This post by Martin Thorne on https://theologyeverywhere.org dated on March 02nd, is the first of two articles where he takes a look at what for many Methodists are seen as the internal failings of a church where numbers have continued to decline and which has resulted in the closure of churches, joining of circuits and amalgamating of districts, leaving a feeling of more centralised control and a loss of freedom which previously might have allowed for differing local circumstances.

Being part of a recently amalgamated district as my joint circuit has become since the start of this connexial year, I am worried that changes will be made which while they fit the management criteria which comes from such moves, there will be a loss of that uniqueness which attracted me to Methodism back in 2018 which has further led me to answer the call to become a Local Preacher and to have the privilege of presiding at the Lord’s Supper.

Judging by some of the comments on the original post (not shown here) Holy Communion and who can preside is set to become a major point of discussion and which Martin will cover in his next post which I will also share.

Original post below.

“To the People called Methodists with much affection and warm gratitude but in deep concern.”[1]

In this book we hear from one of the great Methodist preachers of the last century, Rev. Dr. W. Sangster and look at his concerns for the Church then. Sangster would have seen the rise of Methodism to its zenith in the early 1920s and then a decline which now has the appearance of a terminal dive. In 1938, as the 200th anniversary of Wesley’s ‘heart-warming’ – Aldersgate Sunday we celebrate today – he looked with deep concern, at the declining attendance in the Church. I wonder how he would feel now? To us 1938 seems like a golden age, now almost beyond living memory.

“If the people called Methodists, ministerial and lay, would humble themselves before the Almighty, not imputing blame to others but confessing their sins … God would bend to such faithful expectancy and use us again.” His point about the ‘cumbrous machinery’ (detailed in his previous pages) is still sharper today with its ever greater obligations for oversight and responsibility; also his remark that man-made obstacles are nothing to God and need not be insuperable to us if we – first, understand the problem and then have the wit and will to overcome. Of great importance, his comment on the class-meeting; where is that today? Elsewhere he makes observations about Denial and Defeatism to which is added here Passivity (‘wait & see’). Always easier to hopefully do nothing.

Today there are three internal failings in the Methodist Church in Britain which can be discerned:

1. Bureaucratised – “The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy” (attributed to Oscar Wilde). Bureau → Office → Officialdom. The Church has volumes of rules, the Pharisees would be envious.

2. Institutionalised – Meaning “less able to think and act independently”, to which the synonyms entrenched, regulated, orthodox and traditional may be attached – not in a positive sense but as an indication of an inhibiting structure.

3. Paralysed – “Incapable of movement”, not steadfast but more like petrified or ossified, bound by ties of its own making: The efforts of the few hampered by the inertia of the many.

Well, this is easy to say but these rather sweeping generalisations are of little use unless accompanied by two things; actual examples and suggestions to overcome the problems.

This is not to be dismissive of the serious efforts of intelligent, committed and concerned members whose hard work has produced enjoyable, edifying and worthwhile projects; such as the Bible Month studies of recent years. There have been many valuable contributions like this and yet despite the helpful resources produced by dedicated Christians the Church continues to decline. Given the wealth of enthusiastic and often successful initiatives we must ask – how is the Church is in such a steep decline? (see membership figures on the Methodist website).

Sangster concludes here with what amounts to a personal remedy for us all:

“I Accept God’s full and free forgiveness and take the Lord Christ as my Saviour.

By God’s grace I Offer myself to do whatsoever my Lord the King shall command.

I Vow (and here may follow any vow the disciple is ready to make. Do not let us pose, even to ourselves. Let it be a pledge that Grace and Resolution can fulfil; and if it is made for one year or one month at a time it will not overwhelm us and can be renewed. The following are intended only as examples which the disciple can use or vary as God leads him)

I will spend fifteen minutes (or thirty or an hour) in quiet with God every day.

In my prayers I will listen more than I speak.

I will commend my Saviour in simple conversation to at least one other person every week.

I will read the Bible daily.

I will join in some form of Christian fellowship weekly.

I will attend regularly the service of the Holy Communion.

So help me God.”

While these are surely all important it is that last, Communion, we shall consider in a second article next week.

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[1] W.E. Sangster Methodism Can Be Born Again (Hodder & Stoughton, 1938, Repr 1958).