A Communication Tool of the Administrative Bishop RAP ISSUE 12 • APRIL 2010 3 Cheyne Walk, Northampton NN1 5PT Tel: 01604 824222 Fax: 01604 824242 Website: www.ntcg.org.uk Email: [email protected] 1 Editorial The first decade of the 21st century ended The Church stands to gain when the “The Year of Spiritual just like it started – with a heightened degree economy is buoyant and we must pray that Renewal” of fear and uncertainty. The big question the green shoots of economic recovery that as we approached Y2K was whether or not we are seeing are not snuffed out by unwise the world’s computer systems would crash, decision-making on the part of governments We have declared 2010 The Year of Spiritual resulting in the collapse of the industrial and industrialists. Renewal. Prayer, not programmes will be and financial systems of the world. As it the fuel that drives our activities this year. The exhortation from the Apostle Paul happened then, we need not have feared – becomes even more important as we in the Already a number of our district/local there was no collapse and things continued UK approach the general elections in the churches are engaged in their 21 days of as they always have. Ten years later, the spring. Our political system, robust though concerted prayer and fasting. Ministers world finds itself in the deepest economic it might be, cannot stand another scandal and individuals are similarly engaged and recession since the 1930s, resulting in a about MPs’ expenses nor can the system we are trusting the Holy Spirit to manifest lack of investment, high unemployment, be perpetuated where it is “every man for and magnify Himself in and through us. Let low interest rates, foreclosures, home himself”. Those we elect to govern us must us therefore go forward, make ourselves repossessions, lack of credit, lack of trust and be men and women of the best character channels through which He can flow so that a general sense of fear and hopelessness. and of the highest integrity; people whose God’s glory can fill the earth even as the The greed and selfishness of a select few in the belief system is not corrupt, whose thinking waters cover the sea. financial centres of the major industrialised is not flawed and whose concept of truth is nations has resulted in the near collapse of not twisted. We need to vote for people who the world economy and it will take years are governed by the highest moral ethical Bishop Eric & Mrs Millicent Brown for things to return to some semblance of standards, who are committed to govern in normality. In the meanwhile, the less well the best interest of people and in the fear of off, the poor, the weak and the marginalised God. among others, will end up footing the bill. As we pray, let us not forget to pray for the The billions/trillions of dollars that are being witness of the Christian Church around the pumped into the world economy to sure it world and for our denomination in particular. up, will saddle future generations with debt Nationally and internationally, we are sailing they did not create. through stormy seas with their treacherous The jury is still out on President Obama waves and contrary winds. Issues of finance, as to the hopes and expectations that structure, loyalty, justice and governance accompanied his capture of the White will continue to occupy our agendas House and hence the leadership of the in the foreseeable future and we must world. The doom-mongers and the sceptics work and pray that God’s purpose will are premature in writing off his presidency prevail in these and other matters. as a failure. There is no magic wand to solve May God grant us the wisdom to the problems he inherited and it will take persist in praying that we will not time, patience and a good deal of strategic be diverted from the mission He planning to solve them. One thing is sure, has committed to the Church it would be great for everyone – the nay- (Matthew 28:18-20). sayers included – if he succeeded in getting industries investing again; people working, stopping the gravy train in the banking system and secure peace in the Middle East & Afghanistan. B uilding Confident, Committed Leaders I nforming & Impacting our Youth G rowing Healthy Churches M obilising our Church for Ministry & Missions O ffering hope to our Communities V aluing our women and our men vangelising our communities and E our world 2 THE HAITI Contents DISASTER APPEAL 03 The Haiti disaster appeal The 12th January 2010 is a day that will We thank the members & friends of the 04 Faith & Ethics be embedded in our hearts & minds for New Testament Church of God who have many years to come. This was the day that responded generously and sacrificially 08 Pastoral Moves / Changes the devastating earthquake hit Haiti and with donations flooding in on a daily basis. caused massive destruction to lives, property All donations are being channelled & infrastructure and disruption to all the through our International World Missions 13 Pastors & Key Leaders’ major services in the country. Sadly, the Department and the office of the Caribbean Conference Overseer for the Church of God in Port au Field Director to reach the people who need Prince – Bishop Elysee Joseph – was one of it the most. the estimated 200,000 who perished in the 14 Young Ministers’ Forum If you would like to make a contribution, earthquake when his car was struck by a please make your cheques payable to New collapsing wall. Testament Church of God 15 Big Move National (Haiti Appeal) and send Convention to us at 3 Cheyne Walk, Northampton NN1 5PT or call us on 01604 824 222 16 Election of New National to donate by card. Please Executive Council note that funds are restricted and can only be used for the 18 Buildings purpose for which they are collected. 20 Promotion to the rank of Ordained Bishop 21 National Departments 27 Book reviews 29 Managing your money 30 In conclusion… 32 A call to Spiritual Renewal As we respond in giving, let us not fail to remember them in our prayers and indeed the army of people such as doctors, nurses, engineers and other relief workers whose service will be invaluable to them at this time. NEW FEATURES We are constantly adjusting the content of the RAP magazine in an effort to make it more informative and to address the issues that are affecting us and how we deliver ministry in the 21st century. We are therefore including featured articles dealing with issues such as Assisted Reproductive Treatment, Mental Health Issues, Book Reviews and Managing your Money. The issues of IVF and how we deal with the debilitating effects of mental illness are topics which affect a significant number of our people (not least our young men & women). Dr. Sonji Clarke & Dr. Dawn Edge are well qualified to address these specific concerns as together we work in “Valuing our Women and our Men”. 3 FAITH & ETHICS: MEDICAL CHOICES and DECISIONS Assisted Reproductive Technologies (IVF and IUI) and the Single Christian Woman Dr Sonji Clarke, MB BS MRCOG is a Senior Consultant in Obstetrics at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London. She specializes in high-risk pregnancy, including Epilepsy in pregnancy and Teenage pregnancy and is the Obstetric lead for the hospital’s Antenatal Day Assessment Unit. The issue of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and the Single Christian Woman is one currently being explored under the remit of the Faith & Ethics seminars in our Education & Training Department. The seminar “Faith & Ethics: Medical Choices and Decisions” is open to members of the public and will be run at our Leadership Training Centre in Northampton on June 11, 2010. For further details please visit our website at www.ntcg.org. uk/education or contact the Leadership Training Centre on 01604 824 233 or email [email protected] . Imagine you are sitting at your desk or Units, where in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or Both IVF and the second type of IUI can relaxing at home and one of your faithful intra-uterine insemination (IUI) have been result in pregnancies with twins, triplets or Sunday School teachers or the church used with donor sperm and for male, same greater. One young woman with nowhere to secretary telephones you and says….. sex couples, surrogate mothers (women live and no visa decided to take some of her “Pastor, I thought I better let you know, who will carry a pregnancy with the express sister’s fertility drugs and became pregnant before you hear the news from other sources. purpose of giving the baby they carry to with triplets, asking for one of them to be Well… I’m twelve weeks pregnant and I….” the person or people that “hired” them, terminated as she felt unable to care for three following delivery). There are also older and the father of the pregnancy had left her. You’re immediate reaction, is who is the women having IVF in this country and father?....... Why do we need to consider this as abroad and carrying babies conceived from Christians? Background donor eggs and donor sperm. More and more single women are taking Over the last few years, assisted reproductive IVF the opportunity to become mothers using technologies have been made available In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a process assisted reproductive technology; this is a to more and more people. Many will that involves giving drugs to a woman to significant development for the Church to be married couples, with many years of “overstimulate” her ovaries so that they consider for a number of reasons.