It has been another bruising week for the Church of England, as more revelations have emerged of abusive behaviour from vicars and calls for resignations. For the victims of abuse, the news must have been particularly hard to bear. Over the next few days, I will be standing in pulpits talking about good tidings in my Christmas sermons; some will see that as a sanctimonious act of hypocrisy. All I can urge is that people do not focus on the institution of the Church, do not focus on the person in the dog collar. Look instead at the one in the manager; a baby, helpless and vulnerable and see in that how God really works in the world. God does not use earthly power, God does not use human authority. God works only through love but that love will triumph, with or without the Church of England.