Diversity - not the dance group!

I have been reading 'Methodist Present Potential' (edited by Luke Curran and Angela Shier-Jones) as part of my candidating process. In it there is a chapter by Revd Shirlyn Toppin about how diverse the Methodist Church really is. This chapter has been the most challenging to me so far as I am a white male. I have always been proud of the diversity within the Methodist church and the way that people with different views and experiences have been welcomed.

However, when I read this I realised what a sheltered experience of church I have had in West Berkshire and Frinton-on-Sea. Even Putney Methodist Church wasn't the most diverse. My whole belief about diversity was based upon what I had read from other people. And it can be quite easy to celebrate the diversity of the church when you are a white, able bodied, fairly affluent male. This isn't to say that in large areas the Methodist Church isn't diverse or welcoming to all people, but there is obviously still work to be done.

We have to be continually striving to make sure our services and church communities are always open to all and celebrating the different stories that people come with rather than expecting everyone to conform to the patterns of the majority. This surely would also then brings freedom for all to truly be themselves and not who they think others want them to be. So the challenge is how do we make our worship so it is accessible for all. So often our worship is based around words read and heard which can alienate those who struggle with reading or hearing for whatever reason, or who don't have English as their first language. How do we ensure that our worship is accessible for those who have physical and learning disabilities? How do we ensure that all feel equally welcomed, listened to and not patronized so that all can encounter the Living God who created us all, and all can feel that they have something to offer just by being who they are?

I don't know the answers. And I guess they won't be easy. But that is not a reason not to try. I firmly believe we should celebrate diversity, not because it is politically correct, but because God has created each of us differently and so we should celebrate that diversity. Jesus Christ came to offer the good news of hope, life and love to ALL and so we must express that in our worship and in our wider church activities. In a world that often segregates we should be the agent that unites.

Where is the light switch?

I have just been reading the article about the Diaconnal Convocation in the Methodist Recorder. Richard Vautrey was saying that there was so much creativity in worship and outreach and yet a study said that the Methodist Church had 37 years left before the lights would be switched off. I worked out that this would make me 66 and possibly thinking about retirement - do I need to start looking for the light switch??

Rediscovering Methodism

Ed Miliband has just given a speech anouncing his decision to stand for the Labour leadership. In setting out his credentials for the job he expressed a desire for Labour to rediscover its radical past. To return to being a party with the interests of ordinary people at its heart and a party that listens to the needs of ordinary people. What is more, he believes that Labour needs to rediscover its mission and be a transformative party once again.

At the same time, I am preparing for an evening service next Sunday - the day before Aldersgate Sunday. It has prompted me to think about Methodism. I believe that we need to rediscover our mission and our radical nature. We must remember that we should be a church focussed on the ordinary person and listening to their needs. We can get so caught up in committees and policies to enable the Methodist Church best serve people in the 21st Century that we can forget to listen to what ordinary people need and are concerned about.

We should never forget what Wesley said and did, the need for holiness is as important now as it has ever been, we should be out where people are, we should have social justice high up on our agenda. But we should also remember that we are a church of the 21st Century and so we need to make sure that these values are expressed in ways that are relevent to people today. Methodism, like the Labour party, was a radical movement with a radical and transformative mission, and both need to rediscover their past for the good of the country and the kingdom of God.

Why are we here?

I was at a church AGM yesterday and the main question that was asked was 'why are we here?' The focus was on the use and location of the building and did it meet the needs of the mission of the church. This raised some interesting discussion amongst the members. Quite often church leaders and preachers focus on mission and going out from the church into the community, whereas many members of the congregation wish the church to focus on pastoral care (albeit with an element of extending that pastoral care out into the community).

What is the mission of the church? How do we ensure that the members of our community hear about the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ whilst not forgetting the needs of our current members?

Start of the journey

Welcome to the start of the Methodist Pilgramage! I hope this to be a journey of discovery about myself and my faith as I consider candidating for Methodist ministry, whilst stopping along the way to admire the view. I look forward to sharing the journey with others along the way.

Will.