Religious Journey Again

Part III

 

In 1993 John Hodder, who had been suffering from lung cancer for some months, died, leaving many of us shocked and numb. Tom Woods’s reaction was to do what he had to do, which was to step in and re-arrange the congregational set-up at Frankleigh Park so that he could service it without John. (I also agreed to assist the Polytech, where John had been a tutor, to fill his timetable for the rest of the year). We still regard John Hodder as one of the best friends we have had. 

 

Margaret and I were sad and concerned at the changes being made and at the same time were discussing with Nigel and Beryl Hayton, and one or two others, the possibility of starting a “liberal theology” home group. The elders at St Andrews did not want us to do this within the church structure. 

So when we shifted to Oakura we stopped attending church regularly. Instead we started our home Group with the Haytons, and pretty soon with Alison Tulloch and her daughter-in-law, Jackie Lambert, Russell and Pauline Rigby, and Ian and Phyl Tennent. The membership of the group has changed over the years, but Nigel and Beryl, and Phyl, still meet with us as do Mary and Barry Boekman from Inglewood. 

This Group, which has more or less aligned itself with the Sea of Faith position, has been a real support to us, and to other members. 

Over the nearly 50 years since 1965, I have moved to a completely materialistic position. I do not now, myself, place any credence in any of the supernatural ways of talking about the world. We all live by myths: stories of how the world works. My experience does not lend any support to stories which do not include evolution, or the importance of human ideals and efforts in improving the way the world operates. 

We became members of the Sea of Faith, and have attended several conferences. I was elected to the Steering Committee around 2000, and Chair from 2002 to 2004. We had a major part in the planning and operation of the Conference in 2003 in Inglewood. 

The Sea of Faith newsletters and conferences, and the books we were able to read, mainly those by Geering and Spong, have helped the two of us to think through our issues of doubt and myth, ideals and ethics. We have constantly supported each other in this journey, discussing our reading and thinking every few days at some stages, and sharing ideas with our home group when we met. We especially enjoy the practice of inclusiveness - accepting and appreciating the 'journeys' of other people whatever their background and spirituality.

Nowadays we have come through that process and the group is less regular in its meetings, but keeps closely in touch, and celebrates together when there is an occasion, and supports together when needs must. When we need help, the group members are our first port of call outside our family. 

Someone, a member of Sea of Faith too, asked me the other day whether we still call ourselves Christian. I hesitated, and then replied that we regard ourselves as Christian, and Muslim, and Hindu and Buddhist, and I should have added atheist as well.