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Every society, community and nation of the world is facing changes at a pace never experienced before. Technology makes communication, scientific advances and everything in general, so much speedier. There are those, of course, who cling on to traditional methods and habits-some for good reason, and some because of simple obduracy.
The Church has struggled with this changing pace for some time. In some places change has been readily accepted; in others it has been resisted. However, when we look back even over 20 years, we can all see that change has actually happened. This is just a fact. Nothing can stand still.
By change in churches I do not just mean scrapping the organ and replacing it with a kit of drums. Consider this:-
A lot of Church goers can remember a time when the pace of life was slower; there were more ministers; there were more funds available, and there was an accepted pattern of church life with ministers regularly visiting all 'the flock' as well as serving the community; chairinging all meetings and having a cornucopia of ideas and plans to present
This is not an excuss, but ministers are fewer; more funds are needed than ever before; the church is asked to,be involved in more than ever before, so that Christian values and ethics can invade the life of all the community.
Whilst our foundational priniples, theolgy and priorities are still to be cherished; the Church needs to be a differeent shape to accomodate all that is exopected of it-to include the tradional and the modern;to address the needs of the regulars and the interested irregulars(if they will pardon my shorthand phrasing)
I say all this to address the feeling of some that the church is in terminal decline. It is not. It is in constant flux and change. This is uncomfortable to those who have known what they may term 'traditional church'. I would suggest that the church has always been changing and there has never been anyone who has been committed to the way of Jesus Christ who never wanted to change anything.
In conclusion I would say loud and clear that the Church in general and the Methodist Church in particular is in a great position. Because we cannot have things as they were when I was a lad, we must deal with things as they are now, for we have opportunities that we may not have sought, but must grasp. I see that in the Methodist Church in Nottingham and Derby we have a great variety of ways of being a visible and vital presence of Jesus Christ, To all Methodists I say, please act on these opportunities;learn from others, share with others, to everyone else who reads this, I say come and see what we are about-and you will be surprised at how 'not' on decline we are.
Wes Blakey
Chairman, Nottingham and Derby Methodist District
The Church has struggled with this changing pace for some time. In some places change has been readily accepted; in others it has been resisted. However, when we look back even over 20 years, we can all see that change has actually happened. This is just a fact. Nothing can stand still.
By change in churches I do not just mean scrapping the organ and replacing it with a kit of drums. Consider this:-
A lot of Church goers can remember a time when the pace of life was slower; there were more ministers; there were more funds available, and there was an accepted pattern of church life with ministers regularly visiting all 'the flock' as well as serving the community; chairinging all meetings and having a cornucopia of ideas and plans to present
This is not an excuss, but ministers are fewer; more funds are needed than ever before; the church is asked to,be involved in more than ever before, so that Christian values and ethics can invade the life of all the community.
Whilst our foundational priniples, theolgy and priorities are still to be cherished; the Church needs to be a differeent shape to accomodate all that is exopected of it-to include the tradional and the modern;to address the needs of the regulars and the interested irregulars(if they will pardon my shorthand phrasing)
I say all this to address the feeling of some that the church is in terminal decline. It is not. It is in constant flux and change. This is uncomfortable to those who have known what they may term 'traditional church'. I would suggest that the church has always been changing and there has never been anyone who has been committed to the way of Jesus Christ who never wanted to change anything.
In conclusion I would say loud and clear that the Church in general and the Methodist Church in particular is in a great position. Because we cannot have things as they were when I was a lad, we must deal with things as they are now, for we have opportunities that we may not have sought, but must grasp. I see that in the Methodist Church in Nottingham and Derby we have a great variety of ways of being a visible and vital presence of Jesus Christ, To all Methodists I say, please act on these opportunities;learn from others, share with others, to everyone else who reads this, I say come and see what we are about-and you will be surprised at how 'not' on decline we are.
Wes Blakey
Chairman, Nottingham and Derby Methodist District