District News The Methodist Church Northampton District Winter 2011 FULL PROGRAMME FOR PRESIDENT'S VISIT Two local and two district-wide events will figure in the visit of the Revd Alison Tomlin, president of the Methodist Conference, to the Northampton District from Friday 11 to Monday 14 February. The president is, of course, a former chair of our district, and it will be good to welcome her back. Alison's programme begins with a visit to the Amersham Circuit and its Church in the Community project. Then, on Saturday 12 February, Alison will be the guest speaker at the Northampton District Biblefresh festival hosted by the High Wycombe Circuit. The venue is All Saints' Parish Church, Church Street, High Wycombe, HP11 2BN. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. There is no need to book in advance; just come along on the day. The Biblefresh festival will include workshops in song writing, Playmobile Bible, a 'disciple' taster, alternative Bible studies, Godly play, banner-making, drama and storytelling. There will also be a Bible labyrinth plus a wealth of other biblical resources to explore. More details at: www.highwycombemethodist.org.uk/biblefresh.php. On the Sunday of her visit, the President of Conference will preach at Barrow-on-Soar Methodist Church in the Loughborough Circuit. Finally, on Monday 14 February, Alison Tomlin will lead a district quiet day from 10.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the theme, "Love changes everything". The venue is Crossways Retreat Centre, Yardley Hastings, Northamptonshire, NN7 1EL. The quiet day is free but booking is required. To do so, please contact the district office: tel. 01604 630128 or oneills.dist23@googlemail.com. Please bring a packed lunch. Soup, tea and coffee will be provided. REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT By Roy Littlecott, district property secretary We all know that we are supposed to be taking measures to reduce the amount of carbon we use in our homes and churches. Yet, it is often difficult to know what to do for the best, and in the most economical way. Now, help is at hand. The Methodist Conference, the church's highest governing body, in 2010 endorsed two reports on this subject: Hope in God's Future - Christian Discipleship in the Context of Climate Change, and Carbon Reduction (both available on the Methodist Church website: www.methodist.org.uk). All local churches are now asked to sign up to a Hope in God's Future policy, and to appoint someone to take responsibility for raising awareness about these matters. The Northampton District is conscious that in order to become more environmentally friendly, many churches and circuits would appreciate help regarding useful contacts, where grants can be obtained, what new initiatives are forthcoming, etc. We are happy that Philip Burns has agreed to become our district advocate for carbon reduction. Philip is a member at Didcot Methodist Church, which has recently received an Ecocongregation Award (www.ecocongregation.org), and may be contacted at pandbburns@givemail.co.uk, or tel. 01235 813654. NEW CONNEXIONAL SAFEGUARDING HANDBOOK The new Connexional Safeguarding Handbook is now available to buy from Methodist Publishing for £20 plus P&P, or to download for free from: the Methodist Church website: www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=churchlife.content&cmid=1196. Why is this new book necessary? Elizabeth Hall, safeguarding advisor for the Methodist Church in Britain, explains, "There is a growing understanding that protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults is at the core of our faith. Safeguarding is about creating churches that are a safe space for everyone: a space where children can flourish and adults can live up to their potential. It is about enabling everyone to come to Jesus without stumbling blocks of abuse, ignorance, fear, compassion fatigue or the failure to recognise the experiences that so many carry within our communities." PAUL TAYLOR LEAVES DISTRICT By the Revd Peter Hancock, district chair After more than ten years of highly valued service within the district, the Methodist Church has appointed Paul Taylor, our director of training and development, to be ministries, learning and development officer within the connexional (national) team based in London. Paul goes with our blessing and good wishes for success in his new post, plus our thanks for the work he has done, first as district training and development officer, and then as director of training and development. As director, he combined the two half-time posts of training officer, and district development enabler. Paul says that he hopes the experience and insight he gained in these roles will enable him in his new job to contribute to good links between the connexion, districts, circuits and local churches. Paul's last day of working within our district will be Friday, 18 February 2011. We are, of course, working on arrangements for the appointment of successors to both of the part-time posts that Paul will vacate. These are connexionally funded, and the training officer position is integrated in the Midlands Methodist Training Forum, so we will need to consult beyond the district. This is an exciting time for the Taylor family. In addition to Paul's move, his son Sam has been elected as Methodist youth president for the connexional year beginning in September 2011. Our prayers and support will follow both father and son as they embark on their new ventures. DISTRICT EXECUTIVE Roy Slocombe, newly appointed secretary to the executive, reports for the first time. The executive met on a cloudy but, fortunately, non-snowy day in December, and at its usual Northampton venue of Bouverie Court. Paul Taylor, the district's outgoing director of training and development, led our opening devotions based on an Internet project Paul created as part of his current MA studies on the topic of emerging church (for more details, visit: www.the-abbey.org). The meeting dealt with a long list of items, several of which are reported in more detail elsewhere in this issue of District News. We considered a report from the Methodist Council, which has increasing concerns about the workload of senior members of the connexional team (in effect the Methodist Church's national secretariat). It seems that because of the pressure of day-to-day concerns, our officials lack time to think strategically about the challenges facing the church in the world, and how best we can implement the Our Calling process and all that it means. One good piece of local news is the executive's decision to recommend to synod the appointment of Philip Burns from Didcot as the district advocate for carbon reduction. Philip will lead our efforts in this key area. The executive also gave thanks for Paul Taylor's long record of work in the district, and wished him well in his new connexional appointment. The executive then spent time considering the shape of the role or roles that will replace the one Paul is leaving, and began the process for achieving that. Through District News, the executive sends good wishes for 2011 to everyone in the district. ENDS