Street Chaplains – on the streets again

Now looking for volunteers for January, February and March. [More...]

On Friday 22 November from about 11.00pm until 1.30am in the early hours of Saturday, several small teams of Street Chaplains could be seen in Leeds between the Corn Exchange and the rail station.

The volunteers from a number of the city centre churches gathered in the café at Holy Trinity Church in Boar Lane at 10.15pm to be briefed by the Revd Adrian Burdon who is the link with Safer Leeds, West Yorkshire Police, and British Transport Police.

High visibility tabards with STREET CHAPLAIN on the back were handed out to most of the volunteers. There weren't enough to go round as more had turned up than had been anticipated. Telephone numbers were given out so that we could report serious incidents, but the strong advice was not to get involved if there was violence and to call the emergency services if necessary.

The two Police Community Support Officers who patrolled the area introduced themselves and gave out a contact telephone number.

Out on the streets there were groups of mainly young men and women, inadequately dressed against the cold wind, making there way to clubs and bars. Near the entrances the clubs (entrances which are often no more than a door leading down into a basement underneath the neighbouring shops and restaurants) there were small crowds waiting to go in, smoking, chatting, occasionally shouting.

The traffic was light – dozens of taxis, the occasional bus, one or two private cars.

The rail station was busy with people in more suitable clothing looking to get a train. Away from Boar Lane, Duncan Street and the area around The Calls and Call Lane the streets were quieter.

Each team stayed out for about 40 minutes, returning to base for a hot coffee or cup of tea and maybe a biscuit provided by the base team before returning to the cold street. Most teams went out three times before we gathered together at 1.30am before going home.

The teams had not gone unnoticed. Every team had spoken with someone. Often it was no more than to give directions or exchange an brief greeting. One team had encountered someone who needed to talk, another had helped someone find and get into a taxi. The view of the PCPOs was that it was rather quiet for a Saturday night.

The group was probably too big, and five on-the-street teams too many. The Street Chaplains will be out again on 12 and 19 December, and it is hoped that there will be 12 volunteers on each occasion with three teams on the streets.

Adrian would like to have a number of such groups of 12 who would each go out once a month throughout the year. If you would like to become involved please get in touch with Adrian.

An earlier item on street chaplains ...

Visit to Brno in the Czech Republic

Our superintendent minister, Adrian Burdon, and Ken Tait were part of the delegation from Leeds to Brno in the Czech Republic. The visit (from 20th September to 23rd September) was organised by Leeds City Council as part of the twinning relationship between Brno and Leeds.

The delegation was led by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Frank Robinson, and other members of the group included the Leeds-based band, Bassa Bassa.

Jana and Adrian

On the Sunday of the visit, Adrian and Ken attended worship at the Evangelické Církve Metodistické when Adrian preached the sermon and Ken gave a short presentation about Oxford Place. Later they shared a meal with members of the congregation at the home of the pastor, the Revd Dr Jana Krížová. On other days Adrian and Ken joined in parts of the civic programme including an exhibition by the East Street Arts group and a concert by Brno schools which was followed by a reception. More about this visit can be found in the Autumn issue (97) of Life and Work.

New Administrator

Trevor Parker took up his appointment as Mission Administrator at Leeds Methodist Mission on 1st September 2008.

Trevor has been a member of Leeds Parish Church for the past twenty years and presently serves as their Hon. Treasurer. He comes from an employment background of Human Resources Management, having worked principally with HBOS.

Note

Our Charity of the Year

Our Charity of the Year for 2008-2009 is Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network. LASSN was set up in 1999. It has offered support to over 700 refugees and asylum seekers. These people experience isolation, loneliness, and suffer from the effects of a negative media profile. Many fear what may happen to them and their families.

A small group has been set up to coordinate our efforts to raise money and offer support in other ways to this organisation.

During the year to the end of March 2008, LASSN has helped many people:

• 394 ShortStop guests
• 112 Befriended asylum seekers and refugees
• 45 English at Home learners
• 132 Destitute asylum seekers supported through our Hardship Fund payments
• 24 refugee community organisations assisted through the Leeds Refugee Forum
• 1 Community Centre opened for refugee community organisations with 281 people through the door in just one month

New responsibilities for our Superintendent

The Methodist Conference at its July 2008 meeting in Scarborough appointed the Rev Dr Adrian Burdon to be Titular Superintendent of the Leeds (West) Circuit with effect from 1 September 2008.

This position is to be held concurrently with his appointment as Superintendent of the Leeds (Mission) Circuit.

A Titular Superintendent is a person appointed to hold the title of Superintendent of the Circuit for the purposes of:

• undertaking the legal functions of Superintendency,
• the giving of ministerial leadership
• and the encouragement of mission and ministry in the circuit.

In order to make space for this additional work, and minimise the impact of it upon his ministry at Oxford Place, Adrian has relinquished some of his Connexional responsibilities.

If anyone has any questions about this appointment then please feel free to make contact with Adrian directly.

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