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British government "deeply concerned" by Fiji restrictions
Following earlier publicity about the restrictions placed on Methodists in Fiji I contacted my Member of Parliament John Spellar.John took up the issue with the Foreign Secretary and has now sent me a...
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Cancer ward
I have to be careful how I write this post, but I want to share something.Earlier this week I visited a cancer ward. It was with apprehension. Whilst I was there I met two very special people, who...
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Leslie Griffiths says his farewell
I'm putting Leslie Griffiths remarkable letter in today's Methodist Recorder online. If you click it will enlarge into a readable document. I certainly don't agree with Leslie's decision, nor his...
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Impressions from the occupy #LSX at St Paul's Cathedral
Yesterday I spent an hour outside St Paul's Cathedral in London having a nose around the "Occupy #LSX" encampment.Over the last week I've had a number of concerns about how this demonstration will...
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Bourgeois theology and structures will not challenge the rich and powerful
Some are expressing shock and horror that the bourgeois Church of England are about to seek legal remedies for the eviction of the protesters presently camped in front of St Paul’s Cathedral. What...
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Christians want Chancellor to close the gap between rich and poor
Representatives from a range of Christian denominations and charities, including the Methodist Church, have handed over a letter to the Chancellor today asking the Government to tackle tax avoidance...
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The gerontocracy that runs the Methodist Recorder
The Methodist Recorder is celebrating its 150th anniversary. How much does the average Methodist know about the "world's leading Methodist newspaper"?It has a cover price of £1.95 (though its website...
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Old phone numbers, broken links, wrong cover price - the Methodist Recorder...
Today's Methodist Recorder website front page.Wrong cover price on the front pageDisconnected telephone numbers on every pageAn online bookshop that doesn't existGhost pages from the main...
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A good way to handle bad news
Tonight's Birmingham Evening MailReading my evening paper on the bus I came across this exemplary piece of communications work from the Methodist Church.Earlier this year many of us here in the...
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Planning for Remembrance Sunday 2011
Next Sunday the 13 November I shall be leading the Remembrance Sunday service at City Road Methodist Church Birmingham. The service will start at 10.50 am in order that we will join the 11.00 two...
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The smears begin in earnest - now is not the time to be a bishop or an actress
Just over a fortnight ago a Conservative MP, Louise Mensch made herself look very silly on television when she attacked the #occupyLSX demonstrators who had set up camp outside St Paul's Cathedral in...
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Drop the NHS Bill - sign the petition
Just had a note from my colleagues in the Labour Party:Put the NHS firstThe Government is planning the biggest re-organisation of the NHS since it began in 1948.It is unnecessary, unwanted, wasteful...
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The 360 assessment tool will soon be available for ministers and church leaders
A 360 feedback tool is now being prepared for ministers and church leaders. A Birmingham based management consultancy is working on the project.360 is a method of gathering feedback from subordinates,...
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Wilfred Owen: Disabled
He sat in a wheeled chair, waiting for dark,And shivered in his ghastly suit of grey,Legless, sewn short at elbow. Through the parkVoices of boys rang saddening like a hymn,Voices of play and pleasure...
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When the going gets tough
Whole pile of things at the moment making life very difficult. I shared my despair about one situation with the congregation on Sunday. My health is fine but when a close friend is suffering our hearts...
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Caring for the elderly - where have we gone wrong?
Today's report into the care of the elderly should be a real wake up call. About half of those surveyed reported themselves happy with the care provided. But"the inquiry also revealed many examples of...
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Gambling back on the church agenda
The issue of problem gambling makes a welcome return to the agenda of the British Methodist Church. The church is to join with other Christian groups in making representations to the House of Commons...
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How Islamaphobic myths are circulated
All it takes to generate a racist myth is a tiny grain of truth, a willingness to lie and the internet. I have an elderly acquaintance who enjoys forwarding the latest jokes that appear in his in-box....
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Old comrades
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of attending the official launch of John Kotz's book Vintage Red that I reviewed a few weeks back .The event was held in the art deco splendour of the council...
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