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The Methodist Church of Great Britain | Still Time

still time

Friday 3 April

TIME TO ACT

A time for the world

As I write this, the G20 meeting is taking place in London and certain streets in the City are full of protestors and riot police. Yet only last Sunday, an entirely peaceful protest march took place, trying to make the same points, which started with an ecumenical act of worship at Methodist Central Hall Westminster.

Which sort of political action is more effective? Sunday’s peaceful protest did get good media coverage, and spokespeople from explicitly Christian organisations (like Tearfund) were heard. But today’s troubled protests will undoubtedly gain more exposure. Those who cause the most trouble get the most coverage. The peaceful majority may find their message drowned out.

Some would argue that neither way of doing things changes much, and political change only really comes from the time-consuming process of ‘getting involved’. All politics in Britain is local, at some level, and with the local and European elections coming up this spring, many churches will be holding hustings. Gathering in a church hall may not have the glamour of taking to the streets of London, but in the long run, it may make a bigger difference. I hope that the suggestions of the last few weeks will inspire you to get involved.

Since the start of Lent we have provided (and possibly bombarded) you with many ideas for making different uses of your time. I hope that you have found it useful, and on behalf of all five authors, I offer my thanks to you for making the time to read them. Holy Week challenges us all to focus on Christ’s sacrifice, and to celebrate his triumphant resurrection, but I hope you’ll remember to keep ‘time’ in mind in this and the weeks to come.

Toby Scott

Toby Scott is director of communications for the Connexional Team and used to have lots of time before his daughters gleefully took it.