This Remembrance Sunday (12/11) Hinde Street welcomed Kerry Scarlett, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, as guest preacher. Kerry came to Hinde Street as part of her duties as Vice-President, a role to which she was appointed at the Methodist Conference this June. These duties include travelling across the British Isles to visit various churches, projects, and communities in order to see where God is moving, as well as to give encouragement and spread the gospel.
In her Remembrance Day sermon, Kerry spoke eloquently on the experiences of trauma, displacement, guilt and fragmentation in the face of conflict and violence both in the past and in the present. As difficult as these experiences may be, Kerry also reminded us of the ‘hidden treasure’ of a light in the darkness that is always there to ‘remind those of us who feel like they are struggling to hope, who have been traumatised, who feel overwhelmed, who fear they are forgotten … that they are never, ever forgotten by God.’
To illustrate this, she shared with us an artwork by Reverend Jenny Spouge (see image above), who used scrap materials and fragments in order to depict a flaming blaze emerging out of a black and navy landscape. This piece will play a further part in the fight to repair harm done by violence as it will be sold at an upcoming auction to raise funds for Adavu, a charity which supports survivors of modern slavery (co-founded by Kerry herself). We encourage you to check out the Adavu website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter – sharing and engaging online is another way to help their important cause. Make sure to keep an eye out for the auction next year!
If you missed Kerry’s sermon, you can listen to it on our podcast channel or read the transcript attached. If you haven’t already, you can also read more about Kerry and her work in social justice in her biography below.
The readings for this sermon were Isaiah 45: 1-8 & Luke 4: 14-30
Biography:
Kerry Scarlett is an ordained Methodist Deacon whose current role is as Learning & Development Officer for the West Midlands Methodist region. Previously, Kerry was Tutor within the Centre for Ministerial Formation at the Queen’s Foundation. Her responsibilities there included leading on social justice engagement, and developing partnerships and collaborations with local organisations (including a significant partnership with Citizens UK around community organising).
Prior to this, Kerry’s appointments included circuit ministry, workplace chaplaincy, and the development of the West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network and the Adavu Project, a Birmingham District project supporting survivors of modern slavery. Kerry is still involved with the work of Adavu in a voluntary advisory capacity, and her part time PhD studies are on the ways in which faith stories of survivors can shape our engagement with modern slavery.
Before candidating for Methodist ministry, Kerry worked for the Methodist Church in Ireland, as Children’s Ministry Co-ordinator within the Irish Methodist Connexional Team, and has a background in teaching and training. Her experiences growing up in and around Belfast, Northern Ireland, have contributed to Kerry’s ongoing passion for church to be engaged in issues of social justice, transformation, and building church with and among people who have been marginalised. Having come to faith in her late twenties, Kerry finds herself drawn to communities which seek to reach out beyond the walls of established church. Kerry was interim pioneer minister from 2018-2019 for Inclusive Gathering, Birmingham, and currently volunteers as a core team member with Street Ecclesial Community Birmingham, a church being built amongst those experiencing homelessness.
Kerry is married to Steve, and between them they have five children, ranging in age from 20- 14. In her spare time, Kerry enjoys open water swimming, running, cinema and regular trips to Ireland to visit family and friends.