Birmingham District – Mission in the Economy

As I write this, the ‘money-boys’ in the city of London are in turmoil once again.  This weekend an American investment company has gone under - sold for about one percent of it’s value six months ago.  Northern Rock has announced 2000 redundancies and inflation is well above the government targets.

All this impacts on the economy in the Birmingham District.  As someone (whose hospitality budget had been cut to zero) was telling me the other day, the economic climate affects caterers, new businesses and many, many sectors.  Hardest hit will be the dependents of the most vulnerable workers.  For example, migrant labourers or those on temporary or zero-hours contracts.

Mission in the Economy is crucial at times like this.  Church needs to be present, relevant and compassionate, but often seems strangely absent or out of step.  Those who are most in step are usually the members involved in workplaces as employers or employees.  Now is a time when they may need your support.

Also present in the economic world are workplace chaplains (all working ecumenically).  In our District chaplains connected with the Methodist Church are increasing in number.   In addition to Brian Taylor at the Birmingham Law Courts and Amy Merriman on Harborne High Street, we have members  in the chaplaincy teams in Redditch and in Solihull.  Meanwhile, with the movement of Town Hall & Symphony Hall (THSH) away from the NEC Group (now a separate charity called Performances Birmingham) Elaine Lewis has been appointed to THSH.  Elaine will be connected with Central Methodist Mission. 

The temporary loss of city centre chaplaincy development worker, Alison Maddox, who went to a new job - having successfully engaged a large number of people in the Christmas Presence project - has led to some temporary chaplaincy support at the Bull Ring Markets.  We are looking to recruit permanent part time voluntary chaplains at the markets and also to recruit for the Bull Ring shopping centre.  These chaplains will be overseen by Alison’s replacement.

Conversations across the District continue to reveal existing chaplaincies (eg to sport or the Emergency Services) as well as identifying potential new chaplains and chaplaincies.  Please let me know if you are offering or interested in such a chaplaincy.

Finally, as the District’s Mission in the Economy worker, I have led circuits and clusters in sessions to think about work and mission from a perspective informed by commercial approaches and experience.  I am always open to working with circuits and churches in the District.

Stephen Willey: District Industrial Chaplain