DISTRICT NEWS PAGE

A letter 'From the Chair'

22 February 2006

Methodist Church backs new Fresh Expressions DVD

The Methodist Church is backing a new DVD looking at new ways of reaching people. Fresh Expressions is presented by Diane Louise Jordan and features a 30-minute feature suitable for home groups, church councils and other small groups, as well as several shorter items examining specific projects.

Former BBC producer Norman Ivison produced the DVD. The Revd Tom Stuckey, the President of the Methodist Conference, and the Archbishop of Canterbury have commended it. It is designed to support training and new initiatives in a variety of church contexts. The video content can be viewed as a DVD or transferred to a computer for use in presentations.

The Revd Graham Horsley, Methodist Secretary for Evangelism and Church Planting, said, “this DVD gives about a dozen different examples of fresh expressions, and is honest about what does and doesn’t work in each case. We hope it will inspire and challenge as well as offering models of good practice.”

The DVD is jointly produced by the ecumenical Fresh Expressions, the Reaching the Unchurched Network (RUN) and The Methodist Church. It will launch on 27 February at the Prodigals Conference and is published by Church House publishing.

Methodist Church statement regarding offensive cartoons and inter-faith relations

Dr. Elizabeth Harris, Methodist Secretary for Inter-Faith Relations: “In the light of the current controversy over the publication of cartoons depicting the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the Methodist Church affirms that freedom of speech and responsibility depend on one another in a democratic society. The right to speak freely cannot be separated from the responsibility to draw back from causing deliberate provocation or offence.

“The Methodist Church recognizes that immense hurt has been caused to Muslims throughout the world through the publication of the cartoons. It is saddened, however, that a minority of Muslims have responded with violence in word and deed. This harms the good name of Islam and plays into the hands of those who want to portray Islam as inherently violent.

“We affirm that dialogue and respectful debate are the best way forward. We would call for restraint and dignity on the part of both Muslims and Christians. The silent vigil that took place outside the Stratford Street Mosque in Beeston, Leeds, yesterday, is an example of what will diffuse the tension created by this situation. A hundred members of the local faith communities in Beeston gathered before the afternoon prayers to demonstrate their unity and solidarity, especially with members of the Muslim community. We would encourage similar acts of solidarity in other regions.”

Statement on the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill

Alison Jackson, Methodist Secretary for Parliamentary and Political Affairs: “The Methodist Church opposes incitement to hatred of people for any reason, including their religious beliefs. We also support freedom of speech, including the right to evangelise. We did not share the concern that the Government's proposals would accidentally compromise the right to evangelise. Our concern is that the weaker form that the legislation has now taken may leave a loophole through which extremist groups can target those who are in a vulnerable position in society.”

Giving up is good for the world: new pack aims to help Methodists with self-denial

Members of Horsforth and Bramley Methodist circuit in Leeds have had their prayers answered and may soon be celebrating by denying themselves! Only eight months after their memorial to Conference on self-denial a new pack, Take Up Your Cross, has been produced in time for Lent, designed to raise support for and increase giving to for the Fund for World Mission, which shares in the Church’s mission worldwide.

Self-denial is more than just giving up chocolate for Lent, said Michael King, Team Leader for World Church Relationships for the Methodist Church. “People can cut back on luxuries such as watching TV, give old clothes to charity or volunteer to help in their community,” he says “Take Up Your Cross is an important contribution for individuals and churches who want to take giving seriously. Self-denial for Christians is as much about justice as charity, and this resource is for those who want to be challenged and involved as part of the Methodist Church’s overall strategy towards those in need throughout the world.”

“We have always strongly supported self-denial practices designed to deepen one’s spiritual life and help those in need, by giving any money saved through self denial to good causes,” said Connexional Mission Support Worker John Newton, who worked on the new resource. “We’re glad to see so many British Methodists asking for this new resource on self-denial. Although Horsforth and Bramley circuit brought the matter to the 2005 Conference, we receive dozens of calls a month about self-denial, and this pack will answer all those questions and more.”

Self-denial stresses solidarity with those in poorer areas of the globe who have no luxuries, and value the few possessions they have. In order to assist those in such areas giving has always been at the heart of self-denial events, and the new self-denial pack will include Fund for World Mission gift-aid envelopes so that taxpayers can increase the value of any offering.

Take Up Your Cross will help to resource and inform those organising self-denial events in their churches, by giving information about mission, self-denial, helping the poor, and the work of the Fund for World Mission, as well as listing resources available to support self-denial activities.

February 1 2006

MAKE POVERTY HISTORY – the next steps

On Tuesday 31 January, MAKE POVERTY HISTORY member organisations met to determine the next steps for 2005’s world-changing campaign. The mood was of celebration and determination. Activists were reminded that the character of the campaign will change in 2006, but the commitment to action continues. Coalition members, including the Methodist Church and the Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF), stressed that active and collective campaigning on trade, debt and aid will continue into 2006.

There is still much more to be done. Anthea Cox, Coordinating Secretary for Public Life and Social Justice, commented: “There is plenty to celebrate: 2005 was an amazing year, with Methodists expressing an overwhelming commitment to changing the lives of those affected by global poverty. Postcard campaigns, rallies at the G8 summit and lobbying at Westminster influenced political decisions that will change lives all over the world. As a result of this year of campaigning, nineteen countries have received further debt cancellation, freeing up vital resources for health and education spending; G8 leaders have agreed an extra £50 billion of aid for Africa and the UK government has begun to take on board the arguments for trade justice. Churches up and down the country contributed to these victories, adding their voices to those of millions of people worldwide who want to see an end to poverty.”

Kirsty Smith, Director of the Methodist Relief and Development Fund, said; “It is time to deepen and extend our engagement with the issues, not diminish it because we have moved to a new stage in the fight against poverty. The energy and enthusiasm mobilised by MAKE POVERTY HISTORY in 2005 was fantastic, but as with any major campaign, it takes more than one year to bring about real change. This momentum must not be lost and it’s down to us to hold our politicians to the promises they made last year. 2005 was a big year for campaigners in this country, with both the G8 and EU presidency held by the UK, but this is a worldwide campaign. Now we can all play a role in supporting the work of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP), which unites anti-poverty campaigns in both North and South. MRDF partners Jubilee Debt Campaign and Trade Justice Movement, two of the core networks that make up MAKE POVERTY HISTORY, will be instrumental in carrying on campaigning in 2006 and beyond.”

MRDF partners Jubilee Debt Campaign and the Trade Justice Movement, two of the core networks that made up MAKE POVERTY HISTORY, will be instrumental in carrying on campaigning in 2006 and beyond. Methodists can visit www.mrdf.org.uk to join in new actions that build on the successes and challenges of 2005, or follow the link from www.methodist.org.uk.

25 January 2006

Guidelines help communities to encourage a change in drink culture

The Methodist Church has published guidelines telling churches everything they need to know about the Licensing Act 2003. The Act is fully explained in a new updated version of the briefing One Too Many…? New additional guidance advises people how to respond to licence applications in their local areas.

The updated version of One Too Many…?, which explores the issue of alcohol misuse as well as licensing laws, now also explains the process of raising concerns over local applications for extended drinking hours. Residents are encouraged to engage positively with their local authorities and explain how they might be affected by such applications. It also contains advice about the process of making a representation to the local authority.

People are often concerned about the effects of binge drinking on the life of their community, but the Government has stated that under the new law it will be easier for local people to have an influence over licensing decisions. Alison Jackson, Secretary for Parliamentary and Political Affairs, says: “Although it is too early to tell how the new system will work, people who are concerned about how an application might affect their local area are not powerless. They have the right to be heard, and this publication tells them how”.

The Church is also keen to hear from those who have approached their local authorities about applications, and anyone wishing to share their experiences should contact David Bradwell, Public Issues, Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR or email bradwelld@methodistchurch.org.uk <mailto:bradwelld@methodistchurch.org.uk>.

One Too Many…? and the additional guidelines can be downloaded from <http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.content&cmid=102>. Alternatively, a copy can be obtained from David Bradwell.

October 2005