Censorship in Methodism

Once again there's been a little bit of petty censorship at work in the Methodist Church.

Three weeks ago I sent the Editor of the Methodist Recorder a short letter expressing concern at recent contributions to the useful "Pointers for Preachers" item that appears anonymously week by week. Alas it has NOT* been published, however I have noticed a more positive tone in the most recent "pointers". That may just be co-incidence.

Anyway, just for the record, here is the censored letter in full:

As a busy local preacher in secular employment I find the weekly “pointers for preachers” in the Recorder a very valuable resource and probably the single most important reason I part with £1.60 each week.

Obviously I make my own decision under God how I approach any given lectionary topic but the “pointers” provide a useful starting place. The fact that they are published without a signature gives them an added authority and suggests that they represent the very best scholarship available within the Connexion.

However in recent weeks I find that the current anonymous author of “pointers” is doing a little more than pointing.

Writing of the lectionary readings for June 13 which included the challenging story of David and Bathseba she or he writes:

"..set in the context of polygamous relationships and wives being viewed as the possessions of the husband, the story can be somewhat challenging to modern ears. Then we are told that God struck one of David's children because of his sin.

The author then decides on her or his own behalf, and possibly on behalf of the rest of us: “I shan't be preaching on this passage".

Never mind that many of us will find abundant material which addresses modern concerns, not least of which was Nathan’s courage in confronting King David.

A few lines later we are told of Psalm 32 “The writer’s apparent association of ill health with sin needs treating carefully” I can’t help feeling that someone who has gone through the rigours of local preaching training could work that one out for themselves.

Yesterday’s Recorder brought the pointers for June 20 which includes the difficult passage about Legion. Background to the issues would be helpful but once again the author strays into prescription, this time even speaking in the first person, as in “from my perspective”. Unless I know who she or he is I’m not that interested in their “perspective”, there is plenty of scope in other Recorder features for personality pieces.

Phrases such as “ “that doesn’t mean we have to”, “perhaps we should stress”, “we have to be careful”, “needs careful exposition if we are to go beyond the banal”, “need careful handling”, “we must be careful” again indicate an assumed lack of maturity on the part of the readers.

Once again preachers are encouraged to “steer clear” of a challenging reading, this time from Isaiah.

And once again we are encouraged to “remember there will be those in the congregation whose true suffering is known to God alone” and “we must be careful to avoid any suggestion that lack of healing is due to lack of faith”. These are the sort of lessons a prospective local preacher learns by their second week on note, they don’t need extensive re-iteration here.

My conclusion is that the current “pointers” writer has little confidence in both Scripture and the ability of preachers and ministers to interpret God’s word to a contemporary congregation.

If we are to have “pointers” used to display the hobby horses and “perspective” of a particular individual surely they should be signed? Let us know who is patronising us.

*Apologies, a key word missed out in the original version of this post.