A transforming church

I've just listened to the recording of Eunice Attwood's speach to the Methodist Conference - and what a breath of fresh air! Eunice is the new Vice President of the Methodist Conference and spoke with such passion, humour and down to earth common sense about the love of God, the impact that love has on us and the impact it should have on those around us. There were a number of things that struck me.

1. God's unconditional love for us. It is not 'God loves me if...' We need to be offering our world the unconditional love of God. This does not mean that we shouldn't challenge people about their lives, and it doesn't mean that we don't need changing, but we don't have to do any of this for God to love us.
2. Our faith must engage with people. It is no use being safe in our churches when the people who are suffering are often somewhere else. We need to find where people are, and we need to walk with them.
3. Small acts of kindness can have profound effects on people.
4. We need to create safe places for people to truly be who they are and be able to tell their story.
5. God's love should transform our life and our church. Knowledge about God is not enough. Only an acceptance of that love can truly transform us.
6. A church that doesn't transform will stagnate. As hard as change is, the alternative doesn't bear thinking about.
7. Methodism is a rich church in terms of members - both lay and ordained - and buildings. Lets use the resources that we have.

It is so great to hear someone speaking with such passion, hope and confidence in the gospel and in the Methodist Church as one of the bearers of that gospel. My prayer for Eunice and Alison (the President) is that their passion and vision for the Methodist Church will be infectious so that the Methodist Church can rise once again to what God has called it to.