Lanzarote Relocation

A Message from our Chaplain, the Revd Idris Vaughan:

“Has the world gone crazy?”

This was a question posed to me by a Christian friend recently after reading the story of a nurse suspended for offering to pray for a patient. Yes she offered to pray FOR not WITH the patient. This was enough for her bosses to suspend her because they felt she had inappropriately introduced her faith into her caring role. As a hospital chaplain I used to lecture nurses on how they could best meet the religious and spiritual needs of patients!
Another story which hit the headlines was that of a 5 year old schoolgirl who was scolded at school for talking to her classmate about Jesus. Her mother also was threatened with the sack (she was a receptionist at the school) for sending a private email from her home asking Church friends to pray for her. How did the headmaster acquire a copy of her private email?
Then a story of a 16 year old Muslim girl who had been fostered by a Christian couple, decided she wanted to become a Christian. Now the couple are being reprimanded and will be unable to foster again because it was assumed that they influenced her unduly! But this is a 16 year old young adult not a 6 year old girl! Surely the girl is old enough to make up her own mind?
I would be the first to protect the rights of individuals to practice and promote their faith, but it appears that this should not be the case for Christians. On a recent Radio 4 programme I heard a Bishop of the Anglican Church say that, because other faiths cannot be criticised under the law, as it would be seen as racial prejudice, then Christians are becoming the scapegoat for criticism and prejudice.
The Anglican Synod which met in February passed a motion that commanded Anglicans “to go forth and evangelise”. Perhaps as Anglicans we have always been reticent to stand up and be counted. I have always been proud to be an Anglican with all the richness and diversity that the Anglican Church offers. There are those within the Anglican Church who would like it to be less “Anglican” with much more freedom of liturgy etc. But there is plenty of scope for flexibility without losing the central core of Anglicanism with its balanced emphasis on the Word, Sacraments and Tradition.
Those of us who regard ourselves as Christians should not be ashamed to call ourselves “Christians” and should be keen to share our faith with others. As we approach the season of Lent, which is a period of preparation for the great celebration of Easter, this would be a good time to re-claim and be proud of our allegiance to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said “Do not hide your light under a bowl but put it on a lamp-stand where all can see it. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Instead of giving something up for Lent, why not do more and share your faith?

Fr Idris

You may also enjoy reading the following:

1. Church Newsletter – Dec 08 The Anglican Parish of St Laurence in Lanzarote Newsletter – December 2008 A Message from our Chaplain, the Revd Idris Vaughan “And the Word became...
2. Church Newsletter – June 2009 Individualism vs Community When I was growing up as a boy in a village on the outskirts of Manchester, there was a great sense of...
3. Church Newsletter & Events – Nov 09 A Message from our Chaplain, the Revd Idris Vaughan: Remember, remember….. This used to be the start of a rhyme. Remember, remember the 5th of...
4. Church News – March 2010 Anglican Church in Lanzarote A Message from Father Idris: Making a Difference This was the theme for the Gibraltar Archdeaconry Synod held recently in Portugal....
5. Anglican Church Newsletter – May / June 2010 Father Idris’s Retirement.  As you may know, Fr Idris is retiring in June and we shall have the opportunity to say au revoir to him...