|
________________________ HOME I MISSION_STATEMENT I DISTRICT_LEADERSHIP_TEAM I CIRCUITS I SYNOD REPORTS I DISTRICT_DIARY I EVENTS THIS MONTH I YOUTH & CHILDREN I EVANGELISM I MISSION I NETWORK I TESTIMONY I EMPLOYMENT I TRAINING I WORSHIP RESOURCES I LINKS I FAIRTRADE I FRESH EXPRESSIONS I CONFERENCE I PRESIDENTIAL VISIT I METHODIST NEWS I METHODIST CHURCH STATEMENTS I MRDF I ECUMENICAL NEWS & EVENTS I ANGLICAN-METHODIST_COVENANT I INTERFAITH I |
|
CONFERENCE 2010 Portsmouth 24 June - 1 July 2010
1
July 2010 Methodist
Youth push for advice on cohabitation at Methodist Conference The
Methodist Church will look at cohabitation, at the urging of the Youth Assembly.
The annual report from the Youth Assembly, which was received by the Conference,
requires the Methodist Council to work with young Methodists to produce advice
on cohabitation “in a 21st century context”. The
resolution came out of a report from the annual Youth Assembly where young
people discussed vocation, self-esteem, violence, equality and diversity and sex
and sexuality. The
report stated that young people felt they had something to offer the Church in
arriving at a greater understanding of the subject of sex and sexuality in a
twenty-first century. It went on to state that the Youth Assembly would ask the
Methodist Conference to work with young people on producing information to
advise members of the Church about the issue of cohabitation. Pete
Brady, Methodist Youth President, said: “I believe everyone considers
sexuality as something that is inherent in being human. There was a time where
the concept of two persons in a loving relationship cohabiting outside of
marriage was unthinkable. However, I do not believe that this is the case
anymore. Cohabitation is a decidedly sticky issue, with conflicting values in
modern day society. Finding Christian guidance on the issue is difficult at
best. “Maybe
there was a time where the concept of two people in a loving relationship
cohabiting together outside of marriage was unthinkable, but times have changed.
It’s important that as a church we offer support that is relevant to the lives
of young people today.” The Conference also encouraged local churches to engage with people on the streets in order to reduce the threat of violence towards young people, and affirmed the work of street pastors. A resolution to develop more contemporary forms of training for preachers was also passed. This training would cover the need for an understanding of the contemporary context in which young people now find themselves.
30 June 2010 New
Methodist hymn collection to be published in 2011
The Methodist Conference has
announced plans to publish ‘Singing the Faith’, a major new authorised hymn
collection for the Church. The collection contains 772
hymns and songs, plus 59 canticles and psalms. It has been six years in the
making, and will be the first authorised Methodist collection in thirty years.
Leading modern hymn writers, including many Methodists, are represented
alongside the best of Methodist heritage, such as hymns by Charles Wesley. Revd
Barbara Bircumshaw, Chair of the Music Resource Group, said, “This collection
represents the best of old and new. Worshipping through music and lyrics is at
the very heart of what it means to be Methodist and drafting this major resource
has been a real labour of love. Our expert compilers have sifted through
literally thousands of hymns to produce a collection of unsurpassed quality and
breadth. The collection draws on both the well-known and the modern, with songs
for all ages, from Christian traditions around the world.” For founder of Methodism, John
Wesley, singing was essential to a person’s spiritual life. So much so that he
wrote a list of seven ‘directions for singing’ for his fellow Christians.
These included the entreaty to “Sing lustily and with good courage.” The collection will be launched
with a ‘big sing’ event at the 2011 Methodist Conference in Southport. Singing the Faith will be published by Hymns Ancient and Modern. The full music edition will cost £30, the words edition £9 and the large print words edition £15. At a future date, these will be supported by electronic resources, including a website offering a free range of extra resources and products relating to the core hymn collection.
30
June 2010 New
President and Vice-President Designate elected The
Revd Lionel Osborn has been elected President Designate of the Methodist
Conference for 2010-2011 and Ruth Pickles has been elected Vice-President
Designate. The elections were announced at the annual Methodist Conference in
Portsmouth. Lionel
– called Leo by his many friends - has been Chair of the
Newcastle-upon-Tyne District for the past nine years and recently been nominated
to serve on The World Methodist Council. He also serves as Convenor of The
Stationing Action Group, Chairs the Ecumenical Committee for North East
Christian Churches Together and the Oversight Committee at The Wesley Study
Centre Durham. “It
is a great honour as well as a great shock to be elected as President
Designate,” said Leo. “But I am looking forward to all that lies ahead. In
my year of presidency, it will be a delight and a privilege to encourage signs
of the kingdom and Christians in their discipleship, especially in their care
for others. I am excited about being a Methodist today as I see all that God is
still doing among us.” Leo
seeks to enable both Fresh and Refreshed Expressions of Church from a personal
faith rooted in worship Word and Sacrament. Ruth
has been a teacher, residential social worker, alcohol counsellor and District
Training and Development officer. As a local preacher in the Mow Cop, Biddulph
and Congleton Circuit she enjoys leading participatory worship. She has served
on the Methodist Council and as a former Memorials Secretary to the Conference.
She is currently Synod Secretary of the Chester and Stoke-on-Trent District. “I
feel it’s a real privilege to be elected Vice-President Designate,” said
Ruth. “It’s very exciting to have this opportunity to play a part in the
life of a changing Church. I would hope to be able to build on the work of the
current Vice-President. I am passionate about there being a learning Church and
the difference that new insights can bring.” Leo and Ruth will be inducted as President and Vice-President as the first items of business at the 2011 Methodist Conference in Southport. 29
June 2010 Addressing
the annual Methodist Conference, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan
Williams, said he wanted to see the Church of England and Methodist communities
growing much closer together. In
a 40-minute address to the Conference in Portsmouth’s Guildhall, the
Archbishop contrasted the roles of the apostles Peter and Paul in the Church,
and what the contemporary Church could learn from them. In
a further 40-minute session, the Archbishop took a wide range of questions. Dr
Williams was asked what risks the Church of England was taking in relation to
the Covenant with the Methodist Church. “The
answer is not a lot,” Dr Williams replied. “We are being invited, in the
short to middle term, to work out flexibility on models of ‘dual
nationality’; that is, how two communities with two different histories can
develop some genuine overlapping life.” Dr
Williams also answered a question as to whether a Covenant relationship between
Anglicans and Methodists was exclusive. “A covenant ought to be a friendship
written down,” he said. “It doesn’t mean there are no other friendships.
If it becomes us against them; a little friendship against the world, well, God
help us really.” “Any
act of reconciliation has to be mutual; Anglican clergy at every level accepting
the ministry of those they are being reconciled with.” The
Methodist Church and the Church of England are in a covenant relationship. On
1 November 2003, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the General
Secretary of the General Synod, together with the President, Vice President and
Secretary of the Methodist Conference signed the Covenant at Methodist Central
Hall, Westminster, in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen. The Covenant
puts the two Churches on a path of ever-deepening relationships, mutual trust
and co-operation on the road to a richer unity. Audio and video footage of the Archbishop’s address will be available online soon on The Methodist Conference website. 29
June 2010 Church
adopts carbon reduction policy
The
Methodist Church signed up to a series of carbon reduction commitments at its
annual Conference today. The
Conference, meeting in Portsmouth’s Guildhall, confirmed a pledge to reduce
Church’s carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 in line with Government
targets after adopting resolutions set out in a carbon reduction report. The
Methodist Church in Britain has a carbon footprint of around 120,000 tonnes of
CO2 per annum for approximately 8,000 of its buildings. The annual energy bill
to the Church and individual ministers is about £19 million a year. Cutting the
carbon footprint has the potential to free up money that can be used for
mission. From
now on, Methodist Circuits will be asked to provide smart meter devices to
enable ministers to control their electricity use. Circuits will also be
encouraged to fund Government sponsored smart driver training for presbyters,
deacons and lay employees where appropriate. The
Church also plans to launch a carbon reduction service, which will save money
through bulk energy purchases. The money saved can then be used to fund further
energy reduction purchases, leaving churches with a smaller carbon footprint and
lower energy bills. Triumph
Ayo-Isegun, Projects Officer, said: “The proposals agreed today are only the
first step for the Methodist Church. It will be a long journey with
massive challenges but we are very optimistic that the Methodist people will
rise to these.” The Conference also directed Circuits to endeavour to use model trust money to put high standards of energy efficiency in place. Methodist Standing Orders will be amended so that energy performance and energy efficiency requirements become mandatory for Church buildings and manses. All local Methodist churches will be asked to sign up to the Hope in God’s Future pledge now that Conference has adopted the report. Tuesday
29 June 2010 150
years ago, the Methodist Church purchased land in the garrison town of Aldershot
to provide a place of worship for the men stationed in the camp. At last, after
years of oppression and uncertainty, Wesleyan soldiers could attend a Methodist
church and sing the hymns of Charles Wesley. Determined and resolute ministers
like William Harris Rule, Charles Henry Kelly and Richard Watson began the
legacy of Methodist chaplains serving those in the Army, Navy and RAF. Revd
Robert Jones, Secretary to the Methodist Forces Board, said; “I am always
humbled and moved by the stories that our chaplains can tell of their experience
of serving the armed forces. Our chaplains are non-combatants who offer critical
pastoral care to servicemen and women who are under great stress and whose lives
are often in danger. Their task is to live and speak in a way that addresses the
pastoral and ethical issues raised by military service and 150 years on, they
continue to offer a remarkable and courageous ministry.” For
decades, Methodist chaplains initially had no official status in the army or
admiralty, but the Methodist Conference sent ministers around the world to
comfort injured soldiers, accompany troops who were stationed as far away as
India and South Africa, and offer their services to prisoners of war. Revd Stephen Hancock, an army chaplain from Abingdon, said; “From the centurion at the Cross to chaplains serving today in the UK or overseas – Navy, Army and Air Force – little seems to have changed. People still need to experience the love of God in places where war is the norm. It is not always pleasant, not always fun, not always rewarding, but it is part of the great commission to ‘go’ and, as with the Methodist chaplains who have gone before us, we few who serve today press on in the hope that we can direct people to the Son of God.”
Saturday 26 June ·
Revd Alison Tomlin
encourages people to pay attention to God The new President of the
Methodist Church, Revd Alison Tomlin, emphasised that listening requires action
in her inaugural address to the Methodist Conference. Alison paused half way through
her speech at The Guildhall in Portsmouth to demonstrate how people listen to
God. She showed a series of images played to an eclectic mix of music in order
to illustrate that paying attention to God can happen in as many different ways
as there are people. “If we pay attention to God
we won’t stay inside the Church,” she said. “If we pay attention to God we
will have to do the things God challenges us to do. And that will take us out to
be among people who need to know that God loves them; the people who have no
voice; the people who have doors shut in their faces. It will take us to that
place where we become passionate for justice, passionate to be peace makers,
passionate to make sure other people hear how much they are loved.” She explained that every time
people look at each other they look into the face of God because God loves
everyone. “I pray that we will indeed
become a Church paying attention to God in such a way that the passion of God
for people, for God’s creation, for our world enlivens us, enthrals us and
energises us to be all that God created us to be before the world was made,”
she said. “I pray that in paying attention to God and each other we may be all
that God desires.” Alison began her ordained
ministry in Manchester 26 years ago. She trained in spiritual direction,
accompanying people in prayer and quiet retreats, after discovering that
many people wanted to discuss how they talk and listen to God. In 2001, Alison was nominated as Chair of the Oxford and Leicester Methodist District (now the Northampton District) where she served for eight years. It was during this time that she was asked if she would allow her name to be put forward for President of the Methodist Conference. The full text of Alison’s address will be online soon _______________________________ 26 June 2010 Methodist
Vice-President speaks of God’s transforming love In her inaugural address as
Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, Deacon Eunice Attwood called on the
Church to recognise the transforming power of God’s love. Speaking
at the annual Methodist Conference in Portsmouth, she said, “Tonight
I want to remind you all here of a very simple message, aware that there is
nothing new about this wisdom; the message is old and it is ancient; it has been
there from the very beginning. God loves you, he thinks you’re absolutely
amazing. The awesome God who created and sustains this universe thinks you’re
fantastic. God loves you.” But
Eunice was clear that this love is as much as challenge as it is a gift. She
added, “If the Church is to be a sign of God’s kingdom, it must participate
in the world that God loves. For the Church does not have the monopoly on God.
God is already at work in people’s lives, in the world he created and
sustains. In being sent into the world we get to join in with what God is doing.
In the doing and engaging we meet God.” Eunice
spoke of her own experience of poverty, and of her current work with vulnerable
women in the sex industry. She encouraged the Church’s to take seriously its
calling to serve communities in the spirit of God’s love, saying, “I want to
be part of a church that throws parties for prostitutes - a church that welcomes
those who seek asylum, a church that longs and yearns for justice, a church that
listens to those no-one else wants to listen to.” Click
here for the full text of the
address. It will soon be available as an audio file on the Methodist
web radio page. _______________________________
The reports from Volumes 1
& 2 of the agenda for this year’s Methodist Conference are now
available online here.
People can listen to or watch
the Conference debates through the Conference website.
·
The inaugural address of the President and Vice-President of the Conference, Revd
Alison Tomlin and Deacon Eunice Attwood.
Tuesday
·
Debates on racism, the living wage, nuclear weapons and national carbon
reduction measures for the Church.
·
150th Anniversary Celebration of ministry to the armed forces in the
Methodist Church, at Her Majesty’s Naval Base in Portsmouth (by
invitation only – please contact Anna Drew).
·
A discussion on the Anglican-Methodist Covenant, with a report by the Joint
Implementation Commission.
·
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will address the Conference,
followed by a question and answer session. W
Wednesday
·
A debate on Israel-Palestine, including the question of whether to boycott
products and services from the occupied territories. Please note that this
timetable may change as conference business progresses. Through the Conference website, people will be able to listen live to the debates as they happen (thanks to Premier Christian Radio), or catch-up later using our listen again webpage. The media team will also be live-tweeting the debates and decisions on the Methodist Media twitter stream – follow us via @methodistmedia on www.twitter.com. You can also check out the latest news from Conference on the Methodist Media Facebook page. _____________________________
President and Vice President of the Methodist Conference 2010 - 2011
The Revd Alison Tomlin has been elected President of the Methodist Conference for 2010-2011, and Deacon Eunice Attwood has been elected Vice President.
Central
to Alison’s ministry has been the imaginative use of the Bible in prayer. She
said; ‘The Church has designated 2011 as the Year of the Bible and this will
be very important and exciting for me in my year of office.’
|
