Reflecting on the Christmas story this year, Bishop Steven is reminded how diversity is a feature of the witness accounts. Jesus was born to Mary, a Jewish girl, in Bethlehem, a city under Roman occupation. He was excluded, a refugee in his own country. Read the reflection, written for the Oxford Mail.
On 6 October this year, I stood in Bond Square in Oxford with my good friends, Imam Monawar Hussein and Louise Gordon, Vice President of the Oxford Synagogue and we wondered if the rain would ever stop. We’d invited faith leaders, civic leaders and university leaders from across Oxfordshire to gather to stand together for peace, in lament and in remembrance. The date was carefully chosen. This was the anniversary of the last day of (relative) peace in the Middle East. We were also at the beginning of the new academic year in the University of Oxford. We wanted to offer a moment of solidarity and shared grieving for all the lives that had been lost. But would anyone turn out on a dark and stormy October night?
We had planned to gather outside in a public space. At very short notice, New Road Baptist Church kindly opened their doors and offered us shelter and a wet weather plan. Despite the weather, around 250 people gathered. We heard messages from civic and city leaders and our two vice chancellors. Representatives of different faiths led reflections and prayers. We joined in the singing of Where have all the flowers gone? We kept silence together. We pledged ourselves to continue to build communities of kindness and mutual respect. In the end, the rain and the darkness became a sign to us of the great suffering in the world and in our own country. We lit candles as we took a small stand together in hope against the darkness.
October 6 has been one event among many this year as faith, community and civic leaders across the County have worked together for peace and for unity, despite all that is happening in the world. We’ve worked very closely with Thames Valley Police who have been immensely supportive. We held a civic event in Oxford Town Hall in February. In June the Friendship Walk was a powerful witness to the City of the faiths working together. As always, the route began at the Synagogue in Jericho, paused outside St Giles and the University Church in the city centre and finished at one of the mosques in East Oxford. The group were active in the summer as riots and demonstrations threatened across the country in the wake of the dreadful murders in Southport. As always, the faith leaders stood together in the Civic Act of Remembrance in St Giles with leaders from across Oxford, standing together against division. There is now a Thames Valley faith and civic leaders group and the good work we have done in Oxfordshire has spread in new ways to Berkshire, to Slough and to Bucks.
As Christmas approaches this year, I give thanks for all of this and for the work of many good colleagues and people of all faiths and none towards the common good. As I reflect this year on the Christmas story, I am reminded of the witness to diversity in the gospel accounts. Jesus was born to Mary, a Jewish girl, in Bethlehem, a city under Roman occupation. He was excluded, a refugee in his own country. He was visited by shepherds, the poorest in the community, who saw visions of angels. Wise men from the East came to worship him, bearing strange and prophetic gifts. The whole known world, from East to West, is present at his birth. As this year turns, the whole world needs still to hear again his profound message of peace, of reconciliation to God and to others, of love of neighbour, of hope, of kindness and of joy.
The New Year will bring a great many challenges globally and locally: climate change; war; poverty; disease; and migration will all impact the life of our city and county. The good relationships between communities we enjoy in Oxford and Oxfordshire are vital for our common good. These relationships need to be tended and deepened in every place. Can it be part of your own New Year’s resolution to build new bridges in the place you live and play your part in building peace and respect in this remarkable city and county?
A very happy and peaceful Christmas to you and to your family.
Bishop Steven Croft
