Name

We’re nearly there. Diocesan Review is steadily turning into Diocesan Policy. I’m always fascinated by this phase of the process. You don’t quite know how it’s going to turn out – it’s like walking purposefully towards a piece of scenery and watching the shapes, outlines and shadows become clear as you approach.

The name is a bit of a preoccupation at present. I’ve always been keen to find names which are slightly non-specific – don’t raise mistaken pre-suppositions and prejudices and therefore invite rejection – and which lift the heart rather more than anything with ‘policy’ or ‘strategy’ in it. We used to have a ‘Dry Bones’ Group in the parish. Best, I think, is something which connects us to the biblical tradition. Given our problems with age profile, Abraham gets the odd mention – as does Lazarus. Or maybe we should give our gradual move away from the ‘English Church’ tag a bit of a nudge by choosing something Celtic.

My last experience of this phase was in Down and Dromore – where the consultant produced the name Think Again – evangelism in neutral language.