From Mr Colin Udall
Sir, - Surely Rebecca Pickering (Letters, 20
September) has missed the point about Greenbelt. Greenbelt,
although the Church Times is a partner, is not a voice for
the Anglican Church; nor does it have an Anglican message.
Greenbelt is, and to me always has been, a place for debate.
This debate does not begin and end at the festival, but continues
when one leaves the festival, in conversations, prayers, and
witness by hundreds, if not thousands, of Christians from any
number of denominations, and none. Greenbelt has never been afraid
to ask difficult questions, give opposing points of view, or gather
people around a microphone to argue a point. Perhaps whether
amazing grace is or should be a Christian dogma can be a subject
for debate next year?
My faith has been greatly enhanced by being able to think and
ponder about what I have heard and seen at the festival. It is a
Christian festival where we are not told how to think or what the
answers are, but which em-braces a theological spectrum of
thought.
Long may it continue to be so.
COLIN UDALL
11 Paddiford Place
Nuneaton CV10 8JJ
From Mrs Mary P. Roe
Sir,- Mrs Pickering told us how depressed she felt after reading
the reports from Greenbelt. I am sorry that that was her
experience, and would suggest that she might try attending one of
the days, at least, and engaging in conversation with some of the
people whose understanding of the gospel message differs from her
own.
Nevertheless, I would recommend that, if she does so, she should
resist the temptation to cheap sarcasm, which does nothing to
persuade anyone of the rightness of her opinions, but induces in
many people a feeling of depression even deeper than hers.
For me, that feeling came near to despair when I turned the page
and read Dr Christopher Wilkinson's "congratulations" to the Church
in Wales on its decision to admit women to the episcopate. I was
always taught that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. There is no
answer to Dr Wilkinson's attack, because it is so illogical that
one would not know where to begin.
MARY P. ROE
1 The North Lodge, Kings End Bicester, OX26 6NT
