From the Vicar Feb 2010

February 2010

Dear Friends,

Life would be so much easier if there were simple answers to difficult questions. Just

think how much easier 2010 would be if it were so - I'd know for sure who could put

the country straight after a general election, what to do about global warming, even

how to guarantee my place in heaven. But it is not so, part of being human is about

struggling to sort things out.

For example recently George Carey, a former Archbishop of Canterbury, signed a

cross party statement on immigration, the only Church of England bishop to do so.

The gist of which suggested that immigration must be capped. In an article in The

Times he pointed to the strain immigration put on Britain's resources and more

controversially that current immigration levels ‘threatened the very ethos or DNA of

our nation'. He adds, ‘We've got to be more outspoken. What I'm calling for is a

debate, a debate without any rancour.'

Firstly, the question of acceptable immigration levels is so controversial it is quite

impossible to have it without any rancour. Secondly I suspect his fear about the

changing DNA of our nation is a desire to return to a golden era of the past which

never quite existed as he pictures it in his mind. We are a multi-cultural nation and

have been even before the Normans arrived in 1066. What form does original British

DNA take? Truth is the DNA of our nation is ever changing and always evolving. It

is each of us and not some anonymous other who establishes the ethos of our nation.

As we travel into a new decade, let us rejoice that we live in a nation of such

diversity, acknowledge the challenge that presents us with and resolve to do our part

in making it work. The unacceptable extremism of a small minority flourishes where

apathy and negativity abound. We can never return to a golden era of the past, only

commit to creating the best we can in the future with the resources God has given us.

Happy New Year,

Ros