From the Revd Rowan Williams
Sir, - The Revd Paul Eddy (Letters, 12
July) might be heartened to know that, when I attended a
Bishops' Advisory Panel as an observer earlier this year, several
of the candidates were actively engaged in a ministry to men.
Nevertheless, his justifiable concerns about providing suitable
mentors for younger male Christians, in particular, need to be held
within the context of the debate about gender in the theology of
the whole Church.
As a female university chaplain, I have been slightly surprised
that the most active members of our newish Anglican Society - one
of whom recently wrote an excellent article in these pages (Comment, 31 May) about the
anti-EDL "tea party" at York Mosque - are all male. They don't seem
to have a problem with relating to a female mentor; nor does it
appear to have any dampening effect on their discovery of a faith
they can call their own.
Further, I see a steady stream of female students and staff
expressing disquiet with local student-orientated churches (the
worst offenders, I am glad to say, are not Anglican) whose idea of
ministry to women is focused solely on domesticity and
subordination; in more than one case, the pastoral damage has been
profound.
If the Church is to survive for future generations, we need
effective ministry to all our young people, regardless of gender,
which convinces them that every individual is made in the image of
God, with a range of gifts to offer in the service of the Church.
My worry is that, by targeting ministry along gender lines, we will
actually perpetuate damaging stereotypes that are increasingly
irrelevant to today's young people, and create a Church that is
ever more polarised.
ROWAN WILLIAMS
Anglican Chaplain, University of York
11 Newland Park Close
York YO10 3HW
From the Revd Philip Derbyshire
Sir, - We haven't had any confirmation candidates for a number
of years. This year, four men (all 65-plus), called by me the
"Senators", are being confirmed in September. We meet once a month
and enjoy a good glass of wine, and explore everything from prayer
to world faiths to poverty and technology and its effects on life
(good and bad).
These men have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and have
been loyal sons of the Church for many decades, and married to
equally devoted women who "took the plunge" years ago. They have
really wrestled with this level of public commitment, and they
certainly keep me on my toes - no soft-option answers accepted.
Each man is being sponsored by another adult man in the
congregation, and I think this is a key ingredient to this
success.
We are also building a healthy Jubilee Junior Church and Family
Service community (children aged three to eight, plus mothers and
some fathers). We need all these for a healthy church life, I
believe.
PHILIP DERBYSHIRE
The Vicarage, Stewkley LU7 0HH
From the Revd Nicholas Bromfield
Sir, - In her review of Christopher G. Smith's book The
Mystery of Reality: With its implications for love, religious faith
and the courage to be oneself (Books, 5 July), Anne
Spalding writes: "I found his exploration fascinating, but he
barely makes links with daily existence. (Perhaps I should not be
surprised at this: all his sources, except for one scientist, are
male.)"
This may, of course, be tongue in cheek. But it looks not to be.
What a wholly unnecessary, sad, and ridiculous thing to say.
NICHOLAS BROMFIELD
The Rectory, Oakland Road
Harrow Hill, Drybrook
Gloucestershire GL17 9JX