THE METHODIST CONFERENCE
SCARBOROUGH 2008
Newsletter Prepared by Representatives from York and Hull District
Representatives
Revd Stephen Burgess, Revd Richard Teal, Mr Peter Barley, Dr Stephen Leah, Revd Sue Sowden, Mr William Swires, Revd Steve Barlow, Deacon Sue Culver, Mrs Heather Shipman
Dear Friends
The following is just a snapshot of some of the items discussed at Conference in Scarborough. All of the items will have an impact on our Churches and Circuits. If you would like any further information you will find it available on the Conference website, our own York and Hull District website or please contact one of your representatives to Conference. Their details can be found in the District Directory.
In November our President, Revd Stephen Poxon and Vice President, David Walton will be spending time with us in the District and we look forward to welcoming them. The President elect for 2009 - 2010 will be Revd David Gamble (formerly of the York and Hull District) and the Vice President elect Dr Richard Vautrey (Leeds District)
Heather Shipman
The Connexional Team
The changes to the Connexional Team begin to take effect from this September. Instead of the four Secretaries and the General Secretary and Assistant Secretary there will now be the General Secretary (Rev Dr Martyn Atkins), Secretary for Internal Relationships (Rev Dr Mark Wakelin), Secretary for External Relationships (Christine Elliott) and Secretary for Team Operations (John Ellis). From this Team there will be Clusters operating and emanating from the senior management. The Rev Ken Howcroft will continue in his role of Assistant Secretary to Conference plus other duties including Ecumenical Officer. World Church Relationships will see the development of named regional Partnership Co-ordinators and a new role of mission partners called Companions will be developed to encourage two way dialogue, fellowship and support. The grant making system is to be simplified, this, however, mystified me!
A new scheme of Connexional Pioneering Ministries was agreed. This aims to develop Ministries specific to young adults with no Church connections.
What does all this mean to you and me? If we want to contact someone and know their name etc we can phone or write as usual. If, however, we do not know who the specific contact is for any given request we should phone Methodist Church House in Marylebone Road and the Helpdesk will direct us to the correct person. As the changeover is to be gradual we need to be patient until all is settled.
Sue Sowden
Singing the Faith.
The Methodist Publishing House have recently produced a questionnaire for churches, to gather information about the present and likely future use of hymn collections and other music resources in Methodist Churches. The result showed that Hymns and Psalms was the most widely used hymn book, but there was a wide variety of supplementary material in use.
Due to the uncertainty of Methodist Publishing House’s future, costings for a new hymn book and electronic material will not be brought to the Conference until Conference of 2009.
It was agreed to produce a new hymn book and a new electronic rolling resource. Details will be brought to the Conference next year after consultation for a new hymn book and electronic resource to be produced for 2010 .
Richard Teal
Social Justice/Public Issues
Conference expressed its mind regarding several issues of public life and social justice. The President, in his opening address, called for solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe as they struggle for freedom and peace. Conference later passed a motion associating itself with many of the Zimbabwean churches in condemning the recent violence in the General Election campaign there. It also condemned the British Government for failing to properly care for Zimbabwean refugees
Conference also addressed the recent sharp increases in the cost of food - e.g. a 40% rise in the cost of rice in Bangladesh in the past 3 months. It called for continued generous giving by Methodists to agencies like MRDF. Deep concern was also expressed regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Conference called for the UK to exert greater pressure on Israel to lift the siege it has imposed on Gaza and for Methodists to write to their MPs and MEPs to demand this.
The President also led a resourced debate on how the Church can become more influential in building a society based on justice, peace and fairness. There were many ideas, amongst which were that Methodists should engage politically and speak up on national issues.
Stephen Leah
Faith and Order Committee – What is a Circuit?
Out of a summary of the recent Faith and Order work and its committee various summary papers were submitted one of which was The Missional Nature of the Circuit an overview of the role of the Circuit in the context of fresh ways of being Church.
The paper explored the role of the Circuit within contemporary Methodism and the development of the Circuit in early Methodism and of Section 50 of CPD.
In 1729 Charles Wesley formed his first religious society know as the Holy Club at Oxford and by 1746 there were seven Circuits and by 1750 the 49 Circuits of Britain and Ireland were joined by 50 - ‘American’. In 1754 the first preaching plan was published for the London Circuit. In 2007 there were 570 Circuits in Britain of various sizes.
As in early Methodism the paper acknowledges that Circuits need to develop in line with their mission objectives and call as emphasised in Mapping the Way Forward. This ongoing process, launched throughout Methodism, is reviewing the Circuits' fitness for mission rather than a set of structures. In some areas we heard of Circuits being merged into large city-wide gatherings with separated or group superintendencies in others.
Circuit boundaries are being redrawn not for financial imperatives but for mission imperatives. Interestingly, all the stories told by delegates supported the papers recommendation for larger circuits.
Having said that, the goal of the process ‘is not simply for fewer and larger Circuits but fresh expressions of Circuit’. The paper then goes on to ask the questions ‘What is a Superintendent’, and ‘What is a Circuit? The conclusion to the later was that the role of the Circuit is expected to be dynamic and changing, open to the energy of the Spirit and should constantly reflect on and react to the Mission of God in the world. It should be flexible and fluid developing expressions of Methodist Connexional identity within the principles outlined in Standing Orders and Called to Love and Praise (1999).
William Swires
Equalities and Diversity
Equalities and Diversity affects everyone. All will experience or observe discrimination and prejudice to some extent. Discrimination and prejudice on the grounds of race, gender, disability, age and sexuality are experienced throughout society and within the Church. Conference received an interim report from the work of the Equalities and Diversity project covering the work undertaken since its inception in 2004. The Methodist Church strives to be an inclusive church where everyone is valued, equal and different. Work is continuing in all key areas and in the formation of an Equal Opportunities Policy. Additional resourcing within the Connexional team was agreed for this priority area. The 2009 Conference will hear a further report leading to adoption of the Equal Opportunities Policy. Resources can be found on the Methodist Church website under 'Equally Different?' and are commended for church use.
Steve Barlow
With Integrity and Skill
This report talks about the way we handle issues of confidentiality. It affects all pastoral issues within the church from the people we mention in prayers of intercession, to the information we share with one another. It deals with actual scenarios and is a must for every church.
Created in God's Image
A profoundly moving report which tackles head on the issues of IVF, genetic engineering and selection and abortion. It is a detailed and at times technical report but always completely understandable to the lay person. An excellent report.
Ecumenical Vision for 2009
A new report 'Embracing the Covenant' and a successor body to the Joint Implementation Committee were introduced at Conference. A must for all those looking to move the Covenant forward in their own churches.
Heather Shipman
VOLUNTEER'S VIEWS
Des and I were stewards for 4 days at Conference and attended a couple of fringe events. We found stewarding interesting, some of it more than others but it was good that we were given a variety of duties so we weren't stuck for a long time with something that was boring! Perhaps a downside was that when I was a steward in the Exhibition Halls I had the opportunity to have a good look at all the stalls and I spent money! However being on duty in the Main Hall meant that we could keep up with some of the things happening in Conference - although, having previously been a rep I have to say it all makes a lot more sense when you have read the Agenda. Being a steward at the opening of Conference was a bonus and meeting up with lots of people. We found it a good experience.
Janet Whelan
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