BOLTON AND ROCHDALE METHODIST DISTRICT

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Presidential Visit 2009

The President of the Methodist Conference, Rev’d Stephen J. Poxon and the Vice-President, Mr David S. Walton, enjoyed and packed weekend of stimulating activities in the Bolton and Rochdale District of the Methodist Church on 1^st to 3^rd May 2009.

The weekend began on Friday 1st May 2009 with the President opening Beechville Care Home, a purpose-built home with state-of-the-art facilities to support individuals with residential and dementia care needs. Beechville is a former Quaker home which transferred in 2007 to the national housing and care charity Methodist Homes for the Aged. Rev'd Stephen Poxon said ‘I am delighted at the way MHA champions the rights of older people in having a choice when it comes to care and housing facilities.’

The President attended the Bicentenary Rally of the Bridge Methodist Sunday School on the evening of Friday 1^st May 2009 . He dedicated a plaque, presented a preaching certificate for fifty years service to Mrs. Doreen Andrews of the Bury and Heywood Circuit and preached an uplifting sermon, which was interspersed with a song and encouraged the congregation to be confident in faith.

The weekend celebration continued on the Saturday with a children's party for about fifty, helped along by a bouncy castle, face-painting and games, and there was a social event including a potato pie supper in the evening. On Sunday, the minister, Rev’d. Derek North, baptised Brooke Foster and Rev’d David Burton (ex-Radcliffe, now Superintendent of Bury and Heywood Circuit) conducted the children's service. In the afternoon there was a reception for previous scholars. The evening worship was a youth service followed by a ‘Liv' it Live’ concert by the groups engaged to conduct a mission in a local high school for the duration of the subsequent week.

The Vice President hosted a meal and stimulating discussion on the Friday evening about business and ethics at the Victoria Hall, Bolton Methodist Mission. A range of local business representatives, including company directors, professionals, Fair trade and ethical business entrepreneurs and academics attended and heard David talk about the change he has seen as a practising lawyer in attitudes to ethics within the business community in his working life as a commercial and property lawyer. He shared stories about people who had closed their business down rather than trade in a way that did not resonate with their conscience, and about people who struggle with the pressure of inappropriate targets set by their employer. Many at the meeting expressed the view that businesses that survive are those that act appropriately to their clients and employees.

On Saturday 2^nd May 2009 , the President and Vice President attended the Third National Assembly of the Leaders of Worship and Preachers Trust (LWPT), which was held at Christ Church Methodist/United Reformed Church in the Farnworth and Worsley Circuit. Over eighty preachers and worship leaders from around the Connexion gathered for worship, fellowship and study. The chair of LWPT, Mr Frank Pickles, welcomed those who had gathered. Greetings were brought by Rev’d David Clowes, Deputy Chairman of the Bolton and Rochdale District, on behalf of the District, the Right Rev’d Chris Edmonson, Bishop of Bolton, on behalf of the Diocese of Manchester, and Rev’d Richard Church on behalf of the United Reformed Church North West Synod. Mrs Angela Davis, a Trustee of LWPT, led opening devotions.

The theme for the weekend, ‘Engaging Worship’ was chosen by the President and Vice President. In a challenging and stimulating opening session the President asked, ‘What is Worship?’ He reminded those who led worship that they were in a privileged position and should endeavour to bring only the best of worship. The President asked those present to consider how worship had changed in their lifetime. Traditional forms of worship were unfamiliar to many in our society today. New ways of worship were being embraced by many as ‘café church’ and ‘messy church’ styles of worship were reaching out to folk unfamiliar or uncomfortable with traditional styles of worship. The challenge for those steeped in traditional styles of worship was to accept that through these different styles of worship folk were able to meet and worship God.

In the second session the Vice President shared some of his experiences during his time as Vice President and challenged his hearers to consider how Christians could fulfil their mission in the everyday world of work. Christians were often confronted with difficult work situations when business decisions conflicted with their Christian faith. Often, preachers use illustrations from biblical, past or personal situations but they need to be aware of the many problems being faced by many in their congregations and seek to address these needs in their preaching. The two sessions brought to a close as the President led in prayer.

The President and the Bolton and Rochdale Deputy Chairman departed to share in the opening of the New Boothstown Methodist Church . The Vice President remained at the LWPT National Assembly where the Trustees of LWPT introduced themselves and explained their role and how LWPT seeks to provide support and care for Preachers and their dependents in time of need and also provide the best in worship material through ‘Ichthus’ and its website.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton , Councillor Anthony Connell and Mrs Maureen Connell, joined the Vice President and other guests at the evening meal, which was followed by ‘Entertainment with a Message’. The entertainment was provided by young people from the Farnworth and Worsley Circuit supported by a group of adults. Through music, song and sketches the audience was confronted with various situations ranging from how the church functions, world inequality and modern parables, which challenged everyone.

The day was brought to a close as the National Advocate of LWPT, Mr Philip Nuttall, led the epilogue. Those attending the Assembly either returned home or journeyed throughout the District to stay with those who had offered hospitality. Many Preachers attending the Assembly led worship throughout the Bolton and Rochdale District and in the Salford and Sale Circuits.

On the Saturday, The President officially opened the new Boothstown Methodist Church on Chaddock Lane in Worsley. The new building replaces the church that has been part of the community since 1826. In addition to being a place of worship, the church also encourages the use of its building for community activity. The Minister, Rev’d Ian Humphreys is working with Rev’d Mark Street, the District Evangelism Enabler, to ensure that the new facilities will further develop community activities for all age groups, improve communications with all sections of the community and increase the number of people involved in worship.

The Sunday morning saw the President and Vice-President leading morning worship at Culcheth Methodist Church and Christ Church Little Lever respectively. The President and Deputy Chair of the Bolton and Rochdale District rejoined the Vice President to lead a service of Celebration and Sacrament of Holy Communion which was the concluding act of worship at the third National Assembly of LWPT. Local Preachers and Worship Leaders shared in the worship leading prayers and reading scripture. In his address the President focused on bread, its preparation and baking, but it was only when bread was broken that it could be shared with others. So it was with Jesus, broken, crucified and raised he fulfilled his earthly ministry and so he was able to complete his earthly mission. The congregation was challenged to examine their own lives, to see in which way their lives needed to be broken and restored, so that they could be effective co-workers in the building of God’s Kingdom. The challenging and inspiring worship concluded as all received the sacrament of Holy Communion. Throughout the weekend music had been provided by the Christ Church musicians.

The President and Vice President were then able to enjoy a brief respite as they enjoyed afternoon tea and talked with the many folk who had been spiritually inspired by their attendance at the Assembly.

Before a congregation of over 450 people at the Victoria Hall Bolton Methodist Mission, the President of the Conference preached about the amazing Grace that is offered to us by God in Christ. He spoke passionately about the gift of Grace, sharing a moving story of the adoption of one of his children and the wonderful gift she is to all the family. He highlighted how this gift of Grace is for all and not just the few. Such grace however does demand a response and such a response does involve taking risks, he urged the church to be willing to become risk takers again and to push the boundaries. All of this means a total commitment and he shared stories of those he had met during his Presidential year who had shown amazing commitment and dedication in their faith who had stuck with some project or with some concern against all odds and had gone more than the second mile.

He challenged the whole congregation to share this gift of grace and spoke of a society which is willing to engage with the church. ‘The doors are open’ he said, ‘it is our fault if we choose not to walk through them.’