St Lawrence Church
Stratford sub Castle

Churchwardens:      Sue Thomson Tel: 01722 782340

Jeff Long Tel: 01722 324421

Vicar's letter

2025 June     Letter from our Priest

Dear friends,

Accountability

 

I attended an ordination at the end of June (Sophie’s). It was a wonderful occasion.

A very special moment and a privilege to have witnessed it. In the service we heard

how Sophie and the others had taken an oath – in it there is a declaration of faith, an

oath of allegiance to the monarch and promised obedience to the Bishop and their

contemporaries. (As you can imagine it was a good reminder for me to remember my

own vows!!). It got me thinking! As a serving priest I am answerable not only to God

first and foremost but to the Bishop and any clergy that are in authority over me.

(So, for me that is Bishop Stephen, Bishop Karen and Bishop Andrew and then

Canon Rev’d Jean de Garis, Vicar of our benefice). I am also accountable to the

PCC (the elected group of Church members who oversee the running of the Church

both as a building but also for our service as a church in the community). The point

of this being I am accountable to others. This has always been important and the

way of things since the early church. The question I am inviting you to ponder today

is ‘who am I accountable to’? Are you at all?

 

If we find ourselves working in a company or for someone, we have a boss and are

likely to be accountable to them (with a job description and expected outcomes no

doubt). If we are at school, we will have teachers to answer to (with a certain work

ethic expected and behavioural policies to adhere to). But what happens when we

are neither at work nor school? Who holds us to account? Where are our limits?

Where are our boundaries? Who oversees us? And where do we go when we need

help or encouragement in life? To be accountable to others may seem like a bind

but actually (if done right) can help provide focus, ensure a competence and offer

support. There is an acknowledgement that someone has your back. (Of course

this may not always be the case).

 

In modern life we can have life coaches who may offer accountability, or we can form

friendships where there is an intentionality towards this.

 

Just think for a moment what happens when we do not have this back up in our lives

– we can stray from the good things in our life that build us up and challenge us to be

better people (we can stop growing/developing for the better)… we can find

ourselves doing downhill…. we can become self-centred. To live a healthy life in

community we need others.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17

Accountability is not a new idea; it is an age-old way of community that blesses.

So, this month perhaps ponder on this for a while – do I have people around me that

I am accountable to? Do I have people I trust for their opinion who would challenge

me in love to help me grow?

 

Be blessed

Rev Suzie

 

 

 

 

 

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