This week I received a newsletter from my old theological college bursting with news about the future of Anglicanism. I read on, and looked, and turned over the pages - there was nothing to be found but a list of delegates and a list of helpers. It was all name-dropping, and a box advertising their tape of it - I’m none the wiser and suspect they are too! Certainly their name-dropping will not guarantee they are the elect in whatever form the Anglican Church survives!

Then the news comes that the Archbishop of York is to retire within a couple of years and be a parish priest once more, up in the Dales. That is ironic when he’s just reduced the number of clergy in the Diocese so as to keep the diocese solvent - or does he have a guilty conscience about it? Actually, I think he’s a lot closer the truth than the Wycliffe Hall/Oxford Conference. It is essential that there is a remnant of priests living their faith amongst various and scattered communities, shepherding their Christian flock. We, and those to whom we minister, who are serious about their faith, are the new elect.

In the O.T. we read about how Israel is God’s chosen race, his elect. In the N.T., these elect are identified as Christians, both Jewish and Gentile. Often the O.T. talks about a mere remnant, amongst the whole of Israel, who are faithful to the Lord. In the N.T. that same remnant exists out of all people who are sincere and dedicated Christians: a number that often leapt up by the thousand at Baptisms as communities, families or congregations responded, especially at Pentecost.

The future of the Christian Church in a Western World, amongst a very materially-orientated society, looks very bleak. We are used to consuming, to using and throwing away - too often Religion is treated in the same way or in total contrast things are interpreted fundamentally. The latter is true of various and different faiths. Fundamentalism is the least attractive aspect of any religion as it often curbs or even denies the Holy Spirit - see Jesus in his head-to-heads with the Pharisees.

Sadly today, even though the Christian Church is often on the doorstep and very visible, people seek and pay for other alternatives and therapies. It seems they think money can buy better results! Yet if they gave the time and searching to wait upon God …………….. Wholeness and healing centre on faith and patiently waiting on God to seek his will. The cure may be only the greater ability to cope with the problem - but that is important and a mega-step forward!  Sadly, too, there is so much preoccupation with sex. It has always been there, always will - and if nothing happened we would discontinue as a species. I apply the theology of the lemonade bottle. If you shake it up, the cork blows off. Similarly if sex is too suppressed it too will burst out! However, the trend to flaunt variation and deviation does rather suggest the cork has blown off already ………….

Sadly, too, Reform have tried to corner Rowan Williams. All these inner problems need to be tackled individually rather than bureaucratically so that it can be filed and have a lid put over it to contain it. Rather as David Jenkins once wrote to me, he was uncertain but sure of the power of the risen Lord and God’s Holy Spirit. The elect will have to keep things ticking over and pray that pride and selfishness does not cause a crashing fall but rather that others will catch on to the truth.

Be generous of spirit: Christmas comes and Jesus took us upon himself. Best wishes.