There have been so many changes in the NHS and in the government's approach to the public sector in recent years that many Christian doctors feel isolated and discouraged. One of our greatest needs as a fellowship is to have people who will provide a listening ear for members, together with practical and prayerful support, so the CMF Board have decided to appoint two part time staffworkers for the graduate department.
Charlotte Hattersley
The first of these, Charlotte started work on 1 March. Up to December 2009, she worked in the CMF student department as northern team leader, but now she will concentrate on supporting junior doctors. I had a conversation with Charlotte recently:
What can you tell us about yourself?
I'm a part time partner in a 5-partner rural practice on the north bank of the River Humber. I am involved in teaching students from Hull York Medical School, and junior doctors in the North Yorkshire East Coast Foundation School. We're also working towards becoming a GP training practice. I'm a cell leader within my church, and currently having fun working on local evangelism! I love being outdoors, and dabble in lots of sports – running, mountain biking, kayaking, swimming, squash – and my 'proudest sporting moment' was completing the first ever 'Coast to Coast Adventure Race' last summer.
What do you think about CMF today?
CMF has a great heritage of both standing in the gap in public policy for godly values, and of pastoring followers of Jesus in their day-to-day situations. I'm encouraged by CMF's growing diversity, and by the way it is embracing new strategies while communicating an unchanging God.
What appeals to you about this job?
I'm looking forward to a clean sheet, working out how best I can use the time set aside for CMF to equip and encourage Christian junior doctors to follow their God-given calling in the place where they are. I will maintain some contact with final year students as the transition from student to junior is such a challenging one. I anticipate much of my time will be spent with juniors who are looking to encourage others to fulfil their role and communicate the gospel in diverse ways, although no doubt I'll continue to do some teaching and conferencing!
The second post
An advertisement for the second part time graduate staffworker to be involved in the pastoral care of GPs and hospital doctors can be seen at www.cmf.org.uk and we would warmly encourage you to make enquiry if you would like to join the graduate staff team and further the work of the fellowship in this way.
Could you give one day a week?
God has been at work to give us an expanded vision for the pastoral care of doctors in Britain and Ireland. Recently an experienced GP and a newly appointed consultant both approached the office expressing a concern that members needed more pastoral care locally. They had a desire to give more time to CMF themselves.
These visits coincided with discussions in the office and the Board about developing a team of 20-30 doctors who would give one day voluntarily per week to CMF to support members locally. Huw Morgan's recent article God – or Money? in Triple Helix opened up the possibility that Christian doctors prepared to earn less money could find more time available for the Lord's service in ways other than clinical medicine. If you would be interested in exploring the possibility of giving a day a week to CMF please do contact me in the office.
New Head needed
I shall be retiring from CMF at the end of March 2011 and we will soon be advertising for my successor. Please help make this widely known and if you would like to know more, contact Peter Saunders or myself.
Onto the front foot
Whether you're coming back as a 'regular' or this will be your first year to come to Swanwick, this year's national conference 23-25 April promises to be a great weekend. John Lennox, Professor of Mathematics at Oxford and a well known Bible teacher and apologist, will be giving the Bible readings from Acts on the theme Onto the Front Foot, and Richard Vincent will give a keynote lecture on Foundations for Practice – How should Christians teach medicine? There will be a wide range of seminars and opportunities to worship, pray and relax together. You may book either online or by post. Don't miss it!
2010 programme
Our first regional conference this year will be in Cambridge on 27 March, on Surviving and thriving in the different stages of life. Details of this and the full programme of conferences and breakfasts for 2010 can be found on the CMF website.
