(This was published in the Christchurch Press today - the context is the strong reaction to the announcement that the Anglican Cathedral is to be deconstructed rather than repaired)
What a year we have had! And as you observed it is likely
that in many ways this second year is going to be even harder. It has certainly
been a rough start to the year for you.
Now I obviously don’t know anything about the process that
occurred to bring you to the decision to demolish the Cathedral. I imagine that
was a really complex and difficult decision. I assume it was not clear cut but
involved a massive judgement call. It has certainly provoked strong reactions.
It seems to me that it has also brought to light very different assumptions
about the role of the Cathedral in the city. Some see it as a civic icon,
treasured by the city, to be preserved at all costs - it is on our logo for
goodness sake! - and now really only Anglican in some incidental, kind of
custodial way. How dare you not fix OUR Cathedral! Others see it as the
functioning seat of the Anglican bishop, owned by the Anglicans and yes we
loved it and we are sad it is gone but while acknowledging its civic role in
our city, you need to decide what is best for your wider church.
At this time, as a non-Anglican but fellow Christian
minister in the city, there are a few things I would want to say to you:
In my family like so many others the dominant thought after
the earthquake was thank God we are all alive and safe. Our home was damaged
and no longer feels quite like a secure home, four generations were camped out
in our son’s flat but we were alive. It’s only a small thing in the bigger
picture but my mother who lives with us lost wedding presents from 50 years ago
and my wife lost the present her parents gave to her for her 21st
birthday over twenty five years ago. I was upset for them but I was surprised
when they said it didn’t really matter because bottom-line our family was
together – including our precious little three week old granddaughter who lives
with us and who could so easily have been hurt in the earthquake. One of the
great lessons of the earthquake was that bottom-line it is people who matter.
That wise old Maori saying: he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
Now somewhat parallel to that, post-earthquake many of us
got to see what the church really is – networks of local communities committed
to loving and serving our city. Politicians and emergency services will know
the role that the church as community played. Grace Vineyard Church hosting a
distribution centre in New Brighton, Parklands Baptist, Hornby Presbyterian,
Spreydon Baptist, St Albans Baptist, Arise Church, the list goes on. This was
the church not as historic buildings but as living communities of literally
thousands of active participants. That church is so often invisible to media
and politicians. Along with the student army and the “farmy army”, I would
suspect that it was church based organisations and volunteers who provided a
significant organised non-government response. The church as ‘people’ had
leadership structures and experience, communication networks, systems of care
and thousands of volunteers ready to help. This was the church not as relic of
a bygone age but communities of average Cantabrians for whom Christian faith
and community is important and service to the wider community is a key value.
That is the church I believe in, love and serve. Bishop, we need that Anglican
church to be strong in the coming days.
I think the other church leaders of the city understand that
you are a shepherd for the whole diocese. You are responsible for the health,
and strength and comfort and development of the whole diocese. And just in
terms of buildings I hear that means you are responsible for something like 24
church communities that have lost their buildings. The cathedral is one
building, granted in one sense the chief building of your diocese, but it is
actually only one factor in the big picture that you are responsible for. In
practical terms how much time, energy and money goes into that one building
compared to the other 23 parishes that have lost buildings? You are responsible
for developing a strategic plan for the whole.
But it seems that many people don’t seem to understand that
even beyond those twenty-four buildings, the Anglican diocese is actually the
people that make up your parishes. You are a shepherd of those people and those
communities. And you are responsible to love them, care for them and to think
strategically about their future well-being as a whole.
It is ironic that those of us who love those buildings the
most and use them the most, actually love something more. We know that
theologically ‘church’ is not the building but the communities of people who
use those buildings. We believe passionately that it is important that those
communities survive, and are strengthened and grow. We have given our lives to
serve those communities.
I think we do need a great symbol of hope back in the centre
of our city, a symbol of the city rising from the rubble again, a symbol I dare
to believe that people might come from all around the world to see. And your
diocese needs a cathedral. So we look forward to hearing your plans for that
site and your cathedral. And in our post-Christendom and post-modern world that
is an interesting contested place in the city square. But contrary to those who
would celebrate the building as a monument to an ancient faith now a relic or
memorial, we would say please ensure that the real Anglican church - your tens
of thousands of members who gather in over seventy parishes in your diocese
- that they find life, joy, comfort, challenge and opportunities to serve
the rebuilding of our city. Bishop you have not failed the city if one iconic
building falls rather you have served the city if the Anglican communion rises
strong in hope and confidence to contribute to the future of our city.
What is really important to the Anglican church in
Christchurch, to the churches of Christchurch, and to the city of Christchurch?
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. Those people do need a beautiful city with
beautiful architecture and historical connection but much more than that they
need your leadership and care to create a hopeful future.
Kia kaha, Bishop.
All the best. Thinking of you. Praying for you. Grateful,
Victoria, that you are in this role at this time
Rev Steve Graham
