Focus on Retail · PDF fileFocus on Retail Chaplaincy Autumn 2016 Also: ... [email protected] ... immense gratification to John, and to all

NEWS — VIEWS — COMMENT — INFORMATIONFrom Workplace Chaplaincy Mission UK

Visit us at www.workchaplaincyuk.org.uk

“What’shappening on

the HighStreet?”

Focus on Retail Chaplaincy

Autumn 2016

Also: Jack QuinnScotland to Tanzania:Workplace Chaplaincy in a global context

Membership SecretaryDick Johnson120 Carthorse LaneRedditch B97 6SZ07946 655450 (M)01527 61936 (O)Email: [email protected]

Communications DevelopmentAndy Nunn – contact via

[email protected] 0121 426 0425

Moderator & Hon. SecretaryPeter SellickDevelopment Director CIGB1 Colmore RowBIRMINGHAM B3 2BJ

0121 426 0425 (O)07746 299676 (M)Email: [email protected]

Hon. Treasurer: John FreemanTel: 0114 236 6819Email: [email protected]

Who’s who

Editor Heather Pencavel, 39 Sibland Way, Thornbury BS35 2EJ(H) 01454 632064 (M) 07946 400036 Email: [email protected]

Focus on … RetailingReordering Retail Peter Sellick 10

What’s happening in the High Street Phillip Jones 12

“What am I doing here?” Lyn Jamieson 14

Retail Chaplaincy in Bristol City Centre Andy Sewell 17

Reflections on the BHS story Dick Johnson 20

FeaturesFrom the (new) Moderator Peter Sellick 4

Scotland to Tasmania Jack Quinn 7

Chaplaincy, Mission and Evangelism – 2 Ray Borrett 22

From the (former) Moderator Randell Moll 25

Tribute to John Atherton Malcolm Brown 6

what’s inside

mailto:[email protected]

WorkPlace People Summer 2016 — Page 3

Connections

It was in May this year that the Great Clearance Salebegan in our small town's only department store: the

queue stretched the length of the High Street and the local paper reportedthat more than 2,000 people visited the store on the first day. It wasdefinitely a Re-development Sale, we were told. The store would re-openin a month or six weeks, with a restaurant chain taking over the curioushexagonal section of the building which was originally the Town's MarketHall. Only it didn't re-open. It hasn't properly closed either: now, in earlyOctober, it still sells Clearance Items. No queues now, though. Not manystaff. And no clue at all as to what will become of it. More shops have closedand have either boarded-up their windows or been revamped as charityshops. We travel to The Mall for our clothes and houseware and there too wefind boarded-up windows – carefully camouflaged with advertising orartwork, but clear evidence of decline. Town Centres losing their soul? (PeterSellick, Page 10)

Many of you who read this are Retail Chaplains, so you will know morethan most the human cost of boarded-up shop windows. You know too

the value and the cost of being a quiet, constant presence, hearing the stories,"listening with the heart", walking alongside and recognising that "ourwalking is crucial to our ministry" (Lyn Jamieson, p.15). In recent years therehas been a marked increase in the number of people working in RetailChaplaincy, and it seems that they have never been more needed. It is myhope that this magazine will be a useful resource for you as you seekdeeper understanding of the people you serve and the changing climate inthe retail industry.

We have not one but two Moderators writing for this quarter: PeterSellick took over from Randell Moll at the meeting of the National

Executive on 23rd September. Over tea and cakes we heard something ofRandell's longstanding and passionate commitment to ministry that linkschurch and economy and society. We wish him well in the new venture heis sure to find (because none of us believe he's planning to put his feet up!).

The next WorkPlace People should reach you in early December – it'stheme is Chaplaincy at Christmas. See Page 11 for more details.

Heather

mailto:[email protected]

Page 4 —WorkPlace People Summer 2016

From the (new)

Moderator

I found a ‘shoppers prayer’ online recently…

Our cashWhich art on plastic,Hollowed be thy name.Thy Shops be always open;Thy Retail Offer be OnlineAs it is in store.Give us each day our special offers.And forgive us our over-spending,As we forgive those that charge us interest.Lead us not to the wrong brandsBut deliver us from scamsFor thine are the Clubcard, the Nectar and the Visa points,For Chanel No.5 and Eternity. Amen

From retail chaplaincy experience, we know that a customer’s view ofshopping is only half the story. Telling the full story is part of what

Workplace Chaplaincy is about. As the Financial Reporting Council beginsinvestigating PwC’s audit of BHS not long before its collapse, we knowthat official ‘Accounts’ are not always accounts “in all their fullness”.

The imbalance of risks within employment (including short-hourcontracts and pension arrangements), environmental externalities,

society’s supply of skilled workers and a fair supply chain are all parts ofwhat might concern businesses, as well as ‘the bottom line’.

We welcome Peter Sellick as he beginshis term as Moderator of WorkplaceChaplaincy Mission UK. Peter is

Development Director for Churches and Industry GroupBirmingham (CIGB) and Chaplain to Birmingham City Council. Heleads the Communications Group for Workplace Chaplaincy Mission UKand is a regular contributor to WorkPlace People.


The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility’s (eccr.org.uk)recent report Forced Labour, Human Trafficking & The FTSE 100 looks at

potential Forced Labour in supply chains. In their opinion, FTSE100accounts do not generally show much evidence of best practice aboutauditing the entire business for Forced Labour, even though a smallnumber of companies do give the issue detailed attention. It is three yearssince the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh that resulted inover 1,100 garment workers killed and 2,600 injured.

At its best, commerce is a people business, and a great place tobefriend strangers. It can be an opportunity to learn to be active in

trust and to explore fundamental purposes. We accompany each other onlife’s holy journey.

These are the sorts of reasons that I am involved in workplacechaplaincy. For Workplace Chaplaincy Mission, retail chaplaincy is

our biggest growth sector, and the retail industry faces some toughchallenges. New teams of High St chaplains are starting up around the UKand often coming to us for advice and training.

We are a new movement. The constituted organisation has a longtrack record, going back over a number of decades. But today we are

made up of many members who are often new to the role, and inchaplaincy teams, many roles and structures are changing.

Fourteen staff leaders of workplace chaplaincy teams came together inthe summer in Derby. Amongst other concerns, we discussed how best

to do training, how to communicate well and to share our sources offunding and structures. (A snapshot of teams’ financial models has beenposted on the Members area at www.workchaplaincyuk.org.uk)

Some of the leaders are fairly new to the role, and to workplacechaplaincy in general. It shows that there is exciting growth in the

workplace chaplaincy mission. It also asks us to mutually support andencourage this new life.

A challenge emerged from the Team Leaders’ meeting: How can wemore proactively support neighbouring chaplaincy teams? Can we be

a part of each other’s story? The Team Leaders were unsure about theword “Association” nowadays. Most of us would hope that we can be asupportive association of members, even if we do not use that word in ournew working title –Workplace Chaplaincy Mission UK. (Continued on Page 27)


theology, and for intelligent faith,suffused all he did. It was a source ofimmense gratification to John, and to allhis friends, that his long teaching careerat Manchester University led, in time, tohonorary posts at Princeton, Uppsalaand a research Chair at Chester.

HIS CONTRIBUTION TO the national life ofthe Church of England includeddistinguished spells as a member ofthe Board for Social Responsibility andits Industrial and Economic Affairs sub-committee.

THE INDUSTRIAL MISSION movementowes to John Atherton an immensedebt – particularly for bringing to thetable the intellectual and theologicaltools to make sense of its vocation at afraught time in national history. Hedied just as the results of the EUreferendum had been announced. In atime when good theology and newinterdisciplinary enquiry are neededmore than ever, he will be sadly,deeply, missed. May he rest in peaceand rise in glory. Malcolm Brown

The full version of the text is on the WCM-UK website

www.workplacechaplaincyuk.org.uk

JOHN ATHERTON, WHO died on 24th Junefrom heart failure, was a leading figurein Anglican social theology andparticularly in the study of Christianethics in relation to economics. He alsomade a major contribution to theIndustrial Mission movement in itsmost creative phases, and wasprofoundly committed to the life of thediocese of Manchester, its cathedraland its work in social responsibility,community work and engagementwith the city.

ATHERTON TRAINED AT Mirfield andspent part of his early ministry inScotland, in parishes in Glasgow andAberdeen. As Rector of St. George’sHulme in the late 1960s, he was alsoindustrial missioner with the old GMIMteam. In 1974, he joined David Jenkinsat the William Temple Foundation,soon after its move from Rugby tobecome a “college without walls” inManchester Business School, latersucceeding David as Director beforefollowing Ronald Preston as CanonTheologian at the cathedral, a post heheld with distinction for twenty years.

JOHN WAS A superb teacher ... his robuststyle of engagement was alwaysaccompanied by the twinkle in the eye,the pat on the arm and theidiosyncratic observation. Passion for

Tribute to John AthertonThe Revd Professor John Atherton

1939—2016

Revd Dr Malcolm Brown is Director for Missionand Public Affairs for the Church of England


Scotland to Tanzania …

Jack Quinn explores WorkplaceChaplaincy in a Global context

IN MY EXPERIENCE, opportunities toengage in cross cultural ministry havebeen few so when an opportunity totick a 'bucket list' dream (to visit Africa)as well as renew friendship withsomeone from the past, I grasped theopportunity with both hands.

IN MY PREVIOUS ministry at AdelaidePlace Baptist Church we had developeda long term relationship with PastorReuben N'gwala, ordained ministerwith the Africa Inland Church. Reubencame to worship with us during theearly 2000's when he was studying atthe International Christian College inGlasgow. He returned to Tanzania to anappointment as Principal of MajahidaBible College in Bariadi, a trainingcollege for future pastors, evangelistsand church workers. He also started anursery project at Dumuni, where helived in Dar Es Salaam, (approx 800miles away, or a 12 hour bus trip.) Hemodelled the nursery on the nurserythat Adelaides had set up as itsoutreach to the city centre workers inGlasgow. Reuben's goal was to make

contact with the families of Muslimgirls who were often neglected in earlyyears education.

MY PERSONAL GOAL was not only torenew contact and friendship withReuben but assess the future potentialfor the church's relationship with himand the work he does, and now as I amserving as a Regional Organiser for theWest of Scotland for Work PlaceChaplaincy Scotland, to see whetherthere is a place or role for chaplaincyprovision within Tanzania. It was alsoan opportunity to involve one of our >

Nursery children at Dumuni waiting forthe coach to take them to their first sightof the Indian Ocean


achieve their place in the developedworld they still manage to ‘hang inthere’.

POTENTIAL CHAPLAINCY IN Tanzania?With these brief general observationswhat about the more specific issue ofchaplaincy provision in the workplace? It isvery difficult to make any tenablesuggestions on the basis of one brief visitto a very small part of the country.However there are one or twoobservations made which in my viewshowed promise.

OPPORTUNITIES

THERE ARE ALREADY establishedconnections between big business andthe church. For example the cottonfactory just outside Majahida Collegewhich we visited, received us very well,the owner being not only a member ofParliament but a fairly new convert toChristianity. He is currently helping builda larger church at Majahida, and hecurrently provides the College's watersupply through a tractor towedbowser. It could be foreseen thatchaplaincy to the workforce would bewelcomed if offered.

THE TANZANIANS ARE, like manyAfricans, hospitable and welcoming

< city centre chaplaincies, Percepta aglobal customer service companywhich provided seven used laptopcomputers for the benefit of lecturersand students at the college.

WHAT I LEARNED from the trip I stillcontinue to process but here are a fewpreliminary thoughts. It is incrediblydifficult to get a sense of perspective, asAfrica in general is a huge paradox andnot least in Tanzania. Anyone going toTanzania for the first time needs toexpect that what we take for granteddoesn’t necessarily follow in Africa.From no running water to intermittentelectricity supply. On arrival at Dar EsSalaam while waiting in the queue toprocess our visa there was a powerfailure. The officials then had to processall the visas by hand. One African saidto me "Africans know how to do thingsbadly very well". It's not entirely true,

because in theincident at theairport theyprocessed ourvisas very quicklydespite the lack ofcomputers. This isthe enigma,because despitethe challenges ofstruggling to

Scotland toTanzania

There are already establishedconnections between bigbusiness and the church ...


and keen to talk (though one astutestudent realised that could be an issuefor employers if the staff only wantedto chat to the chaplain and do no work!)

DESPITE TANZANIA BEING a largely ruraleconomy there are major cities withsubstantial populations who aregradually moving away from the usualsubsistence farming of those in theoutlying districts. In Dar Es Salaam,there are major global companiesbuilding the infrastructure. There ishuge investment by the Chinese. InMwanza on the shores of Lake Victoriaa modern multi storey shopping mall isabout to open, and even in Bariadiwhich is almost like a frontier townthere are small businesses andindustries, so there iscapacity forchaplaincy work.

CHALLENGES

OUR RECEPTION BYthe Archbishop ofThe African InlandChurch was warm andencouraging and despite thecriticism often made that the AfricanChurch still largely sees the west as aresource to be tapped I personallyexperienced no evidence of this. Theremay be tensions within the structureof the African Inland Church, not leastwith regard to favouritism, andfinancial mismanagement, but whatchurch anywhere in the world can befree from such criticism?

THE CONCEPT OF chaplaincy as a meansto complement the preaching andteaching ministry of the church maytake some time to become mainstreamin Tanzania. However it could beargued that is no different from thechallenge we face. As I shared with thestaff and students the principles andpractices of work place chaplaincy as wepractise it in Scotland there was a definiterecognition that this was an approach to

wider church ministry thatcould work well in

Tanzania.

'VOLUNTEERCHAPLAINCY' MAY be

a difficult idea topromote in a

country where theprospect of having capacity for

free time is difficult tounderstand. Every last minute is

geared to feeding your family orcaring for your relatives. Even DrBela was some evenings (ormornings) going to bed at two a.m.and getting up at five a.m. to walkto his fields of lentils or rice,because he is still a subsistencefarmer as well as college lecturer!

(Continued on page 24)

Workplace Chaplaincyin a Global context

Volunteer chaplaincy maybe difficult to promote in acountry where … every lastminute is geared to feeding

your family


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Are our town centreslosing their soul?

At a recent Workplace Chaplaincy meeting in Birmingham– ‘Retailing Reordered?’ - retailers and church leaders

discussed the prospects for our High Streets, in the light ofclosures like BHS. One retailing leader said, “without the HighSt, there will be no soul in the centre of our towns”. Hislanguage reminded me, as a Christian, that perhaps sometimesshopping and consuming is too important in people’s lives. Butat the same time his comment does point to somethingworrying about the future of our towns and cities if High Stshops continue to close in this way (not to mention, of course,the job losses). And in a case of ‘footfall’ I suspect that many ofour town centre churches benefit from the presence of a thrivingretail centre too.

As a case in point, the British Independent RetailersAssociation are campaigning for a fair review of tax

regimes for shops compared to ‘retail warehouses’: they pointout that many online businesses operating out of warehousesdo not pay the same level of “retail” business rates that High Stshops have to pay. High St shops are also being challenged byissues of parking, public transport, and planning regulations,that are outside of their control, however good they are atmanaging their own business.

Of the several hundred workplace chaplains operatingwithin the teams under Workplace Chaplaincy Mission, a

large number are engaged with retailers. They report thesadnesses of shop closures and redundancies, as well as themore positive stories of staff being able to move onto new jobs.Workplace Chaplains, that we know about, have been in contactwith probably about a couple of dozen BHS stores and no doubtthere are many more local contacts that have been made. People have been in listening to staff who have worked therefor decades, or for just a short time, to managers as well ascleaners and contractors. The BHS closure is obviously a verypainful experience for many people.


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From an ‘ecosystem’ point of view, changes in retailing canbring in more business. New shops opening in places where

old shops have closed bring in the curious customers excited bythe novelty. Shopping centremanagers actually quitelike some ‘death andresurrection’ in the HighSt, as it is part of theturnover of retailing – but ofcourse that is painful for staff,many of whom live on very insecure contracts evenwhen they have work. And when that precarious life iscompared with the apparent comforts and questionable actionsof some at the top of retailing, you can understand their anger.Retailing is a ‘people business’ and when it works well, itshould be a place for getting to know strangers, negotiatingtrust and mutual improvement of living conditions.

Peter Sellick

Peter Sellick comments onthe Re-ordering of Retailing

Shopping centre managersactually quite like some‘death and resurrection’

in the High St

The Focus for the next issue of WorkPlace People isCHAPLAINCY AT CHRISTMAS

Have you stories to tell about your Chaplaincy experiences atChristmas? How are you able to celebrate the meaning of

Christmas with the people you visit? Have you ever visitedthem on Christmas Day (if they are at work then)?

Reflections to share at this time when God in Christ was firstseen by group of working men on night shift? ChristmasWorship – hymns, prayers, stories, reflections that help thepeople in the pews to make the connections between Church

and working life?Pictures of Chaplains and workers at Christmas, of

celebrations and services or carol singing?Please send them to the Editor

By Friday 4th November, for publication in early December


What’s happeningin the High Street?

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We all know that our shopping centres are changing – shopsare closing, there are more coffee shops and restaurants, the

growth of the internet… To try to make sense of this I spoke toAdrian Field, the Manager of the Business Innovation District(BID) supporting my local city centre in Worcester.

Worcester is classed as a sub-regional shopping centre(below places like Birmingham but above smaller towns)

with the 64th highest turnover in the country. It drawscustomers because of its historic links and tourism as well asthe local population. The BID is one of 230 around the countryand has been in existence for six years. It is funded by a levy of1% of business rates on all 643 businesses in the [city centre]District amounting to £400,000 a year, and providespromotional advertising and many events to draw custom,street rangers to advise shoppers and taxi marshals for thenight-time economy, as well as other business support andcrime reduction services.

Adrian said it was as tough as he has known it in the lasteight years. Footfall down, leases coming up and not

being renewed, on-line shopping ever increasing – no longer anovelty but becoming habitual, even among older people.Brexit is causing short-term uncertainty with spending beingheld back across the piece.

Locally, there has been uncertainty as there was a proposalfor a new John Lewis and M&S and Next home stores out

of town (recently turned down) that affected investorconfidence in the city centre. There is 10% of vacant floor-spacein prime locations, which is below the national average, butstill not good. A redevelopment near the Cathedral will bringmany new food outlets but there is a worry that there will betoo many across the city, threatening some of the privately runbusinesses. Licensing laws are also changing so people go out


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Phillip Jones explorestrends in Worcester

later or ‘pre-load’ and go straight to clubs,maybe drinking less when actually there.For pubs, food is where the money is.

This is part of shopping centresbecoming leisure destinations. People

now look for ‘experience’ when they go shopping – they go fora coffee, they look for entertainment – street theatre featuresmore. This is about increasing the ‘dwell time’ so people shopmore. Hairdressers and nail bars are part of the experience andfeel-good culture. People have their hair done more often,hence the growth in salons. There has been a growth in gyms inthe city centre at first floor level where rents for the spaceneeded are lower.

There has been a huge change in the past ten years. Some areadapting better than others; it is about anticipating change.

Whether you are a large or small business you have to embracetechnology. You are marketing to the world not just thosepassing the shop, though there will always be some things thatcustomers need to touch, like jewellery and, of course, coffeeand food, that come back to the experience.

In some places there is a move to showrooms where you can’tactually buy, but look and then order on-line. Already many

shops offer collection points for on-line orders. Much of this isbecause time is precious, either because people may be parentsboth working or because other activities are preferred. So thereis a question about shop opening hours and convenience whenpeople are time-poor. Sunday is more of a leisure shoppingexperience than Saturday, though most retailers were not keenon the government’s recent proposals for longer Sundayopening – it increases costs with limited extra takings as well asasking people to work longer, especially independents who may beon their own. Independent stores are a (Continued on page 27)


We have fun times here at Metrocentre – helping withevents for charity, dressing as a banana for the

Newcastle Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund, collectingmoney for static bike riders and their charity, ‘Everyone’sInvited’, ‘Student Day’ and much more. We are allencouraged to be aware of any spillages on the malls –tea/coffee/juice/ice cream – we are asked to radio for acleaner to come and help as we stand by, making sure no oneslips or falls. Why am I telling you this? One time, I found apuddle on the mall floor and radioed the cleaning team.Before they arrived, the picture on the CCTV screen gave theimpression that as I stood OVER the puddle, I had perhaps hadan accident of some kind!!!!! Not only did this go viral to mycolleagues, but I now stand BESIDE puddles not OVER them.

‘It’s no use walking anywhere to preach unless ourwalking is our preaching’, saying attributed to St Francis

of Assisi. We in Chaplaincy especially in retail do a wholeload of walking the floors, the corridors, the stock rooms, themalls. There are two challenges in my walking that Iencounter quite often. I have lost count of the number oftimes someone’s asked me a question as I have been walking

in the malls and they want theanswer there and then. Theysay ‘I haven’t got long……canI just ask’? Whether it’s abouta personal issue or somethingin the news or devastatingnews about a family member,they get straight to the pointand so must I. And because

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We all at some pointhave thought, “Whatam I doing here?”

Walking the Mall…


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we all have different shifts and daysoff there’s often not the chance toarrange to meet next week to chat aboutthe issue. Then as I go our separateways, I can berate myself – ‘thinking I forgot to say such andsuch or I could have said’……

On the malls I will often meet up with a member of thesecurity and cleaning teams. Someone tells me they are

reading the bible ‘I don’t go to church but I love the biblereadings’ he says. We begin a conversation about the bookof Esther, my colleague is thrilled that I know somethingabout Esther! Just getting started about faith and the bibleand his radio tells him he’s needed somewhere NOW. Dueto all kinds of shift patterns/holidays etc I never saw thatcolleague again for nearly 2 months. Our walking to, ourwalking for, our walking with, our walking between – ourwalking is crucial to our ministry and tells me that my/our‘preaching’ is very much in our walking. So our witness to the

gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is notonly in what we say, who we are andhow we act, it is there even before wehave even begun in our walking.

In my 18 years of being Chaplain atMetrocentre, one of the things I love

is hearing people’s stories. Humanbeings are amazing and often walkingwith them chokes me as I see thembeing so positive and stoic and kind inthe midst of trauma and upset. >

Chaplaincy can be fun andchallenging, heart breakingand kind, tiring and exciting

Lyn Jamieson

Marketing girls at the Mall


“What am I doing here?”

<Chaplains have time to listen, chaplains offer support,chaplains understand, chaplains keep a confidence, and whenat times life and work can be stressful and traumatic, we canbe so much to these lovely people.

We all, at some point, have thought to ourselves ‘whatam I doing here?’ Sometimes on our weekly visit we

have very little chance of seeing people because they arebusy. What I have realised for myself is that if I am regularlyvisible (and regular can mean different things to differentpeople) if I am regularly visible but am unable to speak withour people, a ‘hello’, a smile, a wave or a thumbs up, tells ourpeople we are around and we have not forgotten them.

Chaplaincy can be fun and challenging, heart breaking andkind, tiring and exciting. Most of all we will be doing what

God wants us to do and that’s being out and about wherepeople are, just like He did when He walked this earth.

Lyn Jamieson

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Canon Revd Lyn Jamieson works with Northumbrian Industrial Missionwww.northumbrianindustrialmission.org

I'm not a religious person …'I'm not a religious person,'he said, 'but ...I needed something morethan therapy –I don't know what –but it came.'A pause. 'I don't know how ...'his voice fallsinto an eloquentquestioning silence …

'I'm not a religious person,' hesaid, 'but ...'and in that moment a far-offchurch bellsounded a tuneful peal.He laughed –'Trying to tell me something...'His voice breaksgiving way to an eloquent,unintendedholy silence ...

After two unrelated interviews broadcast onSaturday Live, Radio 4, 15th September 2015)

© Heather Pencavel, September 2015


As I started in this role in 2009 the recession bit in theretail sector. Bristol City Centre was not immune and

many of my early visits were to shops and stores that wereclosing down as a result. I offered a listening ear and supportwhere I could. I am grateful to the Retail Trust who are avaluable signposting source. However, there is nothing like aperson on-the-ground to offer a presence and a littleempathy. Many of my encounters told me this and althoughthere was nothing I could do to hold back the “tsunami” ofthe recession it was good to offer care where it was needed.

There is nothing like the physical presence of a chaplain inhis/her context but with hundreds of outlets in BSQ, and

only three chaplains to cover, social media plays a great partin maintaining contact. I use Twitter regularly and write ablog on the Bristol City Centre Chaplaincy Trust website.

Along with other Retail Chaplains across the country, Ihave had to respond to the terrible events affecting 33,000

employees and pensioners of BHS. The biggest demise on theHigh Street since Woolworth in 2008/9. As with all things inchaplaincy, it is important to offer a presence and listening ear insituations like this. It is also important to be a voice for thosewho are not often heard and I try to do this on the groups andcommittees I sit on, speaking up for the independent sector, forthose facing job losses or redundancy, for the increasing numberof rough sleepers in shop doorways. >

Retail Chaplaincyin Bristol CityCentre

Andy Sewell knows the value ofbeing a person-on-the-ground

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Part of my work today goes toward keeping Chaplaincy inBristol alive and well and offering a glimpse of the

Kingdom of God to all in their everyday lives. Recentlyappointed as a Minor Canon at Bristol Cathedral I am inconversation with the Dean and Chapter regarding thisministry and am grateful for their support andunderstanding. I also work closely with the South WesternSynod of the United Reformed Church and their ChaplaincyDevelopment Officer, the Revd. Siân Collins.

The Theos report A Very Modern Ministry clearly reports thevalue Chaplaincy offers as a ministry of the church. It is cleartoo that Chaplaincy is valued by the businesses in Bristol CityCentre: we have several business representatives on theBristol City Centre Chaplaincy Trust committee, andBroadmead Business Improvement District (BID) supportsthe work through generous funding.

“I can’t hold back the tsunami …”

The Church above the ShopsA Brief History of City Centre Chaplaincy in Bristol

The history of City Centre Ministry at Broadmead BaptistChurch goes back to the late 1940's and early 50's when

the minister of the day persuaded city planners that therewas a place among the shops for a worshippingcongregation. As a result Broadmead Baptist Churchremained in the city centre whilst other churches relocated tothe suburbs and during the 1960's was redeveloped into theform we see today; “The Church above the Shops”.

City Centre Chaplaincy has been a feature of thebusiness landscape in central Bristol for over 30

years.The then minister, Revd. Bill Cobley (1974-1989) hadthe vision and developed city centre ministry, working with


others who ministered in the city centre and with secularorganisations. Today we would call the initiative“networking”. The City Centre Ministry Committee(CCMC) was established and in 1987 the Revd. Bob Millswas appointed as the first full-time City Centre Chaplain inBristol. Bob worked across the business community servingshops and offices and sitting on many and varied groupsand committees. Funded, in the main, by the Baptist Union,with some donations from the city centre businesscommunity, Bob served in this role until he retired in 2009.

Following Bob's retirement the CCMC was wound upand the ministry, as we see it today, was taken on by the

new Bristol City Centre Chaplaincy Trust (BCCCT). WithBroadmead Baptist Church still very much involved alongwith other city centre churches, most notably St. Stephen'sAnglican Church, all efforts were focused upon keeping thisministry to the city centre going. Funding from the BaptistUnion stopped as Bob retired and Broadmead BaptistChurch generously offered funding for a part-time post aspart of its mission and outreach to Bristol City Centre. Theinitiative is recognised as important by the businesscommunity and as a result we have a number of seniorbusiness representatives on the BCCCT committee, andgenerous funding from the BID.

Andy Sewell

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"The Churchabove the

Shops"

“The Church above the Shops” - BroadmeadBaptist Church where City Centre ministryin Bristol began.


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For ten years a local group of chaplains has been visitingshop workers in our local Kingfisher Shopping Centre in

Redditch. For most of that time that has included BHS – but nolonger. The store closed its doors for business in Redditch at 4p.m. on Sunday, July 31st. Two days later everythingremaining – and every one – had gone; back to the suppliers,in the case of the shelving in the warehouse; on to the last fewremaining stores for sale, in the case of stock; and on toretirement, new jobs or a ‘jolly good rest before I look forsomething else’, for most of the staff. A few were planning tostart their own business. Several were still to secure new jobs,and were anxious about having to go for interviews havingworked for BHS for more than 25 years in some cases.

For myself, as their chaplain, it was a telling experience.During the preceding three months, since news of the firm

going into administration had broken, I, or a colleague in oursmall team of chaplains, had visited most weeks, sometimestwice. It had been, to resort to a cliché, a ‘roller coaster of aride’. Incredulity to begin with. Denial and a determinedoptimism that a solution was bound to emerge and a buyerfound. Depression and resignation when it became clear therewere to be no fairy godmother solutions. No 11th hour reprieve.And always, in the midst of all the other emotions, anger andfrustration – directed at Philip Greene mostly – about being solddown the river (as they saw it); and anxiety about everythingfrom what pension they would get to whatjob they might be able to find. In short all theclassic marks of a bereavement – as ifsomeone, much loved and missed, had died.And in a real sense they had.

Dick Johnson reflects on

the BHS story


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On the Monday morning after the store had closed, I mademy way to the staff entrance and loading bay. It was odd

to see the warehouse empty, offices empty of furniture andstaff not in uniform as they packed up the final stock andtidied up, determined to leave on their terms, making surethere was no mess when the keys were returned. In this therewas a dignified pride, a stubbornness that proclaimed, ‘this isnot our fault!’, and a determination to grasp this unexpected,and unlooked for, opportunity.

As I had done during each visit, I listened and sympathisedand tried to be positive. But, finally, I had to say goodbye,

handing out calling cards with an invitational, ‘if you fancy a chatand a cuppa, just give me a ring’, but being careful not to expectphone numbers or email addresses in return. There’s abereavement here for the chaplain too. Walking back down theramp, knowing I would not see most of them again, though somehave already appeared working in other shops in the Centre. Thisis part of the covenant a chaplain has with those he or she visits.We were guests – most of the time welcome guests – but for aguest there had to be a host, and both roles had ended.

As a chaplain one often comes across moments of crisis,loss and bereavement in the experience people are

gracious enough to share with you. And what can a chaplainoffer? We might find the pain and grief of those BHS staffechoing the Christ story with its betrayal (perhaps the mostused word these past 3 months) and passion and death ofJesus. And whilst it might be difficult to speak to these peopleabout discovering God in the experience of loss and darkness,to try to talk about resurrection even, at least a chaplain’swillingness to be part of the experience, offering no triteplatitudes of consolation, seemed to be appreciated. ‘I’m gladyou’ve come to see us over these past weeks’, said one person afew days before the store closed. ‘It helps to know we’re notforgotten’. There’s significant theology in that simple statement.Perhaps that is all that can be said, and, ultimately, all that needsto be said and demonstrated. It’s what Jesus is all about.

Dick Johnson


Chaplaincy, Mission And

Evangelism – 2In our last issue (Summer 2016) Ray Borrett drew on his experienceas lead chaplain at the Bluewater Shopping Centre in North Kent toexplore the place of evangelism in chaplaincy. This second articlelooks at how the Bible can help chaplains be evangelists.

At the heart of John Wesley’s‘Method’ is the importance of atheology built on scripture. As I

looked at various texts that shapechaplaincy, I started to see thatscripture deals with the outcomes ofchaplaincy rather than whatchaplaincy is. For example, a commontext associated with chaplaincy is theapocalyptic parable of the sheep andthe goats (Matthew 25 v 31 – 46). Achaplain sees their chaplaincy asserving God by serving those in needwho are made in the image of God.However, I struggled to find a moredirect scriptural connection betweenchaplaincy and evangelism. As I readwhat others had written two passagescame to the fore time and again.

The first is 1 Corinthians 9 v19 - 23, where Pauldescribes, ‘becoming all

things to all people, so thatI might by any means savesome’. Like Paul, as chaplainswe are not bound by theexpectations of those in thecongregation or even church

structures, though the wise chaplainchooses to stay within the boundariesof those structures. As a result we arebetter able to respond to the needs ofthose around us in all their variousforms, spiritual, physical or emotional.

In the second passage (Jeremiah 29v 4 – 7) God instructs Jeremiah towrite a letter to the exiles living in

Babylon. They are told to, ‘…buildhouses and live in them; plant gardensand eat what they produce. Take wivesand have sons and daughters; take wivesfor your sons, and give your daughters inmarriage, that they may bear sons anddaughters; multiply there, and do notdecrease. But seek the welfare of the citywhere I have sent you into exile, and prayto the Lord on its behalf...’

I believe it is the dutyof the chaplain to

share the Gospel


Chaplains are comfortable beingoutside the safety of the church

environment. At a recent conference achaplain referred to himself as a ‘rebelpriest’. Many chaplains, of alldisciplines, think of themselves as self-imposed exiles and this passage speaksto the reason for that exile. We workout in the world as God’srepresentatives, because we do it forthe welfare of the institution we serve.We become part of the culture (cf. the 1Corinthians passage) so as to extend theinvitation of God to all those weencounter. In both of these passages Ibelieve there is a strong biblicalimplication that talking about our faithand God is a very important part of whatwe do as chaplains.

The tradition of chaplaincy is thatof presence. Chaplains use variousphrases to describe their work.

Phrases such as ‘loitering with intent’and ‘simply being there’ are often usedto describe the ministry of thechaplain. I often think that, as a result ofthe presence of chaplains, chaplaincy ispossibly the most prominent form ofrepresentative ministry. For those‘service users’ the chaplain is arepresentative of God and, by beingwith them in their time of crisis, thechaplain is perceived to be bringingthe presence of God into thatparticular crisis.

David Bosch wrote, back in 1991,that the relationship betweenevangelism and the ‘societal

dimensions’ of mission (in this case,chaplaincy) is one of the ‘thorniestareas in the theology and practice ofmission’. (Bosch ‘TransformingMission’ Orbis Books 1991, pg. 401)The question of evangelism is easilyoverlooked or ignored if the chaplaindoes not say that they are therebecause of their faith in a loving Godwho has demonstrated divine love andwishes to show others that divine love.

In my previous article I consideredhow proselytism and evangelismare similar – though good

evangelism is always invitational.Chaplains are evangelists simply as aresult of their presence, but there is astrong biblical principle of freedomthat allows the chaplain to bewhatever the institution they serveneeds them to be.

Finally though I have to comeback to the question I asked in myprevious article. Had I, by going

along with the complaints against mycolleague who was deemed to ‘pushreligion’, set a precedent thatrestricted the spreading of the Gospelin the shopping centre we serve? >

Chaplaincy,Mission And

Evangelism


< Some might say that by dictatinghow we share the Gospel I hadcompromised the position of thechaplaincy in terms of evangelisation. Istill have questions about theconsequences of that decision. Ibelieve it the duty of the chaplain toshare the Gospel. However, it shouldbe shared with ‘gentleness andrespect.’ As a result of that particularincident I now tell new members of theteam that we are not averse toevangelism but we have to earn theright to speak the Gospel. In otherwords, we need to listen first and,when the opportunity arises, speak thewords of God to the situation we are in.The institutions we serve are not‘happy hunting grounds’ for thoseseeking to claim souls. They are placesfull of people with their own stories,and if we do not care enough to listenthen we do not deserve the right toshare the Gospel.

Ray Borrett

if we do not care enough tolisten then we do not deservethe right to share the Gospel

Scotland toTanzania

WHAT NEXT?FURTHER RESEARCH INTO the state ofChristianity and indeed Islam in thecountry would be essential. As ithappens Bela, Reuben's second incommand is a highly qualifiedteacher. He has two doctorates, onein history and the second was basedon research on the relationshipbetween Christianity and Islam!

AN INVESTIGATION INTO chaplaincyprovision that already exists inTanzania, or in neighbouring countrieswould be essential. How wouldAfricans deliver culturally relevantchaplaincy?

GREAT CARE WOULD need to be takenas to whether we would be offeringTanzanians a ministry they neitherneed nor wouldn't know how todeliver themselves. And yet in someways our visit was almost fulfilling theprophetic role that chaplains oftenhave. Even the large metropolitanchurches are facing decliningmembership as society becomes‘westernised’. Tanzania’s time maybe coming...

Jack Quinn

www.wpcscotland.co.uk

(Continued from page 9)


A tribe in the Amazon rain forest used to call the sun up each day.Not to do so would spell catastrophe. My wife says I have a similar

obsession about the daily news. If I didn't watch it each night, disasterwould befall humanity. Clearly, though, I am not as committed as thattribe. For them the sun came up without fail. In our world, despite mynews addiction, the disasters happen anyway. Walking, via his TVreports, with battle-hardened Jeremy Bowen through the streets ofAleppo, meeting the children of that tragic city, brings tears to my eyes –and, I fancy, to his.

Sometimes though, the message can change the story. A well-knownretailer goes bust, workers lose their jobs and have their pensions

raided by their former bosses. That's the story. When the media tell usall about it, the angry public response becomes a powerful force in thestruggle for justice. Workers in a Derbyshire warehouse are unjustlytreated. When the media tells the world the company rapidly changes itsways. The public sense of fair play may be fickle, but when it mustersbehind a cause, it can be amazingly effective.

One who fought fearlessly for the powerless and oppressed was thelate Bishop of Durham, David Jenkins. Unfairly branded as a rebel,

a troublemaker, even a heretic, he was actually a brilliant Christiantheologian and a totally committed church leader who enabled people togrow in faith by allowing them to doubt. A hero of the beleagueredminers, he inspired many Christians to step out of their unworldlybubble and apply their faith to everyday life. A particular friend and

mentor of workplace chaplains, he spoke at ourconferences and encouraged us to press on with ourpioneering ministry among people both in work andout of it.

Of course there have always been all sorts ofdedicated folk striving for a better world. As a

workplace chaplain you are one of them. LikeDavid Jenkins, you are there, in the real world,listening, empathising, reassuring, affirming,challenging, offering hope. When workplaces arefacing major crises, even closure and multiple >

From the (former) Moderator


< job losses, you point beyond the language of 'scrapheap', 'chucking out'and 'outrage', towards possibilities, purpose and fresh opportunities. Thisisn't about glib clichés and pious platitudes. It is about restoring a sense ofworth to people who feel devalued. At times of stability and prosperity,your friendship and affirmation suggests a vision for the true purpose ofGood Work - decently delivered and fairly rewarded - which is infinitelygreater than its mere economic value.

Pastoral care is the Love of God in action, not just some vague anddistant dream. As workplace chaplains we are always pastors. We are

there for people in their creative success but also in their crises. Yet we arepastors who are also called to ask why the crises happen. This is the otherside of our calling: to question, to debate and maybe to challenge. This isnot easy. We need the support and wisdom of colleagues. That is whatWorkplace Chaplaincy Mission UK is here for.

As I step down from the role of Moderator I am more grateful than Ican adequately express, to Peter Sellick, who, as Moderator-elect, has

stepped up to work with me this year, and to all those who are mouldingWorkplace Chaplaincy Mission UK to be the effective association andsupport network that our members deserve. Leading this work aremembers of the national executive committee, who are also trustees of ourcharitable status.

My thanks go also to the Team Leaders and other representativesfrom all over the UK who recently took the trouble to travel to

Derby to consult together on matters of common interest. It proved animmensely valuable meeting.

Finally, may I thank you, the members of our association. Youcontribute articles, comments, photos and news of your activities.You share your experience and your enthusiasm. You encourage

others. Most of all, you give your time, energy and care in taking forwardthe ecumenical mission and ministry of the Church within economic life.This is a commitment both unique and precious. You belong to anassociation which, as the IMA and now as WCM, has linked members allover the UK for nearly fifty years, and you are part of a movement whichhas served God's people at work with courage, vision and love for sevendecades. It has been a privilege to have served as Moderator, but more, tocount myself your colleague and friend. Thank you and God bless.

Randell Moll


strength in a city like Worcester as they give character –it isn’t a clone town – as well as personal knowledge

and service, but multiples are also needed as anchor stores.

There is real anxiety about out of town developments. In places like Worcester,there needs to be a "town centre first" policy but it has to be linked to good

public transport and car parking; the loss of park and ride due to spending cutshasn’t helped.

In recent years there has been residential development that has brought peopleback into living in or near the city centre. However, there is still a lot of space

above shops but it is difficult to access, especially if independent entrances andstairs required by legislation impinge on expensive retail space.

Although the population is growing and there continue to be planningapplications for developments, particularly on the edges of the city centre,

there is a real question if we need as many units as we now have. Retailers andother operators need to adapt and provide a pleasant experience with goodparking and access into the shopping area, and with a good range of shops.

Phillip Jones

(Continued from page 13)

What’s happening in the High Street?

The Invisible Church is a newbook that describes

‘churchless Christians’. SteveAisthorpe tells stories thatworkplace chaplains often hear. Itrecommends “sitting out in theSquare”, having “significantconversations.. [with people who]..wouldn’t have taken thosequestions to the church”. I find itrewarding to be a small part in afew people’s growth in faith – andthat is what workplace chaplaincyhas given me.

Peter Sellick

Ouroutgoing

Moderator, Randell Moll, has donea fabulous work in helping us overthe last few years. He has beeninvolved in, and steering, IMA overa large number of years. TheNational Executive said Thank Youto him at the end of September. As Itake over from Randell asModerator, I am excited to be partof this Mission.

(Continued from Page 6)

From the (new)Moderator

The Invisible Church by Steve Aisthorpe is available online from the St. Andrew Presshttps/standrewpress.hymnsam.co.uk

WorkPlace People is printed by Afford A Print T: 0800 00 29 925 E: [email protected]

The Industrial Mission Association (Registered Charity No: 1092245

Documents

Focus on Retail · PDF fileFocus on Retail Chaplaincy Autumn 2016 Also: ... [email protected] ... immense gratification to John, and to all