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Being taken seriously is a secondary matter

by
18 January 2013

iStock

From Mr Jamie Wood

Sir, - In concluding his review of the press (Media, 4 January), Andrew Brown has ideas, in the context of ministry to the dying, for "the Church of England to get taken seriously once more. . . it involves not talking about God at all."

I remind myself, and may I remind my fellow-readers, that our agenda is not "to get taken seriously". Our agenda is to follow Jesus Christ; and any brief reading of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - not least when our Lord said to the dying thief "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" - will show that following Jesus involves a certain amount of God-talk.

At best, we, the Church, will be found to have been faithful to our agenda. Whether or not we get taken seriously is not ours to rule.

JAMIE WOOD
7 Suffolk Road
London SE25 6EY

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