Here is something for you to work through during the Easter Holiday!

This is Bill Anderson's digest of an excellent report on the Conference in the Methodist recorder.

Holiness & Risk.

METHODISM is a movement - so let's move

Helping to discern God's will for the Methodist Church

what God desires for the Church
to prepare for its renewal, change and revitalization

God was telling British Methodism to abandon the "fatiguing and ultimately faithless story of inevitable decline and death"

God wants to renew Methodism, making it fit for purpose in a needy world

           "Who are we?
             Where are we?
             What are you saying to us now?"

'A warm-hearted, open evangelical movement'

21st century Methodism was:
       · a missionary movement,
         Christ-offering and disciple-making,
       · an evangelical movement,
         Spirit-empowered, holy but involved,
         with a dirty fingernail spirituality,
         a "go to" rather than "come" instinct
         and an invitational community.

Choosing life!
         Choosing another song to sing,
         another narrative to live by.
         and if necessary to die for

"God desires to make Methodism fit for kingdom purposes
more than it wants to be so renewed"
"a holy call and recognition of risk"

"Jubilee"
"Sanctuary"
"redemption"

We are a people of the Covenant
Can we form covenantal relationships?

"Holiness is risk"
"Creation is one almighty risk and we are part of it"
"God's silence - he is listening to us"
"How can we as Methodists listen to our culture?"
Mission a becoming word
Mission was about: pace
                               Presence
                               Holiness
                                      In Deep, risky places
(Testimony) We heard stories of where things like this were happening
in church and community and individuals.

Scriptural holiness,
holistic discipleship,
disciplined fellowship
and evangelistic mission

"What is our vision of a life that is:
                                                       filled,
                                                       transformed
and overflowing with a holy love of God and neighbour?"

To think outside the box from inside a tomb.
Did they want to be made whole
            or was it sometimes easier to be buried with the dead?

           "if our calling does not bring us life it will not bring life to others"

What is giving us life?
          a holy, risk-taking God
          a God who is love
                 but whose love is passionate and insistent and will not let us go
                           to risk ourselves in worship
are the offerings we make open to the transforming power of God?

Risky venture

Stephen Poxon, our: President talked of new story
             Firstly, to proclaim a Gospel of transformation as much in deeds as words.
             Secondly, to have a theology of black empowerment.
             Thirdly, to be critical of the way white symbols have been used.
a movement
move a little more
whole life discipleship
small groups and their power
training (lay and ordained)
careful in how language is used
in being part of a world movement of disciples
leadership

People were called to hope
"We believe we have a future unfolding in front of us.
We believe God is still in this"
Let's be bold and courageous
Simply inhabit a greater degree of confidence in the love of God
revealed in the Gospel
and being Methodist Christians in this time and place.

Risks should be taken
"We need to give permission to godly risk"
"Holiness and Risk is about you having been here
           and returning strengthened and enthused to work out
                  how you work it out appropriately through your networks…
                         with new boldness, confidence and awareness"

to be risk-takers,
          to make space
                and to take holy risks

how a lay involvement should be facilitated,
how patterns of ministry should be looked at,
the need to free up certain groups of people,
clarifying partnerships being models of diversity
                "How do we help each other tell our stories?"

Anthony Reddie offered us this story, which I recall like this.
(My Apologies to Anthony)

In a local church community it was decided to take a trip to the 'Beloved Community' on a coach. It was something that had been done in the past, but not for some time. There were some who had heard of
these outings. Conversation about appropriate transport led to the decision to travel in a standard type of coach. There was some recollection that trips in the past had been made in luxury stile coaches
fitted with every modern convenience.

An invitation to travel was given. Some just weren't going. Busy where they were. Not the raveling type. Quite content. Some thought the idea of a visit to the 'Beloved Community' a good idea, but going on a
standard coach was not for them, so they would make there own arrangements for the journey. But there was still a coach full and on the day appointed for the journey they assembled. I leave it to your
imagination to fill the bus.

However, once in board there were clearly three groups and they divided up.

There were those who took to the back seat and its environs. If this had been a school they would have been the wise guys, who were sure they new it all, and with confidence took their place believing that not only could they tell you all about the 'Beloved Community', but about the trip too.

They were watching, although they would not have liked you to know it, to see how the group at the front of the bus would make out.
They were ready to offer their wisdom, but not to be really involved.

There were those who found a seat near the front of the bus, not only to guard against travel sickness, but because they felt some responsibility for the journey. They had ideas about the route to be taken, good stopping places along the way. They wanted not only the visit to the 'Beloved Community' to be a success but for the journey to be good too.

Then, in between were people. Well they were a group and yet also they were individuals and sub-group, whose motives for being there were varied and not so well defined. It had seem like a nice thing to do. Their
neighbour had told them about the trip and since they went to the church occasionally they'd joined in. They didn't want to miss out. They were united in that they were just there for the trip, but were not
going to get involved.

And finally, or was it first there was the driver. He had the interesting task of driving the bus(sorry - standard coach), taking the most appropriate route and making sure that they arrived at the 'Beloved
Community' ready to benefit from the visit.

Well you can imagine…

Personal reflection from Bill Anderson.

As I came away from what had been a stimulating, demanding weekend I felt that this had been a significant two days. Much of what my digest lays out confirms that.

As a church over the last decade we have in varying degrees begun to digest 'OUR CALLING' and the subsequent 'PRIORITIES OF THE METHODIST CHURCH'. We are in the middle of a programme for
change called 'MAPPING THE WAY FORWARD'.
Out from these serious thinking about:
       ·   leadership, the role of minister, ordained and lay, presbyters and deacons.
       ·   how we resource ourselves for mission and ministry,
           offering appropriate structures and support through the whole church.
       ·   how this is to be done in collaboration with our friends in other churches.

In this journey there are many good stories of God at work with the people, some of which have surprised us. In the Conference report 'Time to talk of God' was I think one such surprise. It seemed
scratched where we were itching, and its fruits are being worked out. There are people engaging in training and development work. Activities we offer, particularly through the work of our District officer for
training, evangelism and interfaith work, but also in local situations, in developing worship, work with young people and pastoral care. I would venture to offer that this Conference and the themes it explores will
serve the church in this stream of development.

Holiness and Risk! What does it mean, in your local church, circuit? In looking to our routes what lessons will we learn or questions does it raise for the church today.

My starters.

How do we use our resource for creating and leading worship? Could we form teams of preachers, worship leaders, musicians and dramatic readers who would prepare and resource worship together?

How do we create safe spaces where people can share their life/faith journeys with honesty, which become creative and life giving? It could be in the sharing of simple food, 'a soup kitchen', intentional
conversation and quiet!

Does the idea of a journey, in which, with other we explore how our discipleship might be developed and extended and expressed excite you? I believe that in the 'EXTENDING DISCIPLESHIP EXPLORING
VOCATION', such a journey is on offer.

Is there the possibility that Methodist are being called to find again 'A RULE OF LIFE'?
            Personal prayer and bible study.
            Belonging to a reflective group.
            Engaged in committed service to the world.
            Worshiping.

I am going to invite all those from the Birmingham District, who attended the Conference, to add to this, but it may help you to follow up if you know who they are.
Anne and Jim Smith, Geoff Bond, Jayne Webb, Helen Woodall, Helen Cameron with two students from the Queens Foundation, Anthony Reddie.

Hope this has proved a stimulating read.

Yours in love,

Bill
           

Spring 2009

Parliament 2nd April 2009