Methodist Blogger Profile: Paul Martin

Paul Martin of Turbulent Cleric

My name is Paul Martin. I have been a minister in the Bideford Circuit in Devon, England for the past 20 months. Our Circuit has 12 churches and I have pastoral care of a town church and a rural church.

I was brought up in Cornwall before going to Southampton University where I read Social Sciences. I returned to Cornwall and made a series of disastrous carers choices including a horrible decade in accountancy which led me to suffer bad depression and almost suicide, retail work, funeral directing and teaching. In 1997, I went to the Isle of Man as a lay worker in the Ramsey Circuit. I enjoyed 5 happy years there and in terms of my self esteem, the good people there whom I was meant to help, without knowing it gave me so much more than I could give them, effectively putting me back together again. Whilst there, I offered for Foundation Training which I did at the Northern Ordination Course which is an ecumenical course at Luther King House in Manchester. In 2002 I was accepted as a candidate for the ministry and went to Wesley House in Cambridge for 2 years before coming to Bideford. I am particularly interested in inter faith dialogue, peace/justice issues and apologetics.

I am married to Andrea who has worked as both a nurse and as a teaching assistant. She is currently studying with the Open University. We have two smashing children. James is 13 and is a keen rower. Kaye is 11 and crazy about dancing. We have recently acquired an affectionate Welsh collie dog called Orla, who is 3, from a dog rescue centre.

I have recently been approved by my District for ordination at the Edinburgh Conference in June.

Why do you blog?
I began blogging as a means to record how I felt on various issues without having to be diplomatic all the time. I hope it helps me to reflect more on a range of matters and to learn of other perspectives. However, my wife puts it all down to me being impossibly opinionated

What has been your best blogging experience?
The first responses in Comments were a high point and I still enjoy seeing that people have read what I have written even if they disagree.

Seriously, it is interesting to be in community with people in different places and to hear different voices. I have certainly learnt from reading other bloggers. Hopefully, I will meet some of those people one day.

What would be your main advice to a novice blogger?
I see myself as a novice blogger and so I am still very much in need of advice. However, to answer your question, I think anyone setting out would be well advised to be patient when the responses seem to take time coming. Also visit other blogs and engage on their territory in a courteous manner.

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, what would they be?
I read Connexions and Dave Warnock every day. They are the first British Methodist blogs which I encountered. I have also enjoyed reading Beth Quick since finding her on Richard Fairchild's resource site for lectionary resources. I see her as a sort of Queen of United Methodist blogging . Obviously I read wider than those including those which often represent a view different to mine such as Locusts and Honey where I also enjoy the humour (I trust the cheque is in the post, John).

Away from Methodism I like Jesus was a Liberal and Any Day a Beautiful Change and in terms of non Christian comment on current issues, I enjoy the passionate and witty Chicken Yoghurt.

Who are your spiritual heroes?
John Wesley (although I wouldn't want him as my minister), Martin Luther King, Julian of Norwich, Walter Wink, Oscar Romero, Jim Wallis and Sheila Cassidy. Also many of the people I have met in churches to whom I owe so much.

What are you reading at the moment?
At present, I am reading Tariq Ramadan's Islam, the West and the Challenges of Modernity, Walter Wink's When the Powers Fall and Donna Tartt's The Secret History.

What is your favorite hymn and why?
I think my favourite hymn is Inspired by love and Anger by John Bell of the Iona community. It links discipleship to a call to work for justice even when the odds are stacked against us. I also like Frederick William Faber's There's a wideness in God's mercy because it reminds me of the immensity of the grace of God. It is not for the church or me to put false limits on that love

Can you name a major moral, political, or intellectual issue on which you've changed your mind?
I used to be opposed to the idea of God working through other faiths. I can no longer hold that position

What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?
What Walter Wink calls the myth of redemptive violence which is at the heart of so much of contemporary culture.

If you could effect one major change in the governing of your country, what would it be?
Only one thing? There is so much that needs changing. In recent times our Government has supported catastrophic moves to extend drinking hours and expand gambling. Our civil liberties are being butchered with the ID Card Bill only the latest in a long run of authoritarian moves. Our democracy has long been up for sale with the major parties competing as to who can fall to their knees quickest before corporate interests. And our electoral system is a farce in which a political party with less than 40% of votes cast in the General Election can have a substantial overall majority which with effective whipping allows it to get just about anything it likes through. Our system makes most votes wasted and tempts tactical rather than principled voting. Hopefully we will get proportional representation although MPs voting for such will be like turkeys voting for an early Christmas.

But as you ask for one change, I will go for the abolition of the Defence Exports Services Organisation which promotes the export of deadly weapons. For me, that can't come a day too soon.

If you could effect one major policy change in the Methodist Church, what would it be?
A realisation that whilst we have much to cherish in our heritage, we are failing to connect with the spirituality in our land which is very present. I see hope in the initiative of Family Friendly Churches and the emergent church conversations. We must act faster on these things.

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?
Treat others as you would wish to be treated and remember that you and are precious to God as is the person who gets on your nerves.

What, if anything, do you worry about?
My family and whether I am doing my job as I ought.

If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything that you'd do differently?
I would have made different career decisions in my 20s. However, I may have needed the tough times to help me now to empathise with others who are struggling and to develop sensitivity.

Where would you most like to live (other than where you do now)?
Somewhere leafy but within 10 miles of a County cricket ground and a decent football team. Failing that, I'd love to return one day to the wonderful Isle of Man where the only sport of quality is motorbike road racing which frankly doesn't do a lot for me.

What do you like doing in your spare time?
I love spending time with my wife and children. I like walking our dog. On my day off, I enjoy eating out in the pubs of North Devon. I enjoy watching most sports especially football. I enjoy films and reading. And of course watching comedy and satire. Whilst I am not a musician, I enjoy listening to music. To the horror of my family, this often means revisiting the seventies to listen to the likes of Queen as well as assorted punk bands.

What is your most treasured possession?
A silver plate given to my late uncle on his retirement as the founder Secretary of the Anglo Chilean Friendship Society in 1969. He worked for Anglo Chilean relations for many years having been brought up in Chile by parents of British extraction. 18. What talent would you most like to have?

I would love to be able to play an instrument competently and master a foreign language. I have tried both without any appreciable success.

If you could have any three guests, past or present to dinner, who would they be?
Thomas Beckett as this site is named after Henry II's description of him which led to his death. Without liking his defence of church privileges, I am fascinated by the personal change in him after moving from being the King's right hand man to being archbishop of Canterbury.

John Steinbeck as he's my favourite author.

Rory Bremner for both his impressions and his use of satire which all too easily convinces me that in the UK at least the lunatics have taken over the asylum

I know that I ought to invite John Wesley but I don't think he'd be great for laughs or harmony and I think he'd find my conversation rather too trivial. However, the gossip in me would rather like to have his wife come to dinner to dish the dirt on him.