A bid to make the church ‘more relevant’ in its local neighbourhood is being launched by Care for the Family. Called Engage, the campaign is encouraging churches to get to grips with community and family issues on their doorsteps. The initiative has won the backing of church leaders including the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, Jonathan Edwards of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, and the Salvation Army’s Major Paul Main. Engage takes place in Nottingham and Cheltenham this autumn, aimed at providing leaders and congregations with effective ways to reach out to those who usually have little or no contact with church. Care for the Family’s Head of Church Relations, Richard Hardy said, ‘...I’m convinced our failure to address real life issues is the root cause of the Church’s marginalisation in our society.’
Source: Christianity Today (2/7)
Monday, 14 July 2008
ARCHBISHOP’S BID TO ‘RESTORE’ ZIMBABWE
A rallying call for the British public to join together to ‘restore’ Zimbabwe has been made by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. He appealed to people to ‘work with me in order that peace, prosperity and the rule of law’ could be restored to a country facing economic, political and social turmoil. Dr Sentamu’s plea for public support of ‘Restore-Zim’ came as he announced a special service for the people of Zimbabwe at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, on Friday 11 July. Urging people to offer prayer, money and practical support, he said, ‘We need to remember there is only one race - the human race - and in joining together to restore Zimbabwe we ease the sufferings of our brothers and sisters.’
Source: Christian Today (2/7)
Source: Christian Today (2/7)
Saturday, 12 July 2008
CLERGY TRAINING CAMPAIGN TARGETS UNDER-30S
From army chaplaincy to nightclub ministry to Bible study in the pub - the Church of England is preparing to show college leavers the depth and breadth of ordained ministry in an attempt to recruit more young people. A new national campaign Call Waiting will be launched at the General Synod this weekend in response to the steadily declining number of under-30s - just 88 out of 595 people in 2007 - recommended for training. The campaign will use a website, posters and magazine to chronicle the journey from the initial sense of calling through to training and ministry, sharing joys, thoughts and worries along the way.
Sources: Telegraph (2/7), Christian Today (3/7)
Sources: Telegraph (2/7), Christian Today (3/7)
Friday, 11 July 2008
Methodist Conference 2008 Roundup
NEWS RELEASE
10 July, 2008
Methodist Conference 2008 Roundup
The Methodist Conference met from 5-10 July in Scarborough. Revd Stephen Poxon was inducted at President of the Conference, and Mr. David Walton as Vice President. Conference also ordained 55 new Methodist ministers (50 Presbyters and five Deacons).
Conference addressed a number of contemporary issues, including knife crime, Burma, Zimbabwe, stem cell research and abortion.
Time was spent looking at the Youth Participation Strategy (YPS), a major new initiative aimed at increasing the involvement of people aged 16-23 in the running of the Church both nationally and locally. The YPS will see an investment of more than £4 million over the next five years. The Youth Conference also brought its concerns, including knife crime, Burma and the pressures on young people combining church activities with further education or work.
Conference also committed the Church to fresh ways of expressing its mission. The successful Fresh Expressions scheme, a joint venture with the Church of England, has been renewed by both churches for a further five years. The Methodist Conference also gave its support to a new Pioneer Ministries scheme, in which the Church will invest over £4 million to establish new congregations across the country, aimed especially at young adults and those who have had no prior contact with any form of church.
Conference received a major report on early human life, looking at issues such as stem cell research, fertility treatments and abortion. The report offers guidance on how to approach these complex and often highly personal topics. It also recognises that attempts to respond to particular medical developments can easily be quickly out of date as the technology moves on. Conference has commended for study the report which says that embryos should not be created solely for the purpose of research, but that it is acceptable for embryos created during fertility treatments to be used for research. The Conference also voted to review the Church’s current stance on abortion.
Conference affirmed the Covenant with the Church of England, signed in 2003, and supported the creation of a new body to continue the work of implementing it. This new body will for the first time include representation from the Church in Wales and the Scottish Episcopal Church, in recognition that the Methodist Church serves all of Great Britain. The United Reformed Church will also be invited to continue to participate. Conference offered prayer and support to the Church of England’s General Synod (meeting almost simultaneously in York) as it addressed major issues.
For the first time, live video of Conference proceedings was broadcast via the Conference website, and a video archive is also available. Live audio was also broadcast in partnership with Premier Christian Radio. Conference also elected its President and Vice-President for 2009-10. The Revd David Gamble were designated to serve as President and Dr Richard Vautrey as Vice President at next year’s Conference.
ENDS
Notes
For more information about the Methodist Conference visit www.methodistconference.org.uk.
For information about the Church’s current stance on abortion visit http://methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentoworld.content&cmid=1857.
10 July, 2008
Methodist Conference 2008 Roundup
The Methodist Conference met from 5-10 July in Scarborough. Revd Stephen Poxon was inducted at President of the Conference, and Mr. David Walton as Vice President. Conference also ordained 55 new Methodist ministers (50 Presbyters and five Deacons).
Conference addressed a number of contemporary issues, including knife crime, Burma, Zimbabwe, stem cell research and abortion.
Time was spent looking at the Youth Participation Strategy (YPS), a major new initiative aimed at increasing the involvement of people aged 16-23 in the running of the Church both nationally and locally. The YPS will see an investment of more than £4 million over the next five years. The Youth Conference also brought its concerns, including knife crime, Burma and the pressures on young people combining church activities with further education or work.
Conference also committed the Church to fresh ways of expressing its mission. The successful Fresh Expressions scheme, a joint venture with the Church of England, has been renewed by both churches for a further five years. The Methodist Conference also gave its support to a new Pioneer Ministries scheme, in which the Church will invest over £4 million to establish new congregations across the country, aimed especially at young adults and those who have had no prior contact with any form of church.
Conference received a major report on early human life, looking at issues such as stem cell research, fertility treatments and abortion. The report offers guidance on how to approach these complex and often highly personal topics. It also recognises that attempts to respond to particular medical developments can easily be quickly out of date as the technology moves on. Conference has commended for study the report which says that embryos should not be created solely for the purpose of research, but that it is acceptable for embryos created during fertility treatments to be used for research. The Conference also voted to review the Church’s current stance on abortion.
Conference affirmed the Covenant with the Church of England, signed in 2003, and supported the creation of a new body to continue the work of implementing it. This new body will for the first time include representation from the Church in Wales and the Scottish Episcopal Church, in recognition that the Methodist Church serves all of Great Britain. The United Reformed Church will also be invited to continue to participate. Conference offered prayer and support to the Church of England’s General Synod (meeting almost simultaneously in York) as it addressed major issues.
For the first time, live video of Conference proceedings was broadcast via the Conference website, and a video archive is also available. Live audio was also broadcast in partnership with Premier Christian Radio. Conference also elected its President and Vice-President for 2009-10. The Revd David Gamble were designated to serve as President and Dr Richard Vautrey as Vice President at next year’s Conference.
ENDS
Notes
For more information about the Methodist Conference visit www.methodistconference.org.uk.
For information about the Church’s current stance on abortion visit http://methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentoworld.content&cmid=1857.
Plight of the Burmese People and Investigating Causes of Knife Crime
NEWS RELEASE
10 July, 2008
Methodist Conference backs Youth Conference resolutions
Knife crime, Burma and the pressures on young people on the agenda
Conference also to discuss wide-ranging Youth Participation Strategy
The Methodist Conference, meeting in Scarborough, has endorsed a number of resolutions brought by the Youth Conference. Amongst other things, these call on the Church to campaign to highlight the plight of the Burmese people, and to investigate how local churches can address the issues that lead to violence among young people, including knife crime.
Other Youth Conference resolutions passed by the main Conference called for more Bibles to be available to give away to new Christians, and to recognise the pressures on young people undertaking local preacher training, especially when combined with other educational commitments.
Four Youth Conference representatives are in Scarborough as full voting members of the Methodist Conference, which is just one part of the Church’s ongoing and increasing commitment to involving young people at the very heart of decision-making. Another expression of this is the Youth Participation Strategy that Conference was agreed on Wednesday. This will be a multi-year investment in involving a network of young people in many aspects of Church life.
Sarah Tomes, a Youth Conference representative at Scarborough, said “these are things that are very important to us, and it means a lot to have Conference’s support. Some people say that young people are the future of the Church, but we are part of it and have lot to offer right now.”
ENDS
1) The full texts of the Youth Conference report and the Youth Participation Strategy report are available here: http://www.methodistconference.org.uk/confreports.htm
2) The Youth Conference met in Cardiff Bay on 16-18 November 2007 under the theme of “Let My People Go!”
10 July, 2008
Methodist Conference backs Youth Conference resolutions
Knife crime, Burma and the pressures on young people on the agenda
Conference also to discuss wide-ranging Youth Participation Strategy
The Methodist Conference, meeting in Scarborough, has endorsed a number of resolutions brought by the Youth Conference. Amongst other things, these call on the Church to campaign to highlight the plight of the Burmese people, and to investigate how local churches can address the issues that lead to violence among young people, including knife crime.
Other Youth Conference resolutions passed by the main Conference called for more Bibles to be available to give away to new Christians, and to recognise the pressures on young people undertaking local preacher training, especially when combined with other educational commitments.
Four Youth Conference representatives are in Scarborough as full voting members of the Methodist Conference, which is just one part of the Church’s ongoing and increasing commitment to involving young people at the very heart of decision-making. Another expression of this is the Youth Participation Strategy that Conference was agreed on Wednesday. This will be a multi-year investment in involving a network of young people in many aspects of Church life.
Sarah Tomes, a Youth Conference representative at Scarborough, said “these are things that are very important to us, and it means a lot to have Conference’s support. Some people say that young people are the future of the Church, but we are part of it and have lot to offer right now.”
ENDS
1) The full texts of the Youth Conference report and the Youth Participation Strategy report are available here: http://www.methodistconference.org.uk/confreports.htm
2) The Youth Conference met in Cardiff Bay on 16-18 November 2007 under the theme of “Let My People Go!”
Church to Make Major Investment in Youth Engagement
NEWS RELEASE
9 July, 2008
Church to make major investment in youth engagement
The Methodist Conference has agreed to invest more than £4 million in a major initiative to develop and enhance the participation of young people in the life of the Church.
The Church’s Youth Participation Strategy is a five-year initiative involving a specialist team of youth workers and young people employed to address how the Church engages with youth culture on local and national levels. Each Methodist district will receive a grant for the part-time employment of a young person aged 16-23. For most of their time these Youth Enablers will work within their district, but a proportion of their time will be used for national initiatives. Each year every district will take on a new ‘Mission Possible’ project proposed by young people and designed to put the Gospel into action in local communities.
Mike Seaton, Under 19’s Team Leader for the Church, says; ‘Young people need to be empowered to live as Christians, to witness to their peers and to participate as equals in the Church. Participation is all about involvement – it can be anything from providing opinions to setting agendas and decision making. In adopting this report, the Church is making a huge investment for future engagement with young people and youth culture. This decision demonstrates that the Church is serious about bringing youth participation into the heart of the life of the Church.’
District Youth Enablers will be supported by Connexional Participation Workers and seven full-time Regional Participation Workers (five in England and one each in Scotland and Wales).
Conference received the report and endorsed its recommendations. The pilot project will begin in September with an ongoing programme of monitoring and evaluation with a full report in 2011.
9 July, 2008
Church to make major investment in youth engagement
The Methodist Conference has agreed to invest more than £4 million in a major initiative to develop and enhance the participation of young people in the life of the Church.
The Church’s Youth Participation Strategy is a five-year initiative involving a specialist team of youth workers and young people employed to address how the Church engages with youth culture on local and national levels. Each Methodist district will receive a grant for the part-time employment of a young person aged 16-23. For most of their time these Youth Enablers will work within their district, but a proportion of their time will be used for national initiatives. Each year every district will take on a new ‘Mission Possible’ project proposed by young people and designed to put the Gospel into action in local communities.
Mike Seaton, Under 19’s Team Leader for the Church, says; ‘Young people need to be empowered to live as Christians, to witness to their peers and to participate as equals in the Church. Participation is all about involvement – it can be anything from providing opinions to setting agendas and decision making. In adopting this report, the Church is making a huge investment for future engagement with young people and youth culture. This decision demonstrates that the Church is serious about bringing youth participation into the heart of the life of the Church.’
District Youth Enablers will be supported by Connexional Participation Workers and seven full-time Regional Participation Workers (five in England and one each in Scotland and Wales).
Conference received the report and endorsed its recommendations. The pilot project will begin in September with an ongoing programme of monitoring and evaluation with a full report in 2011.
Methodist Conference: President Designate and Vice-President Designate
NEWS RELEASE
9 July, 2008
Methodist Conference elects new President and Vice President Designate
The Revd David Gamble has been elected President Designate of the Methodist Conference for 2009-2010, and Dr Richard Vautrey has been elected Vice President Designate.
David is currently Coordinating Secretary for Legal and Constitutional Practice handling issues ranging from discipline to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. He served as a minister in two North Yorkshire Circuits, Tadcaster and York (South), before becoming Children’s Secretary for the Division of Education and Youth and then General Secretary for the Division. He has also been the Church’s Secretary for Pastoral Care and Personal Relationships addressing family concerns such as divorce and domestic violence.
David’s vision is of a church that is outward looking, engaged in wider society, willing to challenge injustice wherever it occurs, passionately committed to those who are or feel excluded. David says; ‘I feel honoured to be elected for this role and hope to help the Church to answer the questions the people are asking about issues that matter to them in all areas of life. The Church has to respond to peoples' needs and concerns if we are ever to speak truth in a mixed-up world’.
Richard Vautrey is a GP in Leeds and the Deputy Chair of the British Medical Association’s GP committee with extensive media experience. He is a medical advisor for the Connexional Team and has served as a mission partner in Nigeria. He believes that there is a need for the church to get better at communicating the gospel message in ways that all can understand.
Richard says; ‘It is a great privilege to be elected by the Conference to serve the Church in this way. I believe the Church has a key role in publicly challenging matters of injustice and inequality, as well as leading the debate on modern ethical questions. I am also passionate about the vital role that volunteers and lay people play in the Church and as Vice President I will be seeking to address how we can better empower and equip lay people for leadership roles in the Church’
David and Richard will be inducted as President and Vice President as the first items of business at the 2009 Methodist Conference, which will meet in Wolverhampton from July 2-9.
ENDS
Notes
For more information about the Methodist Conference visit www.methodistconference.org.uk.
9 July, 2008
Methodist Conference elects new President and Vice President Designate
The Revd David Gamble has been elected President Designate of the Methodist Conference for 2009-2010, and Dr Richard Vautrey has been elected Vice President Designate.
David is currently Coordinating Secretary for Legal and Constitutional Practice handling issues ranging from discipline to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. He served as a minister in two North Yorkshire Circuits, Tadcaster and York (South), before becoming Children’s Secretary for the Division of Education and Youth and then General Secretary for the Division. He has also been the Church’s Secretary for Pastoral Care and Personal Relationships addressing family concerns such as divorce and domestic violence.
David’s vision is of a church that is outward looking, engaged in wider society, willing to challenge injustice wherever it occurs, passionately committed to those who are or feel excluded. David says; ‘I feel honoured to be elected for this role and hope to help the Church to answer the questions the people are asking about issues that matter to them in all areas of life. The Church has to respond to peoples' needs and concerns if we are ever to speak truth in a mixed-up world’.
Richard Vautrey is a GP in Leeds and the Deputy Chair of the British Medical Association’s GP committee with extensive media experience. He is a medical advisor for the Connexional Team and has served as a mission partner in Nigeria. He believes that there is a need for the church to get better at communicating the gospel message in ways that all can understand.
Richard says; ‘It is a great privilege to be elected by the Conference to serve the Church in this way. I believe the Church has a key role in publicly challenging matters of injustice and inequality, as well as leading the debate on modern ethical questions. I am also passionate about the vital role that volunteers and lay people play in the Church and as Vice President I will be seeking to address how we can better empower and equip lay people for leadership roles in the Church’
David and Richard will be inducted as President and Vice President as the first items of business at the 2009 Methodist Conference, which will meet in Wolverhampton from July 2-9.
ENDS
Notes
For more information about the Methodist Conference visit www.methodistconference.org.uk.
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