Give everyone what you owe him... (Romans 13:7)

So, Christmas is here and the Federation seems to be settling in for the long haul. On 23rd January 2008 off-duty officers from all over the UK will be travelling to London to march in protest at the actions of the Home Secretary and the Government.

What's a Chaplain to do? In the last few days I have been in all five of the Stations on this Division and there is still only one real topic of conversation - and the federated ranks are enthusiastically supported (and in a sense - 'egged' on) by police staff colleagues and Superintendents and not a few ACPO ranks. In all my long connections with the police (38years now) I have never known such righteous indignation - and it really is nothing to do with the money. It's about the breakdown of trust and respect that the Home Secretary has generated.

This last week its been further aggravated by the sickeningly patronising Christmas letter to the Service from the Home Secretary which several forces have refused to pubish because of the risk of lowering morale still further.

Last week I went with the Federation Inspector to see our MP. He was absolutely supportive and was going to write immediately to the Home Secretary telling us that he believed that she had made a serious error of judgement. We shall see - but in the meantime...

I have reflected on the Biblical enjoinder to defer to the authorities and tried again to understand the assertion that God somehow intervenes to allow governments to make what appear to us to be perverse and unwise decisions; 'consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves...' (Romans 13:2).

But I have seen the anger, dismay and distress of hard-working police officers, heard the voice of one who is going to send back his bravery medal and so I have signed up for the coach trip on 23rd January. I will march to Downing Street with these people who I am called to pastor, befriend, guide and counsel. I will identify with their cause and I will do it because of this passage (Romans 3:7) - ' Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.' - and I will hope and pray that someone in Jacqui Smith's office will draw her attention this Biblical call to act with real integrity.

The Labourer is worthy of his hire

As I write this today there is a sense of the dust settling and an entrenchment on both sides of what has now become a pay dispute. The immediate consequencece of the Home Secretary's decision not to pay the 2.5% increase from 1st September, effectively reducing the rise to 1.9% until the next pay round is one thing. But that in itself is not what is really at the root of the anger and dismay felt by the Federated ranks. What has really upset them is the cavalier disregard of mechanisms which were put in place years ago - which have been tried and tested -and seen by most police officers to result in fair and equitable pay awards since and which reflect the simple fact that is unlawful to withdraw their balour.

From speaking to police officers over the last few days I know that the feelings of betrayal and unfairness, of being devalued and railroaded, some said 'treated like dirt' spell trouble for this Home Secretary and this administration.

So this has led me to reflect and not only to reflect but also to take action...

In Luke 10:7 we read, 'for the labourer is worthy of his hire' - and I can't think of any people more worthy of their hire than those men and women who daily serve us and protect us as far as they are able.

The 'Message' renders the passage in Romans 13:4 as 'The police aren't there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it.' If we take this as it is written it is a solemn warning for those who try to interfere with the well-being of such people.

I also remember in times past how many police officers suddenly discovered that they could actually find useful and well-remunerated work in other professions and it took years to recover police numbers and millions to be spent in training. I hope that we are not about to see this pattern repeated because of what at the end of the day seems to be a 'hit' by the government on a soft target to save a drop in the ocean (please excuse all the metaphors) .

So to the action... The MP for this area is a friend and a local lad. The Federation Inspector and I have an appointment with him on Monday morning to see if he needs persuading to join the Labour ministers and others who will support the early day motion in the House of Commons next week.

Question - Is this the kind of support that the Police Chaplain should be giving? Answers on a post card etc...




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All men are like grass and their glories as the flowers of the field

Here's a couple of pictures from my motor patrol days in the West Midlands - This made me reflect... I am getting old (but I really don't think I would fit in the MGB GT any more)

Acceptance

An interesting morning at the local sixth form College where the Divisional Traffic Manager puts on quite a show - staging a serious RTC with the help of Fire & Ambo after a classroom input - warning about the dangers of alcohol and drug consumption. No one expressed any surprise at the Police Chaplain being present or even wanted to know what I was doing there.

That made me reflect... What a privilege to be able to do this and be so readily accepted - not just by the police and other emergency services but also by the young people who seemed to think it was quite normal. God is good.

More Ecumenism (in the real sense of Oikumene)

A couple of weeks ago I had a request to help sort out the 'Holy Books' of various religious groups so that they can be made available to prisoners who declare a faith and wish to have access to their own Holy Books/Scriptures etc while in police custody. I was gratefeul for the Mid Shropshire Branch of Gideons coming up with a number of NIV (Hotel Bibles and NT and Psalms) without any delay but as I began to think about other groups I began to realise that this was a fairly substantial project.

I spoke, for the first time, to the Bishop of the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and he agreed to provide me with a Book of Mormon and an AV of the Holy Bible which is the only one that they use. I rang the Local Jehovah's Witnesses who invite me to call at the Kingdom Hall and collect an interlinear translation of the Bible. All these people knew exactly who and what I am and were most cooperative.

But it's made me reflect... For several years I have been involved as a founder member and press/pubicity person for the local Interfaith Group. During that time I have formed lasting and close friendships with Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus and discovered and developed a healthy respect for the way in which they pursue and adhere to their faith walks.

I have yet to meet the Mormon Bishop or the leaders from the Kingdom Hall, but they all sound absolutely genuine and really nice people. Why then is there that part of me that readily accepts that I can be good friends with people of distinct non-Christian faiths but stumbles at the thought of being friends with those are dancing around the edges of the faith which I follow and to which I adhere?

I have delivered the traditional Christian Scriptures to the Custody Suite and the Qu'ran has been supllied by a leading local Muslim. But I have to confess I have yet to collect the other books I mentioned. But I am definitely going to do it...

I can't keep putting if off - can I? Answers on a post card etc....

"You don't have to do 'owt grand'

I was grateful today to spend the late morning and lunchtime with a substantial number of people called together by the Divisional Commander of Herefordshire, a largely rural Division who is assiduously building up the function of chaplaincy across his far-flung Division (in compliance with the HMCI 2003 Recommendations).
I was glad to see how many men and women of all ages and denominations, (including two Baptist colleagues) were sufficiently interested in the police family to turn out on a Friday to test the water - to see ig they are being called to police chaplaincy (lunch was free - but you know what they say about a free lunch).
We were told that a new website had been set up to support the 420 plus largely voluntary police chaplains around the UK and that was very exciting.
The meeting was also attended by Representatives of the National Association of Chaplains to the Police (NACP) one of whom is a serving Inspector from West Yorkshire Police wearing police uniform with clerical collar and the North East Regional Co-ordinator, the Rev'd Alison Lamb (South Yorkshire Police).
Alison, who has served for more than four years, outlined how acceptance as a police chaplain among police officers had been slow at first but had been thoroughly consolidated by her ministry during the unexpected and sudden death of a police officer. She had been able to quietly minister to his supervisors, colleagues, friends and family and through the trust built during these times has developed a really significant chaplaincy - with total recognition from the force who clearly value her highly.
Ali said "You don't have to do owt grand" - and I think I knew what she meant but it made me reflect...
What is it about? Why would anyone want to be a police chaplain? If it is just the promise of a blue light run or a bright yellow jacket and the perceived status or position that such a role confers on the individual then the words of Jeremiah 45:5 'Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not.' should ring in our ears; making it clear that perhaps more than in any other part of our ministry the role of a chaplain is one of sacrificial 'being there'. It isn't about doing anything 'grand' as we might understand it - its just being willing to serve. For me its all about being the right person in the right place at the right time and that only by the call of God.
I don't know how many of the people at the meeting today will take up the challenge of police chaplaincy - I hope most do.

It isn't just the depth of the water after all...

Its my intention to use this blog to assist my theological reflection and I am grateful for some friends who have already begun to respond in all sorts of heplful ways and and to facilitate the process of refelction.

'David123' ( a friend, brother and colleague) has made the below comments (in blue) about some aspects of chaplaincy which I guess are general to any kind of chaplaincy but which do set some parameters. For me the most interesting point that David123 raises is the very personal one about the baptism.

David 123 said,

Firstly to be a PASTOR - to be with and alongside those who need our care irrespective of any considerations of faith or lack of it.

Absolutely agree. I don't see how you could be a chaplain if this was not the case

Secondly to be a PROPHET - to be prepared to confront what we believe to be wrong and to be a critical friend. This may mean making ourselves unpopular - but most OT prophets knew all about that!

I agree with this comment too - alhtough I think well-developed diplomatic skills are also essential - particuarly in ineractions with Senior Police Officers.

Thirdly to be PRIEST - to be the cultic "enabler" as and when needed to help others through the rites of passage and in their spiritual journeyings - wherever that may be leading them.

Ditto.
However the below comments were what made me really reflect...

Your dilemma asks the question about how we may reconcile our own denominational theologies with the demands made by those who do not understand the nicities!Did your Baptist hospital chaplain baptise the baby? How would he have felt if a (say) Anglican or Roman Catholic Chaplain had baptised the child of one of his Baptist flock?

Perhaps I should have said that the incident to which I referred was one where the child involved was a new born baby who was not going to live. No other chaplain or minister was immediately available, death was imminent and the Baptist chaplain simply followed the infant baptism service from a colleague's handbook - and baptised the child. My feeling is that in these cases you 'go with the flow' (but I would of course be surprised if an infant of a baptist family was baptised at the parents request - given our theology of baptising believers). But David123, you did make me think about putting the boot on the other foot. What if I attend a dying Roman Catholic say, who is able to ask for the last rites - would that be even more complex - do we just do what will bring relief and comfort to the individuals involved? Should I just cross that bridge when I come to it or should I action plan for such an eventuality?

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' (Matthew 25:45 NIVUK)

The Depth of the Water?

Several weeks ago a member of staff at the police station wrote to me asking about getting their child (not a baby) christened. There are some special reasons for their not having sought a christening before and for seeking it now.

And this made me reflect...
1. There are going to be some occasions when people want a 'service' without knowing what they really want.
2. They may have some unusual notions about 'christening'.
3. I mustn't use this to promote my own theology of baptism although I am duty bound (am I?) to explain what I see as the difference between infant and believers (adult?) baptism.
4. I must be prepared to faciltate whatever it is that is desired by the family.
5. Whatever - it is a great opportunity and privilege to get to know this family.

And this made me act...
1. I made an appoinment to see the enquirer.
2. I spoke to an Anglican colleague who said that she would be happy to do a 'christening' if that was what was desired by the family.

I also reflected on the story related to me by a Baptist minister colleague who was a full time hospital chaplain. On one occasion a newly-born baby was critically ill and close to death. He was the only chaplain on duty and was approached by the parents to baptise their dying baby.
What's a Baptist minister to do under these circumstances - engage them with the finer points of Baptist churchmanship? I think not - and neither did he.

"People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. "Let these children alone. Don't get between them and me. These children are the kingdom's pride and joy." (Luke 18:16)