Welcome service for new minister at Southlands on Saturday, 4th September

  THE new  superintendent minister of the York South Circuit, the Rev Jennifer McKenzie, outside Southlands before the circuit welcome service. With her are the York and Hull District chair, the Rev Stephen Burgess, who led the service;  Southlands co-ordinating steward Alison White; senior circuit steward Claudia Burdon; and former senior circuit steward David Britton, who was responsible for the arrangements

Laughter at welcome service for superintendent minister at Southlands

THERE was a good deal of laughter at the formal welcome service for the Rev Jennifer McKenzie, the new superintendent minister of the York South Circuit of the Methodist Church (on Sat, Sep 4).

The Scotswoman, who made much of the fact that she is short, said she had been reading some books about the history of York and come across some lines relating to the 15^thcentury. These said: “Least welcome of all strangers to York were the Scots. So unwelcome indeed that the prospects of a man or a woman born north of the Tweed residing in York without Royal or civic letters of protection were probably very slim indeed.”

She said these lines had prompted her to wonder what her ancestors might have got up to in York, but she thanked the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Sue Galloway, for her welcome, given earlier in the service at Southlands Methodist Church, in Bishopthorpe Road, York.

She said: “From my perspective the histories that we all have are important and we need to acknowledge our past. It’s where we’ve come from, it’s shaped us, but in reality we can’t live there. Perhaps you’ll understand if I say I don’t want to live in the York of the 15^thcentury.

“The challenge we all face be it as civic leaders, be it ecumenically, especially we as Methodists, is to live acknowledging the past. But we live in the present and the future and for each of us this can be awesome, frightening, and also very liberating.

"My hope is that we find joy in the challenges that lie ahead of us. The presence of God is there with us and will be as we journey ahead.

“We have the story of Jesus to remind us that discipleship includes both a cross and a resurrection. Discipleship includes death and new life and the activity of the Spirit is there to encourage us, inspire us, console us and make perfect.

“So may we respect and learn the good and the bad from the past, but work together in differing partnerships with civic authorities, and any people of goodwill who will work with us to bring benefit to all people of York and its surrounding areas and to the glory of God. That would be my hope for each of us in the future.”

The service was led by the Rev Stephen Burgess, chair of the York and Hull District of the Methodist Church, who welcomed Jennifer on behalf of the district.

Jennifer was also welcomed to York by representatives of other churches, including the Rev Keith Jones, Dean of York Minster.”

Although Jennifer is the first woman superintendent minister of the York South Circuit and the first woman minister to have pastoral oversight of Southlands, she is part of a team of circuit ministers which includes three other women and three men.