Today I visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem for the first time in my life. It was of course chaos – a chaos of people of varying churches and none, a chaos of architecture and church furnishings, a chaos of liturgies. A bit like the whole Christian church, then. A warring, ramshackle, mutually uncomprehending bunch of pilgrims held together only by our faith in Jesus, and drawn to this place despite everything because of what that faith means.
I write this post during the debate on General Synod on the legislation on women bishops – and before the vote. So it is in ignorance of the outcome that I hope we will remain in the Church of England a ramshackle witness to the faith of Jesus, living under one roof. Even if, as is the case with Holy Sepulchre, we can’t even agree how to keep it in good repair.
The Commonwealth of Heaven 
Amen to that.
David V. Bowen Tel: +44 (0)7771 802 836
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I remain nonplussed by it all. Nonplussed.I can’t fathom it. I can’t fathom the mechanics of how it came about. I don’t feel charitable
towards those who did this and pray that God will help me find that generosity within me at some time in the future. But at the moment I just feel nonplussed. Nonplussed!