My first experience of Greenbelt was visiting on a daily
basis, staying at home with friends near by at Odell in
1980.
After I'd spent two years as a Greenbelter, a
friend asked me to help out on the stage-stewarding team in the
"pit" when we were at Knebworth. As I had seen U2 the previous
year, it seemed a good idea. I say "pit", but a rope was all we
had.
It was through volunteering at a CPAS pathfinder camp at
Criccieth that I ended up getting involved with Greenbelt.
I also helped out at Solas this year. It's a Scottish Christian
arts festival, again with stewards. I've done a number of other
festivals, too.
Greenbelt is my favourite, closely followed by
Solas, which grew out of Greenbelt. They needed experienced help
with the stewarding at short notice; so I went, and really enjoyed
it.
We try to ask: how can we make that happen in a
positive and safe way?
I am Priest-in-Charge at St Mary's,
Rawtenstall, and St Paul's, Constable Lee, in Manchester
diocese.
Greenbelt has changed a lot: there have been
five different sites: from Greenfields to Cheltenham racecourse;
from a massive 25,000-plus to 2000. Now it's back to 20,000. It's
had its moments - sometimes only on the edge, but for some, well
over it. Today it seems far more comfortable with its identity:
still edgy, but confident, and challenging people where they are to
think about being somewhere else in their journey with God.
When I started, you staked your claim in the mainstage
arena, and some stayed there all day. Now, there is just
so much more to experience.
Nowadays, I don't get to see much, or sit and
listen. As festival operations manager, I don't get to go
to things, but I actually get a lot of different samples. It's the
whole mixture of things which is really exciting - and sometimes
you come across something, like a bit of installation art, which
you're not expecting, or a street performance called "A Trip to the
Arctic".
I get a sense of being part of something that is not
only significant, but unique. I've also made some long and
lasting friendships, and continue to make more each year.
Amazing things happen. When I used to run the
stage stewarding, we were doing an interview on mainstage with
Cliff Richard on a Sunday morning, and four rows of Cliff fans
turned up to see him. We had to move two trailers to the mainstage,
so had to move the fans back to stop them being trapped between the
trailers and stage. But they all pushed the stewards back as hard
as they could. They were "mature adults" on the whole, but they
told me: "He has to see us!"
Later that evening, there was a young crowd of
15,000 dancing away, when someone fell down. I stood up on the
barrier and waved my arms around, and they just parted like the Red
Sea for the ambulance people. I got people to applaud the crowd at
the end. Those who were there to see Cliff wouldn't have moved.
Really surprising, that.
I'm not really frightened when there's a problem with a
big crowd. I'm just doing my job. I trust in the good
nature of Greenbelt crowds, and have confidence in the others
working with me. You build up a relationship, caring for people and
responding to them. There is a sense of the "Greenbelt family"
among those who volunteer, and especially the stewards.
My family's there. I'm married to Liz, who
works as part of the control room at Greenbelt (we get to speak on
the radio); and Matthew, who's 27. He didn't come to Greenbelt
until he was 16, and now he's a stewards' team manager. And there's
Rebekah, who's 25. She came to Greenbelt, but was soon involved,
and now is one of the front-desk managers.
I really wanted to work on the railway. But I
became a teacher, and I'm now a vicar.
I am constantly amazed by the breadth of church
experience that you find at Greenbelt. It certainly
informs and enlivens things, as those who attend take back not only
the experience, but also the questions. It is a safe and yet edgy
space.
I've had the privilege this year of spending time with
the Amos Trust in Palestine, through being challenged by
the Greenbelt programme over the past few years. I've been very
interested in that situation for a very long time; so to actually
go and see it for myself has been quite a life-changing experience
in many ways.
One of the villages we went to visit was on the news
recently: three farmers attacked by settlers, one
hospitalised and his crop burned. They've been intimidated off
their land. Greenbelt tries to encourage people to stand with those
who are facing so much injustice.
The situation in the Occupied Territories, and
the blindness of those who just claim it is their land because the
Bible says so - that makes me angry.
Then, two weeks later, I spent a week on Iona -
reflecting, looking forward, and experiencing in a different place
that balance of so many contradictions. That was a Greenbelt week
of activities - doing Greenbelt in a very small way, and being part
of it rather than helping to run it.
Next year will be the 40th year of Greenbelt;
so we were also dreaming dreams for the birthday. It's still a
rebellious child.
No, I didn't watch the Olympics. I was on
holiday on a campsite in Cornwall; but I would have liked to see
Team GB hockey: I still play as a goalkeeper at Bolton Hockey Club,
where I also volunteer as a committee member.
I married Liz in 1980. She lets me do so much,
like Pathfinder Camp, Greenbelt, even when the children were small.
She's always supported me, although she married a teacher, not a
vicar.
I really regret those moments when you realise that a
few more minutes could have made so much difference.
I'd like to be remembered for being someone who
encourages others to find God, and to be the best person
they can.
A memorable sermon? "It's Friday today, but
Sunday's a-coming."
My favourite place is anywhere with friends. Or
on a ski slope.
I like the Bible when, suddenly, God speaks through one
of those familiar passages in a new and relevant way. Or
when you don't quite get the clear answer that you would like.
My favourite sound? Waves on the shore.
I'm happiest seeing others striving and
succeeding - or just smiling, having tried.
I pray for the Church to raise its eyes above the lines
we so often want to draw in the sand, and to see that
Jesus did not draw lines to separate, but to accept, and not
condemn.
Martin Luther King Jr inspires me. And Papa
Smurf: that's my nick-name now. I really like reading Stephen
Lawhead, Terry Pratchett, Rob Bell, and Tom Wright.
I'd like to be locked in a church with Tom
Wright, John Bell, and Rob Bell. Wow! What a
conversation!
The Revd Martin Short was talking to Terence Handley
MacMath.