Christmas food for thought from the Dean

Monday 24 December 2018

Ahead of Christmas Day, the Very Reverend Tim Barker, Dean of Guernsey, has shared a message for the Bailiwick, with Express.

"Towards the end of a year, it is not unusual to look back over the past months and, with a shudder, try to put aside the regrets and disappointments, the sadnesses and failures of the year, and to look forward to a fresh start.

"But as we approach a new year in just over a week’s time, many of us will be doing so with more uncertainty than for many years. The main reason for this uncertainty is simply that we have no idea of what the consequences of Brexit may be. There are scare stories on one side of doom and disaster, and the possible consequences for individual human beings and their families. On the other, the promise of freedom from shackles that have prevented the United Kingdom from flourishing. But until we know the terms of Brexit and begin to experience life on the other side of 29 March 2019, it is almost impossible to assess how life will change for British people, wherever in the world they may find themselves – including this Bailiwick of Guernsey.

"Even here in Guernsey, our local agenda is overshadowed by Brexit. In the last States’ meeting of 2018, the deputies considered, debated and voted on a lengthy, 121 page, Policy Letter with the snappy title, ‘Road transport and driving licence implications for driving in Europe post-Brexit and other related matters.’ This is just one piece of legislation that Guernsey must have in place for when (or, if some UK parliamentarians have their way, if) the UK leaves the European Union in March. And, to make it worse, this legislation was essentially an insurance policy in case there is a ‘no deal’ Brexit. 

"Whether we support Brexit or not, and whatever our view on the possible mechanisms, we cannot avoid seeing frustration, anger and tetchiness bubbling over. Brexit is so all-embracing that the UK Government cannot deal with some of the other, equally urgent, priorities. And we feel the impact, directly and indirectly, here in Guernsey. 

"No wonder the Church of England’s bishops issued a statement earlier this month, in which they wrote, ‘We call on the country to consider the nature of our public conversation. It is time to bring grace and generosity back to our national life.’

"Grace and generosity are much needed. I am shocked and disturbed by the violence and vehemence of so many comments on social media, where people (not all of them hiding behind the anonymity of pseudonyms) leave messages brimming over with hatred and aggression. And not just social media: I watched a video clip the other day, filmed outside the Palace of Westminster, in which a female Conservative MP was on the receiving end of abusive comments because of her views. 

"Sadly, Guernsey people are not averse to personal criticism of deputies and others, which sometimes oversteps the limits of frank and robust exchange of views. 

"To quote again the Church of England’s bishops, ‘At the heart of the Christian message is Jesus’ command to love our neighbour. This includes those with whom we agree and disagree – at home, in Europe, and further afield. We urge everyone – our political leaders and all of us – to bring magnanimity, respect and reconciliation to our … debate.’

"That is equally a message to the Christian churches, as we cannot criticise others without looking at ourselves and how we conduct our lives and our debate. There are too many appalling examples of abuse and exploitation for us to think that we are immune from criticism. And yet the Church is the Body of Christ – entrusted with the task of proclaiming the good news of God’s love, which we find made incarnate, taking on human shape, in Jesus, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. 

"The Christian churches in Guernsey are deeply embedded in the life of this community, as the Cinnamon Faith Action Audit confirmed last July. We are involved in building community, working with children, young people and their families, and providing much needed practical assistance through the Foodbank and other initiatives. 

"The incarnation, God becoming human in Jesus, is the very reason why we have hope. Working with so many others in Guernsey, Christians are dealers in hope, motivated by our faith in God whose love and concern for humanity is demonstrated by the coming of Jesus into the world that first Christmas. 

"‘We have to live together on this rock.’ That’s a phrase I have come to understand and value in the past three years. Each of us, native Guernsey people and incomers, rich and poor, old and young, whatever our physical and mental health and the degree of impairment we experience, has something to offer which will enrich and strengthen our community. We can recover a shared vision and identity to help us find a way through the immediate challenges. Together, we can radiate hope, speak hope, and breathe hope into the uncertainty, the darkness and the despair of so many who are overwhelmed by uncertainty at the beginning of the New Year. It can be different!"

The Very Reverend Tim Barker

Dean of Guernsey