Thought for the Week: Defender of the Faith

ABC Justin Welby interviewed on TODAY programme on Friday morning - THE new King will be committed, as the late Queen was, to the Established Church creating an environment that is hospitable to people of other faiths and no faiths,

The Queen had said : “The concept of our Established Church is occasionally misunderstood, and, I believe, commonly under-appreciated. Its role is not to defend Anglicanism to the exclusion of other religions. Instead, the Church has a duty to protect the free practice of all faiths in this country.

“It certainly provides an identity and spiritual dimension for its own many adherents. But also, gently and assuredly, the Church of England has created an environment for other faith communities — and, indeed, people of no faith — to live freely.”

ABC “In one sense, what the Queen was saying at the time in 2012, was, ‘It’s not about us Anglicans’ — we’re there for others, as she said, to be an umbrella for faith. And that is very much the attitude of His Majesty the King. He will continue to encourage this sense of being there for everyone, of looking outwards, of welcoming all, and doing so without condition.”

The KINGS SPEECH from Buckingham Palace Charles III

The new King also highlighted his role . Following his mother’ s example of lifelong love and of selfless service. She "made sacrifices for duty, dedication and devotion."

“In the course of the last 70 years we have seen our society become one of many cultures and many faiths…….

“The role and the duties of Monarchy also remain, as does the Sovereign’s particular relationship and responsibility towards the Church of England – the Church in which my own faith is so deeply rooted.

“In that faith, and the values it inspires, I have been brought up to cherish a sense of duty to others, and to hold in the greatest respect the precious traditions, freedoms and responsibilities of our unique history and our system of parliamentary government.

“As The Queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the Constitutional principles at the heart of our nation.

King Charles III affirmed his role as Defender of the Faith. Noting again that Britain has changed to Many Cultures and Many Faiths

UMBRELLA

The Church in general and the Anglican church in particular has a role a kind of Umbrella - a symbol of

• Openness. An umbrella is only useful when it is OPEN - (Although can double as a walking stick)

• Shelter. In times of down pour and deluge in time of heavy rain - inclement weather Reaching out to Hold out the umbrella over others

• A symbol of Welcome to ALL, our neighbours and also looking out for others, offering unconditional Hospitality

• More like a Large Colourful, Golf Umbrella. A Rainbow of colour. multifaceted & Inclusive.

• PROTECTIVE of the free PRACTICE of ALL FAITHS in the country (and indeed non-practitioners )

PRAYER

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, 2 Timothy 2:1-3

So pray for our new King and our Government that Britain in general – and our own town in particular - can become an increasingly multicultural, multifaith, diverse context, where people come to thrive and belong and live at peace.

A Prayer for our new King, Charles III

Everlasting God, we pray for our new King.

Bless his reign and the life of our nation.

Help us to work together. so that truth and justice, harmony and fairness

flourish among us;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rev Phil Simpson, member of the Christian faith

Date: Tuesday 13th September 2022