‘Bakewell Methodist Church at Work’

Bakewell is a small market town in the Peak District, lying some 16 miles south-west of Sheffield. Near the centre of the town is the Methodist Church. It has a membership of well over a 100, most of who live in Bakewell. But where do they work during the week?

In the summer of 2006, the church council decided it was high time to try and answer that question. It did so because it believed that if people had a better knowledge of what their fellow Christians did during the week, many means of mutual support might come into play. These could include sharing experiences about faith and work, the enrichment of worship, helping each other to witness more effectively, praying for one another and, not least, showing members that the church cared as much about their working lives as their church lives.

As a result, a ‘Bakewell Methodist Church at Work’ booklet was published. It included the names of all those willing to participate in the project (the majority of members), and a brief description of their paid or voluntary work. Voluntary work was included as the endeavours of retired members are all too easily forgotten. People were amazed at the spread of work in which members were involved. They were also greatly encouraged that the church was witnessing to the gospel in so many significant areas of life.

From this small venture other initiatives have developed. A display of logos, business cards, letter heads, photos, badges, T-shirts and other symbols representing people’s work was set up in the foyer of the church. A service was held during which four people were interviewed about how they were attempting to relate their faith to their work. During the same service, five people led intercessions for their work situation, having first place a symbol of their work (stethoscope, speech impairment aid, reading book, jar of jam, etc.) on the communion table. A house group was held to explore the challenges of witnessing to our faith at work. Other initiatives are planned. In this way, a deeper understanding of what it means to be Christians in today’s world is slowly developing. Could this happen in your church?

Deacon Dr. David Clark
david@clark58.eclipse.co.uk

In recent years the government has actively encouraged faith communities to take part in bodies such as Local Strategic Partnerships. In the next few months the reorganisation of local government in Northumberland and County Durham is going to open new opportunities for this. I recently completed some Home Office Funded work on behalf of the Chruches Regional Commission. This is part of an on-going prgramme of events and training.

Attached is my final report - if anything in this interests you, please contact me:

We believe that God is present.
At the heart of commercial life,
in the busy-ness and the confusion,
in the achievement and the failure,
in the decision and the process.
We believe in a ‘with-us’ God
who sits down in our midst
to share our frailty and our responsibility,
who holds our weakness and encourages our strength.
We believe in God, who cares for all,
who teaches us compassion
but is not afraid to confront wrong.
We affirm a faith
that takes us beyond the safe place:
into action, into vulnerability
into the workshop and the boardroom.
We commit ourselves to work for change
and put ourselves on the line.
To bear responsibility, takes risks,
live powerfully and face humiliation.
To stand with those on the edge
to choose life
and be used by the Spirit
in God’s new community of hope.

Amen

Regional

To cover an area largely parallel with “ONE - NorthEast” region and share common
concerns across two Methodist Districts.

Economic

We all have a stake in economic life.

Mission

“To find out what God is doing in the world and join in.”

Enabler

Helping the agenda to be discussed and acted upon amongst Church folk and in the
wider economy.