It is some time since I mused about bumbling. This in part because I have been a little too busy to bumble; and also because it is frowned upon by some of my colleagues and friends, who like focus and consistency.

When I arrived in Bartley Green on 21 September 2009, little did I know that I would be involved in selling a church building and drawing a line on a significant piece of ministry. St Francis Church and Community Centre in Woodgate Valley is part of my Parish. St Francis started life as a local ecumenical project, jointly ‘owned’ by the Church of England and Methodist Church. It had its own congregation, which dwindled over time through people moving away, sadly dying, moving to other churches. Worship as a regular Sunday morning activity lapsed around 8 years ago.

As providence may or may not have had it, an opportunity arose to pass on the responsibility of the building to another church. The practicalities of the sale went well, but consumed much brain power. The pastoral side did not go as well. When you get bogged down in paper, people seem to have less of a priority. The trouble is when the paper is dealt with; people’s pain can be far more acute than it otherwise would have been.

The work on Woodgate Valley will continue without a building; indeed the Youth Project is partnering with a number of other organisations with the Church as a, if not the, leading player. The Community Work will continue. Thus the outcome could be better than it was.

Service of Thanksgiving and Commitment

I have learnt though that it is better to bumble, and to bumbling I shall return.