Reflecting on the run-up to the election of the 16th Bishop of Colombo.

 Disappointing!!

 We heard of

……persons being intimidated for supporting and promoting their favourite

……mudslinging of opposite candidates

........anonymous letters

……vicarage being used as election office

……money / goods being gifted 

……candidates being placed purely to prevent another from winning

........dinners

 The questions

†        Can a person who does this be God’s choice for Bishop? A man after God's heart?

 †    Are these going to be the qualifications of our future leaders? 

†        Is this a sign of desperation? For what?

†      Does one have to stoop down to such a low level for 10 or less years of an Episcopacy? To gain what?

†   Don’t you’ll think, that such actions can break, wound and divide the Diocese, never to be restored to it original status

†    Have we lost faith in prayer? Or do we doubt God will answer prayer? Or is it hard to accept God's answer to prayer?

†        Don’t we trust God and his will? Or is that only for the pulpit and the congregation?

†        After the election of Bishop how does one expect to continue working with those he has broken, wounded and divided? Can such a person enjoy the complete support and confidence of the whole Diocese? 

†        Once a church is broken, it is not easy to put back together (From  my experience)

The two Big questions for me is "Whats wrong with the Church? " "Is this where we have been brought to?"

To all those involved in such actions a humble request! At the end of your Episcopacy you are gone. But we and those coming after us have to continue in the ministry. Please don’t break, wound or divide the Diocese. What we are (Our Diocese), is the hard work and sacrificial ministry of many who have gone before us.

And to all others, at some point in our ministry we will have to work with each other as clergy & with laity. Let’s not ruin it for us and for our Diocese. 

Let us keep in mind the bigger picture - Our Diocese.

Think and act.

O God Almighty,
through your son Jesus you are the head of the church.
Out of your body you call persons to be your priests,
to tend and care for your flock.
From your priests you choose persons to be Bishops,
the Chief Shepherds.
Look upon our Diocese,
in your mercy and grace.

Forgive us for the sake of your son Jesus.
Grant the members of council the wisdom and the ability to discern  
and to know your will, 

that the election will bring forth your choice

to take us forward as one flock

living and journeying together

for your glory.

In Jesus name we pray Amen.

Written prior to the Election of the 16th Bishop publishing after 1 week as it is sad of what one hears as we wait patiently in prayer for the response of the Metropolitan. The words of the Metropolitan in his audio visual message and letter presented on the day of the election, saying "the most influential or popular candidate or the one who campaigns the most will not be the best candidate" brings into question if the Metropolitan himself has been bought. Time will tell as we stand in prayer and faith. Hoping and praying that in the end, the victor and the beneficiary of the election of the 16th Bishop of Colombo will be the "Diocese of Colombo" and not "the greed for power and authority", that God will  strengthen our faith, and remind us all that the church is God's and not any individuals private property and that God is supreme, and his justice does flow like a river even in this day and age.