John Sentamu installed

John Sentamu has officially become Archbishop of York – the first black archbishop in the Church of England. Ruth Gledhill has a very good report on the service (sounds like it was excellent!), and also gives some insight into the sort of man Sentamu is. Also, the sermon that Archbishop Sentamu preached at the service is available, and is also excellent.

WHO IS JESUS AND WHAT DOES HE MEAN FOR THOSE WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM? That, for me, is the critical question of our time…
It’s a scandal of the Church in England that in the past decades it has tried everything except to stick to Jesus’ plan for the world: Corporate-discipleship, fraternal-belonging.
We’ve had our reports, our commissions, conferences, seminars, missions, synodical reviews, liturgical reforms – the lot. But little attention has been given to the question, “Who is Jesus and what does he mean for those who put their trust in him?“
Che Guevara once said, “If our revolution isn’t aimed at changing people then I’m not interested.“ The trouble with virtually all forms of revolution and modernising strategies is that they change everything – except the human heart…
The scandal of the church is that the Christ-event is no longer life-*changing*, it has become life-*enhancing*. We’ve lost the power and joy that makes real disciples, and we’ve become consumers of religion and not disciples of Jesus Christ.

(_Thanks to Maggi for the tips._)

pax et bonum

Article posted at 6:50pm on 01 December 2005
Category: Faith, Struggling

This is a message for the Rev J sentamu. Firstly to congratulate you in your success in becoming the first black archbishop of britain. I thoroughly enjoyed watching your inauguration very colurful and the sound of the drums (bata)highlighted for me the intention of full incorporation of Afrikanity in our society. Although late, I thankyou for giving me the strength to continue my work. It has been through recent reflection that I remembered you told me personally that WE have to continue this kind of work. Your answer came when I the only young black male who attended the macphearson report in manchester stated that I want to emulate such work. I approached you on the board with Judge macphearson and looking back it has assisted me in continuing work with young and old people and also taken me into the realms of writing. In a nutshell this message is to thankyou for your assistance for something you may have forgotten about. I wish you well in what to me would seem a difficult but very fulfilling position and again I aim to emulate such great work in bringing people together to a better understanding of eachother. Thankyou.

clive asgill ()
4:05pm on 01 August 2006