New Year’s resolutions for the Church of England…?
Sarah Mullally, current bishop of London and Archbishop of Canterbury elect, gave a new year’s address yesterday in which she set out some priorities for the Church of England. (It was quite widely reported, in The Times, BBC, LBC and elsewhere, though I could not find the text anywhere on her own website or that of the Archbishop.)
In it, she connected her new role in the Church with her experience of having been in the NHS, including her time as Chief Nurse.
Good healthcare is incredibly important to me. It goes hand in hand with my Christian faith, inspired by Jesus’ call for us to love and care deeply for one another.
At St Thomas’ Hospital, where I first trained, the chapel is a place of sanctuary for staff and patients, away from the busy wards. The multi-faith chaplaincy team is on hand to listen, pray or simply sit with those going through life’s most difficult and painful moments.
Sarah makes multiple important points here. The most obvious is that those who seek to follow the example of Jesus as their Lord are called to serve others as he has served us.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (John 13.13–15).
