As I am intending to candidate for the Diaconate in 2010 I have been downloading the new information for candidates from the Methodist website.
There seems to be pages and pages to familiarise myself with and a strict timetable of events to follow.
The most important thing to do before the end of the year would seem to be the compilation of a Portfolio of Experience that details a developing call and associated experiences.
My first reaction, upon seeing the Guidelines and trying to assimilate so much information was to cry "I'll never do it. It's too difficult and I'm not good enough." I am no longer a bright young thing, I am at the age when I had expected to be winding down to a nice retirement by the sea somewhere. I am partially-sighted and reading can be tiring and a struggle sometimes. I experienced the "Why me, God and why NOW!" feelings and felt a rising sense of panic!
Part of me was hoping that the answer to that plea would be "Well never mind, don't bother. It is too much to expect of you, just keep on as you are and I'll ask someone else." Naturally that didn't happen. Instead I was aware of an even more urgent sense that I have to do this, God demands it, and , alongside this, a sense of comfort that it will work out, the Portfolio will eventually be ready, the forms filled in and the acts of worship assessed. A realisation that I am not, after all, on my own, that God demands this but will be with me to help see it through.
In the last couple of days I have been offered a place on a course of Old and New Testament studies ( One of my worries was my lack of knowledge of Scripture) and an excellent mentor has been found to guide me through the coming months.
The clock is ticking, the process has begun! No going back.. .
Thursday, 9 July 2009
The Conference of the Methodist Church UK today passed a historic motion. It became the first British Church to ban its members from belonging to political parties that promote/endorse racism.
A resolution passed by the annual Methodist Conference, meeting in Wolverhampton, declared that “No member of the Church can also be a member of a political party whose constitution, aims or objectives promote racism. This specifically includes, but is not solely limited to, the British National Party”.
The news follows a similar ban on Church of England clergy, but weMethodists have gone much further, saying that no-one can even be a member of the Church while also belonging to the BNP.
The motion condemns racism and the BNP specifically, but also states “those who support racist parties are also God’s children, and in need of love, hope and redemption”. Supporters of the measure are keen to emphasise that no-one will be banned from attending a church – only from membership of it.
The Conference heard speakers in support of the motion who themselves had experienced racial abuse and suffered because of that. It is important to remember that we must "hate the sin, but love the sinner"
The BNP has tried to say that it wants to protect the UK's Christian Heritage but decisions such as the one made today by British Methodists will hopefully lead to more churches openly and clearly disassociating themselves from the BNP's "Christian Heritage" rhetoric (see http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/9843)
A resolution passed by the annual Methodist Conference, meeting in Wolverhampton, declared that “No member of the Church can also be a member of a political party whose constitution, aims or objectives promote racism. This specifically includes, but is not solely limited to, the British National Party”.
The news follows a similar ban on Church of England clergy, but weMethodists have gone much further, saying that no-one can even be a member of the Church while also belonging to the BNP.
The motion condemns racism and the BNP specifically, but also states “those who support racist parties are also God’s children, and in need of love, hope and redemption”. Supporters of the measure are keen to emphasise that no-one will be banned from attending a church – only from membership of it.
The Conference heard speakers in support of the motion who themselves had experienced racial abuse and suffered because of that. It is important to remember that we must "hate the sin, but love the sinner"
The BNP has tried to say that it wants to protect the UK's Christian Heritage but decisions such as the one made today by British Methodists will hopefully lead to more churches openly and clearly disassociating themselves from the BNP's "Christian Heritage" rhetoric (see http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/9843)
Monday, 6 July 2009
Listening online to the live audio from the Methodist Conference in Wolverhampton I am astonished at the amount of business that has to be brought to Conference.
Being involved in a local church, it is easy to think that the local church is the centre of the Methodist Universe and that the rest of the Methodist Church is of secondary importance. It is good to remember the bigger picture and to remember that we are part of the wider Connexion.
Being involved in a local church, it is easy to think that the local church is the centre of the Methodist Universe and that the rest of the Methodist Church is of secondary importance. It is good to remember the bigger picture and to remember that we are part of the wider Connexion.
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
As today is my birthday, I have been reflecting on age generally.
Inside my head I am the same "young" person I was when I was a teenager, only the outer casing has deteriorated somewhat! My "spirit" is still young, doesn't age, which is a reminder of and witness to the eternal nature of our spiritual lives and the thought that our spirits live forever without showing signs of decrepitude. A foretaste of the life eternal to come!
I was lucky enough to share my birthday celebrations with those of an 80 year old lady, organist at the church and member of the Friendship Club that meets there for lunch on Wednesdays. She has served the church loyally for many years and has a "young" outlook, welcoming new forms of worship and music in the services and encouraging new musicians. A wonderful example that age should not be a barrier to embracing new things and embracing change.
Inside my head I am the same "young" person I was when I was a teenager, only the outer casing has deteriorated somewhat! My "spirit" is still young, doesn't age, which is a reminder of and witness to the eternal nature of our spiritual lives and the thought that our spirits live forever without showing signs of decrepitude. A foretaste of the life eternal to come!
I was lucky enough to share my birthday celebrations with those of an 80 year old lady, organist at the church and member of the Friendship Club that meets there for lunch on Wednesdays. She has served the church loyally for many years and has a "young" outlook, welcoming new forms of worship and music in the services and encouraging new musicians. A wonderful example that age should not be a barrier to embracing new things and embracing change.
Friday, 26 June 2009
Today, with my Circuit Administrator hat firmly on my head, I have been writing to the local churches to give the stewards the arrangements for the Sunday in July when only three churches in the Circuit will be open for worship and the other churches will remain closed.
The idea is that there will be three different types of service, one traditional, one reflective and one all age praise service. Hopefully something for everyone. Transport will be arranged to ensure that no-one is unable to attend one of the churches.
This will be a challenge to many of the congregation. Many members think that it is their "right" to worship at their local church, that every church is entitled to have a preacher in the pulpit every Sunday (regardless of the fact that there may only be four or five regularly in the congregation)
We must stop thinking that we have always done things a certain way, so no other way will do. We must be prepared to embrace change and consider the future and the way ahead.
Some people have already indicated that they will not be travelling to another church to worship on this particular day. One or two churches have asked if they can ignore the three planned services and open as usual - and have been told that they may not.
I think we should all remember that each church is part of a wider church family that embraces Circuit, District and Connexion and welcome the opportunity to meet new people and experience different styles of worship. It is all about relationship and grace.
The idea is that there will be three different types of service, one traditional, one reflective and one all age praise service. Hopefully something for everyone. Transport will be arranged to ensure that no-one is unable to attend one of the churches.
This will be a challenge to many of the congregation. Many members think that it is their "right" to worship at their local church, that every church is entitled to have a preacher in the pulpit every Sunday (regardless of the fact that there may only be four or five regularly in the congregation)
We must stop thinking that we have always done things a certain way, so no other way will do. We must be prepared to embrace change and consider the future and the way ahead.
Some people have already indicated that they will not be travelling to another church to worship on this particular day. One or two churches have asked if they can ignore the three planned services and open as usual - and have been told that they may not.
I think we should all remember that each church is part of a wider church family that embraces Circuit, District and Connexion and welcome the opportunity to meet new people and experience different styles of worship. It is all about relationship and grace.
Friday, 12 June 2009
Last week a group of Christians from New Life Church in Grantham decided to help the community by clearing up litter and providing events and entertainment for residents on one of the town's council estates. They intended to show the love of God to the people of the town and wanted to make a difference to the community.
However, the group has come in for much criticism, being accused of helping people "for the wrong reasons". It has been suggested that these volunteers were helping people, not because they care about the community, but because they "fear eternal punishment if they don't do this sort of work and expect to be rewarded in heaven". Some of the town residents have even suggested that it would have been better for them not to bother, because they are only trying to "ram their beliefs down people's throats".
We obviously have a bigger struggle on our hands than I had anticipated, when acts of kindness are viewed with resentment and suspicion!
However, the group has come in for much criticism, being accused of helping people "for the wrong reasons". It has been suggested that these volunteers were helping people, not because they care about the community, but because they "fear eternal punishment if they don't do this sort of work and expect to be rewarded in heaven". Some of the town residents have even suggested that it would have been better for them not to bother, because they are only trying to "ram their beliefs down people's throats".
We obviously have a bigger struggle on our hands than I had anticipated, when acts of kindness are viewed with resentment and suspicion!
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
In the last few days I have learnt about "Live Birth Abortion".
This is an absolutely despicable crime against humanity and I am utterly sickened to read about the practice.
Jill Stanek was a nurse at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. As a Christian, she was distressed to learn that the hospital was not only pro-abortion, but But what was most distressing was to learn of the method Christ Hospital uses to abort, called induced labor abortion, now also known as "live birth abortion." In this particular abortion procedure doctors do not attempt to kill the baby in the uterus. The goal is simply to prematurely deliver a baby who dies during the birth process or soon afterward.
To commit induced labor abortion, a doctor or resident inserts a medication into the mother’s birth canal close to the cervix. The cervix is the opening at the bottom of the uterus that normally stays closed until a mother is about 40 weeks pregnant and ready to deliver. This medication irritates the cervix and stimulates it to open early. When this occurs, the small second or third trimester pre-term, fully formed baby falls out of the uterus, sometimes alive. By law, in Illinois, if an aborted baby is born alive, both birth and death certificates must be issued. Ironically, at Christ Hospital the cause of death often listed for live aborted babies is "extreme prematurity," an acknowledgement by doctors that they have caused this death.
Jill felt she had to do something about this practice and she says "I read a Scripture that spoke directly to me and my situation. Proverbs 24:11-12 says, "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die. Don’t try to disclaim responsibility by saying you didn’t know about it. For God, who knows all hearts, knows yours, and he will reward everyone according to his deeds"
Jill has nowtestified four times before National and Illinois Congressional Subcommittees. Bills are being introduced to stop this form of abortion that results in infanticide. The subject of Christ Hospital and live birth abortion has garnered much public attention. Descriptions of "live birth abortions" have now been told on national television, on radio, in print, and by local and national legislators.
How many more people had previously stayed silent about this practice? How many parents and nurses and doctors had stood back and let babies die?
Silence is a sin, in situations like this. We must speak up against this kind of injustice or we increase the sin manifold. Life is sacred and calling a premature baby an "aborted foetus" does not alter that.
God bless all those children.
This is an absolutely despicable crime against humanity and I am utterly sickened to read about the practice.
Jill Stanek was a nurse at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. As a Christian, she was distressed to learn that the hospital was not only pro-abortion, but But what was most distressing was to learn of the method Christ Hospital uses to abort, called induced labor abortion, now also known as "live birth abortion." In this particular abortion procedure doctors do not attempt to kill the baby in the uterus. The goal is simply to prematurely deliver a baby who dies during the birth process or soon afterward.
To commit induced labor abortion, a doctor or resident inserts a medication into the mother’s birth canal close to the cervix. The cervix is the opening at the bottom of the uterus that normally stays closed until a mother is about 40 weeks pregnant and ready to deliver. This medication irritates the cervix and stimulates it to open early. When this occurs, the small second or third trimester pre-term, fully formed baby falls out of the uterus, sometimes alive. By law, in Illinois, if an aborted baby is born alive, both birth and death certificates must be issued. Ironically, at Christ Hospital the cause of death often listed for live aborted babies is "extreme prematurity," an acknowledgement by doctors that they have caused this death.
Jill felt she had to do something about this practice and she says "I read a Scripture that spoke directly to me and my situation. Proverbs 24:11-12 says, "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die. Don’t try to disclaim responsibility by saying you didn’t know about it. For God, who knows all hearts, knows yours, and he will reward everyone according to his deeds"
Jill has nowtestified four times before National and Illinois Congressional Subcommittees. Bills are being introduced to stop this form of abortion that results in infanticide. The subject of Christ Hospital and live birth abortion has garnered much public attention. Descriptions of "live birth abortions" have now been told on national television, on radio, in print, and by local and national legislators.
How many more people had previously stayed silent about this practice? How many parents and nurses and doctors had stood back and let babies die?
Silence is a sin, in situations like this. We must speak up against this kind of injustice or we increase the sin manifold. Life is sacred and calling a premature baby an "aborted foetus" does not alter that.
God bless all those children.
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