Methodists Take Action on Climate Change

In case you stop reading before the end of this News Bulletin, I want to draw your attention to the challenge 'Everyone across the connexion is invited to comment'. Please read carefully, on this Blog Action Day:-



Copies of Hope in God’s Future – a report and study guide addressing climate change – are flying off the shelves just days after the first printed editions became available.

The first print run of the booklet has sold out and Methodist Publishing has ordered a second run.

Hope in God’s Future takes the reader on a journey using the changing mood of a worship service as a framework for considering climate change and people’s effect on the planet. It outlines the position of the Methodist Church, The Baptist Union and The United Reformed Church on climate change and invites people to see how deeply faith connects with the challenge facing us.

Thaddeus Dell, Carbon Reduction Policy Officer at the Methodist Church, said: “Hope In God’s Future gets people to understand the science and how this is linked to our Christian theology. Climate change is the greatest challenge to the Church in our generation. The science is overwhelming and it leads us to a moral obligation. It is especially important for people to engage in these issues ahead of the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.”

The 2009 Methodist Conference adopted sections one to four of Hope in God’s Future as a draft Conference statement. This means that everyone across the Connexion is invited to comment before it returns to the Conference in 2011.

The study guide offers the full text of the report, as well as ideas for creative activities, inspirational prayers and worship, help and advice for leaders, and suggestions for group sessions lasting one or two evenings or even a whole day.

Copies of Hope in God’s Future are available from Methodist Publishing at £5.00 each, with discounts offered for bulk buys of 10 or more.


Source: Methodist News Service 15/09/2009

Churches’ delegation to attend the three main political party conferences

Christian leaders will engage with politicians at the three main party political conferences over the next few weeks.

Senior representatives from the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church and The Salvation Army will attend the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative party conferences to discuss their shared concerns.

The Churches’ delegation will emphasise the importance of working together to achieve international agreements which address climate change, fairer trade arrangements and the regulation of financial markets in order to benefit the poorest communities. Nuclear weapons, asylum seekers and migration will also feature on the Christian group’s agenda.

Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, said: “At each party conference we will meet with politicians, listening to their concerns and sharing our own. Politicians, whether they work at a national, regional or local level, often feel disconnected from the Churches and this is a wonderful opportunity to make contact with them and assure them of our prayerful concern.”

As well as building relationships, the representatives will offer visible support for the ministry of Christians involved in politics, promote the work of the Churches and strengthen ecumenical links through discussions on social issues.

Richard Vautrey, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, said: “We want to offer our support for the ministry of Christians involved in politics as well as to highlight the importance of Christian engagement with politics.”

For several years the Churches have been coming together to organise a joint delegation to the party conferences, and it has now become an established date in the Church leaders’ calendar.

The Revd John Marsh, Moderator of the United Reformed Church General Assembly, said: “The party conferences are taking place in an election year at a time of widespread disillusionment in the political process in the UK following the MPs’ expenses scandal. We look forward to engaging with politicians at the party conferences this year to encourage them to continue pursuing constitutional renewal to restore confidence in the political process.”


This year the delegation will be supporting the work of Citizens for Sanctuary; a campaign calling for justice for people seeking sanctuary, following the report of the Independent Asylum Commission last year.

Tim Stone, Public Affairs Officer for The Salvation Army UK and Ireland, said: “Especially now, at this time of economic crisis, The Salvation Army is joining with other Christian Churches to remind politicians of the plight of the most vulnerable in society.
“When budgets are tight, it may be too easy for decision makers to consider slashing public funding for families and individuals without being held fully to account. However, there is growing evidence that failing to look after all members of our society will only store up more problems for tomorrow.”

Source: Methodist News Service 17/09/09

Churches Concerned as BNP makes Election Gains

Churches’ steadfast message: God loves all, racism is a ‘sin’

Disappointment and concern have been expressed by Christians following gains made by the British National Party (BNP) in last week’s European Parliament Elections.

In elections held last Thursday, the BNP won two seats in the European Parliament and three seats in local councils around the UK.

Rachel Lampard, Public Issues Policy Adviser for the Methodist Church, said, “The limited success of the BNP does not change our steadfast message: God loves all. Racism is a sin. The campaigning work of the churches and other grass-roots organisations has helped to highlight the need for people to vote positively, especially at a time when public confidence in politics has been shaken.”

Many commentators predicted success for the BNP due to low voter turnout and the political scandals of recent weeks. However, the gains were nowhere near as great as the BNP themselves predicted.

Revd Graham Sparkes, Head of Faith and Unity for the Baptist Union of Great Britain, added; “It’s deeply disappointing that we now have a racist party representing Britain in Europe for the next five years and it is vital that our remaining UK representatives dedicate themselves to promote the common good.”

Secretary for Church and Society for the United Reformed Church, Frank Kantor, said; “We must never become comfortable with the BNP using their position to promote their racist policies. We will continue to counter their messages of hatred and fear.”

More than half a million people to be invited ‘Back to Church’

Churchgoers around the world are set personally to invite more than half a million people to services on Back to Church Sunday. The event will be one of the largest co-ordinated ecumenical evangelism events staged across Britain.

Christians across the UK and further afield are encouraged to invite someone they know who used to attend church to come back on 27 September 2009.

Methodist President the Revd Stephen Poxon, said “This is a wonderful initiative and I encourage all of our Methodist Churches to be involved. We must also give thought and time to how we continue the warmth of welcome every Sunday of the year so those coming among us will want to stay to find friendship and deepening faith.”

Back to Church Sunday was originally an initiative of the Church of England, but this year will be supported by the Methodist Church, Churches Together in Scotland, the Church in Wales, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the United Reformed Church, Elim Pentecostal churches and Anglican churches in Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and Canada.

Celia Lawton-Livingstone was invited to St Luke’s, Colchester, on Back to Church Sunday in 2008 by her friend Carole. Now Celia attends church regularly, has joined the worship team and hopes to be confirmed later this year. She comments: “I was surprised when I got to the church that morning. It was different to what I’d imagined, and the people were very friendly. I didn’t feel like they were trying to shove religion down my throat, they let me make up my own mind. It was a very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, just like one big family. I would recommend it to others: you never know where it could lead you. My whole life has changed completely in the last year.”

The initiative is supported by a website (www.backtochurch.co.uk ) and resources such as special welcome T-shirts and subsidised party packs of fairly-traded drinks and snacks, produced in partnership with Traidcraft.

Source; Methodist News Service 12/05/09