From the Revd J. L. Higham
Sir: Whilst not wishing to contest the rights of the Dean of St. Paul's to refuse any service in his cathedral which he regarded as an unsuitable act of Christian worship, much of what you say in the editorial 'Not in Church' (December 1) shows neither theological knowledge nor pastoral understanding.
The comment on "ignorant churchmen" is insulting to say the least and your reference to "lay lackeys" shows a real lack of comprehension of the role and powers of the laity in a twentieth century church.
The Word of God is spoken to men in their situation and is always a word of justice and mercy. It is not a word spoken in a vacuum to be retained within the four walls of a church building, but a word spoken to the world—and to men in that world. It is not a word simply of forgiveness but of renewal, and implicit in that word is commitment to active concern about those injustices which prevent the understanding of Love disclosed to us in the New Testament, In their turn the prophets and apostles were persecuted by those in authority and power more for their stand against the injustices of their day and their effect upon the established processes of socialisation than for their preaching 'the Word of God'. Conversely the false prophets were supported by establishment and state because of their silence about injustice and their implied maintenance of the status quo.
Today it has become respectable and acceptable for the Church to be concerned about social injustice — to make comment and by charitable works to seek to help men in their need. Vested interest and the politics of power have not yet made it possible for the Church to be acceptably and respectably concerned about economic injustice and argue that the Word of God be preached in churches rather than in their institutions.
J. L. Higham
Hollinfare Vicarage, Warrington, Lancashire
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