Report of a Visit by the Vice-President of Conference, March 2024
The visit of the Vice-President of Conference to the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District provided a welcome opportunity to affirm and celebrate the ministry of the deacons stationed in the district. Deacon Kerry Scarlett is a natural ambassador for the Methodist Diaconal Order, and as an officer in the Learning Network she brings considerable experience in leading and facilitating groups. All these attributes were effectively demonstrated during an intensive immersion into some of the most creative and imaginative aspects of the church’s contemporary mission and community engagement led by our deacons.
Accompanied by the District Chair, the Vice-President visited four circuits where deacons head community engagement projects. Altogether, the deacons and local volunteers were greatly encouraged by the Vice-President’s interest in their work and informed conversation. Deacon Kerry later met and shared fellowship with the diaconal area group, reflecting on their experience and local context.
Vice-President with Deacons stationed in the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District
L to R: Deacons Malcolm Knowles; Nigel Perrott; Maureen Spinks; Vice-President; Angela Shereni; Sarah McDowall
Hope@Trinity is a Methodist community centre in Clacton in the Tendring Circuit where Deacon Angela Shereni leads a team of volunteers providing food, warmth and support to homeless and vulnerable people in one of the most deprived areas of Essex. Social workers regularly arrange to meet their clients here, knowing it is a safe and welcoming space for informal meetings.
The Family Centre based at Trinity Methodist Church in Westcliff-on-Sea in the Southend and Leigh Circuit has long been a beacon in the local community. Here Deacon Sarah McDowall and a team of workers provide affordable meals and free activities for children of all ages and their families. A large hall provides space for basketball and football. Another room contains a bank of computer screens with controlled internet access where children can do their homework while younger children enjoy art and craft. Well-stocked community fridges provide a range of freely available food supplied by local supermarkets and shops – a much-needed facility in another deprived part of Essex.
The need for support is sometimes less visible. The Redfern Group is a project at High Street Methodist Church, Harpenden, in the West Hertfordshire and Borders Circuit. On behalf of the church, Deacon Sarah Wickett leads this group, which provides friendship and support to women in the local community.
In the St Albans and Welwyn Circuit, Deacon Nigel Perrott and his wife, Jane, live in a circuit manse on one of the large estates in Hatfield. Uniquely in the district, the manse serves as both home and local community centre. Here Deacon Nigel and Jane provide warm hospitality and practical support to families and children living on the estate. The Vice-President enthusiastically shared in after-school art and craft activities with children from the local primary school.
As part of her schedule, the Vice-President preached at the service of Holy Communion during the presbyteral session of the Synod held at Trinity Methodist Church, Chelmsford, in the Chelmsford Circuit. Later she invited members of Synod to reflect on the hidden treasure to be found in their local churches and circuits. The deacons had been specially invited to share in the Synod, and each gave a short presentation about their circuit work. As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women to the presbyterate, Synod also heard from three presbyters about their experience as women in ministry.
Fortuitously, the Vice-President’s visit to the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District coincided with an exhibition of the Methodist Modern Art Collection under the title ‘Deepening the Mystery’ held at the Focolare Centre for Unity in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. The exhibition comprised 25 paintings drawn from the collection, appropriately selected for the season of Lent. These striking images, accompanied by thoughtful catalogue notes, provided a spiritual pilgrimage for Passiontide, drawing visitors more deeply into the Paschal Mystery of our Lord’s death and resurrection. Certainly, the Vice-President appreciated the private time and space in a busy schedule to engage with some fine examples of modern Christian art, which communicates so much more than words can convey.
Vice-President surveys one of the pieces in exhibition of the Methodist Modern Art Collection.
As the Conference clearly recognised, Deacon Kerry Scarlett is a gifted communicator. The Vice-President’s warm personality and engaging manner enabled her to get alongside a wide variety of people, many of whom have little contact with the church other than through its community engagement projects. If this was a visitation of encouragement to the deacons stationed in the district, it was also a visit to the church at the margins.
David M. Chapman