Bishop John

Notes of a six day trip to the West Coast and North-West Tasmania

This is a new thing in this community – church that isn’t church as most people know it.

On the brick-topped wood-store area beside the fire we place a candle and shape a cross in sea-tumbled rocks, simple symbols of the Christian faith that we hope to share in a simple way this morning.

A real Aussie treat of an article at Reflections by the River by Annette Sims. A Barnabas column – Stories of Encouragement in the June 2009 Tasmanian Anglican magazine

A Service of Thanksgiving to God for the life of Bishop Henry Allingham Jerrim, OBE, ED, ThL, 21/3/1916 – 22/5/2009 was held at St David’s Cathedral Hobart on June 18. Henry’s son, Peter, gave an outstanding eulogy to an outstanding ‘Hobart man’. Bishops Alf Chipman and Phillip Newell shared moving tributes to a humble and dedicated servant of Jesus Christ. I concluded the eulogies with the following words,

Bishop Henry Jerrim was gentle, wise and caring.
Henry would come and sit at the table in my office:
‘How’s it going, John?’
I’d share the good news.
‘And how’s it going, John?’ he would repeat, his face all smiles.
After I had opened up, he would respond,
‘Ah, Keep going. Keep going.’

During his final day I visited him with Father David O’Neill. Henry was unconscious, his children were gathered, we spoke and shared. Holding Henry’s hand, I prayed and we recounted some stories – hoping he could hear!

Leaving his room I asked a nurse for directions and she kindly offered to show me the way. I commented on Bishop Henry and immediately the nurse enthused,
‘Henry is so caring, pleasant and considerate. When I am trying to get relief staff, my trump card to get them to come in is to say that Henry is on their duty list! Bishop Henry is a special man.’

I will never forget an earlier day, around his 88^th birthday, when he told me of his stumbling reading of the prayers and lack of capacity to properly lead worship at the Cathedral. With tears in his eyes he told me, ‘I can’t help you any more at the Cathedral. I’m sorry.’

But his inability to lead public worship did not stop his personal worship.
Whenever I visited Bishop Henry his Bible and Prayer Book were by his side.
When we celebrated Holy Communion in his room he did not need the Prayer Book as the words of worship were in his heart and mind.
Jesus Christ filled Bishop Henry’s heart and mind.
Jesus Christ was the vision that guided his life.

As we come now to sing the ancient Irish hymn, possibly from the 8th Century (tr. by Mary E. Byrne),

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

We are reminded that Jesus Christ was the vision that inspired Bishop Henry Jerrim’s life.

May the vision of Jesus Christ inspire our lives, also.

Let us stand to sing, Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart.

The Anglican Church of Australia has released the report of a major research project commissioned to help strengthen its child protection protocols.

Anglican Primate, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, said the research project was the first of its kind in Australia, with a project by the Roman Catholic Church in the USA being the only similar undertaking anywhere in the world. Archbishop Aspinall said,

“While this report is aimed at strengthening our child protection protocols as we look to the future, it also reminds us of the tragic events of the past and of the pain which still exists. We reiterate our apology, our sorrow and our deep regret for abuse which has occurred.”

In Tasmania we continue our efforts in this area. Of the report’s 8 recommendations we have implemented 7 and the remaining one is a national form that needs developing and which we are working on. I am grateful for this report and ask that parishes continue their work in providing safe church communities.

Click here for the full report, Study of Reported Child Sexual Abuse in the Anglican Church, the executive summary and the recommendations (see at the lower right hand side of the link page).

A challenging statement from the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC) Forum of June 2009.

‘As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christians, we strongly believe that the Creator gave us our identity as well as this land and the wisdom to care for it. We recognise that there are many issues to resolve as a Nation, one of which is the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER – the Intervention). We believe that, in its current form, the Intervention does not and will not work for Aboriginal peoples.’

‘We believe that Aboriginal Peoples have not been listened to and our stories have not been heard. The Intervention was implemented without consultation with Aboriginal Peoples and Government continues to fail to listen with respect and in a manner which is culturally appropriate.’

See the full report.