Methodist Future: Reading between the lines

Methodists throughout Great Britain will have the joy of receiving a pastoral letter from our leadership on Sunday.

There is some suggestion that it should be read out to the congregations. At over 1400 words, given a rate of about 30 words a minute, providing there is no pausing for breath, it will take the good part of 45 minutes. Somehow I don't think this will happen.

The letter comes as a result of the President of Methodist Conference's ill chosen words at the Anglican Synod indicating  that we Methodists were preparing to go out of existence.

It is what we in marketing (I'm actually a DipM, MCIM)  call a Gerald Ratner moment. Just one small example: I'm  about to ask our church to cough up £10,000 to repair the roof. I must admit I spent some time wondering if it was worth continuing with the fund raising drive. I guarantee that I was not alone in that hesitation. When the Connexion's top man talks us down, it really is discouraging.

And before anyone blames the press, I have read the President's comments. I don't accept for a second that there was any misunderstanding. His message is clear. It is not encouraging and it is not helpful.

Over the weekend following the speech the staff at Church House launched a damage limitation exercise. It would be flattering to think they were responding to one or two Methodist bloggers, including myself, who expressed our outrage at the President's words.

I don't think that was the case.

I suspect that many Methodists expressed their real anger at what had been said. I'm sure the torrent of letters to the Methodist Recorder have been safely "moderated".

But this pastoral letter would not have been written or circulated if the Methodist Connexion were of a settled mind behind the President's words.

That is why we are being urged to read a 1400 word document this Sunday. Calling it a "pastoral letter" is an interesting device. It is a peace treaty.

Let us put this nonsense behind us. Let us get on with building our congregations and proclaiming the gospels. Those who want to be Anglicans, should go and feel free to join the Church of England with our blessing. On a local basis, of course we will co-operate and work together where possible.

But there are more important things to be doing.