2008 News

On ten separate days spread throughout Lent 2008 the three Chairs set out to walk around the District, ‘Listening to London’, and by covering an average of 8 or 9 miles a day managed to visit 42 of the 44 Circuits.

We walked to get to know better some of the churches and communities with which we work in their week-day, rather than their Sunday, dress.

We walked to gain a different perspective on journeys that we normally make by tube or bus or car – and to get a sense of the communities between the churches we normally visit.

We walked to slow us down and to give us time to talk about what we were seeing and learning.

In all the local meetings and conversations we shared we were very grateful for the hospitality we enjoyed and for the time of those in the churches and community who came to engage with us.

As a result of those ten days we have gathered many impressions, stories and insights which have helped us assemble a richer picture of the District and of the patterns of opportunities and issues faced by some of its 247 churches.

We record here some of our first reflections on this Lenten journey – in the form of ten celebrations and challenges, which are often two sides of the same coin.

1 Community contacts

We celebrate the fact that the vast majority of our church buildings are regularly made available as a resource for the wider community.

The challenge is often how to engage more effectively and creatively with groups that meet on the premises - not necessarily aiming to involve them directly in the life of the church but at very least seeking to enhance the links that exist.

At one stop on our journey representatives of the many community groups using the church premises were invited to join us for coffee. In the process they clearly valued meeting with one another, often for the first time, and discovering what else was going on under the same roof.
In another place a part-time ‘community pastor’ has been appointed who makes relationships with user groups a high priority.

We celebrate the fact that in many places Sunday worship is well attended by a great diversity of people of different ages and backgrounds, while recognising that elsewhere worship is offered by smaller but no less faithful congregations.

The challenge to many churches, large or small, is how to nurture discipleship and encourage greater participation, not least given the difficulty of sustaining mid-week programmes. This prompts questions about how best to use the time on Sundays when people are present.

At one church we were shown the mosaic created by the practical arts group that meets one Sunday a month when the whole congregation is invited to join groups for part of the all-age service
Others described programmes of smaller group activity - eg. Bible Study, speakers, creative arts - before or after Sunday worship on a weekly, monthly or seasonal basis
Some Circuits make the plan to enable team preaching which offers more sustained teaching alongside one-off preaching

We celebrate the warmth of welcome and informal hospitality which typifies much of our church life and to which people naturally respond.

The challenge is to find ways of expressing that ministry of hospitality in more intentional ways as an expression of our local mission.

A young adults group has emerged around a couple who attended a church where there was no-one their own age but decided to stay because of an invitation to a meal in a member’s home and the relationship that created
A team of community police officers expressed appreciation for the safe and neutral space offered by a local church which brought together members of various community groups and services in a forum of common concern for their neighbourhood
A community barbeque on the church lawn attracted not only users of the premises but also passers by and members of other local faith groups and allowed new contacts to be made

Although there are fewer children and young people in many (but certainly not all!) congregations, we celebrate the commitment and energy of those who work to make church a good experience for those who are involved.

The challenge is to enable children and young people to share and shape the life of the church in ways which engage their interests and concerns.

Various churches are experimenting with informal and imaginative worship designed for parents and young children: Godly play, Tots’ Praise etc.
We heard of churches appointing Junior Stewards, encouraging music groups and investing in keyboards or steel pans
A church-based winter night-shelter project has attracted a number of young volunteers who want to make a difference
The key to a weekly Sunday afternoon youth group meeting around pizza, prayer and play is the faithful presence of trusted adults who decided they ought to ‘have a go’ when no youth leader could be found.

We celebrate the evident support and friendship that many people derive from a range of familiar church activities and traditions.

The challenge is to discern when some things need to be let go, either because they’ve run their course or because they inhibit new possibilities.

We were present on the final day of a drop-in project which had been tried for two years but had not taken off. It took faith to start and courage to stop, but in the process a lot of learning had taken place
One weekly coffee morning attracted a very small number of established regulars unable to see that by refusing to move from ‘their space’ new initiatives were being hindered.
An ambitious new training programme for the whole congregation begged the question of committed people: what must we stop doing so that this new priority has a chance of success?

We celebrate the increasing ethnic diversity reflected in many local congre-gations and the resources of energy, culture and life/faith-experience that that represents.

The challenge is how to engage with that diversity in a respectful but intentional way; how to explore different life-stories and experiences; how to hear and embrace different expectations about worship and church. Such encounters may often involve food, but it’s about sharing far more than rice and peas!

Cultural fellowships are encouraged to play a key pastoral role in some large congregations and to lead services, though resisted elsewhere because they are seen to emphasize difference
One meal involved a very intentional round-table conversation about issues of diversity – as illuminating as it was enjoyable !
One gathering led to a request for racism awareness training for Circuit members

We celebrate the good-will and the recognition of the Church’s credibility and commitment to local neighbourhoods found among various civic partners and secular institutions

The challenge is to engage those opportunities for the sake of our mission and the well-being of our communities.

Initiatives taken by Circuits to regroup in line with borough boundaries were seen to open up new possibilities for partnership
Work-place chaplaincy was recognised as a rare resource for community-building and a valued focus for spirituality and faith issues

We celebrate the evident gifts, graces and commitments of so many individual Methodists we met.

The challenge is to identify, affirm, release and support those gifts for the enrichment of the Church’s worship, mission and service.

By telling us of their work or non-church involvements their stories were often being heard for the first time by many they had worshipped alongside for some time – why ?
More than one congregation is asking what they need to change so as to receive the gifts and insights of those who are passing through for just a few months

We celebrate the vision and energy invested in ecumenical partnerships created for a clear purpose.

The challenge is often to ensure that the vision is sustained by more than personal friendship and involves groups of people aware of their common calling

Winter shelters for the homeless often rely on a network of local churches who share a task few of them could undertake by themselves
One thriving ecumenical partnership is clear that its aim is mission and a range of activities - rarely including worship – are shared to that end
A coalition of 40 churches allows individual members or particular resources to be part of significant programmes of social care

We celebrate the sense of belonging and the sharing of vision, resources and support which Circuits often offer to individual congregations.

The challenge is to discern the most effective grouping or configuration for particular tasks which may require more flexible boundaries or ways of working.

Some Circuits are exploring the benefits and complexities of team ministries for all or part of the patch
Training programmes are often organised across a number of Circuits in order to maximise numbers and the availability of skills
Joint appointments have been made by two neighbouring Circuits in response to particular needs or opportunities

Even these initial reflections indicate the range of opportunities for mission and more effective presence we have encountered as we walked. Together they invite us to be more intentional in what we do, to take more risks, to seek more partners, to focus our energy and resources. As we continue to listen to London, we also need to hear what the Spirit might be saying to the churches.