AMAZE - the Association of Christian Youth and Children's Workers) is now based in the Bishop Street Church Office. Amaze is the first-ever professional body for Christian youth and children's workers. It aims to recognise the key role youth and children's workers play in our society by giving them the protection, support and benefits enjoyed by other established professions.
Headed up by Clare Lea, Amaze provides support and advice both for workers
employed in Christian situations, and also churches and others who employ,
or are thinking of employing paid youth and children's workers. If this
sounds like you, have a look at www.amaze.org.uk
As a proportion of the Bishop Street floor area, the Kitchenette would
probably struggle to make 0.25%, but its usefulness, and the effect on the
feel of the church has been quite remarkable. A real collective effort by
Church members and friends, it has produced a smart, fully fitted and tiled
Kitchenette, with new hob, sink, worktop, cupboards and water heater.
Rev Gary Hall, after bravely holding the fort as the only paid staff member
in the Section now finds himself heading a team of workers, each with
responsibilities at Bishop Street (some shared with Wesley Hall Church and
Community Project). These appointments represent a real investment in the
idea of a City Centre presence for Methodism in Leicester, on the part of
the Trinity Circuit, Bishop Street Church itself, and many people from a
wide range of Churches and denominations who are concerned to see Bishop
Street Church meeting some of the wide-ranging needs and opportunities that
are constantly emerging and evolving within the City Centre.
The new workers are:-
Robin Stevenson appointed Lay Worker at Bishop Street - to act as Link
Officer, to provide greater on-site co-ordination for the various groups and
tenants using the building; to keep on top of the administration and
maintenance of the building; and to help develop the life of the Church, and
its potential for Christian witness and work.
Heather Garbutt appointed Pastoral Assistant at Bishop Street. As well as
being a local preacher, Heather has particular responsibilities for pastoral
visiting.
Cheryl Dibeela appointed Mission and Community Development Officer. Cheryl
is actually ordained into the United Congregational Church of Southern
Africa, as is her husband, who is currently working with the United Reformed
Church in the Wigston area. They will be returning to Botswana in July 2001,
so Cheryl's time in this post is limited. Her aim is to explore ways in
which Bishop Street can be more directly involved with the City Centre
Community, in all its aspects, and to enable the Church to offer Christ and
also meet practical needs of the many people living, working, or spending
time in the area
The JUST shop has been able to sell fairly-traded goods in Leicester, in the
run up to Christmas, at various locations around the Leicester City Centre,
for a number of years. But now they have stepped out in faith, and committed
themselves to a year-round shop, which will be in Pilgrim House, along-side
the SPCK Christian Bookshop.
They are a workers' co-operative, selling a huge range of fairly traded
products from the developing world - food - jewellery - clothes -
accessories - stationery - gifts - soft furnishings. Many of the items will
be exclusive to Just in Leicester. In addition there will be Café - next
time you are out shopping, drop by for a fair-trade cup of tea or coffee.
As Angus Deayton put it, "Fair Trade is a guarantee of a strange new system
whereby the money you pay for a product actually goes to the people who
produced it. Let's hope it catches on."
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Methodism ] Kitchenette refurbished
New appointments from Sept 1st 2000:-
'Just' Fair Trade shop to be opened in Pilgrim House