The Methodist Church will play a larger role than ever before at this year’s Greenbelt Festival - Europe’s longest running Christian event celebrating the arts, faith and justice. The Church has sealed a three-year partnership deal with Greenbelt organisers, which will see free tickets made available to Methodist ministers, deacons, preachers and worship leaders who have not attended the festival for the past five years. The free tickets, which must be claimed before 31 July via the Greenbelt office, will be on offer during the first two years of the partnership. Over time, the deal will allow the Methodist Church to have as influential a presence at the festival as the Department of International Development and Christian Aid – Greenbelt’s existing major partners. Gawain Hewitt, Festival Director, said: ‘The Methodist Church and Greenbelt both have a history steeped in a commitment to social justice and community engagement. We also share a commitment to dialogue, trade justice, environmental and development issues and human rights'.
Pray: for the Greenbelt Festival as it reaches out to a wide spectrum of mainly young people. (2Th.2:14)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=441
A website for young people run by young people has been launched by the Methodist Children and Youth Team. Generous is a safe online space designed to enable young people to discuss and act upon decisions made at Youth Assembly – an interactive body designed to maximise the impact of young people’s influence on the Methodist Church in Britain. Young people can sign up to the site and pledge their commitment to different goals, such as confronting racist behaviour or challenging Churches on the opportunities available to them. The website offers young people the opportunity to work together on maximising the impact they can have on the wider Church. Every young person who signs up and joins the
debate becomes an activist and voice for social change. Pete Brady, Methodist Youth President, said Generous was a great way for young people to keep in touch with others they met at Youth Assembly.
Pray: for this initiative and others that reach out to our young people. (2Ti.2:22)
Methodists gear up for Christmas giveaway
15 Oct 2010
Shops are already stacking their shelves with Christmas cards and presents, hoping to make a profit from early-bird shoppers. But the Methodist Church is encouraging people to give a free gift to their friends and neighbours this Christmas. ‘A Gift of Christmas’ is a brand new booklet from the Methodist Church that celebrates and reflects on the story of Christmas. It includes Bible passages, stunning images from the Methodist Collection of Modern Art, prayers and reflections from a variety of authors, including John Byron, Valerie Collinson and Graham Kendrick. It’s the latest in a highly successful series that includes ‘A Gift of Peace’, which has already sold nearly 15,000 copies. ‘The birth of Christ is the greatest gift ever given to humankind and we want to celebrate Christmas by sharing that gift with others,’ said Deacon Eunice Attwood, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference and a contributor to the booklet. Pray: for such initiatives to reach the many who do not fully know the Christmas story. (Ro.10:17) More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=468
Methodist's challenged to take 'tough decisions'
07 Jul 2011In a report to the annual Methodist Conference, taking place this week in Southport, the Methodist General Secretary, the Rev Dr Martyn Atkins, spoke of tough decisions ahead and his belief that the Church must change to fulfil its calling in contemporary society. ‘As disciples of Jesus we are called to become the Church God wants us to be,’ said Dr Atkins. ‘This will involve making some tough decisions’ he said. ‘We don’t have all the resources we would like to have but God has not given up on us. We must work hard to become a Church that demonstrates our faith through a commitment to justice and serving our local, national and international communities.’ He continued, ‘A more sacrificial, strategic approach is needed. Our churches must not exist simply to perpetuate the status quo, but to provide a place where people can come to faith and be nurtured in their journey with Christ.’
Pray: for the Methodist Church and indeed the whole church as we face the challenge of the future. (2Sa.7:19)
The London 2012 Organising Committee has given the go-ahead for a community arts project linked to the Methodist Church to feature as part of the Cultural Olympiad. LOCOG awarded an Inspire Mark – its official seal of approval – to the Outside/In project, which will see young people and adults from different parts of Newcastle telling stories about themselves, their history, culture and communities through art. The artists’ work will feature as four exhibitions at The Holy Biscuit from March through to July 2012. The Holy Biscuit (formerly Shieldfield Methodist Church) is a community arts space partnered with The Methodist Church and The Biscuit Factory – an independent art gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne. Ish Lennox, Olympic and Paralympic Games Coordinator for the Methodist Church said: ‘It’s fantastic that a Methodist project has won an Inspire Mark. We are completely committed to engaging with the Cultural Olympiad. Methodist Christian Discipleship is life-long and whole life.'
Pray: for this project and all those involved in running it in 2012 and beyond. (Ps.5:12)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=548
Methodist Church investment decisions are now being guided by a new policy on human rights which focuses on companies operating in areas of conflict around the world. While governments are ultimately responsible for upholding human rights, the policy recognises that companies have obligations too. The policy has been adopted by the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church, which manages £1 billion of Methodist Church investments. The Church is urging companies to extend their engagement with human rights issues beyond their own operations by entering into dialogue with major suppliers and business partners. Bill Seddon, Chief Executive, said: "This new policy will help us engage with companies operating in areas where human rights are being ignored, often due to armed conflict. It will help us structure our on-going human rights engagement with companies." The Church said companies have responsibilities, not only to shareholders but also to their employees and people in the societies in which they operate.
Pray: for other groups and companies to follow the lead from the Methodist church and that their new policy will have a real and practical impact for good. (Pr.31:8-9)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/news-and-events/news-releases/methodist-church-promotes-humans-rights-with-new-investment-policy
Methodist Church looks to boost evangelism
13 Sep 2012The Methodist Church has launched a national consultation on evangelism. Methodists across Britain will be asked what evangelism means to them and what they find challenging about it. The online survey will ask them what they think it means to be called by God to share the Good News and what shape evangelism should take in 21st century Britain. A consultation day will take place on 27 November at Methodist Church House in London, bringing together up to 80 Methodists from different contexts. The day will be hosted by the Rev Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church. He said. ‘The reality is that many Methodists are doing wonderful and creative things to share God’s love with their communities. We want to affirm that, but also help others to engage more fully with the calling we all have to make disciples of Jesus Christ.’
Pray: for the Methodist Church as it focusses on creative ways to boost evangelism. (2Th.2:14)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/methodist.church.looks.to.boost.evangelism/30632.htm
Methodist and URC ecumenical milestone
08 Oct 2010
Ecumenical relations between the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church (URC) will reach a milestone moment next week when both church’s Councils convene for their first-ever joint meeting. 140 members of the two Free Church councils will meet at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick from October 13-15, when they will deal with both domestic and inter-denominational issues. Although the Methodist Church and the URC are not bound by many formal agreements, there has been extensive collaboration between the two bodies during recent years. Next week’s summit will be the latest step in this journey of joint working between the two Churches, which both span England, Scotland and Wales. At the meeting, each Church Council will meet privately to carry out its own business. However, for the majority of the sessions, members of the two bodies will come together to work from the same agenda, as part of an ongoing drive to unite in mission and outreach. Pray: for unity of purpose between Christian churches (2Co. 11:28)