My personal views on the EU referendum

I have kept fairly quiet about my views on the EU referendum and don’t like conflict or argument, but feel that now is the time to jot down my feelings and rationale for voting to leave the EU in order to clarify my thoughts and come against some of the negative things being spoken about people like me.  There has been so much said on social media and within the media generally about this referendum and many assumptions made about the profile of a ‘leave’ voter and I feel that a lot of what has been and is being said is unfair, biased, patronising and in some cases actually quite rude and insulting, and therefore needs a balanced and hopefully loving response. 

So here are my thoughts:

·         I am not anti-Europe.  I love Europe, I love Europeans, I love travelling in Europe and welcoming visitors to our land, I love trading with Europe and being allies and partners.  I do not believe that the EU and Europe are the same thing.

·         I am not racist, bigoted or small minded.  I have a wide perspective of the world and am well travelled.  I love people of all nationalities and indeed am blessed to have friends in many nations, across all continents.  I love the multi-cultural nature of Britain and the diversity and variety that people bring with them from other cultures, faiths and backgrounds.

·         I do not want to close our borders to people in need of work or of our help.  I fully support those who are helping refugees fleeing persecution, war or civil unrest.  I support and give to charities who are helping refugees and want to be open and welcoming to those who come here for work or refuge. 

·         I am not uneducated, of a poor socio-economic background, old, voting with my emotions or out of hatred, I am not brainless or blindly unaware of the issues.  These are statements that I have read about ‘leave’ voters which I find insulting and discriminatory.  

·         I am strongly pro-democracy and that is where the crux of the matter lies for me. I do not wish to continue to use tax payers’ money to pay for salaries, buildings and travel expense of rich, unelected bureaucrats; rather I want it used to support vital services in our land and to help those in need here and overseas such as the homeless, unemployed, the sick, disabled, refugees and those in need of aid in the developing world.

·         I don’t want unelected leaders to be able to overrule our law making procedures and judiciary or to decide what is best for our people and the way we spend our public money.

·         I am a Christian and have devoted my life to serving Jesus and seeking to love people from all backgrounds, nations and beliefs.  I therefore reject the accusations that anyone who voted to leave the EU is ‘anti-Christian’ or not upholding Christian values.

Finally, I understand all parties, Governments and systems have their flaws and realise there isn’t a perfect way of running a country, and we all have different views on the best way of doing things. While we may not agree with each other and come from different places I pray we can show respect for people who hold opposing views and treat them with courtesy.  Of course this will be a time of uncertainty and change but whatever our opinions I pray that now we can move forwards in unity, with a positive outlook.  I have faith in a God who doesn’t change and whatever happens in our land or continent I know that he holds my future and is the rock on which I stand.

I close with the prayer put on the Methodist Church website which I think is brilliant for this time:

God of every nation and people,

At this historic moment we pray for all who are affected by the decision that we have made.

Whatever differences this has revealed within our own society, may they not eclipse what we have in common.

Where the narratives of political debate have caused harm and division help us to reclaim the true values of our shared humanity.

Where exaggeration and distortion have generated suspicion and fear may truth and honesty restore hope and goodness.

We pray for all the nations of Europe that you will help us to find ways of living and working together to pursue the mercy and justice that you require.

We recommit ourselves – together – to the values of your eternal Kingdom and pray that along with all people we might help your world become more as you intended.

AMEN

 

 

Carnivals, collaboration and curry!

We hit the ground running as Mark's sabbatical came to an end and it's great to be back into hopefully fruitful ministry and work and a lot of travelling around!

At the beginning of June I attended a Methodists in World Mission conference in Derbyshire on the theme of Latin America.  It was great to network with people from all over the country (and world!) and inspiring to hear about the enormous church growth in places like Cuba and Brazil.  The keynote speaker encouraged us to plant the seed of the kingdom here so we can see similar fruit in our own nation.   One of the highlights of the weekend was a Latin style carnival evening when we had a go at learning to dance and learnt more about the culture and traditions of some of the Latin Amercian countries. 

My carnival outfit...it'll come in handy if we get invited to any parties during the Brazilian Olympics!!!

The following weekend we attended the wedding of my goddaughter Lizzie which was a wonderful time of fun and celebration and catching up with old friends...and the bonus was it was a beautiful sunny day! 

Scrubbing up for the wedding!

Having fun at the disco

Then last weekend I travelled to London for a meeting of the Easter Offering Service task group, planning a service for next Easter to raise funds for world mission across the country...I'm having to really concentrate as next year I'll be chairing that task group so was really working hard to take it all in!   From there I went to straight to our Methodist Women Executive meeting and we spent the day dealing with business and looking ahead at our future strategy and vision which was exciting.

The Highbury Centre, Islington where we held our meeting

Hard at work thinking and discussing...Mark said it looks like we were planning an invasion!

From London I whizzed down to Portsmouth to visit a dear friend and join in with a quiz and curry fund raiser for Ovarian cancer...a wonderful evening of fun and frivolity!  

Julie and I on a little walk around Emsworth

Phew!  I am just loving the variety of my life and all the different places, people and experiences and I haven't even properly started yet!  I'm so thankful to God for the way he has guided me into this new role and full of excitement about the years ahead as I discover where the path will lead me. 

I close with a quote from St. Francis of Assisi, used by the Nicolas Lowe children's home in Buenos Aires (for whom we had our offering at the mission weekend)...'Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible and suddenly you're doing the impossible.' 

Am I special?

Last night while we were on the local Youth for Christ bus in Kingsbridge, we were chatting to a girl of 13, and during the conversation Mark asked her if anyone had ever told her that she was special to God.  Her little eyes lit up, she smiled and in a surprised voice she said, 'AM I?' 

I wonder how many people out there don't realise that they are special and loved by God?   For those of us who know the reality of that truth it's a challenge to tell as many people as possible how amazing God thinks they are!

A new beginning...

As I prepare to take up the role of World Federation Area Officer for the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women (catchy little title!!!) several people have said they would be interested to follow my comings and goings so I thought it was a good time to start another new blog. 

I was appointed for this role way back in January 2015 and have been waiting all this time to take up the post and gradually discovering what I have let myself in for as I follow Alison Judd around the country finding out what the job entails. 

I value all the prayers and messages of support that I have already received and look forward to sharing with you all the adventures of the next five years. 

I tried to get a witty or clever title for my blog but all the good ones were taken so I had to resort to just my name...the over arching title, 'For such a time as this...' comes from the verse in the book of Esther in the Bible where Esther is told she has become queen for an important reason at just the right time and my prayer is that I can use these next five years to fulfil whatever it is God has in mind for me and to be obedient and courageous as I follow this path. 

Myself with Alison who currently fills this role - I stand on the shoulders of giants.