Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

57. The Fruitful Field Project
challenges that a comprehensive
redevelopment of pathways for those
preparing to be Local Preachers and
Worship Leaders is required, as well
as the development of pathways
for the continuing development of
existing Local Preachers and Worship
Leaders. Such a redevelopment
has been commissioned by the
Ministries Committee. This subsection
reflects on the key elements
of such a redevelopment, and places
the redevelopment within the context
of the Discipleship and Ministries
Learning Network – its purposes,
its values and its recommended
infrastructure.
133 Core to the redevelopment is a
flexible, modular pattern of formation
and training for those on note or
on trial or preparing to be Worship
Leaders, which can be adapted and
developed in response to particular
contexts, needs and aspirations,
and which can be accessed through
a range of methods. The following
paragraphs outline its key elements.
134 One key element of the
redevelopment will be a new set of
learning outcomes with a greater
emphasis on the skills required
for preaching and leading worship.
Current Faith & Worship learning
outcomes are in large part an outline
of the current course content,
and offer little room for growth,
development and change. They also
shy away from offering an energising
description of the foundational
formational aspects of being a Local
Preacher. New learning outcomes will
be attentive to individuals’ personal
discipleship and their knowledge of
the story of the faith, to their skills as
preachers and/or leaders of worship,
and to their attitude as individuals
who help others to grow as disciples
and to share in God’s mission.
135 Another key element will be the
development of new course content
within a modular framework. Core
and extension modules, with some
level of flexibility and choice, will
enable learners to specialise in areas
of particular need or interest, and
will allow those with prior learning
and experience to study areas of
existing knowledge or expertise in
greater depth. New material will
need to address those important
contemporary and missional areas
which are currently absent. As new
areas of theology and practice
become important for the Church, it
will be possible, due to the modular
framework, to add new modules to
the framework as extension modules.
It should also be possible to revise
existing modules individually and
without major upheaval. New material
will also need to emphasise reflective
skills, equipping individuals to adapt
as preachers and leaders of worship
in changing contexts. The educational
approach and the way in which
information is presented also needs
to be addressed. Modules should be
designed in a way which is permissive
and enabling, not prescriptive, so that
tutors are supported by high quality
resources, but not ’de-skilled‘, and
Conference Agenda 2012 697