Books & Theses - Part 5
JONATHAN`S BOOK
A NEW SOCIETY, MARRIAGE, BABY, BISHOP, MILLENIUM AND CHURCH.
My book, 'For God's Sake don't Go to Church', the revised edition of which perhaps you have just read, inevitably created strong and varied reaction. The Bishop of Rochester declared it to be blasphemous, although I was never sure whether he had read any of it. He was advised, I understand to stop commenting about it, to avoid giving it publicity.
The publishers were not prepared for the reaction and having done very little to market it appropriately were not able to take advantage of the growing interest. In fact I was horrified to learn that they hadn't even integrated its appearance on the normal internet book search lists with its publication date. Enquirers at bookshops were told it couldn't yet be traced.
However the publishers were also taken aback by the controversy which accompanied its release. SPCK chose to stock it but the evangelical mafia were quick at work to advise the independent christian bookshops to ban it.
A NAIL AND A DOOR
As the book had been written in a deliberately racy style for popular consumption I wanted to accompany its release with a more serious critique and visionary mandate for the church.
In 1517 Martin Luther affixed to the door of the Castle church at Wittenberg his 95 theses against indulgences. He became an active proponent of reform in the church and played a considerable role in the Reformation.
I wanted to follow his example and to nail to Canterbury Cathedral my 95 Theses for our age. If you want to read them then click on these words.
I negotiated with the Cathedral and police authorities to try and ensure that what I was going to do was measured and peaceful and we came to the agreement that I would be allowed to hold my Theses against the door with hammer and nail. Then the police would ask me if it was my intention to nail them there and when I replied in the affirmative, they would arrest me.
The arresting officer was a young man. He said, ' I have never wanted to do something less in my career. I feel like the soldiers at the crucifixion.' The police were very pleasant and later that day I was released without charge and that was the end of the matter.
However I am glad that the incident has gone down in history and that even now some of the vision of the Theses is becoming a reality.
I had many letters from readers of the book speaking about how encouraged they had been by it and how they felt that at last they had found a fellow spirit, someone who understood them and who had become a voice for them.
One such was a woman who asked if we could meet. One sunny day in Sheffield I heard her story. A person with a clear sense of vocation who had been rejected by the Church of England. For years she had felt that God had called her to priesthood but it seemed that she had been blocked at every turn. Then she had read my book.
I suggested that if God had so called her she did not require the Church of England to verify that, she could deliver herself as a priest to the public, being clear about the nature of her ministry and her calling to avoid any confusion, and allow God to use her.
She wanted to do this but felt vulnerable and lacking in confidence to be able to do it without some form of facilitating and authorising structure.
As I sat there I began to burn.
It has happened on a number of significant turning points in my life when I know the fire of God is upon me and I am being commissioned for my next challenge.
I placed an advertisement in the Church Times about a forthcoming conference I was going to arrange for all those who felt called to priesthood and to independent ministry.
I had over a hundred calls. One of them was from a bishop, Richard Palmer.
THIS PART IS NOT COMPLETE YET AND IS BEING WRITTEN GRADUALLY.
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