A word from the Padre
At the end of a Church House Course at Verden we ask our students to complete a Record Sheet. It is quite a simple document; but the collected sheets are always interesting to me and sometimes contain personal information which can help a local Chaplain to make good use of a good man. And there are always one or two students who make good use of the invitation to "use the back of the paper if you want more room ".
The question that sometimes gets such a full answer says "Please give your personal comments on the Course". We are glad to find that the comments are nearly favourable; but recognise that the few blank returns that we get are likely to be from people who have been bored and who do not like to say so. We can also discount the conventional comments and the frequent suggestions that the course should be longer (including one hopeful one that suggested that the course should be from 3 to 4 weeks). But, after subtracting all these, there remain the large number of comments, including many that are badly spelt and painfully written, which bear the marks of real thought and real appreciation. Some of the most appreciative and most evidently sincere come from men who in open sessions had been far too shy to speak; and the burden of them all is that these men have been genuinely glad of the chance of coming to Church House to think about their faith. This response, from unselected men who have been detailed to attend, means that we have evidence for our belief that the Christian religion is meant, today as always, for all men and not only for a chosen few. Our work at Church House, as I have seen it, has been to make it clear to all kinds of men that religion is their concern; and that Christianity does make sense.
I have tried this week to pass on to you a little of what I have learned and a little of what I have tried to teach in ten months as a Church House Warden. Next month I go back to a civilian parish, and my successor will carry on the work in his own way. if you have been to Preetz or to Iserlohn, or to one of the RAF or Roman Catholic Houses, you will know that each Warden has his own ways of doing his job. But I am sure that they would all agree with me in saying that the Chaplains and congregations of the British Forces in Germany have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to win and to welcome new members into the fellowship of the Christian Church. And that the first object of all our Church Houses is to help them, the local Chaplains and congregations on their work of evangelism.
And, one last word about our Record Sheets. Wardens are not the only parsons who are glad of advice and suggestions. Do seek out your Padre tomorrow and tell him what you think of things. Your advice may well be helpful; it will certainly give him a line on you; and unlike myself, he should be able to tell you of something quite concrete that you can do for the Church in your place!
Goodbye, and God bless you!
Rev. George Jager
Verden Church House
25th June 1949