The Woman at the Well

Sermon by the Revd David Moore

23 March 2014

Exodus 17:1–17 and  John 4:5–42

To all intents and purposes the lectionary reading could be just another of the stories which we hear read week after week after week. And whatever I might say, to me or to you, it is likely to go in one ear and not long later emerge out of the other. This is just the way things are!

But every now and again, at least for me, there are moments when some kind of fusion occurs and I am forced to sit bolt upright - for me a moment of memorable intensity.

As a teenager it was a Marilyn Monroe film that was one such moment… and a memory has been maintained for over sixty years! At that time there was also for me a text from John’s Gospel: ‘You did not choose me, but I choose you’, which shook me to my very core and propelled me onto a completely unexpected journey. A journey which has continued with the varying degrees intensity as a Marilyn Monroe moment and has also lasted sixty years!

Why am I telling you this? Well, today the lectionary reading, to my mind, has a certain ‘atomic’ quality. Suddenly I find myself faced with more than I bargained for. A quick recap:

Jesus is alone by the village well, it is middle of the day (hot); a women comes to draw water. ‘Give me a drink’; ‘What, you, a Jew, I asking me, a Samaritan’

There are so many leads into this passage, so let’s cut straight to the chase! This passage is dripping with the burning issues of our day: Boundaries, Territory and Identity. Crimea/Russia on the one hand, Scottish Devolution on the other, and for some members of this church ‘permission to reside in the UK and to work’.

This video clip shows boundary changes in “Greater Europe over the 5000yrs. Massive changes almost everywhere, but far less in the British Isles – because we live on an Island.

A close friend was recently awarded a PhD for his work on Limology (hands up those who know the meaning of limology? [on the day, only one person!]. Limology is the study of boundaries. He examined the history of the changing boundary between Mexico and USA and he did so primarily by studying Westerns - yes, cowboy films! That one boundary has countless cases of ‘land-grabbing’. Mr Putin is but the most recent example.

Many years ago I was caught up in a complex pastoral situation relating to a 14 year old attempting to get into the UK to see his estranged father. He had been sent by his mother to get him out of the country during a Parliamentary Election Campaign where she was a candidate! The estranged father only knew the boy was on route after the plane left Australia. ‘It was clearly a situation filled with bear traps’!

The insensitivity and heavy handedness of the Border Agency staff resulted in me spending many hours at Heathrow during which I somehow ended up the wrong side of customs – without my passport. To all intents and purposes I was powerless – in no mans land – and the repeated questions which I answered again and again, did nothing at all to humour me! Not only did I feel vulnerable and I soon discovered I was in a minority. I was the only white person there, except for the immigration officers. It was a place in which it seemed as if human value and all compassion no longer existed.

Finding myself on the wrong side of the boundary was an acutely difficult situation, but it was not completely new to me, in that I had appeared in court on behalf of homeless men and women time without number, and once had been the only person to speak for a person at a Crown Court. The man was given a conditional discharge (to live at the project the church ran). And once we had to wait almost two hours, in an unlocked cell waiting for his possessions: three pence, for which he had to sign.

Nationality, identity and boundaries are enduring points of friction primarily for the unrepresented and vulnerable. Representing/standing with outsiders can be a chilling and indeed frightening experience.

Jesus in choosing to speak with the woman at the well, not only chooses to side step traditional protocols but to face the woman as she was. By sidestepping tradition Jesus allows other truths to emerge - she had had countless partners - but he offers the possibility of acceptance. A recognition at a deeper level – “Water of Life”, he calls it. He speaks of that which really does quench that particular thirst: of not being accepted; of not being good enough; of not being the right age or gender, or nationality, or not having the right qualifications, or papers.

Whoever drinks the water I give, says Jesus, will never be thirsty again.

Sadly the bloodthirstiness we see around the globe is not only in land grabbing, but in the denial for women to be freed from fear and abuse; for gay and lesbian people not being bound by the bigotry of others; or indeed young girls being free of the threat FMG.

However, heinous things continue to occur in what is considered modern, civilised, Western-type countries. Aboriginal babies, especially those of mixed parentage, continue to taken from their families by Australian officialdom. In 2008 Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister publicly apologised to the Aboriginal People but the underlying issues remain - he was soon out of office and it was business as usual.

My Big Question for today is how do we learn to ease ourselves from the straightjackets which trap us into assuming what we know and accept is bound to be correct. How is it that we get such fixed and final and divergent ideas about other people’s value and worth?

Another of my closest friend believes to his very bone marrow that the word ‘marriage‘ must be reserved exclusively for the contract between a man and a women. He has no room for change! The fact that same-sex marriages are now legal and the first will occur next Saturday makes no difference to him. As you may guess, I do not agree with him.

We are all, of course, as much a part of the problem as we are the answer. The privatisation of faith, of believing faithfulness is exclusively about personal development/salvation, is perhaps the greatest sin of the church today. (Look at the bookshop here at Cornerstone. primarily stocked with what I would name as ‘cosmetic literature’ - aimed at cheering us up, not transforming/overcoming the deep persisting hurts in society.)

This church of Christ the Cornerstone was erected to be a dynamic symbol that faith can lead to deep and enduring change; that we no longer need to be ‘prisoners’ to Methodism, or Anglicanism or Catholicism, or Luther or the Reformers. That I can be thoroughly Methodist and MUCH MORE.

Being ecumenical is to be serious about each other and choosing ways of standing in other people shoes; being ecumenical is developing the skills, the working practice, the know-how, of ‘knitting’ together the fabrics of daily life into the image of a world resembling that of the Cross Bearing and Servanthood of Christ. And that may NOT always be a pretty picture.

I do not doubt that many of the celebrating Russians in the Crimea are in the main as decent people as are we, people who feel they have returned to their roots, to their home-land; whereas the non Russians speakers differ completely in their longings.

Crossing boundaries, experiencing change, ceasing to believe that nothing really changes; being open to facing and speaking gently to those who are different or who offend you, is exactly what Jesus is doing in asking for a drink of water - it is code for saying ’we are both human’

A great sadness for me - as a member of this congregation - is that in the ongoing rush of life we do not/cannot make the time or the space for the softer or silent voices amongst us to be heard. The greatest treasure of this community is the stories we carry - we All carry them, your insignificance maybe anthers enlightenment/wonder/salvation.

As a 12 year old boy living in Cirencester in the Cotswolds in the 1950s, with three friends I would cycle for miles during the school holidays. How we never got lost was a miracle in itself! Toward the end of one very long afternoon ride, the four of us were dying for a drink. I was the one to knock on a cottage door and ask for a drink - I was the smallest! But first, rub your face with your hankie, plaster down your hair, pull up your socks and don’t forget to smile. Nervously I knock the door it is opened by a woman the age of our grandparents - I ask for a drink of water, wonder of wonders, we were invited in! - lemonade and cakes. Amazing, wonderful. We probably made her day as she ours!

Another moment of memorable intensity! (I do prefer secular English to describe my deepest experiences.)

So 64 years on that moment of memorisable intensity retains its power and reminds me, as nothing else does that the Eucharist is sharing joy. Give me a drink says Jesus!

We can keep that story going by crossing boundaries, by opening up opportunities. It is a reminder that our shared meals can be a way crossing boundaries and opening up the treasure houses of family and community history safely.

And all because he asked a stranger to share her water!

Human Trafficking in the 21st century

A report for the Mission and Social Responsibility Committee of the Church of Christ the Cornerstone

Glynne Gordon-Carter

January 2014

History

In preparing this paper it would be remiss of me not to refer to the History of the Atlantic Slave Trade which was carried out from 1518-1865. Western European nations were actively involved in this slave trade and countless fortunes were made at all levels. The system became well established and slaves were sold to slavers mainly by African kings and chiefs. During this period no less than 20 million Africans were sold out of West Africa. This figure does not include those who were killed during collection in Africa, or who died on the long and hazardous trans- atlantic crossing, as they were crammed into slave ships like books on a shelf.

This was a massive movement of people who were wrenched from their homelands, families, communities, ancestors and their history. This horror should never be forgotten as long as the world lasts- a monstrous example of human trafficking. Many did not survive the long sea voyage as they died and those who caught diseases were thrown overboard. On arrival in the West Indies or in the Americas, slaves were auctioned off, people from the same tribe were separated, slaves were given sub standard housing, names were changed, once bought they were branded as they were counted as stock on the estate like the cattle, they had to work extremely long hours on plantations without wages, could be sold to another planter, suffered cruel punishments, rapes etc. A slave and his family were bought for life. The planter had absolute control over the person and liberty of the slave. In the case of the British, one island in the West Indies was used to breed slaves.

Today

I have deliberately stated these facts because although on a different scale in terms of numbers and other aspects, one can identify similarities in the human trafficking which is being carried out in the 21st century across the globe, as people are trafficked within their countries, as well as across borders. The question might be asked where is it happening? In fact there are not too many places where it is not happening. ILO figures show that 4.5 million people across the world are sex slaves. Every minute- 2 children are trafficked, and 2.5 million women are trafficked per year.

In Cambodia for instance there are many examples of parental complicity where girls are regarded as blessings as they can be sold to provide money for parents and the girls feel that they have to honour their parents. Girls are sold for items such as cell phones, TV sets and other consumables. They are sold at a young, tender age and men fly in half way around the world to buy children for sex. If the parents traffic the child in the country then it shows that they love the child, if trafficked out of the country then they do not love the child. They are often picked from a lineup with numbers on their chests. Thousands of girls are sold in this way and once bought they are expected to have encounters with from 5-40 men per day, seven days per week for up to possibly seven years. Some die, contract diseases, or end up so broken psychologically that they consider themselves worthless. This also happens to older victims as well. Buyers can pay for services with credit cards and the receipt given could read: Beer-US$4.00, Grapes- US$5.00, Girl-US$3.00 (whatever you want). One victim remarked ‘I would pray day and night to God that he would help me escape’. UNICEF has reported that in Cambodia, 19,250 children are trapped in trafficking. Cambodia is not an isolated example, there is well established human trafficking in Thailand and several other countries in that region.

In Moldova, Eastern Europe-400,000 women have been trafficked in the past 20 years as criminal gangs recognise how much money they can make. It is alleged that Spain has a high incidence of human trafficking.

What is Human Trafficking?

HOPE FOR JUSTICE UK defines it as ‘modern day slavery. It is serious organised crime and it is big business. Criminals can only profit from the sale of drugs and guns once but they can sell a victim’s services again and again.

The Act

What is done? Recruitment, Transportation, Harbouring or receipt of persons

The Means

How it is done? Threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or position- vulnerability.

The Purpose - Why is it done?

In order to exploit victims e.g. prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation e.g. pornography films, forced labour or services, slavery, servitude, or removal of organs. (When the victim is a child only act and purpose need to occur for human trafficking to exist). Information correct as of September 2012’.

Initiatives to counteract Human Trafficking

One of the main organisations is the INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR MIGRATION (IOM) which includes a counter trafficking unit. In Europe there is the ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION. These agencies have websites which provide very helpful information on how they are working to counter human trafficking. People are becoming more aware of this scourge and so support is growing against human trafficking.

In January 2014, the God TV Channel held a campaign in order to educate viewers worldwide and encourage people to speak out against this horror.

EXODUS CRY, USA has produced an excellent film entitled ‘Nefarious :Merchant of Souls’. The film focuses on redemption, reference to Psalm 10, in which the wicked are in the shadows looking for the vulnerable and weak to entrap them. There is no nudity and the film is suitable for a Christian audience. EXODUS CRY, USA is a major foundation which employs full-time staff, and they intervene where there is trafficking. They recognise trafficking as a spiritual matter and hold prayer vigils as part of their awareness raising programmes. They recognise that orphans, marginalised, stateless, sexually abused, poverty stricken, weak and vulnerable persons are preyed upon by traffickers. In order to bring victims under control they use systematised ways of breaking them down through violence, rape, gang rape, drugs, also threats to harm their families if they do not submit. Once the victim’s spirit is broken, in order to survive psychologically the victim begins to identify with the pimp or trafficker (Stockholm syndrome) as the only source of life.

In Sweden, men are arrested for buying sex and are given a serious penalty. So sex buyers are criminalised, not the women. They are victims and are offered protective services. The last murder of a prostitute was in 1989. Sweden is protecting the sanctitiy of human life. This has resulted in a low rate of human trafficking.

In Cambodia, safe houses have been set up by some individuals and NGOs in order to rescue victims. Counselling services are included in the rehabilitation of victims. It is interesting to note that an ex pimp and an ex trafficker have devoted their lives to helping children get out of the sex industry.

In December 2012, I had the opportunity to attend a Conference on ‘Toward Tier One- Preventing Human Trafficking in Jamaica’. This was organised by Soroptomist International of Jamaica and the College of Health Sciences- University of Technology Jamaica. It was stated that in 2000, the UNITED NATIONS had set up a protocol on human trafficking and arms trafficking. Jamaica was working towards achieving Tier 1, which would indicate full compliance.

Conference participants regarded human trafficking as violence against the soul. Churches, schools and civic organisations needed to be educated to the signs of trafficking. The main concentration was violence against women and girls. It was recognised that there was also violence against boys and men. Some governments in the region were still in denial about human trafficking, the Jamaican government had promised to set up a Task Force. Legislative changes were needed, and cases before the courts should be fast tracked. There was collaboration between the NGOs and the Police. There were 3 stages in the process of entrapping victims: Recruitment, Transportation, and Exploitation. The main types of exploitation were sexual exploitation, forced labour, servitude, and removal of organs. Persons were mainly young bright females e.g. University students who were recruited for so called modelling jobs; school drop outs, young single mothers and boys. Traffickers publicised offers of work and a better life through websites and newspapers. There was trafficking within Jamaica, and into Jamaica e.g. Filipino maids. Through the existing programme victims from Burma, Guyana, Panama and India have been rescued. Women were also used as ‘mules’ to bring drugs into Europe. Child Protection Officers were over burdened as parents sometimes sold their child to a man or to a family for a certain amount of money per month. Vacant houses were being used in some instances for trafficking. The Saxthorpe Methodist Church had set up a counselling centre to help victims. They were often traumatised to the point of not being able to speak, had mental issues, and found it difficult to reintegrate into the family.

HOPE FOR JUSTICE-UK

This organisation inspires people to rise up against human trafficking and slavery and see God restore people. Their Annual Report states ‘We believe Freedom is worth the fight. We believe Justice is non negotiable. We refuse to abandon the Least, the Last, and the Lost’.

In the case of Forced Labour, victims are told about good jobs which will provide them with an opportunity to improve their circumstances. Their ID is taken away, they are paid very low wages, kept in extremely poor conditions, and can be sold from person to person. In the case of one man, he was told that he was not worth even Three Hundred Pounds.

Sexual Exploitation involves being coerced physically, threatened verbally or ground down psychologically for sexual acts. This may be prostitution, the creation of pornography or involvement in ritual abuse. Trafficking for sexual exploitation does not just involve migrants brought into the UK but also victims who are moved from location to location in the UK. Children as young as 3yrs. have been trafficked into the UK for sexual exploitation. In 2003, it was estimated that there were 4,000 victims of trafficking for prostitution in the UK at any given time. Between 2011-2012, HOPE FOR JUSTICE, UK assisted 78 victims. In February 2013, the organisation opened the first Hub Investigators group-Emma’s Hub. They are appointed regionally and sent into communities to reach the most hidden victims. Also, the organisation has produced a Comprehensive Training Pack for frontline Police to boost Investigators and Prosecutors. The HOPE FOR JUSTICE UK team responds to intelligence received from NGOs and Community groups who have been trained to recognise the indicators of trafficking. This work enables them to assist in the rescue of victims from situations of exploitation who are transferred to after care providers. The following should be noted: 81% of victims referred to this organisation by those they trained were reached within 24 hours; 23% of victims rescued were children, the youngest 3 months old: 96% of victims made a direct report or submitted intelligence to Law Enforcement because of HOPE FOR JUSTICE, UK Involvement.

Top 5 Victim Nationalities

• Slovak
• Romanian
• Czech
• Hungarian
• Latvian

What Can We Do?

The God TV channel describes ‘Human Trafficking as one of the greatest evils of modern times’ and “At the heart of being a Christian there is a call to action. To shine a light into the darkest areas of the world and humanity”.

The Human Trafficking Search website states “No one size fits all solution—Eliminating human trafficking requires focused and serious action by countries of origin, transit or destination by international organisations, and by individuals within communities where slavery exists—We can each play a part directly or indirectly in our lives”.

1. Prayer is absolutely essential as this is a spiritual battle. Jesus came to set captives free. Pray for the victims and the traffickers.
2. Awareness and education- injustice thrives hidden in the shadows, shine a light on this evil. Become part of the abolition movement through the social media
3. Make a one off gift towards helping to rebuild lives.
4. Regular financial giving to help abolitionist organisations rescue victims, and help them through restoration programmes.
5. Corporate Social Responsibility- partner with HOPE FOR JUSTICE, UK- hear stories, receive updates, join campaigns.
6. Invite a Guest Speaker so that we can become better informed.
7. STAND UP FOR THE LITTLE ONES- ‘Kids as Commodities? Child trafficking and what you can do about it’.

“YOU MAY CHOOSE TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY BUT YOU CAN NEVER AGAIN SAY YOU DID NOT KNOW”.
William Wilberforc

“IF SLAVERY IS NOT WRONG THEN NOTHING IS”.
Abraham Lincoln

Bibliography

• 2012 Annual Report-HOPE FOR JUSTICE, UK.
• “The Making of the West Indies” Augier, Gordon, Hall and Reckord,1960 Longmans.
• “Black Cargoes, A History of the Atlantic Slave Trade (1518-1865)”
• Mannix & Cowley,1962 Longmans.