2016 sees record conference attendances
If Christ is not raised, the apostles are knaves and the church deserves to die, declared Professor Don Carson at the CMF National Conference in April. At the heart of our faith is the fact that 'Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures...was buried...raised and will return' (1 Corinthians 15).
The gospel, he said, is christological, irrevocably Christcentred. It embraces with equal fervour his death and resurrection. It is theological, bound up with the reality of judgement, which is the backdrop to all that Christ came to do. It is biblical. Christ died for our sins 'according to the Scriptures', the fulfilment of OT story lines. It is apostolic. The witness of the apostles is our access to God's self-disclosed revelation. It is historical, 1 Corinthians specifies that Jesus was buried and rose. The biblical faith is given in the matrix of history; it turns on the resurrection of Jesus and does not expect us to believe what is not true.
Professor Andrew Tomkins in his Rendle Short Lecture 'Tackling Global Health Inequalities' explored the impact of exclusion in global healthcare. Being poor is 'bad for your health' he told the conference. 'There are many jobs with Christian, multi-faith or secular organisations overseas. It is nearly always possible to join and contribute to a local Christian fellowship. The term "Christians in Global Health" is now used to describe the remarkable range of ways in which Christian healthcare professionals can make a difference.'
CMF is mightily encouraged with record attendances at our student and national conferences, 450 and 470 respectively.
John Wyatt is new CMF President
Professor John Wyatt has accepted the invitation to be the next CMF President. He is a long-standing and honoured member of the Fellowship, formerly Professor of Ethics and Perinatology at University College London and served on the Ethics Committees of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. For over 20 years he was a consultant neonatologist at University College Hospital. CMF roles include chairing the Medical Study Group. He is also the author of Matters of Life and Death and Right to Die?
Prayer summit shares the vision
Our CMF Prayer Summit brought together nearly 70 members and staff at Yarnfield Park, Staffs, over the weekend of 17-19 June. It was an opportunity to pray in depth for the life and witness of the Fellowship. The context in which we are set is full of challenges: an NHS under pressure, global instability, threats posed by militant Islam and increasing hostility to Christian beliefs. Participants considered the 2020 ACTIVE Vision - our key priorities for the next five years. Roundtables contributed and fleshed out ideas for Advocacy, Communications, Training, International partnerships, Volunteering and Evangelism. One innovation was holding the CMF General Committee and annual meeting at a non-London venue.
'Watchers' launched
CMF is launching a new prayer strategy, and we want to explore the use of social media platforms to boost and enrich intentional prayer. We are launching a closed Facebook Group named 'Watchers' toshare prayer updates. Participants are invited to develop new ways to boost prayer, drawing inspiration from Isaiah 62:6. The group is open to CMF members, visit facebook.com/groups/CMF.Watchers
High impact volunteering
Chuck Noll, a famous American football coach, once said, 'The mercenaries will always beat the draftees, but the volunteers will crush them all.' The new Deep:ER programme is an avenue for younger doctors and students to take time out to learn new skills and work among students. As volunteers, we long to see them grow in understanding of how God is calling them to live out their faith through medicine, building foundations for life. This mirrors our desire better to equip and train those passionate to see God's kingdom built through the work of the Fellowship, for example our 230 Links, filling over 400 posts connected to workplaces, churches, specialties, foundations and deaneries. There's more to come so look out for more details in print and online.
CMF Finances
The April accounts show an encouraging picture. The overall income was just above budget and expenditure just below budget giving an overall deficit of £9,000. This is £8,000 better than budget. Thank you to all who continue to support the ministry of CMF through donations and subscriptions.
Spring Appeal
A reminder. CMF hopes to raise £80,000 to ensure our work is properly resourced and can continue. Please prayerfully consider making a generous contribution.
