More tales from Cameroon

I am absolutely exhilerated. It could be the singing, the dancing, the food, the Coca Cola, the 95 speeches, the dignatories, the International Nation Builders choir, the representatives of our two partner organisations CDVTA and PTRC (Presbyterian Rural Training Centre), the inspiration of Kirsty and Isabelle and their work with MRDF, the many gifts - all of this at a special event this evening held in our honour and the honour of all those people who make donations to MRDF. What a night!

And what a couple of days. Yesterday I visited many elderly people's clubs and gardens. Had lunch at the Palace of one Fon (Chief) and sat as an honoured guest at the gathering with dignatories including government officials, traditional and religious leaders and hundreds of elderly people at the even bigger palace of another Fon, heard and made speeches and travelled back along the dusty, bumpy roads to the safety of the Baptist Convention centre. Where the electricity was on and the water was also running - what luxury.

Today we have not been so fortunate with the water - although there was some pretty heavy rain this afternoon and it does make you wish you had carried some shower gel! Still today Kirsty and I went out in the field to the Ndop area with PRTC whilst Isabelle stayed in Bamenda to check on the records of CDVTA (well that was her story anyway). First of all we visited the Unity Women's Mixed Farming Group who come together to support each other in their efforts to farm the local land. In the house where they met (which never has water or electricity), I was able to ask them about village life, husbands, children, festivities and wakes whilst Kirsty went to visit the group farm. They had bought this land with a loan from PRTC. It was a very interesting time and the women thought it was very funny that I had a husband called Gari - the name of a foodstuff made from Kesava plants which they sold at the market. Agnes, their chair, features on an MRDF poster part of the 2007 Harvest pack. What fun the women and lots of local children had when Kirsty presented Agnes with a copy of it.

Our second visit was to the Meghanty women's group in Babungo, where we heard again of the differences made to people's lives by the training they had received in crop management and bookkeeping skills. We were leaving here when we bumped into Emmanuel - an honorary member of this women's group who has done a lot of training with PRTC and now has a well stocked farm which includes bees and medicinal plants as well as the usual cabbages and beans etc. Our next visit was to see a lady called Elizabeth in Ndop who we expected to meet on her own. She had been visited by MRDF before and supporters may remember her from their literature. However as we entered the place where Elizabeth lived we found thirty or so Farmers' representatives from the area as well. After singing and prayers and introductory speeches, Kirsty took Elizabeth outside to interview her whilst I ended up chairing a farmers' meeting. What a varied life I lead!

Then back tonight for the festivities. Fantastic. Tonight we have electricity but no water still so am able to send this blog but you can be grateful you are not close enough to pick up our scent. An early start tomorrow as we set off to travel to Douala for our overnight flight home. There is much more to tell but that will have to wait for now. No doubt there will be some stuff in the Methodist Recorder and the MRDF literature and maybe even another Blog entry. Remember us in your prayers as we travel home tired but rejoicing.

The really good news gospel - Easter message from the President

Donald English used to say that death and resurrection is not simply what happened to Jesus but is the deep movement God implants in all creation. The Christian God is a God of death and resurrection.

Like many I have been challenged by poignant examples of death - its reality and hard consequences - and blessed by wonderful examples of resurrection - and the hope and joy it brings. I will never forget a conversation with a Sierra Leonian man, bearing the scars of the rebel war in the 1990’s so powerfully depicted in the recent film Blood Diamond. He thanked me fervently for bringing the gospel to his land - he talked to me as if I was one of those first Methodist missionaries to West Africa! He explained with deep emotion how he had received Christ quite recently, in the war years, and this coming to faith had enabled him to begin to forgive those who mutilated him - and, as I learned a little later, killed his wife. I was moved to tears. In all his pain and lasting disability he knew that Jesus was alive, and there was hope in his life. He knew in a deep way that the gospel of Christ truly is good news.

More recently, when in Uganda with MRDF, I met Christian folk who have so little, who live with the reality and proximity of death and suffering in a way I do not, yet who remind me more than most of the life and hope of Christian faith. Death and resurrection belong together.

Or I think of some friends who have died in recent times. They knew their prognosis. They lived with the stark consequences of their impending death, for themselves and especially their loved ones. And at just the time when hope might be most lacking in these dear people and those who love them, they talk of the nearness of Christ, the wonderful love and forgiveness of God, the comfort of their faith, their trust in Jesus, the salvation he freely gave and their hope of heaven. In the most traumatic situations of life, it is often those going through them who embody and make clear that the Christian gospel truly is good news.

Death and resurrection is also evident in the life of our churches. I was at Walworth Methodist Church some weeks ago. A church with a venerable past, ‘Clubland’ had a great ministry among local youths and others in that London neighbourhood. But there came a time when almost all signs of life disappeared, and a long three days of darkness ensued. But resurrection has come and new life bursts out everywhere. Methodist Christians, young and old, many (originally) from various parts of West Africa and beyond, share life and worship that exudes the good news gospel. “Our world lives with death and resurrection in many ways and in many places. An ‘average’ news broadcast gives cause to both weep and rejoice. In places of death and darkness we must continue to weep with those who weep and ‘look for the morning’ as people of resurrection faith and hope. With those who rejoice in life and hope we must celebrate and point to God, the giver of it all.

Our Easter faith is not death or resurrection, it is death and resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is not a reversal of death. It is much more than that. The risen Jesus is known by the scars of crucifixion. He is the Living One Who Died. But now he is alive forever. And, marvellously, he stands today with this needy world in the reality of death and the promise of new life. This ministry he shares with us, his Easter People Church, a people bearing the marks of both death and new life. A people who know and live out the profound truth that death and resurrection life both lie deep in the purposes of God, in whom all things will be well. Alleluia!

This is Martyn's Easter message posted by Ruby

Happy Sunday in Harlesden, Harrow and Hillingdon

On Sunday morning we had a slightly shorter service at Harlesden Methodist Church - only 2 hours. We only had two choirs too, the Church Choir and the Youth Gospel Choir, many of whom had taken part in the celebration at Westminster Central Hall on Saturday. The Preacher was a little shorter too! But I am sure that we had no less passion and enthusiasm in our worship and it was a real pleasure to be there. It turned out that their minister, Nick Skelding and I had been in the same circuit many years ago so there was a bit of a reunion there too. We had an abundance of Vice Presidents with two former VPs, Pauline Webb and Ivan Weekes in the congregation as well as Ermal Kirby, District Chair. Blessings abound. The congregation at Harlesden made us feel very welcome and there was a lunch after the service which included a whole range of great food. Thanks to all who contributed.


At Northwood Church in the Harrow and Hillingdon Circuit the team had put together a fabulous

service after a fantastic tea. (Note to self - must go on a diet at the end of this year). We were honoured to have the Mayor of Harrow, Jean Lammiman, a member of the Church at Pinner, with us. There was a Circuit band/orchestra and choir and people sharing in prayers and a dramatised reading leaving Martyn and I to just speak. (I've already had a bit of advice on one of my illustrations from one of our worship leaders - point taken Charlie). We were all invited to take our shoes off on the way in to the sanctuary and it was with great relief that the president and I discovered that our socks were not holey just holy. (Sorry!) There was the opportunity to take part in an action response involving rainbow coloured ribbons going out in a web to all corners of the Church.
It was good to see people from my Church in Ruislip - at least they know I am still alive and well even though absent from their congregation for this year. Thanks to all of those who took part and made this a special service and a special day.
It is a real privilege to serve the Church and to be able to share with so many people in so many ways.

Saturday night and Sunday morning

As Martyn says we had a great time on Saturday then on Saturday evening we went on to separate events.

I was taken by Ashley Cooper to Blythe Bridge where a group of youth leaders with representatives from their groups came together for dinner and a "Question time" type panel. Simon, a minister in the Circuit with great experience in Youth work, Tim, a young person from Blythe Bridge, Bethany, a young person from Ashley's church and I were the panel and we considered questions about what would encourage us to bring friends to Church to how we share the gospel and the commitment of the Methodist Church to young people's work. Pretty challenging.

On Sunday I was picked up from the District Manse and taken to Cheadle, Staffordshire to preach at the morning worship. It was also good to see the work that is being done in the pre-school and through the Homelink Scheme which is a voluntary organisation working to befriend and support the elderly and housebound in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Great work and great people. I was taken for lunch in local woodlands which was beautiful.

On Sunday evening I was whisked off to Wesley Avenue in the Sandbach and Alsager Circuit where we had a Circuit event in the form of an agape service, sharing in food and fellowship together in what I found to be a very moving way. Then I left to catch the train and was home before midnight - so avoiding turning into a pumpkin!

What a great weekend. There are many things which will stay with me from that visit and as I travelled into work this morning I found I had much to ponder over.

Lincoln, Spalding and Bourne

Off to the Lincoln and Grimsby District this weekend to be involved with a programme including District gatherings and leading worship. The photograph shows Martyn and I with David Perry and Jenny Park, the Chair and Deputy Chair of the District at the Spalding gathering. On Saturdsy two of these gatherings were held. In the morning we were at Lincoln High Street where Sara Cliff and Ian Hill led those co-ordinating the proceedings. At each place the sessions opened with worship and then there I spoke and led discussion on "Being a Christian at work" and then Martyn did the same (but different!) on "Resourcing renewal". It was good to meet with so many people and to share with them. One thing I was pleased to learn was the up to date term for "dinner lady" - it's "Mid-day Supervisor". Thanks to a young man called Alex who is one of those supervisors. I was also pleased that we had chaplains inboth sessions who were able to share a little of the contacts they make. An unexpected but interesting conversation came for me when I asked directions after having been abandoned somewhere in Spalding by the President and the District Chair and had to ask directions! The people I asked were a retired couple who had been Salvation Army officers.

After the Spalding meeting I was whisked off to Bourne by the minister there, Colin Martin, and he didn't visibly shake at my driving - a very brave man. Colin and his wife Kath offered me wonderful hospitality and the opportunity for discussion with others who lived locally, particularly Edward and Betty and Fred and Mavis. I am sure Martyn will share what happened to him once I left.

This morning I preached at Bourne Church and we shared great fellowship. The worship band and other musicians were wonderful, particularly as gremlins hit the projection system which meant that we had to change most of the carefully chosen hymns. The technical team were able to get the system to behave to show my short "God is my Shepherd" DVD which the congregation enjoyed. We were honoured by a visit from past Vice President Brian Thornton, which was a great encouragement for me. After a wonderful Sunday lunch and some more conversation I set off down the motorway system in the dark and rain, encouraged once more to have been in the presence of more representatives of the people called Methodist and grateful for the wonderful flowers I brought back with me. Thanks to everyone involved in the weekend.

Celebrating the life of Rob Frost

Wow! What a celebration. Around 3 hours of music and dance and drama and tribute celebrating different aspects of Rob Frost's life at Westminster Central Hall yesterday afternoon. After some singing and a welcome from Rob's two sons, Andy and Chris, the celebration began with an opening prayer and introduction from Martyn. As he said, he was there in two capacities - President of the Methodist Conference giving thanks for one of "Mr Wesley's preachers" and friend, there to remember and to take the opportunity to see Rob's life as a challenge to move forward in faith.

Then the programme was split into three key parts - Rob as a Visionary, Rob as a Mobiliser and Rob as a Conversationalist. In each of these sections we heard tributes and testimony of lives touched and changed and were touched again by music from Paul Field, Simeon Wood, a Ghanaian choir and the All Soul's Orchestra and singers, among others. There was drama and dance and poetry - written by Rob and by others. Adrian Plass, the writer, was unable to be present but he had written a piece - Letter to Rob which began - "You are in heaven now so I can be as rude as I like". Another line from that which I particularly remember suggested that what Rob and demented squirrels and Jesus had in common was the expenditure of enormous energy and passion in order to save as many nuts as possible!

These sections were followed by an address (by Martin Turner, Superintendant of Westminster Central Hall) who invited us to ask where we were in our relationship with Jesus and not just in our memories of Rob and to take our faith seriously recommitting ourselves as we celebrated Rob's life. A commissioning of those who will take forward the work of Share Jesus International took place after we heard a word from Rob's father, Ron, who spoke of his own faith commitment and that of his great gandfather, who had been a bare knuckle fighter. Jenny Impey, Co-Chair of the London Methodist District gave the blessing.

I found that it was an amazing opportunity to think of all of the ways that Rob and his work had made an impact on my own life as well as the wider work that he had been involved in. When I was 18 and at college, Ron Frost was my minister and I remember Rob coming to speak as a student minister. Over many years as a youth leader I linked in with Rob's initiatives, putting on musicals such as Daybreak and Breaking Bread, taking groups to Easter People, attending big productions of the musicals such as Hopes and Dreams and considering the missional and financial impact of Rob's work when I was a member of the Connexional Team. Just this last year Rob and I had become "facebook friends" and he wrote to me with sensible advice and concern when I said that facebook was taking over my life.

Rob wasn't tied to sharing his faith in the way he had always done it. He recognised that sometimes things had run their course - like the 20 years of Easter People. He did big things but still had time for individuals. Lots to think about, to give thanks for and to be inspired by.

Mid Term review

We are half way through our term as President and Vice President. As Martyn and I prepared to lead worship at Wesley's Chapel yesterday morning I realised that in exactly six months time we would be handing over the reigns to Stephen and David. I rushed then into work and got home about midnight then set off this morning to Swanwick for the Connexional Leadership Team where a number of people asked how the year was going. Seems I need to stop and think about that!
It has certainly been interesting. But is that enough? When I let my name go forward for the role of Vice President, one reason was because I had been challenged by a non Christian colleague about how they felt treated by the Church and I had responded that with all it's faults I saw it's strengths and would want to contribute to change from within rather than just abandoning the Church. Then I was asked again by a number of people to let my name go forward - and the rest, as they say, is history. One person who knew of this asked me in the Autumn if I felt that I had been given or had taken any opportunities to change or encourage change in the Church and that certainly gave me food for thought!
I've met some fascinating people, tried to encourage and challenge - and been encouraged and challenged myself. Seen some really positive things done in the name of God through members of the Methodist Church and others. Had conversations with those of other faiths and none. But what now?
As I try to be a disciple of Jesus I want to be part of a Church which reflects the love of God for all and makes sense to those I meet. I want us to be seen to serve the present age - whatever that means in the 21st century. In 2008 what is the good news of God and how do we avoid misrepresenting it and actually telling it? How do we ensure that we share the manifesto of Jesus who came to bring good news to the poorand freedom to the prisoner, to set the downtrodden free? And what should be my priorities for the next six months?
Answers on a postcard please - or maybe in the comments box.

Carols, Charles and a celebration of a life well lived

This last week has been very hectic. Lots of meetings at work as we are right in the thick of reorganisation - to say nothing of various Christmas celebrations. It was good to be at home last Sunday and go to Ruislip Methodist's Church for the Candlelit Carol Service with drama and readings telling the Christmas story.

On Tuesday I read in the celebration eucharist for the tercentenay of the birth of Charles Wesley at St Marylebone Parish Church ( the picture is of Marylebone and not of Ruislip!). The Archbishop of Canterbury presided and the President of the Methodist Conference preached. Before the main eucharist we had a short act of thanksgiving outside by Charles Wesley's grave. This was led by Geoff Cornell, Superintendent Minister of the West London Mission and Christopher Gower, Rector of St Marylebone with the Archbishop and the President also taking part. Those of us who were in the robed procession missed some introductory narration on the life of Charles although as we gathered at the back of the Church I did recognise the dulcet tones of one of the narrator - Susan Howdle, past Vice President of the Methodist Church. Her husband Peter, another past Vice President was part of the procession as Co-convenor of the Joint Implementation Commission (the body that seeks to implement the covenant between the Church of England and the Methodist Church). There was also a Civic procession. So it was a pretty formal affair but with a real spirit. Martyn preached wonderfully and as people were leaving it felt like a real bringing together of Methodists and Anglicans in worship which I think would have pleased Charles Wesley.

Then yesterday I was back in Ruislip for a service of thanksgiving for the life of a member of our Church who died the previous Thursday, Eric Birtles. Eric was one of those people who was always around to welcome new people and was a real encourager. He was incredibly supportive when I became a Co-ordinating Secretary, working for the Methodist Church, in January 1998 and again when I was nominated as Vice President. I will miss Eric. In listening to reflections of the 85 years of his life it would have been impossible to remain unmoved as we heard about his war service and his service as a missionary in Rhodesia and his work as a member of the Methodist Church Overseas Division, based in London. We heard too of his family life and his love for his wife Margaret and his children, Christopher, Jane and Sarah. Those of us who knew him a little reflected on that privilege and on a life well lived.

Conferring youth

This weekend Martyn and I have been to Cardiff to be alongside the Methodist Youth Conference. 150 young people (sorry to the people who had to be turned away - book early next year) met at the Urdd City Sleepover, part of the Wales Millennium Centre, in Cardiff Bay for their Conference which had the theme of "Let my people go" or "Gadawch fy mhobl yn rhydd!" in Welsh. I popped in briefly on Friday night to find people arriving and organised chaos of the sort that any weekend conference brings. Martyn and I were staying with District Chair Will Morrey and his wife so as not to take up any of the beds in the centre which were all required for young people! Good of us don't you think?
The other Welsh District Chair, Steve Wigley, guided me from the centre back to the manse leaving the young people to games. training on the mysteries of conferring Methodist style, worship and sleep.
On Saturday Martyn and I were driven back to the centre by Will where the fabulous worship band led the worship session which was followed by two business meetings before the oportunity to join one of 4 different groups visiting tourist attractions in Cardiff Bay - a Waterbus trip, "Doctor Who close up", the brand new Welsh Assembly and the floating Christian worship centre, Goleulong 2000 Lightship or to take part in one af two workshops.
In the evenings came the "hustings" to meet the candidates for next year's Youth Executive, then dinner and another Business meeting before some time to join with the worship band, watch a filn or just socialise. Today there was a business meeting before worship in the Millennium Centre where Martyn and I took part in the ceremony to induct the new Youth President and the new Youth Executive then lunch before setting off for home.
It was good to be present as Youth Conference discussed everything from the environment to ecumenical relationships as well as hearing reports from a lot of different bodies and working on the youth participation strategy. The worship was lively and inspiring and the musicians wonderful. The business sessions were well organised and there was quite a bit of use of the "Confused" cards to get clarification. I definitely think they should be introduced at the main Methodist Conference. Not sure how it would look if the platform party were to use them! I was refused a voting card on the basis of being "too old" which felt a little harsh but I had to accept that they had a point.
The local planning team, Connexional Team staff and a range of volunteers had done a fantastic job. We were sent out from the final worship to remember, reflect on and respond to what we had heard about slavery, both 200 years ago and today. A really worthwhile experience. Thanks to everyone involved.

Cornish images - Slum Survivor in Truro

Slum Survivor - living for a weekend as others live for a lifetime

Electronic communities - can facebook help the President?

I've eventually set up a profile on Facebook this week. http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2211562545&topic=3057

It has been fascinating but I would have to give up work as well as being VP to get the most out of it. About a year ago someone made me a friend on their facebook account and then in the last 10 days I had 4 different requests so thought I would look into it. I've managed to track down lots of young Methodists (and a few not so young) as well as other people I have had links with over the years. It was amazing linking to friends and friends of friends.

I've posted some photos from my visit to India at Easter to launch the Peacebuilders project and some of Bratislava. This afternoon I have posted a link to Martyn's request for help (below) on a couple of Methodist groups. I'll be interested to see what happens. Certainly new kinds of communities need new kinds of ministry. I have read a couple of discussion boards where young adults are feeling the Methodist Church doesn't understand where they are at. Let's try and make some movement. (In the meantime if anyone would like to send me fish for my virtual aquarium that would be great).

Let's celebrate - in Bratislava

I must admit that when I was asked to go the European Methodist Festival in Bratislava my first job was to look up Bratislava to find out where it is. Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, lies on the beautiful blue Danube in the heart of Europe, only 50 km from Vienna. The small Methodist Church in Slovakia were very excited to be hosting this festival which ran from the 1st to the 5th August. They did a fantastic job of it too.

I travelled there by train, being careful of my carbon footprint but spending more money and time in the process. (The journey took 28 hours and I travelled by underground to London then by train from Waterloo to Paris Nord, walked to Paris Ouest for the train to Strasbourg. The train from Strasbourg to Vienna was overnight and we had booked couchettes. On discovering that there were 6 to a tiny cabin with three on each side above each other and just spece to stand between, I realised that this was not for me and I wandered off to find a seat! In Vienna we arrived at the Westbanhof station so caught a tram to the sudbahnhof station for the train to Bratislava. All very exciting.) I made the journey back by plane which did not make me feel so holy but did make me realise why so many people travel that way. It's an interesting dilemma.

I really liked Bratislava. It has a small interesting old centre with a castle and churches and plenty of open air cafes to sit around at. The centre is well served by bus, trolley bus and tram from the University where the festival was. The facilities at the University were best described as varied with some beautiful rooms and some 60's style utilitarian buildings! Greatly helped by the tents put up by the Evangelism tent mission section of the German Methodist Church. But the team who put the festival together did an absolutely fabulous job. It was great.

Each day there was Liturgical morning prayer at 7.30 am led by Keith Albans - chaplain of MHA (I'm sure it was very good but where I was staying did not allow for breakfast and 7.30 starts - that's my story and I'm sticking to it), then Wake up and praise with music from an international band and interviews from visitors from all over Europe. There were Bible studies in various forms including sessions for children and young people whose groups also carried on during the day. After the Bible studies Wesley groups of about 15 people formed to discuss the Bible study or the theme for the day or anything else which occurred to them! In the afternoons there were workshops available or time to explore and in the evening were celebrations all together. Afterwards was a late night cafe with music and sharing. (It was also possible to take the bus into Bratislava centre and take in the late night atmosphere there. Apparently it is quite popular for stag weekends which may explain the t shirts for sale on one stall with the slogan "Where the **** is Bratislava?" They don't seem to have got out of hand though as a small group of us went into town on the Saturday night and found it very pleasant.) Some really interesting conversations took place over late night coffees or over meals - or in the queue for meals. There were times of challenge of comfort and of inspiration.

The main languages used on the platform were English, German and Slovak and translation was available in other languages including Spanish, Polish and Italian via headphones. We finished on the Sunday with a commissioning service with covenant renewal and Communion. When I got the programme on the Wednesday I was interested to see that this would include music, testimonies and a sermon. I was even more interested on Thursday evening to find that one of the testimonies on Sunday was to be from me! Three people each gave a three minute testimony, one in Slovak, one in German and one in English. These were not translated so I have no idea how they compared in content.

Each day had a theme Let's celebrate -......being loved, .....being young,......being foreign,.......being different and........being travellers. The celebrations and the Bible studies all picked up the themes. I enjoyed the Bible studies which I went to which were led by Inderjit Bhogal. Plenty to think about and it was challenging to discuss the passages with people from different parts of Europe - especially when we were discussing such things as"what do we admire and not admire about children?" and "what names do people call foreigners?" and "what are the tables that need to be turned over in your congregation?".

I went to two workshops - the first on Christian Mission in Europe led by David Deeks. David encouraged us to look at what the gospel has to say about responding to misbehaviour, wrongdoing and wickedness and how this is dealt with in European secular society and challenged us to consider the relationships we saw between the two and the effects of change such as historic privileges disappearing whilst increased legislation is being set to guide behaviour and set norms for punishment. It was good to consider together in buzz groups the reality of God who nourishes people and communities using, but not enslaved by rule and regulation.

The other was led by Johnston McMaster with Helen Harrell and was entitled Confessing Christ in a World of many faiths. This was based on work done by the Theological Commission of the European Methodist Council and their interim paper can be found at http://www.methodist.eu/downloads/Confessing_Christ.pdf
I found myself in a buzz group with a man from Britain and a woman from Italy where we were encouraged to share stories of meeting people of other faiths. It was fascinating and encouraging. We then looked at Bible passages considering God of One and the Many and then used some Charles Wesley hymns to reflect on God's grace for all and in all. In discussion we looked at Jesus as a Social Prophet, Jesus as Peacebuilder, Jesus and Global Responsibility and Jesus and Divine Presence - that the God encountered in Jesus for our salvation is truly God. Sadly we ran out of time to discuss the death and resurrection of Jesus in detail in this. We were encouraged to develop a profile of Jesus for a dialogue encounter with people from the Jewish or Muslim faiths (Abrahamic faiths). This is definitely still a work in progress for me. It certainly gave me food for thought.

Another challenge for me on the Thursday morning was being interviewed as part of Wake up and Praise and being asked to explain in a couple of sentences what a Vice President is. Most of the European Methodist churches come out of the United Methodist tradition with bishops but no equivalent of a Vice President in lay leadership. (Answers on a postcard please in case I am asked again!) I resorted to saying that we have a President, the equivalent of a Presiding Bishop (sharp intakes of breath from some here but I did only have a couple of sentences!) who is elected each year by the Conference. The Conference also elects each year a Vice President, usually a lay person (I didn't try to have the discussion about deacons) to work alongside the President in the leadership of the Church. I also mentioned that I am doing a "proper job" at the same time which seemed to cause some amusement. Especially as "Assistant Serjeant at Arms" proved to be as indeciferable in other languages as in English - I knew they shouldn't have asked me what my proper job was!

It was a great festival, enabled and facilitated by people from all over Europe and the British Methodist Church can certainly feel proud of those who contributed to it who included Colin and Sandra Ride, Elaine Robinson, Keith Albans, Steve Pearce, Eva Walker, Inderjit Bhogal, Mike King, Doug Swanney, Penny Fuller, Rob Redpath, Lindsey Peniston, John Nutt, Frank Aichele, Elizabeth Harris, Val Ogden, Gary Hall, Steve Hucklesby, Anthea Cox, Jonathan Kerry, Keith Bamford, Graham Horsley, Dave Martin, Luke and Sara Curran, Naboth Muchopa, Mark Williamson, Peter Clark, Helen Harrell, Jill Baker, Kathleen Pearson. I'm sure I've missed a few but what a talented lot they were leading workshops on everything from All age lantern making, to HIV/AIDS - the challenge to the church, leading Bible studies and worship, facilitating overall organisation and supporting the work with children and young people. Fabulous. Lots to celebrate. Praise God.

Water, water everywhere

I keep thinking that the floods in Britain must be coming to an end - and they carry on. I know that in Asia and other places around the world worse floods are happening and many lives are being lost and these are not even hitting our radar. We need to be aware of that and do what we can to help. However, it is still a shock to see hospitals in Britain having to receive bottled water and to watch families have to tear up other items of linen to make cot sheets where their small children have soiled the bed and they daren't use their bottled water to wash them. Where is the good news in this?

It is certainly in the responses that people are making. Particularly the emergency services and agencies like the Red Cross - who are putting out appeals for funds in major newspapers today, community organisations including churches and mosques. But also neighbours rallying round to look out for the elderly, disabled people and those with young families. It is good to see communities rallying round. But what do we say as people of faith when peoples homes are being flooded again having just been cleared up and babies born prematurely in their flooded home die before they reach hospital? God is alongside in every situation, but finding the right words to say this without sounding pious or ridiculous can be hard.

It is important to reach out and care in the midst of these difficulties and show the love of God to not only those who need us, but those who need us most. At Conference the President and I signed letters of greeting and support to ministers in areas of flooding as their communities struggled with the day to day difficulties and also reached out to those around them. Those messages go out further now as two weeks on more communities are affected. As we encourage Methodists to give support in whatever ways they can, those affected remain in our thoughts and prayers.

The Carnival, sorry Conference, is over

Well, after a week of early mornings and late nights the Conference is over. In some ways it doesn't seem five minutes since I arrived in Blackpool in the rain a week past on Wednesday and in others it seems a lifetime away. It is always the case that looking back you can see ways that you might have handled something better. It is too late to change those now, but sincere apologies go to anyone who got hurt along the way.

The content of the Conference business can be found through links from the Methodist Church website http://www.methodist.org.uk/ but what about behind the scenes?

Waiting to appear on Saturday afternoon is very odd for the President and Vice President designate but we hid ourselves away for the first half of the proceedings in the record office where we could watch what was going on via a screen. It broke the tension when one officer of Conference walked sedately from the platform and burst into the records office in search of a statement which needed to be read in the next two minutes, ran back out with it and appeared sedately back on the platform.

On Saturday evening we had a meal with family and friends which had an unauspicious start when we lost the President - finally found safe and well signing copies of his new book. (See https://secure2.cyberware.co.uk/~cb537/acatalog/Mission_and_Ministry.html for details!) A highlight of the meal for me was having the Vice Presidential cross described by my 17 year old nephew as my new "bling". It was really good to have time to share with people who had travelled to lend their support. (Especially knowing that from then on the days would start with meetings/Radio interviews etc in the early hours and go on late into the night with little time to stop and share).

Another of those fantastic moments arose on Sunday morning when at 8am the room used by the President, Vice President, the Business Committee and occasionally Uncle Tom Cobley and all, was found to be locked with no sign of a key. The conference centre said that 3 keys existed but they thought that the Methodist Church had taken them all. A chair which needed to appear on the platform (no not Wesley's chair, a smaller one hot foot from IKEA) and the President's robes were dutifully locked away. At 10am, with no one admitting to possession of the keys, and the worship due to begin at 10.30, the centre's handy person was sent for to break the door down. Fortunately he was just beaten to it by another of the centre's staff who had found a key. All's well that ends well.

The weekend contained many formalities, the inauguration of the President and myself and our addresses, hearings about aspects of the Team Focus business to be considered later in the week, the reception into full connexion of this year's ordinands and their ordination services around the North West on Sunday evening. At the end of all of that people are exhausted but also uplifted. It was wonderful to take part in the worship and for that to surround all of the formal business, to realise that we are a movement and not just an organisation. To know that we are united in our faith even when we don't agree with each other about every little detail. The Wednesday communion set within the context of the work was also very moving and special and set a worshipful tone for the business of the day as it was led by Barbara Glasson and the special people from "Somewhere else" in Liverpool. http://www.somewhereelse.org.uk/ I hope there will be opportunities to come back to thinking about that here.

For me then it was a bit of a shock to the system having driven back from Blackpool on Friday to go straight into the House of Commons to attend our departmental summer party. It felt right to be back in the workplace having emphasised that this is where many lay people express their ministry. I spent most of the evening serving drinks so I suppose that could be seen as a servant ministry, but I was very tired when I eventually arrived home.

After a domestic day on Saturday my husband and I drove up to Arnold in Nottingham and Derby District to be the surprise guests at the farewell service for a Superintendent minister and a lay worker on Sunday evening. My first official appointment and it had been a well kept secret! I had been invited because I was the former youth leader of the Superintendent minister. That really makes me feel old - I was a very young youth leader at the time! It was a good service and it felt good to be with local Methodists in their own setting. I was pretty tired and did not feel very inspiring but it was humbling that so many people were appreciative of me just being there in this new connexional role. It emphasised for me the need to think about that during the year and to follow the mantra I have used a number of times recently from the title of a book by evangelist Tony Campolo - "Following Jesus without embarassing God". Let's hope that's how it looks when we get to next summer. I hope we can build up some conversations about that during the year.

Back to work today in earnest, complete with the full regalia and House of Commons chamber duties until late this evening. No one addressing me as Madam Vice President, and going back to trying to sense God's presence in the everyday instead of having the obvious elements of worship to rely on.