122 Golden Lane, London EC1Y 0TL, UK 
Tel: +44 020 7793 0033 Fax: +44 (0)20 7793 3459

Managing Editor: Moira Sleight

To send an email to the newsroom, click here

Friday, May 17, 2013

issue 8108

Stationing pressure on deacons

OMINOUS signs of a stationing price to pay for the consistent growth of the Methodist Diaconal Order (MDO) prompted a “Don’t panic” plea from the Warden, Deacon Sue Culver, presenting her report at the annual Swanwick Convocation.

She announced that up to 38 deacons would be available for stationing this year and about 30 new appointments were needed by September if they were all to be found places for 2014. At least 12 of the circuits from which 20 deacons were moving had indicated the appointments would then close. Eighteen other deacons were probationers.

Such stationing issues would have an effect on both the near 300-strong Order and the wider Church, said the Warden, referring firstly to the challenges associated with the continuing growth of the MDO which welcomed 11 new candidates at the Convocation.

Deacon Culver said: “I say the same thing every year. We celebrate and rejoice that God is giving the Church each new group of candidates and that brings great joy to our hearts. However, this brings with it certain challenges.”

Baptists appoint first woman secretary

THE Baptist Union of Great Britain has elected its first woman general secretary.

With the Rev Roberta Rominger as general secretary of the United Reformed Church, the Rev Lynn Green is now the second woman at the helm of a major British Christian denomination.

Mrs Green, the unanimous choice of the General Secretary Nominating Group, was elected at the Baptist Assembly in Blackpool and received a standing ovation.

She said that she felt “incredibly humbled and honoured” and that through the whole process “we have all been seeking God together”. She paid tribute to her husband, Stuart, and all those who had supported her ministry.

Disappointment at Queen’s Speech

THE Queen’s Speech last week should have contained a commitment to enshrine in law the commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on international aid, according to the Methodist Church.

The Church’s policy adviser Paul Morrison said that it had been a manifesto commitment of all three main parties. “While we celebrate the achievement of the international aid target in the next year, we agree with our friends in Christian Aid that the promised law would bring the much needed security of funding,” he said.

However, chief executive of MRDF (Methodist Relief and Development Fund) Maurice Adams said: “‘While it is disappointing that the Government hasn’t yet fulfilled its promise to enshrine its aid commitment in law, what is more important is that it has made the commitment and is sticking to it in these hard economic times.

Church young people to back Brazil Street Child world cup

STREET children in Nicaragua will have the chance to compete in next year’s Street Child World Cup in Brazil with the support of the children and young people of the Methodist Church in Britain.

Young Methodists in Britain have pledged to back two Nicaraguan teams – a girls’ football team and a boys’ football team – in partnership with the Methodist Church in Nicaragua and the Methodist Church in Brazil. They aim to raise £30,000 by taking part in sponsorship events aimed at opening their eyes to the lives of street children.

Methodist children and young people are encouraging local churches across the Connexion to help reach the £30,000 target by organising fundraising events of their own.

ALSO IN THIS WEEK’S METHODIST RECORDER: Spring synod reports … First in a new series by Julie Hulme … Letters to the Editor … Four-page Aldersgate Day special … The Vice-President’s column … and much much more.

For details on how to subscribe, click here.

For these stories in full and more, read the Methodist Recorder every week.

Home

Regulars

Advertising

Subscriptions

Books

Conference

Submissions

History

Links