Joining the Dots

Jane Chaffey writes:

One generation shall extol your works to another
    and shall declare your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendour of your majesty,
    and on your wondrous works I will meditate.

Psalm 145.4-5.

This verse and its many echoes in the book of Psalms has been an inspiration throughout my vocations to ordained ministry, motherhood  and teaching.

It is a joy now, at Wycliffe, to be in the company of so many at this transition point in their lives as they pursue God’s call. Not that I ever dreamt of this when, as a Somerville student, I first peddled up and down St Giles’.

But God has his own way of joining the dots. 

When I left Oxford, following a year working as a lay assistant at St Ebbe’s, I felt certain that Christianity had to be able to work in the secular world. Coming from a safe and fairly sheltered upbringing and joining the graduate HR programme of John Lewis/Waitrose I think I probably gained more than I could give, learning about lives and issues of those working in the business.

The northern context of my theological training in Cranmer Hall and a curacy in Liverpool was also fresh ground and indeed a gift for me. Although it was fairly new at the time, the parish took training a female deacon in their stride.

By this time I had married and the combination of raising a family and my husband, Jonathan’s starting as a Royal Airforce Padre meant I stepped out of parish ministry for some years. Instead I assisted in the various military chapels to which we were called and - being priested in the first year that women could be in the Church of England - helping out in local parishes.

With my husband sometimes away for extended periods, I decided to train on the job as a teacher in a local girls’ grammar school which, crucially, would enable me to be around when our children were at home. I joined the pastoral team as a Head of Year and when Jonathan was posted to Air Command in High Wycombe I was able to take up the role of school chaplain at Wycombe Abbey School.

Albeit not without considerable challenge, it was a privilege to find myself looking after the life of its beautiful chapel and working amongst a lovely and lively group of staff and pupils. 

In many ways chaplaincy in any context resembles the role of parish priest in former generations. One is a visible part of a community and shares an identity. It taught me afresh about the opportunities afforded by a Christian heritage, how much the preoccupations and narrative of the church are not those of most people and organizations, and how much the Gospel has to offer to both.

In this time of great societal change, the church our current ordinands are called to serve is in new territory and ministry must respond to this. Nothing a person brings is wasted and part of formation at Wycliffe is helping one another to join the dots and learn to recognise the unique blend of personality, gifts and experience which, together with our theological understanding and ongoing learning is what can offer in ministry.