Moving Methodism

I have been thinking (oh no!) and this thinking has been partly influenced by experiences within my own Circuit, partly by the Mission Shaped Ministry course that I have been on for the past year and partly by reading "Tribes" by Seth Godin.

I have concluded that I am passionate about Moving Methodism and I want to engage with others who are too for support, encouragement, prayer, ideas, sharing and friendship.

What do I mean by "Moving Methodism"?

Moving Methodism recognises that significant movement (change) is needed for the Methodist Church in Great Britian to be all that God wants us to be. Moving Methodism is all about seeking God's Mission and moving ourselves to join in. Moving Methodism is seeking to discover, encourage, support and celebrate all that moves Methodism towards God's Mission.

• Moving Methodism celebrates moving nearer to God. After all we began as a holiness movement.
• Moving Methodism encourages growth in our discipleship (think of the class system).
  
• Moving Methodism expects us to move spiritually, emotionally, physically, relationally, intellectually as we Worship, Serve, Learn, Care and Evangelise together.
• Moving Methodism celebrates the change, new life, new opportunities brought by the living God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Moving Methodism encourages us to face death by believing in resurrection.
• Moving Methodism wonders at the love of God continually creating, redeeming and sustaining life.
• Moving Methodism glories in the variety of people created, loved and delighted in by God

Moving Methodism is about being changed and used by God to help the Methodist Church move as God wants it to move.

Moving Methodism is not:

• is not about leaving the Methodist Church
• is not about grabbing power
• is not a takeover bid
• is not interested in harming people
• is not interested in driving people out
• is not interested in creating division
• is not about subverting structures
• is not deterred by the size of the task or by naysayers

Moving Methodism is:

• inclusive of everyone who wants to join
• in love with Jesus
• grateful for our history, tradition and structures
• in love the people called Methodists
• eager to reach out to those in need in service and witness
• going to be working within and for the Methodist Church in Great Britain

Are you interested?

If you are passionate about Moving Methodism and keen to get started on exploring, sharing and supporting each other in this exciting journey then let me know.

Some ideas to get us started

• How to lead a Church/Circuit/District/Connexion into praying continually.
• 101 ways to move Circuit Leadership Teams into mission and movement.
• 10 ways to help Church Councils move forward in Mission
• 21 ways to make Local Preachers and Worship Leaders Meetings into hotbeds of dynamic worship improvement.
• 223 ways to get rid of burdonsome buildings
• 1001 things to do with pews (once they are out of the Church)
• Why God calls people to be excited about being a Circuit Steward.
• How to build God's Kingdom and change the world by being a Church Steward.
• Junior Churches to die for.
• How to rediscover distinctive features of Methodism such as Prevenient Grace.
• 1 reason for being a Pioneering Moving Methodist.
• How many Fresh Expressions can you start this year?
• Why we are moving back to Scripture

Moving Methodists and Light bulbs.

Q: How many Moving Methodists does it take to change a light bulb?

A1: None, they have already moved onto LED's which last forever and use almost no power (and what they do use is provided by renewable resources).

A2: None, they are never in one place long enough for a light bulb to fail.

A3: Any number from one up because change is what we do.

A4: Why bother? One Moving Methodist is Spirit filled enough to light up any room.

Comments

[Fat Prophet]

I am just preparing our bi-monthly newsletter and one of our themes for this year as a church is about standing up and being counted. This post would be an excellent lead in to encourage our folk to think deeply about this - how would you feel if I used it in the newsletter obviously giving full credit to yourself as the author of it?

[Dave]

FP,

Delighted, use anywhere you want. All the content on 42 is licensed under Creative">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 anyway.

[Richard Hall]

Sounds exciting. Count me in.

[Will]

I'm in too. Sounds great, Dave.

[Sally]

Wow Dave, this is excellent, I have to say I am all for Moving Methodism!!!!

[Sally]

...am linking to you!

[Ian]

Great!

Any contributions to the 21 ways to make Local Preachers and Worship Leaders Meetings into hotbeds of dynamic worship improvement. I have a meeting next week and could do with some thoughts.

It would be great to build up a resource for all those ideas to get us started.

[Dave]

Thanks all for the support.

Ian, will be posting on this as I believe these meetings have great potential to move us forward. Potential that is usually wasted.

[Angela]

Have just found this via Sally's link.
This is great.
When I stop moving I will be dead.

[Paul Martin]

Add me also, mate

[Dave]

Paul, Will do, expect an email in the post with the cheque.

Angela, probably, although I doubt if you will be very static in heaven.