Mission 2

First anniversary of the
Past Cases Review

Last week marked the first anniversary of the apology to survivors and victims of abuse, and the publication of Courage, Cost & Hope - the report on the Past Cases Review (PCR),

There is an update on the progress made so far including work with a survivors’ reference group to ensure that all policies and guidelines or training materials would be informed by a survivor/victim perspective.

A pilot programme of structured supervision for ministers has begun in two districts to ensure that there is appropriate accountability and support in terms of safe practice. Lessons learnt from this will be brought to the 2017 Conference for the implementation of the supervision programme across the whole Connexion.

There is also a special prayer:

For those who are abused and those who abuse;

for those who are careless about others

and those who are careful;

for those who offer guidance through the dark and those

who endeavour to safeguard the vulnerable: good Lord, we pray.

Good Lord, give hope to the hurt

and a sense of your love and rightness.

May we all be led into safe and sound living.

Give us your strength for today, your hope for tomorrow

and the light of your love to guide us in all things.

Amen.

EU referendum (23 June)

Don’t forget the resource for the EU Referendum is available to download. With non-partisan information, reflections and questions on a range of related issues, it encourages individuals and churches to think through Britain's membership of the European Union in the light of the gospel command to love your neighbour.

It is perfect for individual study or group discussion.

Methodist Conference 2016

The Methodist Conference opens at Westminster Central Hall, London at the end of June.

Free tickets are still available for the opening of the Conference and the induction of the President and Vice-President, as well as for some of the ordination services. You can order them online.

You can also download the agenda from the Conference website.

And take the time to watch this video where the President and Vice-President designates of the Methodist Conference invite you to Conference and suggest some things you might want to read, reflect and pray about in preparation.

National month of prayer for toddler groups

1277*, an alliance of churches and other agencies that support the work of church-based toddler groups, have organised as month of prayer for toddler groups.

There are more than 20,000 churches estimated to be running toddler groups in the UK, and they are encouraged to pray for their groups and those who participate. The theme for 2016 is living life to the full, based on John 10:10. You can find more information and resources online.

*1277 refers to the average number of days a child has between birth and starting nursery education.

Methodist Homes Sunday: 12 June 2016

‘Creating communities that care’ is the theme for this year’s Methodist Homes Sunday. Worship Resources were included in every copy of the Spring edition of Heart and Soul, MHA’s free magazine, but they are also available to download. They feature suggested hymns and prayers, ideas for sermons and an all-age activity.

By holding a Methodist Homes Sunday Service, your church helps MHA to do practical things that help older people not just survive, but to thrive. Your support helps to provide 75 of the charity’s community networks throughout the country. Led by voluntary committees, they provide company, friendship and neighbourhood support to older people living independently.

reIMAGINE:
3-5 October 2016

This is a conference for all who love the Church and seek to nurture its mission in our world. It takes place at The Hayes Conference Centre, from Monday 3 October until Wednesday 5 October.

As well as a range of speakers there will be workshops on renewing and refreshing the local church, engaging culture, catalysing change in communities and developing mixed ecology circuits.

It is an opportunity for all who love the Church to learn more about how its mission may be refreshed and extended.

You can find more information and booking details here.

Germinate 2016:
15 October 2016

Every two years the Arthur Rank Centre holds its Germinate Conference, to inspire, encourage and equip rural church leaders.

The theme ‘Making it happen!’ focuses on the challenge of deepening discipleship in order to inspire, encourage and equip flourishing rural mission, with lectures, case studies, workshops and resource information.

The key note speakers are the President of the Conference, the Revd Dr Roger Walton, and Fresh Expressions Team Coordinator Pete Atkins.

The conference costs £60 (including lunch) with a 20% discount if booked before 30 June.

You can find more details on the Arthur Rank Centre website.

Films new take on Bible stories

Six new short films that take a contemporary slant on Bible stories have been funded by the Methodist Church. Find the provocative, entertaining and often controversial films here, along with accompanying study notes.

Produced by Applecart, they are bound to create a response from those who view them.

Christmas greetings of welcome

The President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference have reminded people of the importance of 'welcome' in this year's Presidential Christmas message.

The Revd Steve Wild and Dr Jill Barber highlight the central significance of Emmanuel, 'God-with-us', and how we can encounter God through welcoming others.

Steve said, “Emmanuel, 'God-with-us', is not selective to one particular class or type of person. No one is inconvenient to the God who is with us, His great grace reaches to all people whoever they are.”

And Jill added the challenge, “We have received welcome. Can we now be that prophetic people who seek to offer welcome, to challenge injustice and take steps, however small, to work for justice and peace in our communities and in our world?”

Click here to listen to the messages in full, or, if you prefer, you can read them here.

Cumbrian floods: give, act, pray

The impact of the floods in the North West of England will last long after the water has gone. Storm Desmond has left homes uninhabitable and Christmas in ruins for thousands of people. The Revd Richard Teal, the Cumbria District Chair, said, “The devastation this time is far worse than before.”

The Methodist Church is joining with organisations and individuals across the country to support and remember the people of the North West in their prayers. Read here how you can donate to the fundraising appeal.

Pray for peace

The President and Vice-President of Conference have made a statement following the decision for the UK to proceed with air strikes in Syria, encouraging people of all faiths to pray for peace.

Invigorated by 3Generate

This year’s 3Generate took place in November at PGL Liddington Adventure Centre, Swindon, where nearly 600 young Methodists aged 8-23 gathered together to worship, learn and make decisions that will affect the life of the wider Methodist Church.

This year’s event was a sold-out success, which saw more than double the amount of young people and youth leaders attend compared to last year.

Highlights from the event included a variety of topical workshops, indoor and outdoor activities, debates and campaigns work. New additions this year included a specially commissioned slam poetry session, club-style worship and zip wires.

Drawing breath after a packed weekend, the Methodist Youth President Craig Gaffney said, “It’s always amazing to interact with other young Christians and other young Methodists in particular. There was a lot of really cool stuff going on this year with the Silent Disco, Club Worship, Gospel Choirs... We really mixed up the worship and social formats that we’ve had in the past, which gave this year’s 3Generate a new feel and a vibe with lots of new exciting features."

For a taste of this year’s event, why not check out our YouTube channel, 3GenTV.

Tim Annan elected to be next Methodist Youth President

Tim Annan has been elected as Methodist Youth President designate to begin his term in September 2016, following his election at this year’s 3Generate (see previous story).

COP21: a response

The Methodist Church in Britain has released a statement regarding the recent agreements made at the COP21 climate change summit in Paris.

The President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd Steve Wild, said, "We are delighted with the historic achievement at the climate summit in Paris. Our Lord's call to us to be disciples is often challenging. When God entrusted his creation to our care he never said that it would be easy. In our churches we recommit ourselves to tread more lightly on the earth. We pray that we can work together for the common good remembering that we are called to be reconciled to God and to one another in love."

The Joint Public Issues Team has also written a blog post in reflection of the event, which you can read here.

Enough is enough

Major UK Churches (including the Methodist Church) are warning that the government’s Welfare Reform and Work Bill marks a dangerous shift away from a core principle of the Welfare State and will make poor people even poorer.

A YouGov survey commissioned by the Churches has also revealed that 61% of UK adults believe that welfare benefits should be set at a level that allows families with children to cover their basic costs. In contrast, only 25% of those polled said they thought that benefits should be set deliberately low to encourage families to find work or get more work.

“No child should be left without enough in order to motivate their parents,” said Paul Morrison, Public Issues Policy Adviser for the Methodist Church and author of the report. “If children live in a family which doesn’t have enough money, they are more likely to die young, do worse at school, and experience worse health. Many of these families are already in work and working very hard. Any policy that claims that taking £1,000 from a family will enhance the life-chances of its children, as the Bill does, is not only supremely questionable but morally flawed.”

The report, Enough: Our responsibility to meet families’ needs, highlights how the Bill threatens to undermine a founding principle of the Welfare State: namely, that the amount families receive in benefits should be sufficient to meet their basic needs. The Churches say the Bill will break the link between what people need and the amount of support they can receive. Families with children will be hardest hit by this change.

“As Christians we believe all people are made in God’s image,” continued Paul. “We do not believe that we should ever deliberately deprive a person, a family, a child of enough to thrive or to fulfil their God-given potential. We are asking that the Welfare State holds to its founding principles, and seeks to provide enough so that every child can have the best chance in life.”

The Churches are asking people to pray, to read the report here(along with a short video explaining why Enough matters) and write to their MPs.

Statement on the Paris attacks

The Revd Steven Wild, President of the Conference, and Dr Jill Barber, Vice-President of the Conference have issued the following statement about the attacks in Paris:

“We, and all the Methodist people, pray for all the victims of the attacks in Paris on Friday night.  We hold in our prayers all those who seek to offer comfort and support in the days and weeks ahead.”

You can also read statements from the World Methodist Council and United Methodist Church in Central and Southern Europe here.

For those looking for hymns that reflect on the recent events in Paris and elsewhere around the world, To the dark place bring a candle by Richard Lucas (sung to the tune Scarlet Ribbons) and Andrew Pratt’s Hopeless to help in this violence, this crisis are both on the Singing the Faith Plus website..

Send an extra card this Christmas

For its Christmas Friendship Appeal, MHA is asking if you could share the joy of Christmas with its residents and Live at Home scheme members by writing just one extra Christmas card. MHA can provide free cards for church members to write their own messages of goodwill and friendship and children’s cards to colour in - or you can use your own cards. 

You can find out more and get involved here.

Stuck for presents this Christmas

All We Can is offering the chance to buy extraordinary gifts. These help people in some of the world’s poorest communities to become all that they can. Our gifts directly support All We Can’s partners - creating positive, lasting change in poor communities.

Simply choose a gift for a friend or family member from the selection, and All We Can will send you a colourful card for you to personalise and give.

"My Soul Magnifies"    

In the first chapter of Luke's Gospel, Mary's song of praise rings out: "My soul magnifies the Lord". In a context in which Mary would have been seen as a nobody, her song is a prophetic response to the outrageous injustices in our world. Read more

Literacy Empowers

This year, the Women's Desk of the Church of Pakistan has been carrying out a literacy project which has been equipping and empowering women (and some men) in different ways. Read more

Created in God's Image

The World Mission Fund supports CEPALC with an annual grant. This year, CEPALC used some of this funding to run training sessions for groups of indigenous and Afro- American women. Read more

Hotting up in the Pacific 

Continuing to exist, despite difficult circumstances, is a situation common to many people in the Pacific faced with the realities of climate change. Read more

"Mum Power"

"My job as a physiotherapist in Kigali has been varied and rewarding, despite its many difficulties". Read more

Reconciliation in Rwanda

"Rwanda. The land of a thousand hills. The country of mountain gorillas. Sure- but who doesn't think of the genocide first?" Read more

Westminster turns blue

To mark 70 years since the founding of the United Nations, Methodist Central Hall Westminster, the first meeting place of the United Nations General Assembly, will be turning blue this Saturday 24 October.

To celebrate UN day, Central Hall will be joining iconic monuments, buildings, statues, bridges and other international landmarks in being bathed in blue lights. Pictures will be broadcast across the world through social media under the hash tag #UN70.

As well as turning blue, Central Hall is holding a unique ‘UNEARTH Exhibition’ for eight weeks, celebrating the achievements and history of the UN. You can find more details (including opening times) here.

DWP “stubbornly ignoring” calls for sanctions review

A coalition of national Churches and charities has criticised the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over its refusal to undertake a full review of the benefit sanctions system. The DWP has issued its overdue response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee inquiry into benefit sanctions, but has failed to commit to a review as recommended.

The Select Committee, the government’s own advisors, the Social Security Advisory Committee, charities and Churches have all called for a full independent review of the regime. These groups have highlighted the extreme hardship caused, the inconsistent and unjust application of sanctions and the lack of evidence that they encourage people into work.  

The Methodist Church, Baptist Union, Church in Wales, Church of Scotland, United Reformed Church and charity Church Action on Poverty have called for an immediate suspension of sanctions against families with children and people with mental ill-health. They say the DWP’s response does not go far enough and have called again for a review.

Read more here.

Keeping hope alive – hope is coming this Advent

A free Advent resource, Keeping Hope Alive, is now available. Focusing on the significant works of the Methodist Church’s Mission in Britain Fund, it includes real-life stories, leader’s notes, a service outline and suggested prayers.

The Revd Steven Wild, President of the Methodist Conference, added, “The excellent Keeping Hope Alive resource is a great opportunity to see just a snippet of the good works done across Britain by the Methodist Church. Putting on an Advent Offering service is one way in which you can help support others and get involved.”

If you would like to put on an Advent Offering service in your church, you can find out more information and register your event here.

Connecting Disciples
7-10 March 2016

Connecting Disciples is the annual Methodist conference for all lay employees and children and youth workers. It is an opportunity for training, development, fellowship and community through workshops, worship, Bible studies, class meetings and networking.

The theme for the event is Then: Now - Passion - Prophecy - Prayer - Protest.

The conference takes place at High Leigh Christian Conference Centre in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. You can find more details and book a place here. (There is a discount on bookings made before 23 November.)

Evangelism and
missional communities

Professor Elaine Heath will be travelling through the UK in November to share her wisdom and insight in themes such as contemplative spirituality and missional engagement, confidence in evangelism and disciple-making in the modern world.

Elaine is the Professor of Evangelism at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology in Dallas. To find out when she'll be speaking at an event near you, click here.

Finding funding

Churches can apply for funding for faith projects from certain independent trusts, local bodies, central or regional government, or even through European sources. Some will fund Christian evangelism projects and others support community outreach activities to expand your local community reach. Each funder has their own application process, timescale and requirements in place.

Funders will expect your church to produce a project plan which explains clearly what you will do, how it will be achieved, what difference it will make and what resources you already have in place. You will need to explain why there is a real community need, and present your finances, funding plan and management expertise. You may need to write a simple, clear 2-page letter to request £2,000 or need a more extensive business plan, likely when seeking over £25,000.

To help you there is a comprehensive list of Funding Possibilities, with details of capital and revenue funding opportunities. Once you have read this and drafted a project proposal, send it to Julian Bond. He can help you through the ups and downs, encourage your church, check the funders you can approach and proofread applications.

Scholarship, research and innovation

The inaugural Methodist Research Conference is planned for Wednesday 27 April at College of St Hild and St Bede, Durham. This is open to all interested in Methodist-related research, and keynote speakers will be Prof Tom Greggs (Aberdeen) and Prof Mike Higton (Durham).

A Methodist Honorary Research Fellow scheme has been established with four institutions: Roehampton, OCMCH (Oxford Brookes), The Queen's Foundation and St John's Durham. The first research fellows are now being accepted and it’s hoped to develop this scheme further.

In addition to the Palestine Study Tour being run again in July 2016, an ecumenical study tour based in Rome is planned for June 2016.

You can find details of all these programmes and developments here.

Stop lowering the level of immigration debate, Churches tell government

Leaders of the Methodist Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Church of Scotland and the United Reformed Church have issued a statement on the situation in Calais.

They call on the government to adopt language which better reflects the British values of compassion, hospitality and respect for human dignity and to promote a more informed and higher level of debate.

"The language in which the Calais situation is being discussed tends too often to demonise, denigrate or dehumanise the individuals seeking refuge in Britain. To talk of those gathering at Calais as a 'swarm', or 'marauding around the area' encourages people to see those in desperation as less than human, and so less deserving of sympathy, respect or dignity.

You can read the full statement here.

JPIT's Phil Jump has also written a prayer in response to the events in Calais.

Responding to fake DWP stories

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has come under fire after it admitted using made-up stories from fictional claimants to demonstrate the positive impact of benefit sanctions.

The Methodist Church and several partners have written a letter to the Daily Telegraph about this, which you can read here. And if you're interested in the real stories of real benefit claimants, check out the Rethink Sanctions report.

Seeing red

Inspired by the #RethinkSanctions campaign Deacon Tracey Hulme has created the Red Fridays campaign.

Tracey, who helps lead a foodbank in her church, says, "I am so distressed to see people having to resort to a foodbank because they have been sanctioned. I can't sit and do nothing anymore.

"After being at Conference and hearing Jill Barber's vice-presidential speech I decided that the quiet voice I had been hearing needed to be acted on and the t shirt campaign is what I felt prompted to do."

The idea is that people pledge to wear red and skip a meal on a Friday in solidarity with those who will struggle to eat because that have had their benefits sanctioned. You can order your organic, ethically and fairly traded T-shirts here.

the connexion

The new issue of the connexion focuses on the arts.

It tells stories from all over the world of how the people called Methodist have found the arts in mission to be a fruitful way to engage people with the gospel.

With puppets and pottery, fine art and friendship, we cover a range of creative outreach stories - and many of them could be replicated in communities up and down the Connexion.

Copies are arriving in people's letterboxes this week. You can read a pdf copy of the magazine or discover how to subscribe here.

Pilgrims of prayer

The new Methodist Prayer Handbook, Pilgrims on a Journey, is now available. Taking its titles from the well-known hymn ‘Brother, sister, let me serve you’, it looks at God's call to pilgrimage, both journey and destination, our companions on the way and the everyday realities of the road to heaven.

The handbook connects Christians from different times, places and walks of life. Classic prayers are interwoven with new contributions from Methodists across the districts and around the world. Arranged as a 31-day prayer cycle, the handbook also includes a lectionary of daily Bible readings* with a suggested hymn (from Singing the Faith) to accompany and guide you through the year.

You can order copies from Methodist Publishing at £3.75, with discounts for ten or more.

* Background note and questions for reflection are available on A Word in Time - the Methodist Churches daily online Bible study.

Introducing EAPPI

EAPPI (Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel) brings together committed volunteers to live and work for a time on the West Bank, monitoring human rights and encouraging and supporting people under threat.

Theresa Mansbridge, a recently returned volunteer, will be speaking at Northgate United Reformed Church, Darlington DL1 1QU on Saturday, 3 October at 7:00pm, giving a first-hand account of what daily life under the occupation is really like and to ask what can we do to promote a just peace in Israel-occupied Palestine.

For more information please contact EAPPI on 020 7663 1144 or local contact.

Encounter worldwide

• Do you want to put your faith into action in another part of the world?
• Do you want to work alongside local communities, deepening your faith and knowledge of global justice and development?
• Are you passionate about Jesus and have 6-12 months to meet exciting people abroad?
• Are you ready for a life-changing challenge, putting your skills to good use and learning new ones?

If you answered YES to these questions, then Encounter Worldwide could be for you!

Discover more here.

MCCA appoints first Bishop

The Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA) has inducted the Revd Otto Wade as its first Connexional Bishop. 

The induction brings to an end 255 years of history during which the head of the Church was referred to either as Chairman or President.

Read more

CIEMAL pays

MCB a visit

In May, the World Church Relationships Team received visitors fom one of our partner organisations: the Council of Latin American and Caribbean Evangelical Churches (CIEMAL).

Read more

Life in Nepal ‘post-earthquake’

It is becoming apparent to us that people who have never experienced an earthquake think of it (quite naturally) as a single terrifying event which happens, then is over, and fairly quickly recedes into the past.

We are learning here the hard truth that the initial earthquake is only a beginning.

Read more

Life as a 'mission partner kid'

Assisi and Scout Cook Collins are the daughters of mission partners Maura Cook and Paul Collins. 

They live in Ahuachapán, El Salvador, with their parents and younger brother, Saffi. Scout is eight and Assisi is six.

Read more

Young disciples

Carol Dunn works as a literature officer for the Methodist Church of the Caribbean & the Americas (MCCA), Jamaica District. 

Under Carol’s supervision, MCCA Jamaica District has produced a children’s devotional which ministers, school superintendents and teachers receive monthly.

Read more

Giving shelter

Freddy Nzambé, from the United Methodist Church, Central and Southern Europe (North Africa), now works as pastor of the Reformed Church of Tunisia, and as a social worker for students. 

Freddy and Sylvie run a women’s home and a student centre in Tunis.

Read more

Donate to the World Mission Fund

All the Partner Churches, partner organisations, NMA postholders, scholarship students and mission partners that you regularly read about in this news bulletin are supported by the Methodist Church World Mission Fund, through the sharing of both resources and personnel. 

You can donate online here

Alternately, send a cheque to: the Methodist Church World Mission Fund, Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR. Please make cheques payable to ‘Methodist Church

Time to rethink sanctions

In 2014, one million benefit sanctions were imposed on people. This means their payments stopped for a period of between one month and three years. The most common reason for being sanctioned is being late or not turning up for an appointment. The result is often needing to turn to a foodbank.

This is one person’s story: “During the first three weeks of my sanction I continued to look for work as I was required to. By the fourth week however I was exhausted, unwell and no longer had it in me. I was not eating as I had no food and was losing a lot of weight. I told the Job Centre I was unwell through not eating but was sanctioned for another three months for not looking for work properly.”

The report, Time to rethink benefit sanctions published by a large coalition of churches, including the Methodist Church, looks at the sanctions regime and argues strongly that it is not working and is damaging some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Click here to read the report, see the video or take action to challenge this unjust system. For further information see this page on ITV News.

Calling all photographers

The Local Preachers and Worship Leaders Photo Competition aims to showcase the diversity of worship leaders and local preachers across the Church.

Entrants will be asked to submit two photos for their entry. The first should be of the local preacher or worship leader engaging a congregation through worship or preaching. The other should depict the subject in an aspect of their daily life that informs their ministry - perhaps in their day job, enjoying a hobby or engaging with a community project.

The competition is sponsored by the Leaders of Worship and Preachers Trust (LWPT), which launched Preach Resources in September 2014.

The competition is open to all (there are separate categories from entrants below and above 18) and the closing date for entries is Sunday 31 May. Click here for more details, including tips for taking a good photograph.

Inspirational women:

from victim to activist

Hari Kumari Sahi married her husband when she was just 13 years old. “From the beginning, he was very abusive, and used to hit me and beat me.”

For Hari, support from All We Can’s local partner Kopila Nepal has been a life-line. “I have learnt about domestic violence, abuse and how to talk about that. I’ve gained lots of self-confidence. It is a big change in my life.”

By supporting All We Can’s Inspirational Women Appeal, you can help more women like Hair to escape poverty, discrimination and violence. Watch the film here and donate today.

A church for everyone - 18 and 25 April 2015

Organised and endorsed by 23 denominations and organisations in Wales, these are exciting days for church leaders, worship leaders, childrens’ & youth leaders and anyone with a heart to reach out to families and create a church for all ages.

The days will include great speakers, practical exercises, workshops/seminars, models of all-age worship and prayer, inspirational video examples, resources exhibition, opportunity to talk with experienced practitioners and of course … coffee!

Held on different Saturdays they take place in North Wales (Blaenau Ffestiniog) on 18 April and in South Wales (Swansea) on 25 April.

The day costs £15 and includes lunch for all those who book in before 11 April.

Discover more details here.

Love your neighbour: think, pray, vote

Our identity as disciples of Jesus is something that should impact every aspect of our being – including the way we vote. This new resource from the Joint Public Issues Team will help you and your church community to reflect on how being a follower of Jesus will affect your behaviour at election time.

Love Your Neighbour: think, pray, vote offers four short videos on the themes of truth, justice, peace and well-being; prayers linked to these themes; postcards which link these themes to questions for hustings or for your own reflection; and four short Bible studies. This pack can be used during worship or to inform Bible-study and house groups. Available from Methodist Publishing it costs £7.50 (plus postage and packing).

Faith and politics

Through JPIT (the Joint Public Issues Team) the Methodist Church has produced Faith in Politics a free downloadable guide to 16 issues central to political debate, including the economy, immigration and asylum, human trafficking and the environment. This briefing contains one page summaries of each issue and questions for MPs or personal reflection.

The JPIT General Election 2015 webpage also contains numerous links with further information about issues, what other Churches and organisations are saying about the election and further information, including guidance on holding hustings.

One Mission
Bible study resource

Working together in rural mission

National Rural Officer for the Methodist Church, the Revd Elizabeth Clark, spoke in support of Released for Mission at The Church of England General Synod last month.

One of its key recommendations is greater ecumenical working.

“The report captures authentic grassroots voices in rural multi-church groups,” says Elizabeth. "Their stories tell of the current realities in the countryside: creative ideas and opportunities; complexities and difficulties. I look forward to working with colleagues to ensure ecumenical working is at the heart of mission in the countryside.”

Released for Mission, and accompanying paper GS1985, were commissioned by The Church of England Rural Affairs Group and prioritise changes to release capacity and energy for mission and growth.

Download the full report here.

Big SleepOver 2015

The Big SleepOver resource enables 8-18 year olds to take an active and participatory role in the life of the Church and creates a link between the Methodist Children and Youth Assembly (3Generate) and the local church and circuit.

The resource aims to assist you in running a residential event that will enable children and young people to think, talk and be disciples.

The Big SleepOver resource for 2015 is now available here.

A Touch of Hope

The Revd Clive Fowle was recently awarded the Krunoslav Sukic Award for the promotion of nonviolence, peace-building and human rights by the Centre for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights in Osijek, Croatia. Read more

Young People Assemble

A boatload of young people berths at dusk at Kokeqolo wharf after travelling by sea for almost five hours from Choiseul; a common sight during the start of the Convention due to the remoteness of some of our outlying islands. Read more

March for Free Speech

The Rt Revd Humphrey S Peters, of the Church of Pakistan, recently led various Christian political leaders, elders, and religious leaders in condemning the publication of blasphemous cartoons by the French media. Read more

My Testimony

Herold Ambrocio, a Methodist minister from Perú and a student at Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana – the Latin American Bible University, shares this powerful testimony. Read more

"Thank you"

Graeme Halls, chair of the Nationals in Mission Appointments stream of the Connexional Grants Committee, represented the Methodist Church at the United Church in Zambia's fiftieth anniversary celebrations. Read more

Mission Partner news

Read more

Make space for Jesus this Christmas

The President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference have urged people to make space in their homes and lives for Jesus this Christmas.

In their Christmas message, the Revd Ken Howcroft and Ms Gill Dascombe asks people to consider what kind of dinner guest Jesus might be.

You can read their message in full here. Alternatively you can listen to it.

People, places, possibilities ...

The 2015 Joint Property Strategy Group roadshows are aimed at local church officers, circuit/district property officers and those with an interest in mission within their communities. They are designed to encourage participants in the creative use of church buildings, motivate those already engaged or willing to engage in this work, show models for change and also to enable a wider discussion in terms of mission within the community.

Visit the pages on the Methodist website for more details on dates, venues and registration

For further information, contact Kim Medford-Vassell.

A major step in Anglican Methodist unity

The President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference have welcomed a major step towards in Anglican-Methodist unity. Last month, the Church of England's General Synod debated a report on the Covenant between the two Churches and voted overwhelmingly in favour of its recommendations. The recommendations, which include steps towards greater interchangeability of ministries, were also overwhelmingly passed by the Methodist Conference this summer.

Discover more about this here. 

Free table talk app 

Table talk for Christmas is an all age family game that creates space for friends and family to explore the big and not-so-big questions of the Christmas story. Players are given an opportunity to articulate their views and engage with the opinions of others. The resource was written by Lucy Moore (Messy Church), the Revd Jo Cox and Paul Griffiths. 

The app is currently free to download - through Google Play (for Android devices) and at the App Store.

The right time, the right place...

Thank you to the many churches who remember Action for Children at Christmastime by holding special services, having collections, carol singing and organising events. The charity is profoundly grateful for this support and invite you to visit their website to find their worship resources, The right time, the right place, along with other materials to support your Christmas activities. You can also call their Supporter Care Team on 0300 123 2112.

Managua floods: an update

The World Mission Fund recently agreed a grant of £9,310 for the Methodist Church in Nicaragua, to help provide emergency relief to people affected by heavy rainfall in Managua. Read more

Students against climate change

Students at the United Church in Papua New Guinea’s School of Theology and Mission recently released a public statement on the issue of climate change.

Read more

Relocation, Relocation, Relocation!

The villagers of Vunidogoloa, Fiji, are settling into new homes on a hillside on Fiji’s second largest island, Vanua Levu. 

Every day, they give thanks to God for their many blessings. Read more

Signs of hope

NMA postholder Ricardo Moraleja is the general coordinator of the National Department of Youth Ministry in the Iglesia Evangelica Española.

"It’s comforting to see that the group is slowly growing, with five new members this year," says Ricardo. “We are also happy that in Cataluña, the group of young people is meeting once more."

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Devastation continues to hamper relief

A news update from mission partners Cati and Malcolm Ramsey in Nepal where last month a devastating landslide completely destroyed a mountain village killing 150 people.

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Donate to the World Mission Fund

Youth work is a priority for NMA postholder Igor Petrovich Gladkih from the United Methodist Church in Eurasia – Russia. The Church is establishing and developing ministry to young people through a number of creative means – including Alpha courses, outdoor events, puppet theatre, cartoon nights and summer camps.

You can support projects like this by donating online at www.justgiving.com/mcfworldmission/donate.

Prayer Points

Pray for situations and people across the globe.

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