the question "Can I be different?" in this imaginative Easter Message video:

The loser taking the booby prize is the Bishop of Llandaff who as Archbishop of Wales has urged in his Easter message: "Do not show fear after 'tragic' Brussels attacks".

The myopic views he expresses will result in the death of Christianity. There is a time to turn one's cheek and a time to follow Christ's example and oppose injustice and wrong doing. Jesus cleansed the Temple and He healed the sick on the Sabbath after being angered. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.

Jesus told Peter to put his sword back into its sheath because Jesus had to drink the cup that the Father had given Him, glorifying the Father's name. For what has been accomplished Christians must spread their faith in Christ crucified.

In his Easter message Dr Morgan calls on people to exhibit the Christian values of 'forgiveness, compassion, mercy and grace' in the face of fear by 'turning the other cheek' and 'valuing those who are least valued in society'. The least valued in Islamic society are Jews and Christians but the blind can't see.

As we approached Easter an innocent, peace loving Muslim shopkeeper who wished his 'beloved Christian nation' a Happy Easter was "stabbed 30 times by a 'fellow Muslim' who sat laughing on his dying victim's chest". The assailant will have found authority for his actions against 'errant' Muslims and non-Muslims in his holy book, as have members of al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS and any Muslim who is prepared to do so.

Dr Morgan is deluded if he thinks turning the other cheek to his Muslim friends while other Muslims are fighting for Allah is going to save us. The evidence is everywhere, even in his backyard. In news from a regular worshiper in a Cardiff church I was told that after their Good Friday service when the crucifix was carried to the church porch as is their custom, there were shouts from across the road of "Allah is greater!"

He is not. The other cheek was turned but just as Jesus was angry we should not be afraid to be angry when justified, exposing false doctrine for what it is while we can. The consequences of following the Archbishop's example are already grim. A court order was made in Great Britain banning a father from taking his son to church because his mother is a practicing Muslim.

He said his son 'is being fed the same lies I was as a child' and I want better for him. "I was taught that Christians were heartless and immoral, that only Muslims have a peaceful faith and all others are evil. It was only when I began mixing with Christians that I learned this was nonsense."

Dr Morgan was right about one thing, we must not show fear. We must expose the truth about Islam not endorse it blindly. There is no other way to defeat its threat to Christianity.

Well done +Andy for some Christian witness. More please.