The gerontocracy that runs the Methodist Recorder

The Methodist Recorder is celebrating its 150th anniversary. How much does the average Methodist know about the "world's leading Methodist newspaper"?

It has a cover price of £1.95 (though its website still states it as £1.60) - costing regular subscribers over £100 per year. It claims a circulation of 22,000 and an "estimated" readership of 100,000 each week. The Recorder withdrew from the certification scheme of the Audit Bureau of  Circulation in 1991.

Update: see more recent post to read about the Recorder "online"
 

It is led by a seven strong board, six of whom are non-executive directors, only one non-executive is a woman and no directors are from British Methodism's diverse ethnic minority membership.

The non-executive directors are Steven Wild, Michael Taylor, Ann Pardoe, John Newton, Christopher Hughes-Smith, and John Aldridge. Three are in their 80s, two in their 70s and one in his late 50s.  Their average age is 75 years 6 months. There is only one executive director and she reduces the average age to 71. This  means the board has fve men to two women. All live in England south of  Nottinghamshire.*

The company's publicly available abbreviated return reports (31/12/2010) total assets valued at £570, 491. The abbreviated accounts do not provide an accessible profit and loss account, but comply with the appropriate provisions of the 2006 Companies Act. In 2005 the company reported total assets of  £633, 954.

In January of this year all the company's  assets, which included the  freehold and leasehold of the newspaper's premises in Golden Lane, London, were mortgaged to the Methodist Newspaper Retirement Benefit Scheme.

There are one hundred issued shares with a nominal value of £25. The 89 shareholders currently listed with one share each are:  David Blatherwick, Peter Blatherwick, Stuart Burgess, Ronald Gibbins, Anthony Reddie, Donald Sampson, Ann Sherperdson, S Wild, Mary Ludlow, John Atkinson, Michael Bray, Gladys Dawson, David Ensor, Douglas Hopwood, Alma Hunt, Elizabeth Hulbert, Brian Greet, Kenneth Wilson, R Pile, Colin Smith, Peter Sutcliffe, Martin Turner, Eunice Irvine, Paul Harrington, Robert Hinton, Avril Bottoms, D Brown, Ronald Charlton, J Reddall, Keith Garner, C Smith, Michael Taylor, R Arnold, Doreen Hare, Ian Haile, Martin Wellings, F Smith, William Burt, Peter Howdle, Paul Flowers, Paul Hulme, Nicola Jones, Frances Young, Michael Hill, Stephen Parish, Leslie Griffiths, Ivan Weekes, Rob Hufton, Colin Morris, John Aldridge, Lucy Rogers, Barry Weetman, John Newton, Stuart Bell, Ann Pardoe, David Wigley, John Gray, Trevor Bell, J Bridge, Brian Thornton, Paul Kinvig, John Maclure, Moira Sleight, Kenneth Greet, David Holland, Arthur Simmons, Martin Forward, Timothy Macquiban, John Dale, Ian Rigby, Bryan Coates, Margaret Jarvis, John Withinshaw, Margaret Daniels, Martin Hunt, D Rutter, Neil Richardson, John Singleton, Stephen Plant, Janet Sinclair, M D Atkins, Judy Jarvis, Tom Stuckey, T E J Styche, Rosemary Wells, L P M Sleight, David Hart.*

Methodist Newspaper is a private company limited by shares and was incorporated 13 March 1863

* Source annual return submitted 04/04/2011

UPDATE: A fascinating interview with John Aldridge, Chair of the Methodist Recorder board, has just been released by the Methodist Church media team. When it comes to new forms of communications John says the right things but then says the Recorder website - the one that says the cover price in £1.60 -  is "OK", which it clearly isn't. He also confirms what a lot have thought for some time, that the finances for the future of the Recorder are dependent on the property portfolio, which he doesn't mention has now been mortgaged to its pension fund! The Recorder really could be a vibrant communications hub if it took new media seriously. http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.webradio

The Methodist Church in Britain | Methodist Web Radio

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Christians want Chancellor to close the gap between rich and poor

Representatives from a range of Christian denominations and charities, including the Methodist Church, have handed over a letter to the Chancellor today  asking the Government to tackle tax avoidance in order to close the gap between rich and poor. More details here.

Bourgeois theology and structures will not challenge the rich and powerful

Some are expressing shock and horror that the bourgeois Church of England are about to seek legal remedies for the eviction of the protesters presently camped in front of St Paul’s Cathedral. What started as a protest against world capitalism has become a sad little battle within the Church of England.

But why the shock and surprise? Was anyone really thinking that the established church would line itself up against the rich and powerful?  

The Church of England, alongside many other Christian denominations is part of the bourgeois elite and seeks to control spiritual life on behalf of those that have the power.

In its foundation document, the 39 Articles, the Church of England specifically rejects any political programme which seeks to redistribute wealth (see Article 38 “The Riches and Goods of Christians are not common as touching the right, title,  and possession of the same, as some Anabaptists do falsely boast…). No western Christian denomination, including the Methodist Church has ever challenged that position.

Bourgeois structures and theology completely smother our church and our faith. Our Bible colleges and Ministerial training programmes are all about ensuring that the radical message of Jesus is confined to personal salvation at best or New Age mysticism at worse. At the moment we have a license to be radical about “global warming” but that is conditional that it doesn’t really challenge the status quo and remains a legitimising way to stifle the economic aspirations of countries such as China and India..

Bourgeois theology ignores Jesus’s proclamation that He had come to preach the acceptable year of the Lord, no one bothers to learn the lessons of Jubilee from Leviticus and Deuteronomy, the primitive communism of Pentecost is forgotten in the rush to spiritualise Whitsun, and no one tells us why the first Christian martyr was Stephen.

As for Mary’s reaction on hearing that she was to bear Jesus, we are left to assume she is exalting motherhood and apple pie. And when Jesus own brother James writes an epistle far more radical than anything written by Marx we are told by the patronising and ill informed theologians that it should be “read in context”.

As for the Sermon on the Mount, well when Jesus says “blessed are you who are  the poor”, He really  means “the poor in spirit”, and is all about depression and middle class anxiety. The bourgeois are very selective in which parts of the Bible we should accept at face value.

We now have a whole generation of Christians who have never read “The Ragged Trousered Philantropists” or anything by Conrad Noel. Many active Christians today have only ever been taught or exposed to bourgeois theology.

That’s why we don’t understand where the Church of England  and other churches really stand on the  present crisis of capitalism. There they stand, with the rich and the powerful. At the end of the day they can do no other. We need to put our faith in Jesus and Scripture, not in the Church.

Impressions from the occupy #LSX at St Paul's Cathedral

Yesterday I spent an hour outside St Paul's Cathedral in London having a nose around the "Occupy #LSX" encampment.

Over the last week I've had a number of concerns about how this demonstration will continue, how it will end, and what it will achieve. I've been  particularly concerned by private reports that the sister demonstration in the US, "Occupy Wall Street", has developed some anti Semitic characteristics. Melanie Phillips and Labour MP John Mann  have given voice to this more sinister aspect of the "Occupy" movement in recent days. During my brief visit yesterday I saw and heard nothing to suggest a similar development outside St Paul's, but would not discount it as a possible mutation.

Why do I use the word "mutation"? Because I get a sense that this demonstration could go in several directions. Just walking around and seeing the various posters in the area shows that the demonstration has attracted every sort of campaigning group imaginable. Various types of Christianity were visible, especially those supportive of the poor, but there were plenty of other causes being promoted - veganism, various shades of the New Age, the Socialist Worker Party, greens, Kurdish independence, and even a plea to stop Scientologists getting tax breaks. Many of the posters ranged from the coherent to the down right looney. How far they represent those actually camping was difficult to say.

What didn't seem to be present was a coherent programme of ideas or a realistic manifesto to address the central reason for the demonstration,which I assume is the replacement of capitalism with something more stable, just and humane. But I may have somewhere got it wrong. Were they accepting capitalism but merely wanted it to be tweaked and managed differently?

Sadly I didn't have the time to dialogue with many actual demonstrators so when I returned home I interrogated the website Occupy London  especially the "Initial statement" . This I must admit didn't really help me any further.

Clearly there are some who believe that this demonstration is on a par to those which the CIA used to orchestrate  in former Soviet republics, you may remember the socalled orange and purple "revolutions". Others clearly thought this was a British version of Tahir Square, there's even a poster proclaiming  the area in front of St Pauls as such.

Let us be honest here. Those demonstrating during the "Arab spring" took far greater risks than those camped outside St Paul's in a country which normally respects the rule of law. We need to take care that in making the comparison we are not belittling those Arab demonstrators, particularly those who paid with their lives.  Incidentally those demonstrators succeeded because they had the support of a mass movement and had very specific demands. I'm not certain that these conditions currently exist in the UK, people are not gathering in their thousands to support the St Pauls demonstration.

Another Methodist blogger hit the nail on its head after his own visit. Peter Phillips said he felt it was a bit like the Christian festival Greenbelt. Sadly I suspect he may be right. People having a good time, lots of fun, and when consciences are clear, everyone going home back to the mundane. O doubt if that's how it felt in the real Tahir Square

So I'm back to where I started in politics. Over the next few days we shall see the farce of the Church of England trying to sort out its misfortune at having had this demonstration dumped on its doorstep - there were other sites in that area once Paternoster Square was closed but I suspect the front of the Cathedral was  chosen by the demonstrators as a soft option. If they couldn't confront capitalism they could make things difficult for a few hopeless clerics. And incidentally please don't assume that any other denomination, including us Methodists, would have acted differently if having a similar problem on our own doorstep.

Then there will be the farce of a forced eviction. A few people will get hurt, hopefully no one will get killed. I wouldn't rule out some dirty tricks such as the English Defence League turning up. I have seen with my own eyes a demonstration smashed up by apparently roving thugs. Certainly the coverage in the popular press has been unrelentingly hostile and on occasions scurrilous. And don't underestimate splits and arguments. Remember that several of the demonstrators will almost certainly be serving police officers. 

So we will face the prospect of a whole bunch of young people walking away, thoroughly disillusioned, convinced that little can be done to effect real change.

So I think back to the days when I was one of the few elected politicians who actually took on capitalis, and paid with my livelihood.. I opposed the Labour Party's re writing of our Clause IV. I still believe that a mixed economy with various forms of common ownership such as mutuals, co-ops and nationalised strategic industries are still the best way forward. These can only be achieved by arguing the politics, winning the argument and getting elected. Against such a long term strategy the occupy LSX is little more than a passing stunt. I just hope that it raises consciousness, not dulls it.

Leslie Griffiths says his farewell

I'm putting Leslie Griffiths remarkable letter in today's Methodist Recorder online. If you click it will enlarge into a readable document. I certainly don't agree with Leslie's decision, nor his hankering after an Anglican "conditional ordination"  but some of his language strikes a chord.

When he was President of Methodist Conference, the present General Secretary of the Methodist Church, Martyn Atkins, referred to the large number of people he met during his presidential year now serving in other churches, who had started their spiritual journey as Methodists. At last year's conference our current President, Leo Osborn, made a telling comment: "I’m equally concerned about what is happening at the back door: those who slip away due to our pastoral neglect or remain but feel disappointed or uncared for". Good point. When I studied marketing we were always told that the unhappy or lost customer could tell us things about our business we needed to know.

Leslie has laid out for all to see how he feels. I suspect that the Methodist Recorder has many such letters, all of which remain unpublished. This one from a former President, a member of the House of Lords and a regular contributor just could not be ignored.

Sadly Leslie says what a lot of those who "slip away" actually feel. Just some of his points:

"I mourn for a church that can raise itself to such heights of false pride and contumely.....I have experienced (or been made aware of) vilification, character assassination, suspicion, jealousy, and downright mean mindedness of fellow Methodists...We have belittled ourselves with our littleness.....once I'm retired I shall no longer want to be "in Connexion" with the Methodist Conference.....I've had enough of the back-biting, sly, venomous and debilitating comments I have suffered over the last few years."

His letter ends with the dire warning that Methodism will itself be buried. But Leslie also makes another important point: the strength of the "unconditional love and patience" from his own congregation at Wesley's Chapel, that he had found in "virtually all the churches and circuits I've served."

He then makes the most important point of all: "there's a chasm between our people and those who lead them."

Here am I serving God through the Methodist Church in one of the UK's poorest and least regarded communities, but I find many echoes of Leslie's complaints  in my own experience beyond my immediate circuit.

Several times I've offered, for example, to serve on various Connexional working groups. I have met the "littleness" to which Leslie refers preventing the Connexion making use of  my experience and skills that are clearly in such short supply. Over the years I've had jaw dropping letters from little people with little grievances holding little jobs who would be an embarrassment  to the Church if anyone in the outside world cared to be interested in our collective self abuse.

But what keeps me in the Methodist Church is what actually happens on the ground. I mentioned an example earlier today from the other end of the country. Here in Birmingham without the support of our members and circuit, a much needed church in an impoverished community would have simply faded away. Go beyond the circuit and we see little support. When I've taken up some serious issues (not blogged about here) I've been astonished at the inability of the Methodist "leadership" to actually do the right and just thing. This I have learnt is not a matter of individuals but a systemic institutional problem that simply debilitates. We are strong at righting the wrongs of the Middle East but paralysed  by our local difficulties.

Somehow we need to address Leslie's point about the chasm between the Methodist people and those who imagine they lead..

Cancer ward

I have to be careful how I write this post, but I want to share something.

Earlier this week I visited a  cancer ward. It was with apprehension. Whilst I was there I met two very special people, who were not the reason for my visit and neither of whom I had met previously.

One was a woman in her forties with cancer, the other was her mother. They had every reason to be absolutely miserable. Both however spoke very animatedly, and positively, about their church and the support they received from the Reverend Smith down in Cornwall.

They made it clear  that their faith in God was a major part in their lives and was especially important during their present trials. Their impact was considerable, especially on two people I love very much. They were able to witness from a point of suffering and anguish which gave an authenticity to the message which others just cannot give.

I'm not comfortable with a campaign currently being run by the Methodist Recorder called "proud to be a Methodist", but as I listened to this mother and daughter, and heard of their Methodist church, that's exactly how I felt: proud to be a Methodist.

British government "deeply concerned" by Fiji restrictions

Following earlier publicity about the restrictions placed on Methodists in Fiji I contacted my Member of Parliament John Spellar.

John took up the issue  with the Foreign Secretary and has now sent me a response written by Jeremy Browne, Minister of State. It reveals that the Fiji High Commissioner has been called in and made aware of British concerns, something that hasn't apparently been reported elsewhere.

The relevant sections of the letter read:

"The British government is deeply concerned by reports of restrictions being placed upon Methodists in Fiji that impinge upon their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and freedom of association. On 12 October I raised these concerns with the Fijian High Commissioner to the UK, expressing my dismay at these developments and noting that this latest action by the authorities in Fiji can only serve to increase their isolation from the international community.

"Our High Commission in Suva, Fiji, is maintaining close contact with the Methodist Church and will continue to lobby the interim government in Fiji to remove the restrictions.

"The British government is working closely with international partners, such as Australia, New Zealand, the EU and the US, to promote the restoration of democracy and human rights, including freedom of religion, to Fiji.

Cameo role

Amazingly busy time sorting out insurances, gas companies and future business contracts so little time to report or contribute here. However my friends - some of whom read this blog - may be interested in one of the legacies of a recent assignment. I was working at a London teaching hospital and we needed a  "patient". Getting a real patient can be a hassle as we have to fill in lots of forms. Sometimes its easier to get a member of the comms team to step in. In fact when I worked for NCH I posed as an abusive parent in one publicity shot. On another occasion in Birmingham I was strapped on a stretcher and airlifted in a helicopter - terrified me. Anyway, here is my latest cameo role. Back in a few days.

The church annual accounts are done, well, er, sort of

Regular readers will know that I've been a bit "off the boil" lately. It seems that I have spent every minute of the waking day over the last three weeks trying to sort out the church books ready for auditing. After spending hours on the book I don't feel I have enough time to set the world and the connexion right.  Tonight I have finally accepted that I am not going to find that missing 90 pence. I'm handing the books over to our auditor who has a forensic mathematical mind and I'm certain he'll find the error. Just imagine there are 4,500 other poor souls going through this process during the autumn months as we prepare for the circuit returns.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign attracts anti-Semites

Does the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which attracts many Methodists, also attract anti-Semites? Should PSC meetings be held on Methodist premises?

Over the last week this blog has carried the news that a member of the audience  made unacceptable comments about Jews and the Holocaust  at an  ill-advised PSC meeting held at the Rivercourt Methodist Church.  The meeting clearly violated the spirit of Methodist Standing Orders 920 and 921. Astonishingly it was allowed to go ahead following consultation with connexional officers, a decision defended by the secretary of the faith and order committee.

Meanwhile the PSC has been peddling very fast to distance itself from the comments, even emailing another Methodist blogger with their side of the story. This is in addition to the full statement which I was obviously prepared to published in the interests of fairness  on this blog .

That the outburst was anti-Semitic is accepted by all, including the PSC. There is however a quibble about whether is was said inside or outside the meeting, though there is no argument that the person had attended the meeting. The PSC  ask  whether they are supposed to vet attendees for their views or their opinions.  That is a good question and one that the Connexional team should have addressed before agreeing to the meeting.

Regular readers of Harry's Place, the Jewish community blog will be in no doubt that the PSC and their new recruit Stephen Sizer have some very dubious associates (the engage site provides a helpful summary of recent PSC stories).

Joseph W yesterday explained  in detail how a  speaker at a PSC meeting - not held on Methodist premises -  promoted anti-Semitism towards British Jews, even identifying a particular Jewish community in London. She promoted the usual anti-Semitic lie of divided loyalites. Readers can see the full grisly speech on YouTube and judge for yourself. Not only can you hear the speech, but you can hear the applause. Presumably the PSC couldn't vet the audience for their anti-Semitic opinions and applause, but it was they who chose the platform speaker, one Laura Stewart.

Ms Stewart appears to have form. Let Harry's Place explain, and it really is worth following the links if you want to understand why many Jews are apprehensive about the activities of the PSC, including it seems Tony Greenstein  who is well known to the  PSC's friendly Methodist blogger. Follow the links from Harry's Place:

Last month, whilst defending Gilad Atzmon, Laura Stuart emailed Tony Greenstein this video, entitled What Famous Men Say About the Jews (all negative), uploaded by a user called “Aryan000005“.

This blog is read by our connexional hierarchy - they even send me letters about it from time to time - but after today,  if they are so unwise as to give the go ahead for another  PSC meeting on Methodist premises, they should at least ensure that Laura Stewart is not among the speakers.

They should also suggest that the PSC do take responsibility for ensuring that known anti-Semites, such as the Jane Green who desecrated Rivercourt Methodist Church, should be denied admission.  

Well done Methodist comms team

The Methodist Church communications team have scooped a prestigious first prize tonight at  a Christian  media awards bash for their viral video Tell Show Be.  Full story here. Well done!

TELL.SHOW.BE. - English from Tell.Show.Be on Vimeo.

At 9.00 BST tomorrow we will all be Welsh

After last week's pathetic display by the English rugby team we will all be hoping that our friends in Wales will keep the home nations' hopes alive tomorrow morning.

I'm due at the church at 10.00 am, I think I may be a little late.......

Metal thefts - letter in the Recorder

This week's Methodist Recorder carries a letter from Methodist Preacher on the growing problem of metal thefts:

The Recorder’s welcome coverage of metal thefts from churches (MR 6 October 2011) highlights a crime that is beyond the power of any victim to resolve.

Methodist Insurance and English Heritage may offer advice which may or may not prevent individual thefts but the problem is much more deep seated. For example suggestions that church metal is specially marked is naive given the process of which metal theft is part.

Here in the West Midlands we are at the centre of the metal recycling industry.

It has many admirable qualities: it provides a free collection service of large metal items; gives people some work and income; and ensures that waste metal is reused. All benefits that Methodists should welcome.

However it is the epitome of the free market. I’ve had a nose round the scrap yards and talked to some of the collectors.

Metal collection is completely unregulated. Entry to the trade is easy - all you do is go round collecting metal. This can be done with a lorry but I have seen some desperate migrants from Eastern Europe collecting on foot and using carrier bags. It is impossible to tell who the collectors are. Their vehicles are unmarked and they are highly mobile. There is no way of telling whether their collections have been acquired legally or illegally, or a mixture of the two.

The loads are taken to the many scrap yards now to be found throughout the country. No questions are asked, though I gather there are furious rows about the value of each delivery. Weight is everything, its source, form or even the content of the metal is irrelevant. No records are kept of who supplies which piece of metal. Payments are cash in hand with all the implications of lost tax revenue.

Within hours of arrival at the yard the metal is simply loaded into a giant container and a few days later is on the high seas en route to the Far East. The detailed sorting and reclamation work is undertaken on arrival. Few of the more skilled recycling jobs are created here in the Black Country.

The only way the collection of stolen metal can be stopped is by regulating the entire trade. This is urgently needed. It isn’t just churches which are suffering. Power cables are especially vulnerable and many a commuter has found their journey to work disrupted by stolen signalling equipment. Entire communities have been without power or telephones when essential utility kit has been taken for scrap.

A licensing system would be self funding, ensure that tax is paid and go some way to preventing the disruption and damage caused by illegal collections.  It would also protect the reputations of entirely legitimate businesses.

The impetus for such regulation has to come from the insurance industry and organisations such as English Heritage. The sooner this happens, the better.

Anti-Semitic views WERE expressed in Methodist Church - official

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign  has admitted that anti-Semitic views were expressed by people attending a meeting on Methodist church premises in West London earlier this month. Their  full statement has been published here.

A woman supporter of the PSC was recorded saying that a "few hundred  thousand" Jews died in the Holocaust when "they had their foreskins chopped off". She also told Jews present "You are using the fu*king Holocaust to kill the Palestinians." According to those present she made the comments in the church and then repeated them outside where they were recorded.

It has since emerged that Methodist Connexional officials at the highest level actually gave the go ahead for this meeting to take place, despite the PSC holding views that are directly contrary to Methodist Conference policy supporting the right of Israel to live within secure borders. The PSC logo, on display in the Methodist Church during the meeting, clearly envisages the destruction of Israel.

The Reverend Doctor Peter Phillips, secretary of the powerful Methodist Church Faith and Order Committee  claimed on this blog "Nothing in the meeting itself contravened SO 921 and the minister was present to ensure this. As far as I understand it, the minister discussed the meeting and all measures which might be necessary beforehand with our Inter Faith relations officer."  Dr Phillips has criticised this blog for suggesting the content of the meeting should have been discussed by Connexional officials saying "Might be good not to jump for the negative assumption that consultation has not happened prior to the event being held".

It beggars belief that Connexional officers saw this as a legitimate meeting to be held on Methodist premises and then have their agreement endorsed by the Secretary of the Faith and Order Committee. The relevant standing order makes it clear that political meetings should be held in very specific circumstances including a provision that such a meeting should not have a detrimental effect on the peace and unity of the church and its witness. Meetings should also be held within the context of specifically Christian theology and ethics.

Standing Order 921 says:

921 Political Matters. (1) Managing trustees may not sponsor meetings in support of political parties, nor may such meetings be held in the name of any otherMethodist body. Nonetheless managing trustees may permit occasional use of Methodist property for political meetings by non-Methodist bodies and may sponsor meetings designed to promote informed discussion of public issues in the context of Christian theology and ethics. Before agreeing to such use, the managing trustees shall consider, in the light of any advice which the Connexional Team may issue from time to time, the extent, if any, to which the granting of such permission would have a detrimental effect on the peace and unity of the Church and its witness.

How the pictures get on the front page

Ever been on a "peaceful" demonstration, only to find the headlines and front pages dominated by violent images which distorted what you were trying to achieve? This short documentary looks at how photographers in one conflict area actively influence the news agenda. We need to learn to be more critical of the images provided in our newspapers and on our televisions. Hat tip: Harry's Place.

Why did I miss that extra half hour in bed?

Getting up early enough on a Saturday to see England played off the field by a none too good French rugby side is not my idea of a good start to the weekend! Grump, grump!

Anti-Semitism openly expressed at meeting in Methodist church

A pro-Palestinian meeting at a Methodist church in Hammersmith turned into an opportunity for the anti-Semites to express their bigoted views. A Jewish Chronicle blog report says 

One was recorded as saying  when asked about the Holocaust  "I don't know, I wasn't there" in response to our question "Were there gas chambers in the concentration camps?" We also recorded her saying "a few hundred thousand" Jews died in the Holocaust. "How did they die?" we asked. "They had their foreskins chopped off ...."

We also recorded her saying "You are using the fuc*ing Holocaust to kill the Palestinians."

When the Methodist Church took the decision to throw our reputation in with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign we ran the risk that we would be reduced to being tarred with the same brush as some very undesirable elements. It is time we understood that a large motivation for the anti-Israel activity comes from old fashioned anti-Semitism both within Christianity and Islam.


I would advise every Methodist to read this article and try to understand why Methodism's antagonistic  policy towards Israel and the new "friends" we have recruited are causing distress and dismay to our Jewish neighbours.

I can't support Jonathan's suggestion that individuals lobby the Minister by calling her on her mobile phone. However I do think someone at Connexional Headquarters should look again at standing order 921 and point out that meetings with anti-Semitic content clearly violate Conference policy. A google search for "Ravenscourt Methodist Church" does suggest a very eccentric lettings policy and they have previous form.

UPDATE: A fuller report of this meeting appears here 
UPDATE: The PSC has admitted these comments were made

QE2 and our local health centres

The FT calls it "shock and awe" as the Bank of England, unelected guardians of our economic well being, launch a second tranche of "quantitative easing"  (hence QE2) in a desperate attempt to improve market confidence and pump more money into the economy.

For those unsure of how quantitative easing works The Guardian has published a simple guide. The basic rule is that the Bank of England buys assets from commercial banks, giving them more money to lend to businesses. At least that's the theory. In effect the Bank of England is printing money and the bankers are profiteering. It will take some time for the real impact to trickle down into the economy. As a tactic in 2009 it may have had some traction as a one off. In 2011 it begins to look desperate.

Everyone I meet in business at the moment tells me how slow things are. Unemployment is rising. Businesses are closing. We are all feeling the pinch. The economy certainly needs a boost but  QE2  seems to be the only feeble official response. 

Meanwhile, my local newspaper tells me that Sandwell Primary Care Trust is to shelve plans for six urgently needed health centres. This follows the coalition government pulling the plug on a far reaching programme to improve local schools. It seems the Bank of England can print money to profit the commercial banks, but it can't print money to build public assets.

In Sandwell, as elsewhere in the West Midlands  we now have horrendous levels of unemployment. People are sitting at home running out of money to spend in the shops whilst their time and talents are wasted. Electricians, plumbers, brickies, carpenters, heating engineers are all there ready to work.  It is possible to replace money, but it is impossible to replace time. John Wesley was fond of telling early Methodists about the folly of wasting time.

So why not do the obvious? Let's use the money the Bank of England is printing to build those health centres and schools. Take people off the dole, give them a living wage and let them spend in local shops. That will liven up  the real economy. It will by pass the commercial banks and go straight into local shops and stimulate demand. Lots of customers have a greater and more positive impact on a business than extra loans to stave off bankruptcy. Its time to get rid of monetarism and become a little more Keynesian. Sadly we have a government at the moment that is bigoted against anything that smacks of public spending. 

Ice rink plan for Lightwoods Park

There are plans to bring the ice rink normally located at Centenary Square in Birmingham up to Lightwoods Park this Winterval. Full details are on the Bearwood blog.

Now this is my back yard so I will make a few comments:

1) There will be parking issues - but these can be sorted;

2) There will be noise issues - but these can be managed;

3) There will be litter - but this can be cleaned up;

4) It will bring people into Bearwood and this will benefit local businesses and jobs;

5) It will provide local children with an opportunity to enjoy skating - a link up with local schools will be really helpful;

6) It will give local churches and charities the opportunity to sing Christmas carols and raise funds;

7) It will provide another focus for the community - it would be great if we could have a special Bearwood community evening with fireworks and a hog roast;

7) Everyone's a winner - let's hope it comes off!

They shall not pass: the legacy of Cable Street

History says that World War 2 started on Sunday 3 September 1939. The truth is that the battle against fascism had started several years before as working class people stood up for dignity and solidarity.

This week we commemorate the 75th anniversary of  the "Battle of Cable Street". This broke out when the fascists tried to march through an area of Stepney in East London heavily populated by Jewish and Irish immigrants. The working class movement of London gathered under the Republican slogan from the Spanish Civil War No pasaran – “They shall not pass”. And they didn't.

In the 1960s I went with some veterans from that famous day and saw some of the sites. Cable Street by then was already changing and the area has changed more since as the City gradually encroaches on what is now valuable real estate.

However, fascism with the ugly twin sisters of anti-Semitism and Islamaphobia still lurks awaiting its chance to find a scapegoat for the continual crisis that is capitalism. We need to remember that when soft capitalism fails, such as the current coalition government, there is a mailed fist ready to hit the working class and defend the rich and powerful. They will find a scapegoat and a solution that suits them.

Good articles in today's Daily Mirror, the BBC website and a special perspective from the Community Security Trust.

Attention Warley Woods community force voters

Not time to blog at present but a quick note to anyone who loves Warley Woods. If you register with the Nat West Community Force site you can help them distribute small packages of  money some of which may come to the Warley Woods Community Trust and help repair the fountain and buy a new mower.  It takes about 45 seconds to register and vote.

Once you have registered you get three votes. Use one to help Warley Woods in the Birmingham area. Then cross over to North Wales and cast a second  vote for a scout group urgently in need of  cash to sort out their hut which they share with the local guides. Two good causes. Back 'em both!

The Labour Party and our Methodist roots

Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson famously said that the British Labour Party owed more to Methodism than to Marx. I was unable to get up to last week's conference in Liverpool so can't give a first hand report.  In fact when I used to attend I often made a passing impression of being the life and soul of the party.

However the right wing Daily Telegraph has carried a "colour piece"  in which it accuses Labour of not being able to enjoy itself because "a Labour shindig is a contradiction in terms. Not for nothing is a clumsy dancer accused of having two Left feet. This is the party of Marx and Methodism not Margot Fonteyn (or even Madonna.)"

Well I was inclined to dismiss this as right wing sour grapes. But then I caught that final act of sanctification for  all Labour Party conferences - the singing of "The Red Flag" at the end of proceedings on the last day.

Here we have proof that the Labour Party has finally freed itself from our Methodist roots. We often beat ourselves up about our shrinking and elderly congregations but even the smallest chapel in our circuit could have made a better job of singing "The Red Flag" than this lot!

Letting us down on and off the field

Yesterday's English  performance against Scotland was hardly the highlight of the rugby world cup.

It seems that the problems lay in a little too much off the field activity. The latest allegations only confirm what many of us feel - that this squad are not entirely focused on providing a world class commitment.  

What it means to be a discipleship movement shaped for mission

The General Secretary of the Methodist Church, Martyn Atkins has been putting some more flesh on the bones of his aspiration for Methodism to be a discipleship movement shaped for mission. Martyn clearly has a firm vision that the Methodist Church still has much to give. This is the first of a series of podcasts which will promote this view. A welcome development. Also available in sound only.