Letters from the Superintendent – April 2026

Jesus said to her (Martha) “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25

Long before I was a Christian these words of Jesus above were in a Stone Roses song, (1992) announcing their much-anticipated 2nd album. The last line of the song goes; ‘I am the resurrection and the life I couldn’t bring myself to hate you as I like.’

Watching the occasional Louis Theroux documentary or just the news, these words seemed to sum up aspects of American Evangelical Theology; those signs like ‘God hates fags’, didn’t, to this confirmed atheist, paint the Church in a good light.

Now, as a Baptised Christian believer, these words still don’t paint the Church in a good light! And, thankfully, these words don’t represent the God, or the Methodist Church I now know.

For God, revealed in Jesus Christ, is the Resurrection and the Life and that life is one of love: Unconditional Love. A love that transcends all barriers and patiently beckons all to know of God’s love, grace, peace and joy that brings into being new life, resurrection and transformation. Praise be to God.

November 6th 1999.  Having started to attend a bouncy and charismatic Methodist Church in the May, I had been on the ‘Holy Spirit’ day of the Alpha Course on Saturday 5th. I asked to be filled with the Spirit, as instructed, and absolutely nothing happened. ‘Thank God for that’, I thought, ‘I can now leave this madness behind me.’ God had other ideas.

At 16:02 I prayed to Jesus to let me know him, and boy, did he respond! I felt a real presence, had a crown put on my head, a cloak around my shoulders, was told ‘I love you Gordon, come follow me.’ This was an initial encounter with the Risen Christ that has transformed my life and brings me into your midst today, some 26 ½ years later.

June 1995. I found myself in front of the Official Receiver as my now ex-wife and I accounted for thousands of pounds worth of debt. You are made to feel really small as you account for every penny you have borrowed and not paid back – my ex had a debt of over £5,000 to Next Directory which was quite impressive! – and it is humiliating, painful and extremely sobering.

At the end he looked at us. Signed some papers. Folded it, put it in a filing cabinet and said; “This is the first day of the rest of your life. Your debt is forgiven. Learn from this and walk on through life with joy, peace and no more worries.”  This was my first encounter of Resurrection.

July 2016. Launde Abbey in Leicestershire. Enneagram. Intrigued by this I had signed up for a week’s exploration during a Sabbatical. A journey of false dawns, death of self, burying of old memories that resurfaced many times, draw me through Easter Saturday’s bewilderment into a new, transformed space. After 50 years of life, I finally started to understand the real me, not the false one I projected (probably still project if the truth be known), but the true me who discovered a space where I find true flourishing and fulfilment. This was a Resurrection of ego and id, combining to enable me to walk on in faith with the God of all wonder, and joy and peace revealed in Jesus Christ my, our Lord.

I am grateful to colleagues; Revd. Claire Rawlinson as acting Superintendent, Revd. Neil Stacey taking pastoral responsibility for Saughall, and Revd. Alison Crookes for Frodsham. Alongside Deacons Susie, Michaela and the wonderful Circuit Stewards I go away on Sabbatical from Easter Sunday to July 5th knowing that all shall be well.

I go to try and become a teacher of Enneagram; to perhaps offer back a little of the resurrection and transformation this brought me to others. It is an intense course, with, no doubt, many peaks and troughs along the way. I hope to bring back some of this learning and lay it before those who may be intrigued.

Please pray for Sue, my wife as I gad about, and for those in responsibility within the Circuit and local Churches, that God’s guidance and blessing be with them, with us all, as we continue to live in the light of the Resurrection enabling God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen.

Gordon