E-News August 2008

Caversham hits the Heights and gains Eco-congregation Award

After four years work, Caversham Heights Methodist Church, Berkshire, is to be granted the coveted Eco-congregation Award. The Award affirms good practice in environmental stewardship and helps churches witness to the importance of caring for God's creation.

The Award is made in recognition of a church's spiritual, practical and community orientated work. Caversham Heights Church is an inclusive congregation, provides a home for many local community groups, supports Fair Trade, Make Poverty History and Tools With a Mission campaigns, and prayerfully and financially partners a congregation in Mindolo, Zambia. An assessment was also made of the church's concern and preservation of the natural environment including the action taken in respect of fuel economy, recycling and waste elimination.

The Award is valid for three years, during which time the church is required to examine its commitments and look for ways where it might do more.

For more information about how your church could work towards the Eco-congregation Award visit:
www.ew.ecocongregation.org

Caversham Heights Methodist Church website:
www.cavhmc.org.uk

Are we all Equally different?

Equally different? Most congregations would probably say that they are welcoming, open and friendly to all but there may be barriers that those people well established in our churches fail to recognise - and not just physical barriers!

The Methodist Church recognises the need for equality and diversity and is striving to be an inclusive Church where everyone is valued, equal and different. To help churches and Christian communities work towards this goal, downloadable resources are freely available. Included are instructions on how to use the resource, housegroup and workshop sessions, worship ideas and devotional and inspirational materials.

You can also challenge your church to a month of reflection on equality and diversity by using the 30 one-a-day personal reflections. New resources are being developed which will include exciting ideas for children and young people.

You can download the resources at:

www.methodist.org.uk/equallydifferent

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

Is the UK populated only by cynical people who are unable to have faith in the sincerity of others? Where are the people of hope? The writer of this article asks if she is alone in thinking that the current media approach to politicians and leaders of large institutions is demeaning and cynical.
Does believing in God lower your IQ? A recent declaration stated that intelligence is a predictor of religious scepticism and that a high IQ turns academics into atheists. What do you think?

These are two 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

Do you have responsibility for looking after your church building?

Faith in Maintenance is a free day training course for church property stewards, endorsed by the Methodist Church Property Office. Courses are now being arranged throughout England and Wales for 2009. You can either join an existing course or try to get one arranged in your own area.

The training offers an opportunity to gain an appreciation of the importance of historic places of worship, an understanding of traditional building materials and construction, the ability to recognise potential problems and how to tackle common maintenance tasks.

All those attending a training day receive a pack of useful information including a maintenance calendar, maintenance handbook and access to a dedicated telephone technical advice helpline and website.

More information from:
www.spabfim.org.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