The Methodist Church

E-News
June 2008


Welcome to the June 2008 issue of E-News, the monthly electronic news bulletin of the Methodist Church in Britain. Please feel free to circulate these stories by e-mail or by cutting and pasting into your church newsletter or magazine or printing them out and pinning them on your noticeboard.

E-News is sent out to all who have submitted their details to the E-mail Directory of the Methodist Church in Britain. Visit http://www.methodist.org.uk/signup to subscribe.

If you wish to unsubscribe please visit http://www.methodist.org.uk/signup to remove your details.

Lynne Newland, E-News Editor: newseditor@methodistchurch.org.uk


Methodist Conference meets at Scarborough 5-10 July 2008

Spa Centre ScarboroughNext month Methodists will gather at the Spa Complex, Scarborough, on the Yorkshire coast, for the annual Methodist Conference.

The Conference is the governing body of The Methodist Church, debating and determining policy and legislation for the Church and considering issues of national and international concern. Over five days, 384 voting members of the Conference will be joined by thousands of visitors from this country and overseas to celebrate church life and debate issues of both church and public interest.

Topics for discussion include embryology and early human life, equality and diversity in the Church and the Church's new Youth Participation initiative. There will also be an update on the Anglican-Methodist Covenant.

The full timetable for the Methodist Conference, including downloadable versions of all the reports to be debated, will be available on the Methodist Conference website. During the Conference you can listen live online to the debates as they take place.

www.methodistconference.org.uk

Art of the PossibleExplore the meaning of faith in the world of politics - free housegroup resources

The Art of the Possible is the name of a new resource for churches - six sessions for housegroups with leaders' notes and group handouts.

Sessions include:

  • How our images of God shape our understanding of politics
  • What do we mean by “justice”?
  • Being a change-maker
  • How should Christians relate to the state?
  • How does parliament work – and how can we influence it?
  • What does politics mean for your local church?

Produced by the Joint Public Issues Team of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church, the resources can be freely downloaded from:

www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/artofthepossible

Interface

www.theinterface.org.uk: where Christianity meets Culture

  • The Times Online 20 best films for children included some surprise choices such as the Rocky Horror Picture Show and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. But what would be on your list and why?

  • Are atheists made in the image of God?

  • Have we 'lost our bottle'? In other words, are we abandoning Christ's command to make disciples through a fear of upsetting other faith groups?

These are some of the issues under debate on the interface website. The site was created with the aim of providing a friendly space for Methodists to discuss hot news topics and their implications for our faith.

www.theinterface.org.uk

Back to Church SundayBack to Church Sunday - September 28 2008

On September 28 thousands of people will be inviting someone special back to church with them.

People lose touch with church for lots of reasons but it has been found that many would come back, if only someone invited them. On Back to Church Sunday 2007, people in 2000 churches invited and welcomed back 20,000 friends.

Research has found that a personal invitation works better than general mailings and that the concept works best when the whole church is thinking and praying about who to invite. Why not get your whole church involved? Extend the hand of friendship in your neighbourhood and begin to think and pray about who you could invite on September 28.

For information about Back to Church Sunday, including ideas and resources, visit the Back to Church Sunday website:

www.backtochurch.co.uk

If you have any comments about E-News please contact newseditor@methodistchurch.org.uk

E-news Editor, Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR