Reignite

To promote our new website and our Invite Service this weekend I've done some publicity and this week I'm doing mini-reflections on Twitter @BoltonUnitarian . An article appeared in The Bolton News here .

Yesterday we launched our new website at Bank Street . Our webmaster's been working on it for a while and it's really good to finally have it up and running. There's a few new features and hopefully it will be easier to maintain and update than the last one. Any constructive feedback is appreciated as we try to work out any kinks. Bank Street Unitarian Chapel, Bolton

The view from Egypt This is an amazing icon of nonviolent dignified prayer vs the power of the state. Let's hope that any protests remain rooted in prayer and non-violent action. H/T Young Anabaptist Radicals

I've started to have a think about the AV referendum in May. I've been disappointed so far that I've not seen any wide-ranging discussion about a possible change in our voting system. My instinct has been to support Alternative Vote, but I'm happy to change my mind in a public debate. I just want to see a public debate. I haven't seen one yet. I feel like this is a pretty important issue and we need a proper debate about it. I've had a look at the Yes campaign and the No campaign websites. I did so with a reasonably open mind, but I have to say the arguments of the No campaign are absolutely rubbish. They keep talking some people having their votes counted more than others. But this is misleading nonsense. Under AV some people's votes may be physically counted by the vote counters on the night more than once, but everyone still only gets one vote. A person's vote will only be counted again if their first choice is eliminated. It seems to me to be inten...

"Management is a set of processes that can keep a complicated system of people and technology running smoothly. The most important aspects of management include planning, budgeting, organising, staffing, controlling, and problem solving. Leadership is a set of processes that creates organisations in the first place or adapts them to significantly changing circumstances. Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision, and inspires them to make it happen despite the obstacles." John Kotter The problem with British Unitarianism, locally and nationally, is that we do management rather than leadership.

Happy New Year! My new year's resolution is to for my congregation to reach out to more people than we have before. As such I've finally given in and started a Twitter account @BoltonUnitarian . Please note this is not my personal Twitter account, but the congregation's. This blog remains my own thoughts and reflections. But the Twitter is for Bank Street Unitarian Chapel. While I'm at it I've also created a Facebook page for Bank Street Unitarian Chapel, Bolton. Feel free to like it.

Merry Christmas