A Time to Rest, Reflect, and Reimagine Welcome

I am currently on sabbatical until the 21st of July—a time of pause, reflection, and renewal. So far, it has been a real gift. I've been blessed with precious time with family. Helen and I recently enjoyed a beautiful week away in Whitby, celebrating my father-in-law’s 80th birthday. Moments like these remind me how important it is to slow down and cherish what really matters.

I’m also making the most of this sabbatical by doing things I love—like attending sports events—and, more importantly, taking time to reconnect with God and reflect on my calling.

I began ministry in 2018, and although I was due to be ordained in 2020, the pandemic delayed that moment until 2021. Like so many in ministry, it feels like I haven’t truly stopped since COVID-19 changed our world. This sabbatical is giving me space to breathe, to pray, and to listen.

A Focus on Inclusive Welcome

One of the main focuses of this time is to explore how churches can offer a truly inclusive welcome to all. I believe deeply that the Church should be a place where everyone is welcomed, valued, and served in the name of Jesus Christ.

The Methodist Church’s commitment to Justice, Dignity, and Solidarity resonates with me, and during this sabbatical, I am reflecting on how churches live out these values in practice. Inclusivity is not simply about being nice or tolerant—it’s about ensuring everyone has a seat at God’s table. That includes people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and—yes—even people with different political or theological views.

And that’s not always easy.

Inclusivity means embracing the complexity of difference. It means welcoming those we disagree with. It means learning how to disagree well—with grace, humility, and compassion.

Grappling with the Rise of Division

Driving back from Whitby, Helen and I listened to the local election results. To be honest, it left us feeling quite disheartened. The rise of Reform UK, including in our home city of Hull where Luke Campbell—a talented boxer but a political novice—was elected mayor, reflects a growing shift. Reform UK is drawing support from both Labour and Conservative voters, and some are now seeing it as a mainstream party.

I'm not surprised—many voters feel let down by the established parties. But I am deeply concerned. Reform UK’s main message seems to rest on blaming innocent refugees for all of society’s woes. They don’t offer serious, workable solutions—just scapegoats.

It’s hard not to feel depressed by the rise of far-right rhetoric globally. Take St George’s Day, for example. Our patron saint—celebrated as a national hero—was a Turkish migrant, a Roman soldier who died in Palestine. He never set foot in England. Yet some use his image to push anti-migrant rhetoric. It’s bitterly ironic.

Two weeks on from the elections, the Prime Minister’s recent comment that the UK risks “becoming an island of strangers” was particularly disturbing. To me, that echoes the tone of Enoch Powell’s infamous ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech. It’s a troubling direction—one that only adds fuel to the fires of division and suspicion.

A Church of Sanctuary

So where does this leave me, as I reflect on inclusivity?

First and foremost, I must turn to Scripture. Time and time again, the Bible calls God’s people to welcome the stranger, to offer refuge, to show compassion. As Christians, we are called to be a Church of Sanctuary—a place where all are truly at home.

As Proverbs 10:11–12 reminds us:

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”

These words hit home. In today’s world, where hatred is so easily stirred up by politicians and media, we are called to speak life, choose love, and be peacemakers.

I find hope in the elections in Canada and Australia, where inclusive and compassionate voices are still being heard. That gives me some optimism—but I know the work of welcome begins here, with us, in our churches and communities.

Learning to Disagree Well

Inclusivity also means holding space for difference. As Annie Sharples writes in Young, Woke, and Christian:

“The key is listening, understanding, and empathising. Peace does not mean the absence of disagreement. Conflict is a natural and necessary part of life and relationships. Peace comes in how we react, respond and live with disagreements. Living in community and being in relationship with others is so much harder, arguably impossible, without reconciliation.”

In other words—let’s not be jerks. Let’s love well. Let’s learn to listen better, even when it’s hard.

A Picture of Welcome

Despite the challenges we face, I’ve seen glimpses of the Church truly living out its calling. This Easter Sunday at Muswell Hill Methodist Church, we celebrated 3 child baptisms, 2 adult baptisms, and welcomed 21 new members from all backgrounds. The joy, the diversity, the sense of belonging—it was a beautiful image of God’s inclusive kingdom.

In the wise words of Paddington Bear:

“Mrs Brown says that in London everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in. I think she must be right – because although I don’t look like anyone else, I really do feel at home.”

That’s the kind of church I want to be part of. A place where everyone—refugee, newcomer, doubter, misfit, or lifelong believer—can feel at home.

During this sabbatical, I continue to pray, reflect, and learn how we can all build communities that reflect the heart of Jesus: a heart wide open to all.