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31 August 2007
A Word in Time - the
online bible study for daily life
As daily life gets more and
more hectic, many find it difficult to make time for the spiritual side of life.
Now they can simply log on to www.methodist.org.uk/bible
from wherever they happen to be and access A Word
in Time, the Methodist Church’s new online daily
Bible study.
Launching Sunday September 2 as part of the
new-look Methodist website, A Word in Time
will feature a daily Bible reading, background on the text,
reflections and questions to ponder from that week’s contributor. It follows
the readings in the Methodist Prayer Handbook, All
things in Christ, bringing the 40,000 readers of
the handbook together with online disciples in their search for daily
spirituality. Sundays will be extra special, with a blog attached to the
commentary, enabling users to post their own comments and thoughts on the
featured passage.
Alison Pollard, Web Writer, says; “the
Bible is a central part of our faith, but with our hectic 21st
century lifestyles, it’s often easy to neglect this essential part of our
Christianity. With this exciting new online feature, we are trying to
encourage the reader to apply the Bible to their own life and the social and
political context in which they live.”
Each week, a different writer will offer their
thoughts and reflections on a different passage of the Bible, with fifty-two
contributors in total, from a wide range of social and academic backgrounds.
30 August 2007
Against
the odds…?
Understanding the new Gambling Act
In advance of
the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005, the
Methodist
Church
and the Salvation
Army are responding to the new law and highlighting the risks of
gambling with a
new resource, Against the odds…?
The document offers information and advice on the Gambling Act
2005, which comes into effect on 1 September. The Act brings increased
opportunities to gamble and fewer advertising restrictions for gambling
operators and Against the odds…? explains the new regulations, the many types of gambling and offers a
Christian response to the issues.
Anthea Cox, Coordinating Secretary
for Public Life and Social Justice for the
Methodist
Church
,
says: "The social cost, to individuals, families and communities, of
problem gambling is something that deeply concerns us and we fear that as
opportunities to gamble increase, inevitably so will problem gambling. This
document is a Christian response to the issues and we hope it will be helpful to
those wishing to know more about gambling legislation in the UK, the concerns
that surround gambling addiction and the action Christians may wish to take in
looking at the challenges that gambling brings."
Lieutenant-Colonel
Royston Bartlett, Secretary for Communications for the Salvation Army UK and the
Republic
of
Ireland
, says: “Problem
gambling affects not only the individual, but also
their friends, family, colleagues and community. Against the odds….? is a reminder that we are not
powerless in the face of these issues. It is not just a matter for policy makers
– we can all do our part to support those with gambling problems and to
campaign for greater protection for the vulnerable. The document also reminds us
that we need to remain alert to the potential dangers and not to become
complacent now that the Act is in place."
Against
the odds….? also gives advice on what
individuals can do to support those with gambling addiction, to increase public
awareness and to raise concerns about casino proposals in their area.
Against
the odds…? is available at www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentoworld.content&cmid=1183 and on the Salvation Army website, www.salvationarmy.org.uk.
It is supported
by the Baptist Union of Great Britain, CARE (Christian Action Research and
Education), the Church of Scotland, the Evangelical Alliance, Quaker Action on
Alcohol and Drugs and the Church of Scotland.
24
August 2007
Children
to take over Methodist Church House
The Methodist Church is one of the first UK denominations to sign
up for the 11 MILLION Takeover Day. On Friday November 26, children and young
people will take over at Methodist Church House, finding out about the different
work that goes on to support the national Church and offering their own thoughts
and insights.
The 11MILLION Takeover Day is an initiative of the Children’s Commissioner for
England that invites the 11 million children and young people in England to take
control of businesses and organisations. Individuals, groups and institutions
are being encouraged to demonstrate a commitment to listening and recognising
the talents of children and young people across England by handing over the
reins for one day.
Doug Swanney, Methodist Children’s Work Development Officer, says; “The
11MILLION Takeover Day is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and recognise the
importance of children and young people in our society and the role they have to
play. We can show children that they really can make a difference – we need to
empower them and show them that their opinions, skills and ideas really do
count. We’re looking forward to the takeover here at Methodist Church House
– it will be great to hear how the children would like to see things done here
and to see what they can teach us.”
Local churches are also being encouraged to get involved, with resources
available at www.11million.org.uk,
including child protection and safety guidelines from the NSPCC. Safeguarding
advice is also available from the Methodist Church and churches can share their
ideas for the day on the MethodistChildren website: www.methodistchildren.org.uk.
Jonathan
Kerry, Coordinating Secretary for Worship and Learning, says; “Takeover Day
gives churches a chance to do something different, whether it involves a
community event on the Friday night or a special Sunday service to celebrate
children’s contributions. They could invite children to get involved in all
the different tasks that go into making the church run properly – everything
from writing the weekly newsletter to greeting people as they come though the
door.”
15 August 2007
New weblog for the
President and Vice President
The leaders of the Methodist Church have launched a weblog.
Revd Martyn Atkins, President of the Conference, and Vice President Ms Ruby
Beech will use the weblog to share their thoughts during their year of office.
Martyn and Ruby began adding blog entries after the
Methodist Conference in mid-July. Martyn says, “One of the most important
tasks for the President and Vice President is to talk and listen to people. We
will do this by speaking to individuals and groups and by travelling widely and
our regular columns in the Methodist Recorder, but now we can add the weblog to
this list as well.”
Ruby adds “John and Charles Wesley travelled thousands
of miles on horseback to meet people, and those meetings were often quite noisy
and challenging. This weblog will allow us to discuss things with people all
over the world, and to share our experiences. There are many weblogs by
Methodists - both individuals and groups - and
by people from other churches, but this is the first time that the President and
Vice President have tried this.”
9 August 2007
Methodist Church
welcomes call to release Guantanamo detainees
The Methodist Church have welcomed the UK Government’s
decision to request the return of five former British residents being held in
Guantanamo Bay.
The announcement overturns the previous refusal of the UK
Government to intervene in their case.
The Methodist Church is gravely concerned about the
continued use of Guantanamo Bay to hold people without due legal process. At the
beginning of July, the Methodist Church, the Church of England and the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference in England and Wales wrote to the Home Secretary, Jacqui
Smith, urging her to allow the return to the UK of eight former British
residents detained at Guantanamo Bay including those named in yesterday’s
statement from the Government.
The letter was signed by the Revd Graham Carter (the
former President of the Methodist Conference), the Rt Revd Tom Butler (Bishop of
Southwark) and the Rt Revd William Kenney (Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham).
Steve Hucklesby, Methodist Secretary for International
Affairs, says, “This is great news and we hope that these five people can be
returned to the UK soon. Most of the British residents detained at Guantanamo
have been there for five years now and we are concerned for their mental health
and general well-being. Their continued detention has placed stress on their
families in the UK. Their imprisonment without due legal process is an
unacceptable violation of their rights.
“We continue to be deeply concerned about Guantanamo Bay
and would like to see it closed. We appreciate the need for adequate security
measures but these must not violate fundamental human rights.”
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BOLTON
AND ROCHDALE METHODIST
DISTRICT