'Don't worry about Church Institution', bishop tells clergy

The Bishop of Stafford has challenged clergy and lay leaders in the Diocese of Lichfield to stop worrying about the institution of the church and to discover a "compelling vision of what the world might be".

The Rt Rev Gordon Mursell made his comments during a sermon at the Maundy Thursday Chrism Eucharist in Lichfield Cathedral last week.

More than 1,000 clergy and lay ministers from across Staffordshire, the northern half of Shropshire and most of the Black Country were present at the Eucharist to renew their vows of service and to receive the newly blessed oils of ministry which were used in pastoral settings over Easter.

Speaking after the service, Bishop Mursell reiterated the danger of putting the needs of the "institution of the church" ahead of the needs of the Gospel.

He said: "I think it is a good opportunity to remind people that we are not there to keep a big institution ticking over.

"For all I know the Church of England... I don't know what life it's got, I don't even particularly mind. In 20 years time there might be a different church. That's okay. Call it something different. The important thing is the Gospel and the God we serve and we do that best not by worrying about the institution but by making the institution turn outwards and serve the community."

Bishop Mursell affirmed that the church still needs to value its position as an institution, "but only if it remembers that institutions are there to serve the people outside - especially the Church".

He reminded clergy that the heart of the Diocese of Lichfield's Going for Growth policy is "to put God first and service of neighbour; not keeping the institution going".

"The danger with institutions ... is that they can take on a life of their own and become self perpetuating, and frankly then they are of very little earthly use," the bishop continued.

"We are there as a movement, going for growth, seeking to draw in others, but it can only do that if it is passionate about changing the world, not just about keeping the institution ticking over."

He reminded clergy that the key focus of the church was to serve Jesus through worship and prayer, and that all Christians are called by Jesus to love their neighbour.

"Our neighbour isn't just our fellow next-door Christian; it isn't even the person who lives next door. It is anybody who is in need.

"So it's a serving, outgoing, active church that really worships and bears witness to Jesus. An institution is good if it helps us do that.

"The danger is the institution ends up taking precedence over Jesus and when that happens things go wrong."