Dinner Date with a Dean

This evening I ate dinner with an exceptional group of people. The dinner was hosted by Harold W. Attridge, Dean of Yale Divinity School /Lillian Claus Professor of New Testament. Dean Attridge is an advocate of strong church and theological engagement with issues of social significance. He was one of the four initial sponsors of the recent controversial “Yale statement” aimed at improving Christian-Muslim relations.
About 30 people from different walks of life joined in conversations about the world and faith. There was particular interest in the news which had been released at the end of last week that Tony Blair is to be the Howland Distinguished Fellow at Yale for the next academic year. We engaged in discussion about a number of topics including inter faith issues and links with the media. One of the other guests was Michael Wakelin, Head of Religion and Ethics at the BBC and a fellow Methodist. We are pictured here with Harry Attridge. It was a real privilege to be part of this August gathering and I will follow the developments at Yale with increased interest. My thanks to Kathleen LaCamera for making the introduction.

Westminster Community

This morning I was back at Westminster Central Hall. This time to preach at the community service where we gave thanks for all those organisations and individuals who work in the area for the good of the community. A number of those people attended the service and some of them were interviewed or did readings as part of it. I found it inspiring to know that these people are giving so much to this community which I am a part of during the week.

15,000 women marched through New York City in 1908 demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. 100 years on, the pertinence of this event is honored through IWD's 2008 global theme 'Shaping Progress'.

Saturday is International Women's Day. The UK Parliament have given today over to discussing the way women's lives have historically been shaped by things outside of their control, the progress made and the progress yet to be made. How might you contribute to "shaping progress" on this important issue, either in your own community or wider in the world where women continue to suffer from prejudice and inappropriate discrimination?

For the first time in my VP year I was approached by a man on Monday who asked whether I felt guilty that I had been put in a leadership position over men. I said no, that I had felt a call which had been tested by the Church and I was very comfortable with the situation. When he pursued his point I reminded him of St Paul's words that "in Christ there is no male or female". He politely shook my hand and left but it made me realise that there is still work to do.

Informal conversations

Each year there is an annual informal meeting of leaders from the Methodist Church and the Church of England to discuss items of common concern. This is particularly important in the light of the Anglican-Methodist Covenant. This morning Martyn and I went to Lambeth Palace with David Deeks, Peter Sulston and Ken Howcroft to meet the people from the Church of England who are our nearest counterparts! We talked with the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishop of Peterborough, the General Secretary and the Ecumenical Officer on subjects as wide ranging as Fresh Expressions, Theology of Equalities and Christian links in Europe as well as having updates on the work of the Joint Implementation Commission for the Covenant. It was good to share examples of how the Churches were sharing in mission in different ways and recognise the need to share this more widely. I felt it was a helpful meeting and hope our partners in the Covenant feel the same.

Fresh Expressions musings

I've spent the last couple of days in London. On Monday I went to High Wycombe to share in a residential meeting for Methodists involved in Fresh Expressions. Though it is easy to say when the conference is deliberately targetted at enthusiasts, there is a real sense that more and more of us are 'up' for a genuine and radical openness to God about the future shapes of church - church not configured around a wooden version of our tradition, or our likings, but rather church shaped around what we discern as the mission and will of God in this time and place. It is all a bit messy at the moment, and will be for some time. But the number of folk who seem happy to live in a thrilling mess rather than a less thrilling stability seems to be growing!

Then on to London Monday night where I spent yesterday at Methodist Church House with some of the folk who I will be working with in the Connexional Team from September. All very exciting, and not a little daunting. I am trying hard to live in the world of the President, as is proper. But necessarily some time has rightly be given to preparing for the next connexional year. The problem is of course, as it is for many folk, to use a northern saying 'trying to get a quart in a pint pot'. I'm doing my best, but away from home for 6 days now I'm ready for a rest and hope to get one on Thursday, tomorrow.

But first it is today, and a meeting at Lambeth Palace with The Archbishops and others,together with members of our Secretariat. I'm looking forward to it.

A weekend in Bristol and an afternoon out - what more could a girl ask?

As Martyn said we spent the weekend in Bristol. At Wesley College I spoke about my journey towards and through the Vice Presidency including bits about being a Christian at work and how my thoughts on inclusivity are based on theological reflection about God - God is inclusive so we should be and also that Paul's list in Galatians 3 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" is unlikely to be an exhaustive list and that we need to continue to watch out for excluding people from the offer of the Good News of God.

I stayed with the Borgas family - Rachel and Martin and Christopher and received wonderful hospitality. (Christopher also took the photograph - thanks CB). I was also able to meet up with a few old friends on Saturday evening and that was good. Paul and Angela, David and Liz and I had all been in the same Circuit some years ago so we had a bit of time to catch up.

On Sunday morning I preached at Keynsham sharing the leading of the service with Rachel (the minister there) and Ward Jones (the District Chair). I am a bit worried about having so many District Chairs listening to me preach - maybe word has got out that I should be monitored - it feels a bit like I am undergoing an Ofsted inspection! We had a great time.

Sunday evening at the Cathedral was also great with the Methodist gathering filling the Cathedral in good voice and a hearty welcome from the Dean and his team to what Martyn referred to as their "little chapel".

Back on the train then and in to work this morning to catch up on the e mails before going across the road to Westminster Central Hall this afternoonfor the annual Daffodil Day service with a cast of thousands! Well a congregation of a couple of thousand anyway. It was good to share the platform with a range of people including Pam Turner, Network President and Steve Wild, Director of Evangelism from Cliff College as well as Steve Murray whose mime reduced me to tears. Kate Semmens sang some wonderful solos and was ably backed up by the Daffodil Day Ladies Choir - who only came together earlier in the day! The young boys of Trinity Boys Choir were great and sang a good range of songs and we heard from children and staffof St Vincent's Family Project. The Circuit staff all contributed in different ways but I certainly mustn't forget to mention Clarence the Frog!! It was good to sit next to the Lord Mayor whose grandfather had been responsible for setting up the garden of rest around Charles Wesley's grave 60 years ago when he was Mayor of Marylebone - but I was a little jealous as her bling was particularly flash! A great day - put the 2nd March in your diary for 2009.

PS if you are interested there is a very flattering article about someone who looks like me on the UMC website http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2072519&ct=5066575

From Lords to London - via Bristol

What a weekend! Friday evening was spent at the House of Lords celebrating 65 years of MHA. About 150 folk - the good and the greater - attended and listened to how it was, how it is, and what are the hopes and plans for the future. It was wonderful to have a number of MHA residents among us. Keith Albans stood in at the last minute to host the event (Pam Ayres was unable to come because of family bereavement) and did a fantastic job. A special book was launched, compiled by Laurence Wareing who was present to mark the event. One of those events that makes one proud to be a Methodist.

Then to Bristol for a district weekend. Saturday was spent at Wesley College where I focused on aspects of mission and renewal (what else?!). An encouraging group of about 80 folk came along and it was, for me at least, a helpful event. Sunday morning was spent at Cirencester where Mothering Sunday shared with a sermon on mission shaped church! Thanks to the lovely folk there for their welcome.

No doubt Ruby will blog about her Sunday morning and the great service in the evening. Now back in London after a day with Methodists involved with Fresh Expressions! What a life!