David Ford's Blog

Executioner’s Steps

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Sunday’s presidential elections were the most peaceful for 40 years. However, it’s still been a memorable week: we heard that the Seminary needs to be closed down or substantially downgraded. Today, I saw a vulture strutting along the Seminary roof, its wings like black sackcloth.

We have bills of £40,000 to pay, with only £2,000 in the bank. The 30 staff are without salaries and reserves have evaporated. Last Christmas, something similar happened, but to say it’s a financial crisis is misleading: the Seminary’s just not sustainable in its present form. Generous donations this month will simply waylay the executioner. The Seminary Board has emergency meetings.

Yet, an email arrived from the Dean about exam arrangements in 12 months’ time, written as if all were normal. Olwen’s off this weekend to speak at a pastors’ wives’ retreat. And God is, so things can change in unthought-of ways.

But it all leaves me shaken, nervous and in a fog. Jesus’ “of little faith” disciples perhaps felt the same.

Photo: Juan David - happy graduate and now a pastor.