Moving on with God.

‘Foxes have their holes and birds their roosts, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his hat’.  (Matthew 8: 20)

Dear New Friends in the Croydon Circuit,

What a joy it is to be writing to you at long last as we anticipate my arrival as your new circuit Superintendent from September 1st 2025.  It seems such a long time since I made my ‘matching visit’ to Croydon in November of last year and we all agreed that the stationing match was one that we all felt God was calling us to accept.

As I write, I am preparing for the Welcome service on Tuesday September 2nd, and all the round of meetings and opportunities to get to know people that will follow.  Please be patient with me as I try to learn all of your names and understand the issues that we will be facing together over the next 5 years.

Let me tell you a little bit about myself.  I am Methodist Minister, now in my 35th year of travel.  I come originally from the Roman City of Chester in the North West of England.  I am married to Carol, who works in the District office and we have a son, John, who is a Junior Barrister working at Wilberforce chambers at Lincoln’s Inn.  We have lived and worked in six circuits before coming to Croydon which included eleven years as Mission Partners in Italy.  We have also worked in two market towns and since 2011 have served two South London circuits in multi cultural contexts quite similar to Croydon.  We still speak Italian and regularly return to a small Lakeside flat we have in Trentino.  I enjoy swimming to keep fit, reading, playing the guitar and with Carol hiking in the countryside.  I will also have to admit, like Carol, having been a student at Aston University in the early 80’s, I am an Aston Villa fan!  However, I will say congratulations to Palace fans in the circuit on your team’s recent successes.  I also enjoy watching cricket and snooker.

I have known a number of your previous Superintendent Ministers in Croydon, led an Overseas Mission Sunday once at Shirley when Harvey Richardson was the Superintendent, and worked with Adrian Pickett on an NPNP video project a couple of years ago.

I come to you with a passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and building Christian communities which offer life, health and sustenance to all who come seeking meaning in their lives.  I consider myself to be a collaborative leader who seeks consensus but also have an awareness that there are times when a Superintendent also needs to take the tough decisions in order to give the strategic leadership circuits often need.

Carol and I continue to feel excited by this appointment, the new friends we will make, the new churches we will serve, the new opportunities for mission and outreach.  We do indeed feel ready to take up one more fresh challenge.

Moving house, moving job or even moving church is never an easy process.  The thought of another (eventual) house removal and settling into a new circuit can feel rather daunting at the moment.  Nevertheless, in the verse quoted above, Jesus seems to suggest to his disciples that when on Mission, Christian leaders should avoid putting down roots that are too deep.  The message is to travel light and be ready to embrace change for the benefit of the Kingdom of God.

Of course, there are often good reasons why it is simply not practical for us to ‘up sticks’ at short notice.  Sometimes our calling in the Christian life is to stay where we are and see through the work God has entrusted us with.   Yet what these verses are perhaps suggesting to us is that all of us need to be flexible in life and willing to embrace change when it is presented to us.  My prayer is that as we prepare for the changes that the next few years will bring about, may we all remain open to the ways of the Holy Spirit and eager to discern his purposes for our lives, and the lives of our churches.  To God’s praise and glory!

 

Your friend in Christ,

 

(Revd Richard Grocott, Superintendent Minister)