A POSITIVE WELCOME

NOT JOKING

So you settle down after the gospel to listen to the priest give a homily based on the readings. A time to reflect. To relax. To rest. Even to be challenged. And suddenly he launches forth in a tirade about people who don't come to Mass and you think to yourself: Hang on. I am here. And so are a lot of others. The old story - but a real one. Sermons on the evil of abortion to enclosed nuns and a sermon about the evils of drink at a First Communion Mass and a Bishop preaching about the wickedness of priests who leave the priesthood, at an Ordination Mass. You think I am joking. I am not.

PAST CONFUSION

Can be fun to look back and almost suggest that thank goodness we are not like that. But are we? Well we hope not as bad, but even so. We welcome people who come to our churches. But what welcome are we extending to those who don't come or feel they can't come or are so confused by differing accounts and differing messages from differing priests that they are not sure whether they are welcome or not.

SORRY, MAYBE

Hopefully what I say here is not going to add to the confusion by giving yet another differing account. If the telling causes offence I apologise in advance and invite you to ask me what I am trying to say.

COMING FROM WHERE?

I suppose the inspiration for these notes came from two things: talking to a friend about our new situation here in the West Hull Parishes and accepting a compliment for a WELCOME notice we had just put up in the entrance to St. Wilfrid's church - one of the three churches we work in. To be fair I think the notice is a pretty good one and says what we want to say to the stranger and the casual visitor and the regular parishioner.

Welcome to St. Wilfrid's

The original church was built in 1896

and destroyed by a land mine in 1941.

The present church was built in 1956.

Today we are a very varied parish community

drawn from all parts of our city and beyond.

As well as those whose roots are deep

in this part of the world

we are also greatly enriched

by many whose birthplace

is many miles by land, sea and air from Hull.

So if you yourself are one of our own community

or are a visitor from wherever;

if you are here for a daily or weekly service,

for a special occasion

or just passing through

we welcome you

and hope you feel comfortable

with us.

INEVITABLY LIMITED

We invite people to feel welcome and feel comfortable with us. But on reflection our welcome is inevitably limited. To whom are we are really addressing it. And of course it is to the people who actually come to the church. The person who actually sets foot across the doorstep. And I suppose this is right. What is not right is if we feel that this welcome notice says it all. Welcomes all. Because obviously it does not.

NOT HIGH ON SENSITIVITY

And realising this, brings into real perspective the ones who feel that they can't take that step. The ones who feel that they are simply not welcome. As a result of views from different quarters of the Church, and statements coming out of Rome - which one hopes surely lose much sense in translation. Statements often high on doctrine and legal niceties but low on sensitivity.

A FRAGILE WELCOME

So whom are we talking about? Divorced and remarried people? People who have had an abortion? People in same sex relationships? Yes. And so many more. Those who feel themselves excluded from the Christian community, as a result of zealous preaching of assumed Christianity, as well as downright prejudice. And so many other situations where people simply feel themselves unworthy. How often in the past has the hand of welcome been offered to these people to come and join us but asking them not to sit too near the front as their presence is more of a private affair than a public one. When 'come and join us' has really meant 'come and watch us'. 'Take and eat' has meant 'Watch us as we eat.'

A POSITIVE WELCOME

This will not do. It is our duty as responsible Christians to show that this is not the case. And not only to offer a welcome to attend, but to participate. I believe it is time for us to be positively welcoming. As Christians with a sensible sensitive conscience we have a duty to show that those over zealous closed minds were so wrong, whether their platform was pulpit or pub, church or classroom.

NAME DROPPING

Laws are laws and rules are rules but it is good to remind ourselves that the Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath, as one famous person said, albeit in the non-inclusive language of his time.

OF HUMAN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES

This whole topic of welcome and being a welcoming community is I feel a vital one for our present time. Customs and habits regarding Mass-going have changed quite markedly over the years. Although it is still there, there is less insistence on obligation. There is more of a feeling that worshipping together fulfils a need in myself more than a need to fulfil some legal obligation. And if this is true then our churches and the communities who worship there have to become more welcoming and more accepting and more understanding. Less judgmental. Our communities need to be visibly and obviously communities of real welcome. Communities of sinners. Communities of apologisers. Communities of welcomers. Human communities. Only then will they be truly Christian communities. Only then can we in all honesty turn to people scarred from past and present slings and broadswords and say simply 'come and see'.

WELCOME