all lectures are on tuesday, FREE AND BEGIN AT 7.30pm
'Moving Stories' is a two year project of the London District of the Methodist Church. Its purpose has been to change the narrative of fear and suspicion of migrants, to one of celebration and recognition of the contribution migrants have made to London, and to Methodism. These lectures form part of the culmination of this project. In the light of the current political discourse, the need for Christians to articulate positive stories of migration is an urgent one.
The vibrancy of this city and its churches, owes much to those whose story is of moving. Some moved to work; others moved following political turmoil at home; their stories are profoundly moving. The story continues to move on, as new generations reflect on what it is to be British born but with a heritage beyond these shores.
Hearing from those who understand migration personally, and have thought deeply about it, is the invitation for us all to consider ‘Moving Stories.’
The vibrancy of this city and its churches, owes much to those whose story is of moving. Some moved to work; others moved following political turmoil at home; their stories are profoundly moving. The story continues to move on, as new generations reflect on what it is to be British born but with a heritage beyond these shores.
Hearing from those who understand migration personally, and have thought deeply about it, is the invitation for us all to consider ‘Moving Stories.’
A VIEW FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE
12 February 2019
Jennifer Crook
Currently, Jennifer Crook is Head of Diversity and Inclusion at the House of Commons. Previously, Jennifer was the National Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Adviser for the Methodist Council. Jennifer is an experienced equality, diversity and inclusion practitioner, an author, teacher and counsellor. Like many parents, Jennifer juggles full time work with being a full time mother of two.
Jennifer has written articles in the national press and has worked with a number of organisations both national and international on the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda including working with the United Nations on gender and race equality issues, carried out cross cultural research in Japan and Morocco and worked with the Home Office in Northern Ireland and Iraq. Amongst her many qualifications, Jennifer is a qualified teacher and counsellor, has a Masters in Race and Ethnic Relations and is an accredited harassment adviser.
Jennifer has written articles in the national press and has worked with a number of organisations both national and international on the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda including working with the United Nations on gender and race equality issues, carried out cross cultural research in Japan and Morocco and worked with the Home Office in Northern Ireland and Iraq. Amongst her many qualifications, Jennifer is a qualified teacher and counsellor, has a Masters in Race and Ethnic Relations and is an accredited harassment adviser.
Moving stories, Migrant god
12 March 2019
Rev Inderjit Bhogal
In his lecture Inderjit will share his own personal stories of migration, and what he has learned about God, and the call of God.
Inderjit Bhogal is married to Kathy and they live in Sheffield. Inderjit completed 42 years as a Methodist Minister in 2018 and is a former President of the Methodist Conference. Inderjit is passionately committed to the achievement of justice and peace. He is President of the Methodist Peace Fellowship, and is founder and President of City of Sanctuary.
Inderjit Bhogal is married to Kathy and they live in Sheffield. Inderjit completed 42 years as a Methodist Minister in 2018 and is a former President of the Methodist Conference. Inderjit is passionately committed to the achievement of justice and peace. He is President of the Methodist Peace Fellowship, and is founder and President of City of Sanctuary.
THANK GOD FOR IMMIGRANTS - LESSONS FROM BABEL, JERUSALEM, IRELAND AND CHILE
9 April 2019
Rev Laurence Graham, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland
Laurence Graham is the Immediate ex-President of the Methodist Church in Ireland; Superintendent Minister of the Dublin Central Mission; Ministerial Secretary of the Irish Methodist World Mission Partnership (formerly the Methodist Missionary Society, Ireland)”
Born in 1968 to Mission Partners he grew up mainly in Ireland. In 1990 he went with the Methodist Missionary Society to be a Mission Partner with the Methodist Church of Haiti, as an agriculturist. A call to Ministry began to stir a little and led to a trial as a lay preacher, preaching his first sermons in Haitian Creole, and then in English in Antigua where he completed his first Local Preachers’ exam.
On returning to Ireland in 1992 he took a job as a Lay Pastoral Assistant and completed his remaining Local Preachers’ exams and subsequently a Queens BD for ordained ministry before beginning ministry in Ireland. He has been involved in planting a new church and has since completed a PhD analysing the methods of mission of the early church.Laurence is married to Karen and father of 3 children.
Born in 1968 to Mission Partners he grew up mainly in Ireland. In 1990 he went with the Methodist Missionary Society to be a Mission Partner with the Methodist Church of Haiti, as an agriculturist. A call to Ministry began to stir a little and led to a trial as a lay preacher, preaching his first sermons in Haitian Creole, and then in English in Antigua where he completed his first Local Preachers’ exam.
On returning to Ireland in 1992 he took a job as a Lay Pastoral Assistant and completed his remaining Local Preachers’ exams and subsequently a Queens BD for ordained ministry before beginning ministry in Ireland. He has been involved in planting a new church and has since completed a PhD analysing the methods of mission of the early church.Laurence is married to Karen and father of 3 children.
MAY THE THIRD GENERATION CHINESE CHRISTIANS ENTER CANAAN
14 May 2019
Rev Lawrence Law
Lawrence’s lecture is a follow up from the book he wrote in 2000 entitled 'Can Chinese Christians enter Canaan'. During the time when he wrote the book, he was working at the King’s Cross Methodist church; which was serving mainly Chinese asylum seekers in King’s Cross. It is his reflection on the journey that he has taken since his book was written and seeks to reflect his thoughts on whether the 3rd generation of these migrants and community will be able to enter Canaan.
Lawrence Law is a Presbyter of the Methodist Chinese Mission in the North-East. He migrated to the UK in 1993 with his wife and has one son and one daughter, who are working in Hong Kong. In 2008 he was appointed to the Chinese mission in the North East of England as their Presbyter. He was initially stationed in Middlesbrough where this congregation expanded across the whole of the north east to Newcastle and Durham. Again, his work led him to serve Chinese immigrants and to working with the refugees and asylum seekers and their descendants; as well as working with the overseas students and youths.
Lawrence Law is a Presbyter of the Methodist Chinese Mission in the North-East. He migrated to the UK in 1993 with his wife and has one son and one daughter, who are working in Hong Kong. In 2008 he was appointed to the Chinese mission in the North East of England as their Presbyter. He was initially stationed in Middlesbrough where this congregation expanded across the whole of the north east to Newcastle and Durham. Again, his work led him to serve Chinese immigrants and to working with the refugees and asylum seekers and their descendants; as well as working with the overseas students and youths.
NO ABIDING CITY: sOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE OR IN BETWEEN
11 June 2019
Rev Jennifer Potter
Jennifer spent the first 25 years of her working life as a teacher (mainly Geography) – first in a Methodist Girls’ School in Zambia (3 years) and then in a number of schools in Botswana (21 years). In Botswana she was a Local Preacher in the Methodist Church and very active in the national ecumenical council at a very interesting period in the history of Southern Africa.
Having begun Local Preaching in the UK she continued her theological education in Botswana with people from right across the spectrum of Christianity – from Roman Catholic to African Independent Churches. She did it all, while teaching, through continuing education including a Dip. Theol at the University of Botswana and a B.Th. (Hons) in missiology with UNISA in Pretoria, South Africa.
On returning to the UK in 1996 she worked in the Connexional Team for 6 years as the International Affairs Secretary and did her pre-ordination training on the North Thames Course – an ecumenical precursor to St Mellitus College.
From 2002 until her retirement in July 2018 Jennifer was a minister.
Having begun Local Preaching in the UK she continued her theological education in Botswana with people from right across the spectrum of Christianity – from Roman Catholic to African Independent Churches. She did it all, while teaching, through continuing education including a Dip. Theol at the University of Botswana and a B.Th. (Hons) in missiology with UNISA in Pretoria, South Africa.
On returning to the UK in 1996 she worked in the Connexional Team for 6 years as the International Affairs Secretary and did her pre-ordination training on the North Thames Course – an ecumenical precursor to St Mellitus College.
From 2002 until her retirement in July 2018 Jennifer was a minister.
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