Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

57. The Fruitful Field Project
of time, will and energy, rather than
through positively discerning that their
call lies elsewhere. This is not helpful
pastorally, and does not demonstrate
a godly valuing of the people involved.
106 Other concerns focus on the content
of Faith & Worship and the Worship
Leaders Training Pack. New forms
of worship have developed that
were not envisaged at the time
the materials were written, and
both Local Preachers and Worship
Leaders find themselves operating in
contexts which are very different from
those of 20 years ago. New hymns,
worship styles and technological
developments also have an impact
on the way we worship. There is an
increased awareness of the need to
lead effective worship at services
intended primarily for young people.
Some areas of life and worship
that are increasingly significant (for
example all-age worship, declining
levels of biblical literacy, or living
in a multi-faith society) have a
relatively low profile in the study
materials. Equipping Local Preachers
and Worship Leaders to become
reflective practitioners is a key factor
in enabling ministry in increasingly
diverse contexts.
107 Other concerns focus on the
preparation offered for collaborative
working between ministries. The
authorisation of Worship Leaders is a
relatively new development in the life
of the Methodist Church. Pathways for
forming and training Worship Leaders
have developed independently from
those for Local Preachers, but, given
the overlap of the roles, it may be
appropriate for common elements
to be shared. This also presents an
opportunity to see pathways shared
with those who are being formed
or trained for other ministries or
roles. Moreover, there is a crucially
important opportunity here to see
pathways shared with the wider
Circuit and Local Church community,
and to configure and present some of
these pathways as opportunities to
deepen discipleship and knowledge
of the story of the faith.
108 Other concerns focus on supporting
the delivery and resourcing of the
pathways. Many tutors do excellent
work, but some Circuits have difficulty
recruiting tutors, and there is a
lack of support and development
opportunities for tutors themselves.
Group study can often offer the better
experience for most people, but many
of those on trial report a sense of
isolation, and the existing system
does little proactively to encourage
the establishment of cohorts or
groups across a wider area than the
Circuit. The potential for the use of
virtual learning environments has
grown, and needs to be explored
alongside more traditional delivery
methods.
109 Other concerns have focused on
the emphasis placed, in the case
of Local Preachers, on onerous
initial formation and training, which
potentially results in a diminished
emphasis on continuing development.
Conference Agenda 2012 679