'Faithful Cities'
A report 'Faithful Cities' has been jointly published by Methodist Publishing House and Church House Publishing. It is the work of the Commission on Urban Life and Faith which was set up by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York with Methodist support to review the state of our cities 20 years after the famous Church report 'Faith in the City'. For full details and to download the full report or a summary visit www.culf.org.uk
New joint Anglican-Methodist Safeguarding post
The Revd Pearl Luxon has been appointed to the joint post of Safeguarding Adviser for the Methodist Church and the Church of England. She took up the post in September 2006 on the retirement of Mrs Janet Hind as National Child Protection Adviser for the Church of England.
It is the first national joint post created by the two Churches since the historic Anglican-Methodist Covenant was signed in November 2003. "Creating this post allows the two churches to speak with one voice," says Pearl. "It shows the seriousness with which both Churches take child protection." She liases with government, police, probation service and charities to ensure that the churches are up to date with legislation and best practice in protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Pearl, a Methodist minister and experienced Probation Officer, was previously Head of Safeguarding for the Methodist Church as well as running the Churches' Agency for Safeguarding (a joint venture between a number of churches for processing Criminal Records Bureau disclosures). Both Churches will continue their own arrangements for CRB disclosures and will retain their own safeguarding policies and church specific procedures.
The Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Revd Anthony Priddis, the Church of England's liaison bishop for Child Protection, welcomed the initiative as "a practical outworking of the Anglican-Methodist Covenant. I am delighted that Mrs Luxon will be fulfilling this new, joint role."
Joint Support for Further Education Chaplaincy
Alan Murray is a licensed Reader in the Church of England - but he is also the third person in succession to occupy a national advisory post for Chaplaincy in Further Education which is funded jointly by the Church of England and the Methodist Church.
As well as supporting chaplaincy in Further Education Colleges - much of which is part-time and increasingly multi-faith - Alan's role also includes responding to government initiatives and serving on a range of committees on behalf of all the Christian Churches.
The government, through the Learning and Skills Council, has recently awarded a grant of £70,000 a year towards the support and development of multi-faith chaplaincy.
