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The Archdeacon of Oakham has challenged the diocese to get out of its comfort zone, to embrace God’s “calling to build for the future” and to be obedient to “a God who always has something new for us.”
Speaking at a special service in Peterborough Cathedral to mark his retirement after 12 years as archdeacon, the Ven. David Painter suggested that “the sense of power and history and stability” in historic buildings “can all too often lead to the assumption that Christianity is to do with the past, a bit to do with the present, and not at all to do with the future.”
Basing his sermon on a text given to him at his ordination, quoting St Paul’s words to King Agrippa “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision”, he claimed that “we have allowed some flabbiness into our Christian life”. Obedience and answering a call isn’t fashionable, he said.
Christians have become resistant to the idea of conversion in their lives, he added. “For most of us that isn’t a one off thing but it needs to be repeated. Christians want to cling to the familiar as we’ve always known it. That isn’t being obedient to the heavenly vision. All of us have a calling to build for the future which God has for all of us.”
The church has been entrusted with the supreme task of building the Kingdom of God on earth, he said. “Don’t ever let go of that heavenly vision. Don’t hang back from being confident as we build for the future.”
The service was attended by some 500 people from around the diocese. They included friends and colleagues from the past including the former Archdeacon of Northampton, the Ven. Michael Chapman, and people whom David Painter had worked with in his previous diocese of Southwark.
It ended with a presentation of a cheque and a number of small gifts to Archdeacon David. Bishop Donald paid tribute to his colleague and said that in the short time he had been in the diocese he had been greatly enriched by David Painter’s teaching and preaching.
Also paying tribute to him were Mrs Penny Escombe, a former member of Bishop’s Council and currently High Sheriff of Northampton, and Canon Richard Ormston, vicar and rural dean of Oundle.
Until a new archdeacon takes office, the role in the Oakham archdeaconry will be shared between the Archdeacon of Northampton (faculties etc), Bishop John Holbrook (pastoral care and appointments) and the rural deans (licensings and interviews).
29 October 2011