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Great things in business are never done by one person; they are done by a team of people

Steve Jobs

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When Revd Zoe King was appointed Ministry Area Leader for the Rectorial Benefice of Barry she knew she would be joining a dedicated team - some of a different tradition to herself. Here, Revd Zoe reflects on what it means to respect tradition but not compromise your beliefs.

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On the face of it a dedicated priest who is a member of the Society of the Holy Cross and a female priest are not natural colleagues, but over the last 3 months I have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Fr Chris Seaton SSC as well as my other colleagues and last Saturday Fr Chris retired. Our team changed and became smaller because of itSince I was appointed that was in evidence as Fr Chris and myself worked alongside each other and neither of us expected the other to compromise on our theological consciences.I believe strongly that an effective team has a wide range of viewpoints but works when there is respect and a willingness too listen to other people.The world is full of confrontation, and the internet is a place where difference is almost a chance to eviscerate each other but the church is and always should be a place of sanctuary and grace and unfortunately all too often we see different theological standpoints being viscous and definitely not reflecting God’s love behind the anonymity of the internet.Martin Luther King spoke of having a dream for people of all colour to be equal, the church should equally be always preaching for God’s dream of all to be welcome and treated equally and that has to start with us inside the building and even more so with those leading at the front.Difference of theological opinion is one thing and none of us want a stepford church full of automatons, but we can model how to deal with with difference well.Fr Chris and I may be on different sides of a theological debate but it doesn't ever stop us sharing the peace and meaning it and once sharing the peace taking it out into the world as as followers of Christ.Fr Chris retired last week and I wish him well, but as he lives in Cadoxton, Barry I still have the pleasure of seeing him and worshiping alongside him.In that, we still show though simple actions how dealing with difference can be done with conscience, genuine faith and respect for each others theological standpoint