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Viewpoint from Wendy Bircham 17/10/2025
 Wendy Bircham
Licenced Lay Minister, St Nicholas Church, Bradwell
Chaplain at the JPUH
Whose authority are you under?
I think it’s true to say that most people come under someone’s authority. Be this in the workplace; government; politics; schools; police; parents; Church, yes, even Church
Today it alarms me to see the rise of strong powerful global leaders who rule with an iron fist, giving little regard to the down trodden and vulnerable. The word which I frequently hear nowadays is regime
Whether we like the rules and laws which are made or agree with them, they are necessary in order for life and society to function smoothly. Yes we have a right to peacefully agree or disagree with authorities when we find a need to
 As a Licensed Lay Minister and Hospital Chaplain I find myself coming under two or more authorities
As a Hospital Chaplain I come under the authority of the Hospital Trust; which means that I work to the values and core principles set out by the Trust
Yet within the Trust I have the freedom to minister and pastorally come alongside those at the James Paget University Hospital
As a Licensed lay minister I come under the authority of my Rector. I’d like to think that we both complement each other in a good relationship as we serve our local community. As a Parish church within the Church of England we come under the governance and church law of the diocese and Bishops
Whose Authority do you come under? It’s an interesting question to consider
Ultimately as a Christian I come under God’s authority as I would hope most Christians do
Coming under God’s authority means through faith, we submit our lives, our decisions, our families, jobs, finances to His sovereignty and rule accepting that He is in control of all circumstances, Yes, at times this can be hard; but God promises through the Bible His – protection, power, and blessing
When we live with God at the centre of our life, we can know that God has the very best plans and purposes for our lives, here on earth and our eternal future
Jeremiah 29:11 says
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"
We just have to let go surrender everything to him!
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