Jesus cares about Rotton Park

Very few churches get their external signage absolutely right. Way back in 1976 the saints who then ran City Road Methodist Church actually did!

There were just fifteen of them and the church had fallen on difficult times. Rotton Park was a declining area of Edgbaston bordered by Smethwick and Winson Green. The area's most famous landmark was the Rotton Park Reservoir.

The saints struggled with what they wanted to say and then realised that Jesus really did care about the area, even if people in the area felt that no else did at that time.

Having put the sign up one Saturday, they trooped out the following Sunday and sang "All Praise to our redeeming Lord" and said some prayers in the open air. One of the young women students there that day became my wife twelve years later.

There then followed an extraordinary period of growth as the church experimented with various forms of what would today be called "fresh expressions". Within ten years membership had grown to seventy or eighty. I have mentioned this extraordinary growth before.

I often used to pass the church on the number 11 bus and people would joke along the lines of "well someone has to" or "shame He doesn't care for Bearwood". The sign actually got people talking and was noticed. It became something of a landmark in its own right: people would recall the sign even if they weren't sure of the name of the church.

Nearly a generation later we are trying to rediscover the vision that made the church so special all those years ago. We have had a difficult time in recent years and we are now working actively to put those issues behind us. It seemed obvious to use the slogan from the past - it worked!

The neighbourhood has changed. Rotton Park used to be a mixture of white British and Black West Indian. Now the position is more complex with a rapidly growing Muslim population, a sprinkling of migrants from Eastern Europe and many asylum seekers from Francophone Africa, some of whom worship with us.

We have just introduced a programme of Godly Play and are looking at working alongside a number of voluntary organisations to provide much needed community services that will enable our doors to be open as a seven day a week witness.

If you live in Birmingham or are passing through, feel free to visit us one Sunday.

Playing the piano

Well I'm busy at home this week sorting through a mountain of paperwork - and always looking for excuses to take a break from the filing.

By an amazing coincidence I came across this little item that appeared in the Daily Telegraph exactly 15 years ago today.

It effectively marked my "maiden speech" in the European Parliament.

I noticed a little bit of sharp practice when a Christian Democrat ran along the aisle during a vote and pressed the voting pad of an absent friend on the electronic voting system.

Apparently it was - until then - common practice, known as "playing the piano" to vote on behalf of absent colleagues.

One small blow for democracy, and my one and only mention by Peter Simple.

Sexual hygiene is a lifestyle choice

My heart absolutely aches for the family of a 14 year girl who died yesterday shortly after receiving the HPV vaccine.

An urgent investigation is underway to see if there is any link between the death and the vaccine. At the moment there is no evidence that the two events are directly related.

The vaccine was given as part of a massive NHS campaign to protect girls from developing cervical cancer in later life. Other parents will be aware of this campaign and the issues it raises.

There is always a small risk that any vaccination can go wrong. Generally, provided there are stringent clinical governance procedures in place, these risks can be minimal. [Just a note here to declare an interest: I have worked professionally on campaigns to promote vaccination take up, though not on HPV]

The human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infection. There are over 100 viruses but only 13 of them are known to cause cancer. The others are harmless or cause genital warts. Each year about 1200 women in the England and Wales die from cervical cancer. The vaccination programme should cut that by 70% (Source: BBC).

Way back in the sixties both men and women were told that it was possible to have "risk free" sex. The invention of the contraceptive pill led to massive changes in sexual relationships. At my university there was a health centre policy to routinely offer the contraceptive pill to all women students.

The theory was that people were able to have multiple partners without the consequence of an "unwanted child" (what a vile phrase) and all that this entailed for both adult parties.

Perhaps we should have got the hint when infection rates of sexually transmitted infections started to rise year on year. The risk of pregancy had apparently decreased but there was an unpleasant sting in the tail.

Eventually it was recognised that the changes in sexual behaviour of the last century had led to a long term increase in cervical cancer. A similar pattern is emerging in oral health caused by the introduction of sexually transmitted viruses into the mouth, though few medical people are prepared to talk about it.

The boring and obvious conclusion is that the best way to remain safe from pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, AIDS and mouth cancer, is to have a radically different lifestyle from the one now lived by many young people.

The more partners an individual has, the greater the chance of accepting and transmitting infection. This is a mathematical certainty.

Yes we should applaud the HVP vaccination campaign but this should be alongside a campaign that promotes a lifestyle which minimizes physical and psychological risk.

The later the start, the fewer partners, the better for all.

Rescuing the reputation of Bearwood

Well I've had enough. Sometimes it is time to defend the reputation of your neighbourhood.

For several years now the now the name of our little corner of Smethwick , Bearwood, has been dragged in the gutter that constitutes the murky world of Conservative Party fundraising.

Lord Ashcroft uses a misnamed "Bearwood Corporate Services" to funnel millions of ££££s into Tory Party campaigning. This company has absolutely nothing to do with Bearwood.

I've therefore written to Companies House and asked to them insist that Ashcroft changes the name of the company.

At present the misuse of the neighbourhood's name is lowering the tone of the area and may even have a detrimental impact on house prices.

All praise to our redeeming Lord!

I think that other Methodist local preachers will know what I mean when I say that the most difficult church to preach in on any circuit is your own.

This morning I was planned to preach at City Road Methodist Church, of which I am a member, Society Steward, Church Council Secretary and Acting Treasurer (you get the drift).

Basically, there ain't much you can get away with.

The lectionary readings were fairly upfront about the problems of opposition to the gospel: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 and Mark 9:38-50.

Now on some occasions such readings would be a gift. An opportunity to knock those forces that seek to undermine the gospel. Yesterday I even prepared a sermon along those lines followed by challenging hymns such as "Who is on the Lord's side?

Overnight I realised that our own congregation have moved on. Yes, in the recent past we have had our difficulties but now was the time to start being positive about how we could build up our fellowship. For this reason I concentrated on the two references in the readings to the work of the Holy Spirit and how He can transform people and communities.

So I rewrote the sermon at 7.30am and included more gentle hymns such as Here is Love and Be still for the presense of the Lord.

Our church has not always been an easy church. Some people come to church because they love God, others because they love God's people, sometimes I think we meet together because we love an argument. Spiritual graveyards have few arguments.

For this reason one of our favourite hymns has been All praise to our redeeming Lord. I read somewhere that this was no ordinary hymn. Those coming into early Methodism were not ready made church people. They didn't understand the niceties of polite conversation and found it difficult to work together. Some early Methodist meetings ended in disputes and even violence!

Charles Wesley specifically wrote this hymn as one that Methodist societies could sing to one another. Unusually it is not directed as praise to God, but as an affirmation to one another.

A fellow Methodist blogger was at the service today and was interested in the story. It made me realise that perhaps it is not widely known.

Please read the words and understand that for any church going through a difficult time of internal disputes this is a wonderful celebration of the Body of Christ:

All praise to our redeeming Lord,
Who joins us by His grace;
And bids us, each to each restored,
Together seek His face.

He bids us build each other up;
And, gathered into one,
To our high calling’s glorious hope,
We hand in hand go on.

The gift which He on one bestows,
We all delight to prove;
The grace through every vessel flows,
In purest streams of love.

E’en now we think and speak the same,
And cordially agree;
Concentered all, through Jesus’ Name,
In perfect harmony.

We all partake the joy of one;
The common peace we feel;
A peace to sensual minds unknown,
A joy unspeakable.

And if our fellowship below
In Jesus be so sweet,
What height of rapture shall we know
When round His throne we meet!

So next time you have an unholy row at your church, stand together, look at one another and sing these words.

Class War alive and well in Leeds

As an old fashioned and unreconstructed socialist from the Methodist non-conformist tradition I am often told that I should realise the the Class War is over. Even Tony Blair himself has personally ticked me off on this score.

So I was interested to hear from...let's call is a "normally reliable source".... that among the students of Leeds, the Class War, is still underway.

There are two universities in Leeds: The University of Leeds, founded in the the nineteenth century as a challenge to "the exclusivity of Oxford and Cambridge universities, which were predominantly for the Anglican aristocracy and gentry."

Alas this radical tradition is forgotten when students from The University of Leeds meet students from the less prestigious and more recently created Leeds Metropolitan University.

Apparently they chant:

"Your Dad works for my Dad, Your Dad works for my Dad
La-la-la-la. La-la-la-la,

Your Dad works for my Dad, Your Dad works for my Dad
La-la-la-la. La-la-la-la."

It is heartening to know that the are still battles to be fought in the Class War.

Beware of what you say abour healing....

Am interesting story from Third Sector magazine. The Advertising Standards Authority have instructed a church to remove an advertisement poster which it claimed could discourage people from seeking medical attention.

The issue surrounded a testimony about the impact of "holy oil" during prayers for healing. The church admitted that the oil had played no medical role in the recovery but the ASA felt it had implied the oil had a curative effect.

The complaint about the advert was made by busy-bodies from the British Humanist Association. It must have been a rude awakening to the growing sensitivity about the expression of faith in the UK by this very respectable and fast growing Black led church.

But there is a lesson for us Methodists somewhere. Is prayer and anointing soon going to be an illegal activity?

Just like the number 11 bus

It's feeling a bit like the number eleven bus. You wait a lifetime and then two come along at once.

In October I have the distinction of being mentioned in two books, both to be published within 24 hours of each other. They straddle my two great interests in life - Methodism and the Labour Party.

The most controversial will be Wreckers or Builders: A history of Labour MEPs by Anita Pollack. Like most former Labour MEPs I gave Anita as much information as I could. I saw an early draft of some sections and was interested to see that she will even be using a story first published on this blog. I shall soon be getting a copy and look forward to reviewing it here.

Meanwhile I hear from America that John Wigger's long awaited biography Francis Asbury: An American Saint is to be published. Apparently somewhere in the credits I get a mention for my work on my own book about the Bishop's mother.

John came and visited me a few years back and it was interesting to contrast the previous stories of Asbury's early life in England with that of the reality. The early American histories presented Asbury's story as one of honest rural folk whose son rose to the top.

The reality is probably different. Dad was almost certainly an alcoholic, Great Barr was going through the pain of the messy industrial revolution and his mother suffered from depression over many years. Francis Asbury was known in England as Frank and there is no record of his baptism in the local parish registers - a fact that his mother appeared to have concealed from him and later led to the disappearance of the relevant parish record for several decades.

Both books will be eagerly read - at least by me!

Next Sunday at City Road Methodist Church

If you are in Birmingham next Sunday morning feel free to join us at City Road Methodist Church. I will be preaching for the first part of the service and then Paul our minister will join us to lead the Lord's Supper.

Our church is currently going through a renewal as we find new strength and enthusiasm to confront a number of difficult issues. There may be a surprise or two!

You will find a warm welcome. We are not the sort of congregation that rushes for the doors at the end of the service. We always have a cup of tea together afterwards. Service starts at 11.00 am.

Smethwick reverts to its pre-Methodist roots

One of Methodism's early successes in 18th and 19th century Black Country was the gradual elimination of cruel sports such as bear and bull baiting, cock fighting and dog fighting. It is distressing to find that as the influence of Methodism weakens so these illegal sports are making a come back.

During the last few years there have been a noticeable increase of the number of prosecutions for dog fighting, often from people living locally here in Smethwick. This week we read of distressing scenes on a Smethwick canal tow path where dogs killed in action are now casually discarded.

Of course gambling is the main reason for dog fighting.

How others see us....

What do people outside of the cosy world of Methodism make of us?

I recently found this interesting insight on this apparently Hamas supporting website (it isn't all it seems once you follow some of the navigation).

Though Ezekiel 38 talks about troops and armies with its horses and uniformed riders …and every soldier carries a shield and is armed with a sword , (Ezekiel 38 :5 )the Evangelists of today’s Methodism such as Lindsay , Jerry Fallwell . Jimmy Swagart and Pat Robertson , affected with Zionist propaganda in America call for an atomic Armageddon on the land of Palestine , while waiting for their Jewish Christ Who has not arrived yet...

Now as far as I know none of the evangelists mentioned are Methodists but somehow "methodism" has got into the author's head. I wonder why? And does this explain the occasionally cool reception I met in parts of the Middle East when I was out there hoping to help establish peace?

7:10 cancelled

The 7:10 was cancelled so I had to travel in an overcrowded 7:30 (see yesterday's post). Been sat at a computer all day except for a pleasant walk to Methodist Central Hall for an excellent lunch. However little blogging this week: I have to really focus on an urgent client requirement.

A lot going on

There's a lot going on at the moment that would make wonderful material for this blog but I have little time to write. It is down to London on the 7.10 and back on the 18.03 giving me a fourteen hour day out of the house.

However City Roaders may wonder whatever happened to Andy's family. Well here is a taste.

The right priorities in West Bromwich

The Reverend Mike Claridge, described as a "vicar and Methodist Minister" takes to the metropolitan media this morning to make a sneering attack on Christians in West Bromwich. His letter to The Guardian reads:

My experience suggests Lord May has a challenge on his hands if he expects most church leaders to play a role in mobilising people to take action against global warming (Report, 7 September). At a local "Churches Together" meeting on Monday, when I suggested that our collective witness could include facing up to environmental challenges, I was firmly put in my place. It seems half the world can disappear underwater so long as a few people locally "turn to Christ" which, apparently, is our true priority. Help!

Sadly I doubt if Mr Claridge understands the irony of his last comment. Nor does he understand the Black Country. Thank goodness the itinerant ministry means he will soon be moved on. We can manage without him in Sandwell.

Sometimes we have to admit it won't work

Yesterday I had a fascinating chat with some good friends. About three years ago they set up a business. They had all the high hopes that starting a new venture entails. I was very impressed.

Over the last few weeks however they have done the sums worked out the hours and decided it wasn't worth continuing that particular line of business.

I've been in a similar place. A few years back my wife and I set up a very simple mail order business. We had a healthy turnover and were getting a good response. But when we did the calculations. we could see how we were actually going to develop it beyond a hobby.

Whilst it takes a lot of courage to start a business, it also takes as much, possibly more, to admit that all the investment, energy and emotion has been in vain. At least from a business point of view. Setting up a business that doesn't make it can bring other great benefits, but often not financial.

Sometimes I wonder if the Church is like that. We set up all sorts of programmes, services, initiatives and often can't find the courage to admit they haven't worked. Perhaps when we start a new venture we need to ensure that there is an evaluation built into the planning at a particular time when we can take a long hard rational look.

Just a thought for a Thursday morning in September.

Is the worst over?

Interesting to see the Footsie has topped 5000 points for the first time in nearly a year. There are signs that the worst of the recession is over.

Certainly my miniscule business is seeing renewed activity and I expect to be up on last year's financial year about eight months into the current. Evenso, like a lot of other business people I speak with, no one is anyway near the heady heights of 2007/8.

My suspicion is that despite the upturn, jobs will still be hard to come by and unemployed people will continue to need our prayers and support. Meanwhile many of the developing nations will take several years to recover and the swine flu pandemic could well damage them even more.

Island paradise turning into a Methodist hell

You would have thought that a place like Fiji would be an absolute paradise. Not for Methodists.

I'm wondering if it is time for the government of Fiji to have a co-ordinated silent vigil by the President of the Methodist Conference and colleagues wherever there is a Methodist Church and a Figian embassy or diplomatic mission.

Just read this for a flavour of what is happening:

Suppressed Methodist church in Fiji is receiving greater support from churches internationally, feeling “less alone”.

The world’s biggest ecumenical body - World Council of Churches (WCC) is the latest to come in support of the biggest Church in Fiji. The central committee meeting of WCC in Geneva from 26 September to 2 August had adopted a resolution giving full support to the plight of the Fiji’s indigenous Church.

“We expresses deep concern at the actions taken by the interim government of Fiji against the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma," stated the resolution.

The WCC also “urges the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma to seek opportunity to engage in dialogue with the interim government.”

After the elected Fiji government was overthrown by a bloodless military coup in December 2006, the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma protested against the illegality of the interim government and refused to take part in processes initiated by it concerning the future of Fiji. Since May 2009, the interim government banned the church from holding its annual conference, its annual choir festival and also arrested and charged nine Methodist ministers.

The Methodist Church, the biggest and most influential church in Fiji is inseparably linked to Fijian culture and society; over 80 percent indigenous Fijians are members of the Church.

The all-powerful Fiji Methodist Church which counts 329,759 members out of a little less than a million Fijians estimated populations.

WCC is also calling upon member churches to pray for the nation and people of Fiji, that a peaceful return to democracy and the rule of law, and a vibrant and peaceful multiracial and multi-faith community, will emerge as soon as possible.

On Thursday, the Methodist Church in Britain also called on the Government of Fiji to allow the Methodist Church to exercise its right to freedom of religion and play its part in developing a healthy and just society for all people, Christian Today reported.

Steve Pearce, Partnership Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, said: “Things are becoming increasingly difficult for the Methodist Church in Fiji and I think there are real grounds for believing not only that the military Government is slowly crippling the Church, but that it is doing so intentionally

Anyone got a projector we could borrow?

To say that I am busy at the moment is an understatement. I have taken on a new and challenging work assignment plus various positions in the church.

Twenty years or so ago we used to regularly use a overhead projector to place words of hymns on a screen at the front of the church. This left our hands free to be happy clappy. Alas the technology has now been overtaken by time, the end product is just not effective, and we have concerns about the safety of the old system.

We would like to make a massive technological jump but have little experience of using projectors connected to laptops. Is there anyone out there that has a projector stuffed away in a cupboard somewhere that could do with a little more use? We just want to get used to it first and so we have a benchmark before final purchasing: a short term loan would be helpful.

We could easily pick up from London or the Midlands. Contact me on the email address on the sidebar or phone as appropriate. Of course if you are not using it at all I'd be happy to take it off your hands if you make an offer I could not refuse.

Godly play comes to Birmingham

We're all very excited at City Road Methodist Church in Birmingham because next Sunday we start using Godly Play as the basis for our Junior Church work.

Our team are really enthusiastic and this is the outcome of about nine months prayer and research as they sought a way to bring children and their parents into our building.

The programme comes with a whole lot of new and fresh resources which have been supplemented by training sessions provided at circuit level.

In the next few days we are going to be decorating the front of the Church. We have a large window that opens onto one of Birmingham's busiest roads (the outer circle A4040, the eleven bus route) and for some time we have felt that we don't make enough of the opportunity such a position affords. There is going to be lots of colour and lots of light!

Last week we put a Bible in the window and within hours found that passers by were stopping and reading! It was opened to John 3:16 so they got the creed all on one page!

So we wait with interest to see the outcome of this new work. As I said on Sunday when I preached - we'd rather have a church where children can sometimes be a nuisance than a church without children.

If you live anywhere near Birmingham and want your children - of whatever age - to have a new insight into scripture and Christian belief, feel free to join us at 11.00am every Sunday.

Positive in Polzeath

My daughter joined our family holiday in Devon direct from a stint with a beach mission in Cornwall. She thought we'd love Polzeath, so we spent a day there.

Polzeath, of course, is the place now famous in Methodist annals where the local beach side Methodist chapel was turned into a base and out-reach for the local surfing community.

We went and paid a visit, meaning to stay for a cup of tea, but ended up staying for lunch (the crepes were great!).

Whilst we were there the local Methodist Minister Peter Smith turned up, followed shortly by the Cornwall Methodist Chair Steve Wilder, pictured with me above. Both of them were really interested in our daughter's beach mission (which is nice because it means Mum and Dad take a back seat!) and delighted that us Methodists had called into see the project.

We found Steve so enthusiastic. It is good to know that someone with his vision and theology can become a District Chair.

But I found my conversation with Peter very moving. He described Easter Day 2009: he spent 45 minutes on the veranda of the church distributing the Lord's Supper to over 300 communicants. He clearly found it a profound experience and one that was a joy to share. How many other Methodist Ministers had the joy of 300 communicants last Easter?

There is so much that is good in the Polzeath project. It is a demonstration of what Methodism can do when responding to challenge and change. It was also great to see that the project works with Christians of other denominations.

Positive in Birmingham

I preached at my home church for the first time in over a year on Sunday. The last five years have been very difficult for the congregation. A combination of factors have almost led to our closure. I shall not go into detail here: those who need to know, already know.

However Sunday's service was overwhelmingly positive. There is now a real sense that the Church is recovering our sense of mission to one of the poorest inner-city communities in the United Kingdom. We have a rare combination of an Evangelical passion for the gospel, alongside a profound belief that the Church must bear a social and economic witness to the community.

We are a racially mixed Church - sadly something of a rarity - with our members coming from 14 different countries (15 if we allow my wife's claim that Cornish is not English).

Recently we've had some financial setbacks. I explained that on Saturday I had taken the communion silverware for a valuation. I was hoping it was worth thousands and we could repair the roof.

When I explained that the jeweller told me it it was worth virtually nothing, having been made from electro-plated tin, the congregation cheered: somehow celebrating the Lord's Supper with tin is more us than celebrating with silver. We will pray the money in. God will bless our work, just as he has in the past.

It is amazing how fast a situation can change. Just a few weeks ago many of us were spiritually and emotional drained and depressed by the problems that confront us, but now our Church seems to have taken on a new lease of life, with all sorts of ideas and enthusiasms.

but negative in Brighton

Like many Methodists I have been sorry to see recent letters in the Methodist Recorder attacking the Church of England for appointing a Minister from Holy Trinity Brompton to work at St Peter's in Brighton.

The letters have been both ignorant and spiteful. They demonstrate the sort of lack of vision that would have made a Polzeath impossible. I hope the Anglicans are not unsettled by these attitudes. My advice to the Anglicans is don't fall over yourselves trying to placate or reason with them - they don't represent the best of Methodism.

Business and pleasure often take me to Brighton, though rarely on a Sunday. However should I be in Brighton on a Sunday I shall become an "honorary Anglican" for the day. I certainly won't cross the threshold of the poisonous Dorset Garden Methodist Church. When I last worshiped there they seemed such a nice bunch, so something has clearly gone very wrong in recent years.

Positive, positive, positive

I think regular readers will find a change of tempo on this blog for the rest of 2009. Seeing the Polzeath project, feeling our own local Church change for the better, and the recognition that the Brighton correspondence is just a nasty little blip, all show that British Methodism still has much to offer.