We mourn ... But praise and organize!

As we mourn Ken's passing we also give thanks for his life and witness. Many of the tributes so far have been moving and gracious. As a reminder, if you want to make a gift to Julie as she deals with the many details of Ken's illness and passing, the Pay Pal link to the right makes deposits directly to their account in the UK.

Enormous Good News! Ken and Julie are married!

Julie Wood and Ken Leech were married on October 15 at the Dukinfield Town Hall, which, as it's website proclaims, is "one of Tameside's most prestigious venues." It was no doubt made MORE prestigious by the groom's attire in an International Workers of the World t-shirt. The bride wore a more traditional ivory dress, with a very English hat, and carried a bouquet of roses.

Ken and Julie have been friends, colleagues and comrades for many years. Upon Ken's retirement from active ministry in London, they have made a home in Mossley, near Manchester. Since Ken's illness a few years ago, Julie has been his primary caretaker.

Gifts to the happy couple are MOST appropriate. Julie and Ken have set up a Pay Pal account, that deposits directly into Ken's UK banking account.

Along with the wedding photos, Julie and Ken sent along some pix of Green Party activists protesting unpaid labor, as state-sponsored slavery. See more of the happy nuptials, and more, below!

In retirement as in active ministry ...

... Ken Leech operates as the parson: the person in the community who – with the blessing of the “official” church or not -- brings people closer together with God.

Julie Wood reports that, “his current group is made up of people half from the care home and half from St. Georges', the local church So far they have talked about prayer, that it gets difficult and sometimes stops and have come up with suggestions and been generally supportive about that.

“They have talked about their lives and the changes in being a Christian that have gone on for them, such as transitioning from being Roman Catholic to Anglican. They've also talked about the fact that the early churches were building-free, but the church nowadays -- at least the mainstream church -- is slave to buildings. Ken’s church is really struggling with maintenance costs.” – Conversations that we in North America can certainly resonate with as well!!

Ken is on his way soon to Perth, to address a meeting of the Retired Anglican Clergy in Scotland.

“Apparently, Julie says, “he was going to talk about 'My Future' but is now more inclined to talk about his autobiography and different ways of being a Christian, as life has led him. However he says he does all these things on the hop and might change his mind completely when he sees people's faces.”

Ken is also resuming some speaking activity in England. He is scheduled to go to Oxford to talk with the Christian Socialist Group, on how Christianity impacts socialism, and vice versa.

“Ken says he thinks this is tricky since he thinks Socialism is a goner in the UK,” Julie says. “On current affairs he thinks Cameron and Osborne [to us in North America those are the Tory Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne] are mad to continue austerity and there is an alternative and the churches should say so but he can't see it likely to happen much.  On the new war against ISIS, Ken thinks the UK should leave NATO but says he has been saying that forever.

“As for me," Julie says, “I'm in the Green Party for England and Wales and active in my local party and am on the national conferences committee. We are busy with demonstrating for alternative economies and are optimistic that we will win a few more seats in the General Election and are putting up a 75% slate around the country.

“We think that even though we don't expect to win we will influence the currently major parties. For example in our conference we announced a £10 minimum wage and then Labour announced an £8 one.” Here in the US, for the Republicans to jump on any alternative bandwagon is unheard of, so from our point of view that sounds like solid political progress.

And in conclusion? “Ken says he hasn't read any good books lately; he's run out.”

Which sounds to me like those of us who are “Friends of Ken” should send him some suggestions of what we have been reading!!