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December
2009 |
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Happy Christmas and welcome to this month's electronic news bulletin of the Methodist Church in Britain.
Please feel free to circulate these stories by email or by cutting and pasting into your church newsletter or magazine or printing them out and pinning them on your noticeboard.
E-News is sent out to all who have submitted their details to the Email Directory of the Methodist Church in Britain. Visit www.methodist.org.uk/signup to subscribe.
If you wish to unsubscribe please visit www.methodist.org.uk/signup to remove your details.
Ken Kingston, E-News editor: mailto:newseditor@methodistchurch.org.uk?subject=E-news
You can read the Christmas message from the president of the Methodist Conference, the Revd David Gamble, on the Methodist Church website from Tuesday 22 December. Click on the link on the home page.
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The most important card you'll send this Christmas
 Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed Church leaders are asking people to send an extra card this year, to send Christmas greetings to Immigration Minister Phil Woolas MP, asking him to end the detention of children in the asylum system.
The Revd David Gamble, president of the Methodist Conference, said, "Britain is the only country in Europe which locks up the innocent children of people who have had their asylum claims declined. Every year hundreds of children are sent to detention centres; most of them are under five years old and many of them are locked up for more than a month. Holding innocent children in detention centres can never be justified."
Eight-year-old Moya is among those who have already sent cards. In her handmade card (see picture) she writes, "To Mr Woolas, Happy Christmas and please stop locking children up in detention."
People should send cards to Phil Woolas MP at the Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF. Click here to find tips for drafting your Christmas message.
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Poll shows half of British homes using less energy
 Over half of people in Britain have taken steps to reduce the amount of energy they use at home in the last year.
As governments meet in Copenhagen to discuss climate change, a new YouGov survey, on behalf of the Methodist Church, found that 55% of people have cut their home energy use by switching to low energy bulbs or switching appliances off rather than using standby, for example. By doing so, they have both saved money and cut their carbon footprint. For more results of the survey click here.
The Revd David Gamble, president of the Methodist Conference, said, "These results show that people are already doing things that cut their carbon footprint, whether they know it or not. Helping to save the planet can often also be a way to save money. People might feel powerless in the face of climate change, but there are things we can all do."
David Gamble has joined the leaders of the Baptist and United Reformed Churches calling on the government to put pressure on the world's richest countries to reach a binding agreement at this week's climate change conference in Copenhagen.
The Churches argue that since developed countries such as the UK and the USA owe their wealth to activities producing high levels of carbon, they also have a moral responsibility to take the lead in setting measures to counter global warming.
Click on the links below for other news stories about the Methodist Church's support of the Copenhagen Conference:
Churches lobby EU leaders ahead of Copenhagen Climate Change Conference
Cyclist takes the road to Copenhagen Climate Change Conference
Methodist Climate Cyclist arrives in Copenhagen
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Methodists respond to loss of jobs at Redcar's Corus steelworks
 The chair of the Darlington District, the Revd Ruth Gee, has written the following prayer for about to lose their jobs at the Corus steel plant in Redcar.
The prayer can also be easily adapted by other churches to include people in their local community, who are being made redundant.
Jesus, born in unsettled times,
in the darkness of uncertainty
guide us with your light.
Jesus, born in the stable dirt,
in the mess of human plans
re-assure us with your presence.
Jesus, Prince of Peace - Help us find peace.
Jesus, Hope of the world - Give us hope.
Jesus. Emmanuel - God with us.
In the name of Jesus,
the Methodist people of the North East are praying with
and for all connected with Corus in this time of uncertainty.
Amen. |
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How investments can fight climate change
 The Methodist Church's investment arm has outlined how its investments reflect Methodist teaching on the environment and take forward the fight against climate change. It aims to "create and manage portfolios with a carbon footprint that is relatively low and measurably declining".
"The new policy explains how we will encourage companies to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Bill Seddon, chief executive of the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church. "We will also look for better disclosure of emissions, including those produced from a company's supply chains."
The new policy helps to integrate Church investing with Church teaching, most recently expressed in the report Hope in God's Future.
For more information click here. |
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Pete Brady appointed new full time Youth President
 Last month, the Methodist Youth Assembly appointed Pete Brady from Bradford, aged 23, as its president.
Pete will be the Methodist youth president, working full-time for one year to serve the young people of the Methodist Church in Britain, making their voices heard and helping them to get more involved in every aspect of Church life. The youth president is a paid post as part of the Children and Youth Team of the Methodist Church in Britain.
"It's a real honour being appointed to this role," said Pete. "Ensuring the voices of young people are heard within our Church is something that I have felt passionately about for a long time and it's amazing to be given the opportunity to be that voice for young people across the country. My aim for the year is to be easily accessible to young people across the Connexion, to voice their opinions and represent them to the very best of my ability in everything I do."
Attendance at the Youth Assembly increased by 75% from last year. Over 200 11–23 year-olds gathered at the Ushaw Conference Centre in Durham to take part in a programme designed by young people for young people.
For more information, including a video, click here. |
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New website encourages people to think about Human Trafficking
 The new Open Horizon website attempts to extend people's horizons in relation to the trafficking of women and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation, and to look at wider issues associated with this modern day slavery.
With the support of Women's Network, and Formation in World Mission in the Methodist Church, members of the Open Horizon action-research group visited Romania and Sicily, as well as travelling around the UK. They were moved by women willing to share their stories. One woman described how she was offered a "nice job" in Europe and then was forced to go "to the road" in Palermo.
The Revd Stephen Willey, chair of the group said, "Despite recent reports in the press which suggest that human trafficking is an insignificant crime, this global phenomenon affects many, many lives. Imagine your child or sister locked up in a foreign land and being forced to perform sexual acts, including being raped on a daily basis. If this was a British reporter being held hostage overseas, the world would know, but when it is a child or adult coming from a situation of poverty sometimes it seems only God cares." |
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Expanding the work of the Joseph Rank Trust
 From 1 January 2010 grant funding by the Joseph Rank Trust will be expended on 'Methodism' and not just on property schemes and MAYC projects as has been the case in the recent past. The aim of the trustees is to embrace most areas of home mission. All appeals would be linked to the development of mission, as determined by the Trust. Details of how to apply can be obtained from your synod secretaries from this month onwards.
For more information click here. |
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Ex BBC newsreader appointed as 'chaplain to older people' in Alton
 Broadcaster Debbie Thrower has been appointed by Churches in Alton as the new 'chaplain to older people'. The appointment has been funded by the Simeon Trust through the Greater Alton Project or GAP, a partnership of Anglican and Methodist churches in the town.
Working as Simeon chaplain, Debbie will be concerned for the spiritual welfare of people in residential care and sheltered accommodation in Alton. She is the first Simeon chaplain in the country.
"Hope is what the new job is all about," said Debbie, who is also a lay minister (or reader) in the Church of England. "I seek to come alongside not only older people but also their relatives, carers and staff working in residential care. It is the clearest possible message from the churches I'll represent that older people matter."
The Revd Rob Jones, chaplaincies coordinator for the Methodist Church, praised the initiative, "This is a new form of chaplaincy and an excellent expression of community ministry and of ecumenical cooperation. It is part of an enterprising vision of how the local churches can engage with the local community."
For more information, click here. |
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Are you a Christian living or serving in an urban area?
 Come to the 6th UK Urban Mission Congress Jesus in the City in Belfast, 12-14 March 2010.
Jesus in the City 2010 is gathering together urban Christians from across the UK to share worship, Bible study, experiences, passions and challenges, to visit local Belfast projects and to seek answers to 'big mission questions' about our ministry today.
Speakers include Methodist City Centre Network, Housing Justice, Street Pastors, Frontier Youth Trust, UNLOCK.
You can book online. |
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Consultation on local ecumenism - 29-30 April 2010
 There are plans to hold a consultation for those involved in local ecumenism between the Methodist and United Reformed Churches, who wish to contribute to thinking around the 2008 joint resolution about closer working between the two denominations.
The 24 hour consultation takes place on 29-30 April 2010 at Woodbrooke, Birmingham.
We will be looking for people with active involvement in united areas, Methodist URC LEPs or other Methodist URC projects.
For more information contact Chris Sissons. |
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Nativity! film star, Martin Freeman, speaks on Methodist Web Radio
 Methodist Web Radio treats listeners to an interview between actor Martin Freeman and Steve Goddard, editor of the Christian website Ship-of-Fools.com, on the new film, Nativity!, playing in cinemas this Christmas.
Hear why Martin thinks the nativity story is the greatest story ever told and why he thinks religion isn't such a bad idea.
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If you have any suggestions for stories or comments about E-News please contact mailto:newseditor@methodistchurch.org.uk?subject=E-news
E-News editor, Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR
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