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The news that Greggs was to close all its stores broke before the Prime Minister’s announcement last night. It felt like that moment when it all became very real, and I was immediately reminded of Dad’s Army’s Private Fraser’s catchphrase ‘we’re all doomed’. Not being able to buy that rich comfort food, a sausage roll or its vegan equivalent, seemed like the ultimate end of civilisation as we know it. The Andy Warhol exhibition at Tate Modern also opened and closed last week. Warhol’s iconic pictures of Campbell’s soup cans and prints of Marilyn Monroe will now be locked away for the next few weeks or months. But the 1960s images are very well known and will readily stay in our minds, as will, for some of us, the taste and smell of a Gregg’s sausage roll or other pastry based product. An icon of our times, the convenience of a warm snack on the go. No wonder George Osborne’s pasty tax caused such a stir. As we remain at home, what will be the small things we will hold in our minds, that we will savour vicariously at a distance? Of course we will greatly miss family and friends however much we Skype, Zoom or Microsoft Teams, but what are those things that oil the wheels, ease the pressure, or provide a space that we take for granted? These are not the guilty pleasures of a sausage roll but real life actions and experiences that get us through the day – safely. Here’s the thing about safeguarding. It’s often the small things that make a difference and these generally rely heavily on human interaction and connection. Emotional wellbeing is going to be at a premium over the next few weeks, and so as our churches close and our folk start to hibernate, cocoon or self-isolate, depending on your definition of what you are doing, its critical for us to think about how we can support those we are concerned about to access their safe spaces. This will not be easy of course and so it’s great to learn about volunteer groups springing up. The Methodist Church is publishing guidelines about safe best practice, but the latest announcements about gatherings will potentially make it harder to deliver some services. Creativity will be the order of the day. Andy Warhol’s images are pure pop art and speak of a vibrant and colourful time and place when the world could be your oyster. Greggs sausage rolls may not be the most healthy and nutritious snack you can buy, but one can hit the spot when you need it. Let’s try to make sure we all get our daily crumbs of comfort, joy and hope.

God of pavement, sky, and earth, bless the corners and side streets in which we work. Bless those without contactless cash; bless those who work nights and shifts. Bless those who live without papers or permission; bless the money rich and time poor. Build your kingdom in this place, and guide all people in your service. Thank you for the heritage of Susanna, John, and Charles: may their legacy goad our conscience and free our spirits. Thank you for the visitors and pilgrims to Wesley’s Chapel, and help us welcome to all. Thank you for the gifts of prophecy, faith, and love among your people gathered here: may your young see visions, and your old dream dreams. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. PLEASE PRAY FOR: 1. For the mission and ministry of Wesley’s Chapel 2. For the new initiatives and Chapel Voluntary community 3. For safekeeping and journey mercy for all who visit as pilgrims to this place, and the peace of the City of London

Well…. We are well and truly in a place even a week or so ago we probably never expected to be. Personally as I edge towards the total self-isolation threshold it’s a strange and worrying time, as it will be for many readers of this column. However I do not intend to add more column inches about the virus. Safeguarding activity must continue. It’s at times of distraction when standards can fall, and calculating abusers may hope to benefit from attention being focused elsewhere or they pick up any whiff of looser supervision. But to carry on as normal is no longer possible so what’s to be done? Many of our processes can be carried out remotely via email and other communications systems, but it’s the face to face contact of doing risk assessments, agreeing and monitoring contracts and asking people to share blemished DBS certificates that are going to cause us some challenges. Sadly this may mean that if we cannot meet to assess or supervise then some temporary prohibitions may have to be placed on the actions or presence of some individuals. Cases will be no doubt be different and so seek advice from your DSO in the first instance. As we start this period of national uncertainty, it’s probably worth taking time to think about how best we protect vulnerable adults in our churches and the wider community. Not just from the virus but from the wiles of individuals who could use the opportunity to inveigle their way into the lives of others for their own advantage. The schemes that aim to look out for the elderly that are proliferating around the country have great intentions, and churches will no doubt be at the forefront. But it will pay to ensure that the safeguarding aspects of safe recruitment and supervision are consistently applied. However you are able and whatever your role – be alert!

Father God You know that safeguarding is a big issue in the Church. That we have looked back to review our history and our journey, and at times we have been found wanting. We want to put things right so that we prevent abuse in the future and protect those who have been and are still being affected in any way. We thank you for all those who work hard to make sure that we are a safe church. For their commitment and hard work when the task can sometimes seem overwhelming. Give them strength and support and the knowledge that their work is a real example of working out the gospel in everyday church and community life. We pray that you will give courage and wisdom to our leaders as through their influence they set clear examples of our hopes for our churches always to be safe places. We pray for all those who have experienced any sort of abuse, but especially in a church setting where people should always feel safe. We pray for healing and restoration, but above all justice. We pray that our recent learning from the Past Cases Review and from our direct engagement with survivors will bear fruit that will be a real testament to our church’s ambition. For the perpetrators of abuse we pray that they will learn to understand the harm and hurt they have caused, and appreciate why the church aims to stand firm in applying its policies and procedures. For all this work to be sustained, we pray your blessing on our London District Safeguarding Officer and the District Safeguarding Group who provide support and guidance. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

It seems an obvious choice to reflect a bit on Coronavirus this week. The Monday morning train into London seemed a bit emptier than usual, and travellers appeared subdued. I know Mondays are not everyone’s favourite days, and London commuter trains are not renowned for their enthusiastic chatter, but the mood felt a little sombre. Will this be the last day of commuting before being told to work from home? As a home worker anyway, for me working from home would not be too great a hardship. Casework supervisors are well connected by our computer system and our phones have conferencing facilities. But the loss of regular direct contact with colleagues would be sorely missed. But this week delegates to the annual Methodist Safeguarding Conference which took place last week will be returning to their regular work and reflecting on what they have learnt. Our focus was on the Past Cases Review (PCR) five years on. It was good to be able to reflect on a number of significant achievements since the publication of ‘Courage, Cost and Hope’ in 2015, but also identify what still needs to be done to embed cultural change in the Church with regard to safeguarding. Jane Stacey, the PCR project manager helped delegates to visualise the extent to which ministers and church leaders were fully on board and understood their responsibilities, whilst Rev Dr Jane Leach spoke about the impact of the roll out of ministerial supervision. For many the highlight was Rev Leslie Newton’s presentation (Chair of Yorkshire North and East). He spoke eloquently about Safeguarding, being the body of Christ, as well as forgiveness, truth and grace. His wider context was concerned with an enquiry into why the Church finds it challenging to implement respectful uncertainty, a key theme emerging from the PCR process. It was an important message to take back to all our churches. So in the short term will we be able to do this in person? Spring Synods are on the horizon, and no doubt other events are planned when in theory it would be possible to share this important message that links to the development of a wider theology of safeguarding. Can we go out with our message of transformation when the emerging message is one of isolation? Our prayers for our country, and our world, are critical at this time.

God of the City, We offer to you the life of the London Borough of Hackney - its diversity of faith, culture and ethnicity, its sense of community and neighbourliness and its vibrant, joyful atmosphere. Yet for every joy there is a sadness, for every celebration there is a struggle, and for every act of kindness there is an act of hatred. We pray for those excluded economically and socially by the gentrification of the borough – may they feel at home. We pray for all victims and perpetrators of gun and knife crime - may they find healing and peace. We pray for all those who are homeless or vulnerably housed - may they find justice. God of Empathy, and Action, in Jesus you call us to love our neighbours. Help us to understand the lengths we must go to, and the price we must sometimes pay to ensure that all your people are safe and free. PLEASE PRAY FOR: 1. The Social Action Projects in the Circuit – the Listening Place at Stoke Newington and the Lunch Club ay Chatsworth Road 2. The work of Hackney Citizens and the participation of the Circuit as a member organisation

The top official at the Home Office has resigned. His resignation statement on Saturday spoke of a bullying culture in the organisation allegedly propagated by the Home Secretary, Priti Patel. Column inches devoted to this just about managed to push Coronavirus off some front pages this weekend. In the same week, the Samaritans chose not to appoint their preferred candidate for the post of Chief Executive following the publication of reports of his reported bullying behaviour at the Alzheimer’s Society. What are we to make of these events? What do they say to us about organisational culture, and is the church immune? The Methodist Church takes the possibility of bullying seriously with staff at Methodist Church House being required to attend a course about how best to spot and then address the issue. It’s probably rare for any of us not to have had experience somewhere in our lives of feeling bullied at some level. It may have been a sharp word of criticism or a sustained pattern of being undermined or belittled. In some cases, perhaps at school, there was also the threat of or the actuality of physical violence. For some people whose church experience has included times when they have felt bullied, the shock and dismay is compounded by the fact that our gospel is one of love. ‘How can this happen?’ they rightly ask. Online bullying is a new representation of this type of behaviour which has sadly been with us for generations. Our safeguarding policy now makes explicit reference to bullying, which is often tied into the idea of spiritual abuse. It can be an abuse of power and authority in church life. Sometimes it can be necessary to assert authority, press firmly for changes, and demonstrate the proper application of the church’s discipline. But our skill and experience as safeguarders requires us to assess where a line may have been crossed.

God of all creation we thank you for the colours and strands of your beauty and grace and proclaim that all heaven and earth declares the glory of the Risen Lord. We see You in the joys and celebrations of life as well as in the pain and hurt that surround us. As a weaver you take the strands of our lives and weave them into the lives of those we love and so we pray for them You take these new colours and thicker threads and intertwine them with those in the communities where we live and worship and we pray for them All people of every race, culture and language bring their lives and experiences and You skilfully create a wonderful tapestry of life in all its fullness And we stop and gaze on your incredible creativity at work in all the world – and we worship You. PLEASE PRAY FOR: 1. The grace to hold the circuit together during our conversations around the Marriage & Relationships report 2. To continue seeing signs of growth in prayer and bible study across the circuit 3. For a growing commitment to evangelism and making new disciples

(Written on 04 February 2020) The news today is reporting that about half of 10 year old children have smart phones. Surprisingly this blog is not about the dangers inherent in children being able to access this level of technology, and the risks they run through on line communication with strangers for example. No, this is about the news itself. Smart phones often come preloaded with some form of news channel which presents users with a range of news sources that can provide those waiting for buses and trains, for example, with a seemingly endless selection of serious news stories alongside the current exploits of Dancing on Ice, Strictly or Love Island stars. The sources also give regular updates on royal fashions, botched operations, failures to diagnose serious illnesses and miracle cures. The sheer breadth is quite astonishing. No wonder whole train carriages can be glued to their tiny screens, and that’s not counting those who are active on social media. No doubt some of us select a preferred news source as well and download the relevant app according to our view of the world or political persuasion. We know that if we only read commentaries that we are likely to agree with, these can act as an echo chamber to re-inforce our own beliefs. This has been true for centuries of course, but it’s the ease of access to multiple news sources that’s new and enables us to get swift and easy access to a wide range of alternative perspectives. That’s without any consideration of fake news as well. When we look at complex issues in our safeguarding world, it’s essential to get the all-round view of a situation, so that we don’t approach it through blinkered vision. This is not about seeking easy explanations or mitigation but making a real effort to try to understand the actions, attitudes, and beliefs that have shaped behaviour that may be a concern. If we want to appreciate what makes people tick or behave the way they do, then being aware of the factors that influence them is crucial. The earlier offence of the young man shot in Streatham on Sunday was connected with the distribution of terrorist literature. So to return to our smart phones, the stories on offer can provide an interesting diversion as we contemplate a long wait for public transport. But they do tell us something about what our highly diverse communities are fascinated with.

What does God require of you? He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8) May this season of Lent be one when we work out for ourselves and as churches, what it is that God is calling us to do. May we, in penitence, reflect on our treatment of other people and of God’s creation; promising to love better and care better for all God’s gifts. May we, in generosity, give of our time, money and skills, that others might be blessed, fed and loved. May we, in grace, spend time in prayer, bible study and devotion, weaving our discipleship into a pattern of daily living that honours God. May God bless us in this season of Lent. For the sake of Jesus Christ, who gave himself that all might have life. Amen.

Half term and an army of grandparents converge on London main line stations, various children in tow. It’s definitely museum time and no doubt the Science Museum and other child friendly attractions are heaving. Grandparents can find themselves in the frontline of child care duties at this time, and I’m guessing for the vast majority it’s an absolute delight – especially when they can deposit their charges with the parents at the end of the day! Grandparents are often a great source of stories and have accumulated a lifetime’s experience they love to share. With stories of family and community life, they are often a store of wisdom that can offer great insight into personal behaviour and relationships. How things were like then can inform the present. Despite huge technological advances and the explosion of social media in the first two decades of this century, fundamental truths about the nature of human relationships, caring and looking out for each other don’t change. Safeguarding, identifying and tackling abuse are not new and yet the church and others can sometimes be picked on for being ‘politically correct’ because of the strength of its current emphasis. This can mask truths long hidden or result in oft quoted childhood memory examples such as ‘a clip around the ear never did me any harm’. However it’s also arguably the case that even the proverbial clip around the ear may have been prompted by a parental desire to protect a child from more serious harm. These days it’s probably hard to react calmly and quietly when your 5 year old wanders into the road on their scooter without looking. The explanation may have to come later! But crucially we also know that childhood was not necessarily a pleasant, care-free or enjoyable experience for all and older relatives may well have been the source of trauma and distress. So as ever its wise to avoid generalisations and use the principle of ‘respectful uncertainty’ to guide us. We can’t assume a universal degree of benevolence. However capturing and making best use of the wisdom and experience of caring and concerned elders is something we might need to harness more as we aim to make our churches safer spaces. They may have much to offer.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, We bring to you our prayers for all Ministers of our faith, all deacons and lay preachers, evangelists and teachers and all those who by their teaching, encouragement and example have helped us to discover and follow the way of Jesus. We are aware that at this time, when fewer people are offering for the Ministry, those who do your work are often stretched to their limit. We pray you will bless each one with the strength and encouragement they need. Refresh them by your Holy Spirit, the great Enabler. Show us who pray how we too may share in spreading the good news of your love for all people, shown in the gift of your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen