Methodist Church pledges support to UK Armed Forces
27 November 2017
The Methodist Church of Britain has signed the Armed Forces Covenant pledging its commitment to fair treatment and support to the whole Armed Forces community including regulars, reserves, veterans, and their families. The signing took place at Methodist Church House on Tuesday 14 November.Alongside the public recognition of the value of the Armed Forces community, in signing the Covenant the Methodist Church has made a number of specific commitments including:
- recruiting veterans of all ages with a tailored pathway to employment
- to support employees in the reserves and help to accommodate their training and deployment
- facilitating the transition to and from civilian and military ministry for Armed Forces Chaplains
- a favourable approach to leave and flexible working for Service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner's deployment
- ensuring, where possible, buildings and facilities have good access for disabled veterans
- establishing a dedicated Methodist Church webpage to inform the Church about the specific needs of the Armed Forces community
- recognising and remembering the sacrifice of others including the availability of liturgical material or use throughout the Methodist Church.
The Armed Forces Covenant was signed by both the President and Secretary of the Methodist Conference, the Reverend Loraine N Mellor and the Reverend Canon Gareth J Powell.
Reverend Mellor said: "Our Armed Forces undertake an often difficult and dangerous job. The impact of their unique role on the service personnel and their families, while they serve and afterwards, cannot be underestimated. I am delighted that the Methodist Church is signing the Covenant to support the Armed Forces community."
On behalf of the Armed Forces the Covenant was signed by The Venerable (Air Vice-Marshal) Jonathan Chaffey, Chaplain-in-Chief RAF, and Commodore David Elford, Naval Commander Regional Forces.
Commodore Elford said: "The Methodist Church in Britain already plays a substantial role in supporting the Armed Forces community through the great work of its Chaplains across all three services.
"By signing the Armed Forces Covenant the Church makes a very public statement that it values the work of the Armed Forces and offers its compassion, care and love to support them in the particular circumstances that they, veterans, and their families find themselves in."
The Armed Forces Covenant is a commitment from the nation, enshrined in law, that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly.
More than 1,500 businesses and organisations across the UK have already signed the Covenant, making practical pledges that have made a difference across the Armed Forces community.