|
In Brief
|
The 2018 Beckly Lecture: ‘Social mobility: a task for all of us’
Former Education Secretary Baroness Gillian Shephard delivered this year’s Beckly Lecture at Methodist Conference, speaking on the theme ‘Social Mobility: a task for all of us’. Baroness Shepard spoke about how institutions like churches can contribute to making Britain a fairer place for all, outlining the need for social mobility, the progress that has been made and the solutions that are still needed in order to provide everyone in the UK “with the same shot at success”.
She said: “The Methodist Church has been both proponent and practitioner of social mobility, helping to give people the same shot, since its earliest days … Could you, I wonder … lend your great voice, which echoes down the years, to this cause, informally and locally, or even more formally, of giving people the same shot at success?”
Download the text of the lecture or watch it here.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
Methodist Women in Britain fringe event
Described as “a celebration of story and song”, the Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB) Conference fringe event took place on Friday 29 June.
About 150 people attended the event, which began with the launch of MWiB’s new project on hearing impairment and the Church.
The Revd Jenny Pathmarajah read out the winning entries of MWiB’s 2018 writing competition: ‘God is a Weaver’ by Margaret Chan, and ‘A Prayer Pilgrimage … With a Difference’ by Margaret Doughty.
Presentations were made to Anne Browse and Gillian Womersley, whose terms as President / Vice-President and as Finance Officer have come to an end. Nina Rawlins replaces Gillian Womersley as Finance Officer in the autumn.
|
|
|
|
Methodist Church announces new Director of Evangelism and Growth
The Revd Trey Hall has been appointed as the Methodist Church’s Director of Evangelism and Growth, a new position aimed at supporting the development of these vital areas in church life.
Trey is a Methodist pioneer, church planting strategist, and evangelist. Since 2000, he has established and led churches in the UK and the US, served as Mission Advisor for the Birmingham District of the Methodist Church in Britain, and coached scores of practitioners renewing inherited forms of Church or launching fresh expressions of Church.
The role is part of the Church’s ongoing work to reaffirm its nature of mission, known as Our Calling, in response to the Statistics for Mission Report presented at the 2017 Methodist Conference.
Trey commented: “I am humbled and excited to join a diverse team of leaders across the Connexion who are taking the bold step of reclaiming evangelism as a core dimension of our mission and identity.”
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
1000 Letters
Could you write a letter to encourage a young person in their faith?
This is the challenge the Methodist Children & Youth Team has laid down ahead of the annual 3Generate event. The aim is to get 1,000 Methodists to share via a letter something of their faith story, which will be shared with the children and young people attending 3Generate in November.
Could you share something about your faith experiences, being part of a church or faith community, something about special people or moments from growing up in a local church, or why you came to faith in the first place? The letter you write will be displayed at 3Generate for children and young people to read.
Send your letters to: 3Generate 1000 Letters, 6th Floor, Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR, to arrive by the end of October. See the Methodist website for more details.
|
|
|
|
Remembrance 100
To commemorate 100 years since the end of World War I, you can get involved in 100 days of prayer for peace, hope and reconciliation. Engage in innovative peace making activities and look for the #remembrance100 hashtag on social media.
Remembrance 100 began on Saturday 4 August with a prayer for peace making. It concludes on Sunday 11 November – Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.
Some ecumenical resources have been produced by Hope with contributions from members of the Methodist family:
- The President of the Methodist Conference 2018/2019, the Revd Michaela A Youngson
- The President-Designate, the Revd Dr Barbara Glasson
- Methodist ministers the Revds Enid Gordon, Gary Hall, John Howard, Peter Howson and Mike Long
- The General Secretary of the Wesley Historical Society, Dr John Hargreaves
- Connexional Team Heritage Officer, Owen Roberts
- Emeritus Professor of History at the University of York and President of the Wesley Historical Society, Prof Edward Royle.
The following Remembrance 100 resources are available from the Remembrance 100 website
- 100 Days of Peace and Hope
Including contemporary stories and prayers aimed at peace making, with contributions from members of the Methodist family, along with others including the Most Revd Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. There are free downloadable prayers and reflections for every day during the 100 days.
- Silence
A beautifully illustrated 36-page printed booklet for your Remembrance Sunday worship services. Perfect to hand out to your congregations and passers-by.
|
|
 |
|
MMHS is 70The Methodist Ministers’ Housing Society (MMHS) celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Special worship resources have been produced to mark the anniversary, including a new hymn; you can find all of these on the MMHS website.
|
Methodist Church/United Methodist Church Concordat 50th Anniversary
A special three-day conference takes place in London from 10-12 August to mark the 50th anniversary of the Concordat link between the United Methodist Church and the Methodist Church in Britain. With the theme ‘Dreaming New Dreams: Expressing the Concordat for this Generation’, the conference will be held at three London venues: Methodist Central Hall Westminster, Wesley’s Chapel and The Wesley Hotel.
|
The Charles Wesley Society 2018 Annual Meeting
The recently restored New Room in Bristol is the venue for this event, which takes place from 9-11 August. The conference will include visits to historic Wesley sites in Bristol, including Charles Wesley’s home. For further information, contact Dr Clive Norris at cjpr_norris@hotmail.com
|
Telling Our Story: 10 years of Methodist Heritage
The Methodist Heritage Committee is hosting a special event on Saturday 18 August from 10am to 4pm, at Wesley Memorial Church, Oxford. To reserve a place, contact Diane Foster, Methodist Heritage Administrator, on fosterd@methodistchurch.org.uk. There is also a special 2019 calendar to mark the anniversary, available from Methodist Publishing
|
Greenbelt Festival 2018: Acts of the Imagination
The annual celebration of faith, art and justice takes place at Boughton House, Kettering, over the Bank Holiday weekend (24-27 August). For more details, see the Greenbelt website
|
Germinate Conference: 13 October 2018
Through keynote addresses, case studies and workshops, the 2018 Germinate Conference will explore what it means for rural Christians to do more than belong to their churches and communities. Both inspiring and practical, the day will bring together individuals, churches, agencies and networks involved in rural mission and ministry.
Key speakers include the Rt Revd Dr David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, and the Revd Claire Maxim, CEO of Germinate.
You can view video and audio from the 2016 conference here
Find more information and booking details here.
|
|
Book now for MHA’s 75th anniversary service
A special service of thanksgiving for the life and work of MHA, formerly known as Methodist Homes for the Aged, takes place at Derby Cathedral on Saturday 13 October 2018, starting at 3.00pm.
It will include an act of remembrance for MHA’s former residents and staff and a special hymn to mark the anniversary, and will feature music from MHA’s own music therapists.
Free tickets can be booked here.
|
Making the world a better place
Cliff College has launched a Certificate in Social Activism. The week-long course takes place from 12 to 16 November, and explores what social activism is and how to do it. Find out more here.
|
|
A word version of E-news is available by clicking here. 
