A METHODIST minister is encouraging members of his congregation to challenge him in the middle of his services if they disagree with what he is preaching.

Stanford Avenue Methodist Church in Brighton has decided to drop its traditional sermon and hymns led by the minister.

Instead group discussions on a chosen subject will be held on the fourth Sunday of every month.

Members of the public can also go along to chew over the news of the week with others in the congregation.

Standfor Avenue minister the Rev Doug Hopwood, 51, said: "The new sessions will last for two hours. People can catch up with the news of the week and say prayers of thanks.

"Then we'll break into discussion groups. There will be no sermon as such.

"People do tend to ask me questions over a cup of coffee afterwards anyway. But this is an attempt to involve the whole family of the church."

The idea came from Charter 95, a group of young people involved in the Methodist church who wanted to make it more lively and relevant to today.

Mr Hopwood said: "There will be lots of participation, nothing too long or dreary.

"The kids will be doing paintings and making things and as a result I hope nobody will get bored.

"It's new and exciting and I hope people will come into it with a sense of adventure.

"The overiding aim is to respond to young people who say they need more interaction."

But other clerics were not so sure. They were wary of losing touch with the sense of what their services conveyed to parishioners and were not sure they wanted to see an end to the traditional Sunday service.

Father Gordon O'Loughlin, of St Paul's Church, Russell Place, Brighton, said: "I suppose it depends on what you want from a sermon really. But it won't be happening here.

"It depends on the style of worship you have. We are much more formal here."

Father Kevin Dring, secretary to Cormac Murphy O'Connor, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, said: "It sounds interesting but it also sounds dangerous. One is putting oneself on the line and could risk losing control a bit.

"However, it seems a very useful exercise and will give people the opportunity to talk and express themselves."

But the congregation at the Stanford Avenue church clearly think the new-style service is the way forward.

Kathleen Wright, 73, of Edburton Avenue, said: "We have got to try these new things.

"Sometimes I've wanted to ask something but haven't been able to."

Dorothy Patching, 72, also of Edburton Avenue, said: "I think it will be great.

"You need change sometimes, or you will never go anywhere. Things come up sometimes during a sermon and you never question it. Now we can."

And Olive Holkham, 65, of Barnett Road, said: "I've always felt we should be more open to asking questions.

"Lots of us go away after a service and don't really know what to make of it."

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