Page 2 - Moravian Messenger August 2018

Dear Editors,
As the last Moravian member at Bedford St. Luke's I was so pleased to find the obituary in respect of the Rev David Bunney in the July issue of the 'Moravian Messenger'. I had sought since February for any mention of his sudden death but found only a reference in the Tytherton news in April.
Recently, on 13th June, I attended the interment of David's ashes in one of the gardens of remembrance at Norse Road Crematorium, Bedford, where the ashes of David's wife, Edna, were interred. (They both originated in Oakley, about three miles from the town.)
Strangely, just a few days ago, (lodged in a diary from 2008 when St. Luke's closed), I found the words of a hymn written by David, which I thought might be of interest to those who knew him:
Lord, let me now depart in peace, for I have seen your grace;
the vision of eternal life
shines from your risen face.
Lord, let me now depart in peace, for I have seen your light;
through all the nations of the earth its freedom comes to sight.
Lord, let me now depart in peace, for I have seen your life;
I'll bring the promise of your word to end all fear and strife.
Lord, let me now with you depart, For I have seen your peace; Which in true quietness of heart Alone can bring release.
© Sr Gwen Gribble
Tune Common Meter but David chose St Hugh 262 in the 1975 Hymn
Book 'O Lord and Master of us all'. Kind regards,
Sr Gwen Gribble
Bedford
David Bunney
Letters
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
By the time this letter is published, Synod 2018 will be over, hopefully with business completed. Nevertheless I refer readers of The Messenger back to the July pre-Synod issue.
I write in praise of the most informative leader article. Whilst I have attended more Synods than I care to remember, many readers have not, and the comprehensive outline of business and procedure can only be beneficial to those who may often ask, 'well, what happens at Synod?'
Congregation deputies always get an introduction to procedures before the business of Synod begins, but to have information presented in such a concise way in advance must be helpful to everyone.
I want to pick up on one small yet significant slip of the pen in Sr Sarah's article. It relates to the phrase, 'they will be ordained presbyters'.
In the Moravian Church, it has been the practice to refer to the 'ordination' of deacons, and the 'consecration' of presbyters and bishops.
Whilst there is some linguistic confusion here - I'm no classics scholar, but as I understand it, both words in essence mean the same, but one is from a Latin root, the other Greek - the Moravian Church position has always held that we have one ordination and that our deacons are fully ordained. Therefore we have opted to 'consecrate' rather than 'ordain' presbyters and bishops to emphasize this point.
As I say, it is a small yet significant slip of the pen - but that in no way detracts from the excellent article.
Br David Newman
Retired minister, now living in Fawley, Hants.
Dear Editors,
I have read with interest the letters in the Messenger on the subject of human sexuality. I attended both meetings in our church and have spoken to others within the congregation who did not attend the meetings. The following is not a report on the meetings. These are my own personal, strongly held views (though I know that many within our congregation agree with me). It should be noted that Northern Ireland is the only place in the UK which does not permit same sex civil marriage and given the fact that (at the time of writing) our local politicians refuse to talk to each other and that we have effectively no government, that situation is not going to change soon.
I understand that there are many who struggle with the subject of same sex relationships and how those within such relationships fit within our church. I believe that everyone who loves our Lord should be welcomed into our church and the door should be shut to no one. I have heard Bible verses being used as ammunition in an attempt to justify a stance which would deny full membership to anyone in a same sex relationship. Yet it is not that simple. The Bible is sometimes contradictory (an eye for an eye/turn the other cheek). We no longer follow the rules on slavery and blood sacrifices. Women play a major part in church life and divorcees are allowed to remarry. Our Lord did not follow all of the religious teachings of the day. He healed on the Sabbath and the priest in the parable of the good Samaritan who blindly followed the religious teachings and walked away from the injured man did not come out of that story well.
When in doubt I turn to Jesus for guidance. At no time did he condemn those in same sex relationships as sinful. If it had been
an issue He would have given us instruction. Instead he gave us the only rules that we should follow in dealing with others - 'Judge not lest ye be judged' and 'Love your neighbour as yourself'. Jesus did not turn people away. He opened his arms to everyone and if we are to follow him we must try, in our poor way, to do the same.
We are all different. Everyone who has ever lived, is living now or will live in the future is different. It is one of God's greatest miracles that no two people are the same. We have only two things in common. We are all sinners and we have all been created by God. I would not dream of discriminating against others because of race, gender or ability. So why would I discriminate against someone of a different sexuality? One day we will all come before God and have to explain our sins. How can we justify ignoring the specific commands of Jesus or explain why we discriminated against one of our brothers or sisters because of the way God has created them. After all, God does not make mistakes.
I am not a theologian. I do not claim a perfect knowledge of the bible or of God's will. I will leave my final words to those who know much more than me:
'In the very core of Moravian understanding of humanity, the God- given equality of all people is fundamental', Rev Dr Courtney Jarvis and Rev Dr Jørgen Bøytler, President of the Unity Board and Unity Board Administrator - 15th January 2018.
'For God so loved the world... and I don't, then I can't claim to be Godly', Rev David Latimer, Minister First Derry Presbyterian Church, June 2018.
Yours in Christ,
Sr Julie Greer
Gracehill
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