The stronger it binds, the freer it makes you!
This is how N. F. S. Grundtvig, a famous Danish church
father, describes the nature of love, and it holds true both for
your love your love of God and for the love between people.
But Grundtvigs's famous words can also be used to describe how I
feel about my new position as pastor for immigrants at Community
Amager.
Indeed, I am a man who is deeply rooted in tradition - as
well the traditions of the Church of Denmark as the traditions of
the Danish people. I eat roast pork for Christmas and at New
Year boiled cod. Since I was a little boy, I've always gone
to church on Sundays. If someone says, "the fourth Sunday of
Advent," then I say, "John the Baptist." I know by heart the
themes of most Sundays throughout the year.
It is probably the result of my twenty years as a parish
pastor in the Church of Denmark. My first office was in
Dreslette and Helnæs, two country parishes on Funen. Then I've held
various posts in Copenhagen. The first was Timotheuskirken at Valby
Langgade Station; the last one Allehelgens Kirke at Lergravsparken
Station.
My career may probably be characterized as somewhat
dithering. I have tried to educate myself in different
directions: Adult Educator and process consultant, to mention the
most important ones. For long periods, I have earned my
living through odd jobs: driving a van, working in a shop and a
warehouse, substitute teacher, temporary pastor assignments.
The last two years I have been postman at Købmagergade Post
Office.
I've been to many places. I have tried many
things. I can benefit from all of it in my new position as
pastor for immigrants. So now we return to my headline. I am
open to other traditions, customs and religions, you see. I
feel well prepared to entering into a dialogue and to meeting many
different people and cultures, because I know and love my own
traditions. The stronger it binds, the freer it makes
you.
I look forward to meeting the many interesting people that
I am sure God will lead me to.
Jens Lind Bønding
