Category Archives: News

The Recovery Church is a district project (NPNP) as well as a Circuit one, the training provider called Recovery Coach Academy is a major partner of our project by helping us to train and equip future Recovery Coach Professionals in the communities.

They offer a free live (on Zoom) 2hr training for ‘Allies’ (meaning people who don’t have addiction(s) but would like to help and volunteer to help those who suffer or are dying from addiction(s)). Just to remind ourselves that every year in Scotland about 3,000+ people die directly from alcohol poisoning or drug overdose (it doesn’t include death from accident or health complication link to the repeated excessive consumption of alcohol or drugs) making Scotland the highest rate per capita of ‘death of despair’ (academic term for death from addictions) in the western world.

We would like to invite anyone from the Methodist Church in Scotland to join this training on the 4^th April (6-8pm) to better understand why, how and what. Just register using this link:  https://www.recoverycoachacademy.co.uk/allies

If the Recovery Church is a genuine district missional project, through this training/workshop, we may inspire other areas of Scotland to join the movement…

Val King of the Stirling congregation has written about her time at the recent “No Faith in Fossil Fuels” vigil outside the Westminster Parliament.

Through the Roof, a disability charity, has produced short videos to help people to understand autism.

View on YouTube.

Disability charity Through the Roof is calling on all UK churches to join the ABC journey of disability inclusion, from Access to Belonging to Commission. They are sharing a new framework – the ABC model – as a simple tool for churches to show that disability inclusion is about more than just access.

Disabled people are hugely under-represented in the Church. 24% of the UK are disabled people: so nearly ¼ of the total UK population. That is more than the percentage of under 18s – yet our churches do not always reflect that percentage, and there is rarely any support or ministry in churches specifically for disabled people.

There are many barriers faced by disabled people to their spiritual life. Access to church buildings is just the first step – people can still feel excluded once they are in a church, if they do not feel like they belong, or that their gifts are valued.

The later steps, B for Belonging and C for Commission, are essential parts of the ABC journey, as Sarah’s story clearly shows:

“I have Down’s Syndrome and severe hearing loss… I felt excluded at church because everyone had a job, and I didn’t. Our Churchwardens included me. I am now the ‘chief snuffer’. I snuff out the candles after the service. I am happy because I am helping and I feel part of a team.” 

Read more here about how Sarah’s life has been transformed. Sarah’s experience of feeling left out is common. Churches often think about practical access to church, but that’s where they stop. At Through the Roof, we are sharing the ABC to show that disability inclusion is a journey, with Access as the starting point. Belonging is a crucial next step, which leads on to the Commission of disabled people to use their giftings.

Here is a summary of the ABC model Through the Roof uses, working with churches and people across all disabilities to enable: Access, Belonging and Commission…  

• Access: For everyone to know Jesus, with disabled people fully welcomed into Christian life  
• Belonging: For everyone to grow together as the family of God, with disabled people flourishing in community with others  
• Commission: For everyone to reflect the character of Jesus, with disabled people making disciples, to the glory of God.

Find out more about the ABC at https://throughtheroof.org/about/abc-journey/

How does Through the Roof help? 
Through the Roof’s ‘Roofbreaker’ initiative encourages all churches or ministries to have a nominated Roofbreaker disability champion – or it could be a team of people – who are available to connect with disabled people, listening to challenges they face. Roofbreakers travel alongside people through the ABC journey, supporting them in finding ways around any barriers to being fully included in church and Christian life.

66% of churches say they need ideas about how to include disabled people in church activities (ComRes/Savanta). Through the Roof can help your church or ministry with:

·        a FREE 2 hour Zoom Disability Awareness workshop for churches who appoint a disability champion or ‘Roofbreaker’

• access to a free downloadable ‘Church Toolkit’ and ‘Removing Barriers’ church accessibility audit, available to all Roofbreaker disability champions
• a 50% discount on Through the Roof resources to all Roofbreakers
• advice and support from one of three Roofbreaker Co-ordinators covering the whole of the UK, to encourage disability inclusion in all churches
• support through monthly emails, events, social media and Roofbreaker Networks.

Katie Mobbs, Roofbreaker Team Leader, who is herself a wheelchair user says: 

“I am so excited about the ABC journey because I believe that it is a pathway for more disabled people to be released for mission, sharing their gifts and skills to the glory of God. The ABC acronym is easy to remember, so it reminds us of God’s ‘Great Commission’. It represents an invitation for each and everyone of us – it is the Gospel in action.”

What can I do? 
Help your church to include disabled people – become a Roofbreaker!

You don’t need to be an expert in disability. You just need to be available to connect with disabled people, helping to break down barriers to Access, Belonging and Commission.

With a Roofbreaker, your church can send a positive message to disabled people by joining our online map of Roofbreaker churches. You can be on the map whether your church or ministry is just starting, or continuing, on the ABC journey towards better disability inclusion.

Find out how your church can be blessed by the full involvement of disabled people at: https://www.throughtheroof.org/roofbreakers/ or @TTRChangesLives on social media.
About the work of Through the Roof

Through the Roof is a Christian disability inclusion charity. Our mission is to transform lives through Jesus with disabled people. For 26 years, we have been doing this by:

• Enabling Faith:  Equipping churches and Roofbreakers (local disability champions) to empower disabled people to participate and belong in Christian life.
• Bringing Freedom:  The ‘Wheels for the World’ project provides disabled people in developing countries with wheelchairs and Bibles.
• Sharing Fellowship:  Our Christian-focused accessible holidays, retreats and groups bring fun and friendships for all.
  

For more information please contact:

Annette Stuart, Communications Officer
Through the Roof, Alpha House, Alpha Place, 
Garth Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 4TQ
annette@throughtheroof.org  Tel: 01372 749955

Please visit www.throughtheroof.org for information, news and resources.

Rev’d Gill Newton, President of the Methodist Conference, shares this blog about the importance of leadership within the Church.

The extent to which the style and quality of leadership offered in any group or organisation matters or makes a difference, is a question that has often been posed and discussed in the life of the Church over the years.  Leadership is also a topic or even a word that we have shied away from using in the church on occasions, as if it was somehow a questionable attribute that we shouldn’t be looking for amongst those called to serve! 

This has been at the forefront of my mind again recently, because of the experiences I’ve had on some of the visits made by me and the Vice President during the year so far.  What we have seen, heard and encountered in various settings has reinforced and underlined what I have always believed. The leadership offered by deacons and presbyters and by lay people is both vital and valued.  Leadership matters!  How we lead matters!  Who we are as leaders matters!  The culture we create as leaders really matters! 

We have found ourselves in gatherings of circuit or district staff, amongst members of the armed forces, at schools, universities and theological institutions, with ecumenical partners, at the Central Finance Board, at warm space gatherings, in the Houses of Parliament, at Church House, with partner organisations and amongst our own colleagues in districts and the Learning Network. 

In each and every context, leadership is exercised, and cultures have developed.  We have quickly sensed the various cultures as we have spent time in the company of those who have invited us to be amongst them.  Sometimes that culture is obvious, at other times it is more subtle, but it is always significant and full of impact.

What have I noticed?

I’ve noticed and been reminded of several things as I have observed and engaged in conversation:

• Listening is vital. Staff or group members feel far more committed to the organisation or project when their contribution, feedback or idea is heard, validated and valued.
• Offering encouragement and acknowledging progress or success helps to boost morale.
• Generating an environment where people feel able to admit mistakes or say they are struggling without fear, enables learning and development and ultimately improves performance.
• Creating spaces where team members can simply be together and get to know each other pays dividends. Knowing others well aids understanding and being known by others gives a sense of safety and security within a team.
• Gatherings around food are helpful in enabling the development of good working relationships and a sense of value for team members.
• Coherence between what leaders say and how they behave is crucial.
• Praying and reflecting theologically together is helpful even where all team members are not necessarily people of faith but where there is an understanding that faith plays a critical part in the culture being established.

 There is nothing new here, the practice of good leadership is crucial to the establishment of a healthy and motivational culture. Perhaps it is worth repeating some of these values and encouraging all of us to reflect on our own leadership and how well we are modelling the qualities we see in the person of Jesus Christ.

As we read the gospels, we see how much time Jesus spent with his disciples, his team, listening to their questions, affirming them in their calling but also challenging them to be and do more than they ever thought possible.  He ate with them, set them an example and forgave their mistakes. 

How is the leadership you are offering, reflecting the actions and qualities of Christ?  How is the team that you lead benefitting from the leadership being offered?  What culture is being developed because of the leadership where you are?  What hidden treasures are being revealed or left uncovered because of the culture in your church, community or workplace?

The Methodist Church in Britain has launched an appeal to support the emergency work being carried out in Gaza by the Methodist Liaison Office’s partners. The partner’s work focuses on helping civilians in
Gaza with medical, dental and mental healing issues and offering them financial support.
“The scale of the destruction and tragic loss of life in so short a space of time is incomparable to any other conflict in recent times. We grieve for all lives lost on October 7 and in the subsequent fighting. There is no justification for such widespread killing of tens of thousands of innocent people and we are gravely concerned for the entire population of the Gaza strip.”

How to give

These are available to download

Stirling Methodist Church has been awarded an Eco-Congregation Scotland Gold Award in recognition of its work and commitment to caring for creation. This is the first Gold Award to be awarded in Stirlingshire and the first to be awarded to a Methodist Church. It is the tenth Gold Award in Scotland.

The Award was made to the Church by Val Brown, an Eco-Congregation Scotland Trustee  at a special service on Sunday 4th February. Val said: “I am delighted to be able to present this Award which recognises the sustained efforts Stirling Methodists have made in the church, locally and in the wider world.”  

Mark Slaney, Chair of the Methodist Church in Scotland,   said: “You lead the way for Methodists in Scotland and set the standard. More importantly, this award marks your commitment and actions as a local church and place of worship in the face of climate crisis and in the faith of the God of all creation.”

Jon Cape, Green Team Leader at Stirling Methodists said: “The award reflects what  church members have achieved and also marks  a step on our continuing journey to help make a world safe for our children’s future.”

To achieve a Gold  award, congregations must show that they have developed a long-term commitment to promoting environmental issues as an integral part of their congregational life and have met detailed   criteria which include embedding green issues in  spiritual living, practical living and global living.

Stirling Methodist Church, has been especially recommended by the assessors for

• Its work to inform its  congregation and wider community about the global  ‘COP’ climate change conferences.
• The work to encourage, and ultimately achieve, agreement to divest from fossil fuels by the UK Methodist Church
• Setting up and having a leading role in the long-running Fair Trade Stirling
• Energy efficiency measures and use of renewable electricity.

The Award was made during the annual Plough Sunday service held by Stirling Methodist Church. The Church has re-established Plough Sunday which by tradition marks the start of the farming year. Bringing it up to date, the service included practical tips on how we can grow more of  our own food – which can cut ‘food miles’ to a few metres – and celebrated the Church’s Plant Power project encouraging us all to bring more plant-based meals into our weekly diet, so helping our own health and the health of our planet.