Looking back, Looking forward

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Peter Relf reflects on LPMA's 157th Aggregate

I first met LPMA colleagues at Peter Barber's farewell. They had come to mark their appreciation of his encouragement and support for the work they had been doing on `A New Vision'. This was one of those areas of work which were completely new to me as I began my new job as Connexional Secretary for Local Preachers. I had a steep learning curve to climb both in forming good working relationships with new people and in understanding the possibilities of the Vision itself.

Ever since becoming a Local Preacher in 1971, I had little to do with LPMA sometimes because it had little to do with me and sometimes because I chose to give it a wide berth (live and let live). Suddenly, with my new job, that distance was no longer acceptable and any prejudice I had about the organisation and its people had to be swept away.

Indeed, I found myself working with people who were committed, but realistic. They loved LPMA but recognised that it had to become something new. This was as much a wrench for them as for all other members and honorary members of LPMA, but they dared to consider a different way of doing things. In those earlier days, I was not exactly on the sidelines, but I could see these new friends wrestle with the unfamiliar. Sometimes one or two wanted to shrink back to the familiar, but then othes would invigorate them again with the new vision.

I have been part of many meetings about LPMA during these past two years. Some were difficult. Some felt like one step forward and two steps back. Some were exciting and challenging. We developed a new way of working, with the minutes of each meeting being recorded on a laptop computer and projected onto a wall for all to see there and then. That way we agreed sensitive and accurate wording straightaway and approved the minutes as we went along! It helped us stay sure-footed and it kept us together.

We did our best to be thorough in our presentations to General Committee and to Aggregate so that issues and reservations could be shared in a straightforward, honest way. Step by step, the proposed transformation of LPMA and Mutual Aid Homes took place until, in June 2005, the final votes were taken and the measures approved.

The service at Bristol Cathedral was a magnificent culmination for LPMA. The Bristol District organised the occasion splendidly. The cathedral was packed. Sitting next to me were people from Enfield who had come to Bristol for the weekend to include this service of thanksgiving for LPMA as part of their `city break'. The choir uplifted our spirits with harmony and descants resounding beautifully across and around the cathedral. The President welcomed us and local members led the worship. Rev Neil Richardson preached an inspiring sermon. The hymns (old and new) were sung with fervour. There was such a sense of occasion. This was a splendid opportunity to worship God and give thanks.

At the end of the service I was delighted to discover that my counterpart in the Church of England (Revd Alexander George) with whom I have been working for the past eighteen months on ecumenical approaches to Reader/Preacher training had also shared in this act of worship. Although he is from East Anglia, he was working that weekend in Bristol, heard about the LPMA thanksgiving service and came to be with us. That (and the wonderful help that the cathedral staff had given to the District team) shows the spirit of goodwill that comes from positive ecumenical relationships. In turn, that augurs well for the ecumenical aspirations of the Leaders of Worship and Preachers' Trust.

The new Trust was given a quiet, dignified launch the following day definitely not trying to compete with LPMA's welldeserved grand finale. It occurred to me that this gentle and thoughtful beginning was a good way to start. We shall all be feeling our way over the next few months. The eleven trustees will need and appreciate our prayers and our practical support. As Friends of LWPT, all of us will need to be planning our own local activities for fun, fellowship and fundraising. And we shall need to be keeping a look-out for Local Preachers and Worship Leaders in our Circuit who might value the help that LWPT has to offer, not just for their welfare, but for the development of their ministry.

I was particularly moved to hear how one member of Aggregate who had serious misgivings about `A New Vision' for LPMA was prepared to give his active support for the new Trust the day after Aggregate had given its overwhelming affirmation of LWPT. That is a measure of the man and he is helping us all recognise that the work LPMA has done now has the opportunity to grow and flourish with active help like his.

I have a few weeks to go before I finally hang up my boots as an Honorary Secretary of LPMA, but I have been privileged to meet and work with people who have dared to think afresh and who have taken a bold step to transform LPMA to become LWPT. Thank you, LPMA friends for all the caring you have given and the readiness to change. Thank you, LWPT Friends for all the new things you are about to do and the blessings you are about to share.