Message from Bishop Rachel, Bishop Robert and Dean Andrew

The celebration and sharing of life, lived in all abundance, is for those who seek to be disciples of Jesus Christ at the core of who we are called to be.

In Jesus, we see God coming to live with us in our homes and on our streets, challenging us with the question ‘who is your neighbour?’, challenging us to be champions of the Kingdom, of justice, mercy and peace.

The murder of three children and the vicious wounding of other children and adults at a dance party in Southport last week was an act of evil. It was a deep scar on the life we are all as citizens of this country, as men, women and children from every nation, made in God’s image, called to share. An evil rightly responded to by so many in that community and beyond, coming to offer comfort and solidarity to build unity with a light that darkness cannot overcome. We have seen in these two things the worst and the best of humanity.

Yet, while there are those who have come together to build community and to celebrate life in these last days, we have seen also those from the far right who have used these tragic events as an opportunity not to seek life but to destroy it. Those who have sought to further divide communities, to sow distrust, to spark violence and engender hatred. That some who have done this, see themselves as somehow defending Christian values is deeply offensive. Such attitudes and behaviour are the very opposite of the Gospel of Peace that Jesus proclaims and the Kingdom for which Jesus calls us to work.

Rather, as Christians committed to life for all, our first response is prayer for those children lost and their families in their deep grief, for all injured both at the dance party and in the subsequent violence, not least our police as they seek to ensure the protection of others. Then a redoubled effort to work with all of good will from every community, from all faith traditions, to strengthen the bonds of community and to build unity.

While we have not thankfully seen such violence in the communities of our diocese, we know that we are not immune. We know that our Muslim communities in particular are anxious and alarmed. Bishop Rachel, Dean Andrew and I, with the whole diocese, stand with them in our common humanity, our commitment to work for peace and to live well together, seeking abundant life for all.

Bishop Rachel, Bishop Robert and Dean Andrew.