May 18, 2010

Methodist Church snubs festival boycott


by David Masters

The Methodist Church has ignored calls from conservative Christians to boycott the Greenbelt Christian festival by announcing a three-year partnership with Greenbelt.

Conservative Christian groups, including Anglican Mainstream, have urged a boycott of this year’s Greenbelt festival because gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will be speaking at the event.

Commenting on Tatchell’s invitation to be one of the 100′s of speakers and workshop leaders at this year’s event, Anglican Mainstream spokesperson Lisa Nolland expressed “alarm” at the “gayification of Greenbelt”.

However, the Methodist Church said it plans to play a bigger role than ever before in the festival.

An estimated 3,000 Methodists will attend this year’s event, and a Methodist branded venue with capacity for 400 people will feature at the event for the first time.

“We are very excited about the potential of this partnership,” said Mark Wakelin, secretary for internal relations at the Methodist Church.

“This is an opportunity for us to live out our shared ethos of ecumenical working, giving people the chance to experience new and creative expressions of faith; and grow as disciples of Christ.”

A Greenbelt spokesperson said the festival and the Methodist Church have a shared commitment to social justice, community engagement, dialogue, trade justice, and development issues.

“Ideologically, it’s a perfect partnership, and practically it makes sense too,” the spokesperson said.

Last week Greenbelt announced that advanced ticket sales are at a record high despite the calls for a boycott.

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