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Website last updated on 20 Jan 2012. |
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Our Minister
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Telephone Number: 01276 681333
Email: nkeithlowder@gmail.com
Our Minister writes (taken from our February 2012 newsletter) ...
Before I was offered the opportunity to serve the Methodist
Church in the UK, I knew I would probably be serving multiple churches.
A friend of mine who encouraged me to pursue ministry in the UK had served
five churches west of London. I didn’t even think to ask him how
often he preached at his churches because I assumed it would be just as
it was in the United States. No matter how small or large the churches
a minister in the US served, he was expected to preach in each one every
Sunday if possible. I never reflected much on the situation because it
made sense to me. Worship is often seen as the focal point of the church.
Why would the minister not be there for it?
Leading up to my departure from the States, I asked numerous questions
to prepare for ministry in a new context. I queried about the size of
the congregations, their locations, styles of worship, length of the average
sermon, median age of attendees, version of the Bible most popular, etc.
Still, I never asked how often I would lead worship on Sunday mornings
in each church. I knew I would be driving from one to the next and then
on to the last, whether I was preaching that Sunday or not. I would worship
with each church every Sunday. Well, I thought I knew.
When I received more paperwork on the situation in each church, plans
for the future, and expectations of me, I then read that I would be at
Sandhurst & Yateley four times a quarter, High Cross four times a
quarter, and Bagshot three times a quarter. This was a big surprise and
one that I did not understand. I knew the churches were in close proximity.
I couldn’t figure out why the rotation was as it is. From that moment
on I hoped the situation might change and began to pray about it.
Since coming to the UK I have learned more about the tradition of the Methodist Church. The circuit system is a time honored tradition that celebrates the connection between churches and has engendered a healthy ownership of the ministry by the parishioners. The system supports the churches in the face of a shortage of pastors. Some churches are so far apart geographically which coupled with this shortage has necessitated a rotation of pastoral visits. All these functions and results of the circuit system should be appreciated.
Even though the above features should be applauded, my mind has not changed regarding my current appointment. The main reason I came over to do ministry in the UK was to reach out to people who did not know Christ. A big part of that evangelism would eventually involve inviting people to church. With the current situation, there was a strong likelihood that if any of these folks showed up I would not be present to welcome them. I also struggled with the idea that I was to minister to people who I would not see often. In the case of Bagshot, I would only be present for worship once a month. How was I to build relationships and seek to establish consistency in preaching from the pulpit if the majority of the time I would be absent? Yet another concern I had was not knowing the theology of the people who would be preaching in my absence. I imagined how challenging it would be to hear that someone had preached something antithetical to orthodox doctrine while I was away. And last, but by no means least, I just wanted to be around the people I serve more often.
Sandhurst & Yateley and Bagshot are the two churches in which I am the solo pastor. They are the only ones that presented the possibility of tweaking the worship times that would allow me to be present more often. I suggested moving the worship time for Bagshot up a half hour to 9:30am and for Sandhurst & Yateley back a half hour to 11am. This would permit me to add the other church on the same day I was to be planned at the other for most Sundays while still preserving space for other ministers to come in and preach other weeks. I shared my desire with a number of people in both churches including members of church council, stewards, vision team members, and about anyone I came across. Thankfully my hopes resonated with them. Both church councils unanimously approved the change of times which will be implemented in March.
While the change addresses many of my concerns, it is
no panacea. However, whatever setbacks and growing pains may emerge, I
believe the change outstrips them. We all must seek the Lord’s vision
for the church and all take part in moving us forward to truly be a discipleship
movement shaped for mission. If the church revolves around one person
or one group, it will fail. I am excited about the endless possibilities
the Lord has for us at Sandhurst & Yateley Methodist Church.
Rev Keith Lowder