A letter for April's editions of parish magazines from the Bishop of Dudley, Martin Gorick:
I’m very proud to be part of the Diocese of Worcester. We may not be the biggest diocese, or the richest either, but time and again we punch above our weight, with churches and schools growing as Kingdom People, and seeing parishes and serving communities transformed through the love of God.
In February I was at the Church of England’s General Synod in London. Hundreds of delegates, elected from every diocese, who come together twice or three times a year to have discussions and make decisions on behalf of the whole church. Sarah Mullally was presiding for the first time as Archbishop of Canterbury, bringing a calm and determined presence to proceedings, keeping us focussed on being a Christ-like church for the sake of God’s world.
I had the privilege of introducing a motion from our own diocese. It was a grassroots motion that had begun around a kitchen table in Harpley village, where a group of friends wondered how they could celebrate God’s creation through flowers and greenery that were local and seasonal, and arranged without using harmful floral foam. So began the movement for Sustainable Church Flowers, that is now national and ecumenical in scope.
Their proposal was passed by their rural PCC and was then discussed and passed at Kidderminster and Stourport Deanery Synod. It was wholeheartedly endorsed by Worcester Diocesan Synod, and eventually found itself on the floor of General Synod in London. Some people thought it too trivial even to discuss, but the wonderful Diocesan video soon won people round and after a vigorous debate the motion was passed with flying colours.
You can read more about it on the diocesan website, where we also have pages with information about becoming an Eco Church. Help is on hand if you don’t know where to start, as we look to enjoy God’s creation in church, without damaging creation in the process. HRH the King said we need to "be a part of creation, not apart from creation". And through the movement for Sustainable Church Flowers, the Diocese of Worcester is leading the way.
May God bless you in all you do.
Bishop Martin
