Chair's Message for June 2006.

On Saturday, 25th March I went for a swim. Well it is my favourite sporting exercise. I had last managed to get to a pool in May 2005, while on holiday in Canada. My March swim was just 1500metres(66 lengths) for the NCH Swimathon. I was supposed to be sponsored for this, but in the same way as I had not organised preparation swims, neither had I found sponsors. So I would like to express thanks to all those congregations I have visited since who have responded to my ‘Begging Bowl’, you have raised the magnificent sum of £550 for the NCH. Well done and thank you.

That seems to bring me to Maundy Thursday, and a party in a upper room, of the Raddison SAS Hotel, bread and wine and chocholate cake! The Raddison have arranged to take on NCH Birmingham Young Carers project for twelve months, and were hosting NCH West Midlands launch of a £300,000 appeal ‘Every Child Matters’.  Which brings me to Chamberlain Square on Easter Sunday afternoon for a picnic. Steel band, white cloth and coloured cloth, Easter songs and story, and baskets of food to share, and squash given by Weatherspoons because we forgot! This was our way of celebrating Easter in the City and all sorts of people joined in.

We dreamed of the picnic in the arranging of the Art Festival ‘Life in the face of death’, which saw over 3000 people visit the Water Hall gallery to see the Methodist Modern Art Collection. Thank you to all involved.

By the end of this month the Methodist Conference will have met. The Conference will meet for the first time in Scotland. There is always for me a sense of the family gathering, greeting and celebrating. We will elect a new President, Rev Graham Carter and Vice President, Mr Dudley Coates, We ordain people to our ministry, both deacons and presbyters. This year for the Birmingham District this will focus in the person of Jayne Webb, one of our ministers in the Malvern and Ledbury Circuit. Pray for Jayne and others like her as they come to this staging post of their journey of discipleship, and for the Church as it commits herself to them. 

In our conferring many word will be spoken, reports received and resolutions passed. In our debates and meal time conversations, our evening meetings and our worship we will be frustrated challenged, chastened and inspired, at least if passed experience is anything to go by. The agenda comes in two volumes, and at the time of writing only one has arrived.

On the Monday, as we get down to the serious work of Conference the Faith and Order Committee are to introduce a debate ‘Living with Contradictory Convictions in the Church’. The very title makes me wonder how it is we live together in one church – and then I hear the words of Jesus, ‘love one another’. Not easy, but in my understanding at the heart of the matter.

By the time I next write I will be packing bags ready to exchange ministry with Rev Jim Tubbs in West Pennsylvania for six weeks and it may be that the August page will come from there. If you are free on Wednesday 23rd August my home will be open from 3pm into the evening for folk to say farewell to Jim and his wife Jolene and to see what six week away has done to me.

Peace

.Bill Anderson.

Easter Sunday in Lichfield	John Smith's Grave

P.S.

 It looks quite likely that the Methodist Conference will encourage us to engage in a month of focused prayer to improve our relationships between people of different faiths in February of 2007.  I am giving you this early warning as it seems to me that it is something our District should be prepared to enter into with energy.  I hope that you will agree with me and begin to give the matter some thought and be ready to create an exciting programme.