Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

57. The Fruitful Field Project
at regional level over the last four
years demonstrates that this is
far from easy and just how quickly
territorial mentalities emerge.”
160 The Committee also notes
the challenges of successfully
establishing such a team. A
submission made by a District
officer during the consultation
period noted “that this approach is
very different to that adopted when
District Development Enablers were
introduced. From that experience
I concur wholeheartedly with the
value of coordination, however I
observe that as an organisation we
will need to learn many new skills
if we are to become accomplished
as a Connexion in working to a level
of excellence in this coordinated
way. We can learn much from the
strengths of the regional District
Development Enabler networks and
from the benefits which District
Development Enablers as a national
group have [recently] enjoyed.”
161 The posts within the team will be
grouped:
l
l
l
in regional teams across
the Connexion, to which we
recommend allocating 70% of
the team’s posts
within centres (see section J
below), where we recommend
locating 20% of the team’s posts
within a coordinating team, to
which we recommend allocating
10% of the team’s posts.
This represents a strong and
welcome bias towards dispersed,
regional working. This capacity
is described in more detail in
paragraphs 163-179 below.
162 This team of expert staff is the
Network’s key resource. Valuing,
developing and investing in such an
expert staff team is a significant and
worthwhile commitment of resources.
In this respect, the Committee agrees
with a consultation submission from
a regional forum, which affirmed the
importance of “funding well-resourced
people rather than under-resourced
institutions.”
Regional teams
163 We recommend the establishment
of teams of regionally-deployed staff
within the single team of expert staff.
Again, this was prefigured both in the
consultation document and in the
Committee’s interim response. The
Committee was particularly pleased
in this instance to note the warm
reception given to the concept by
those who have experience of working
closely with regionally-deployed expert
staff at the moment. A submission
made by a District committee during
the consultation period noted that
regionally deployed staff posts are
“vital because they are located within
reach of each church and Circuit and
vital because they can form a body
which can ensure the sharing of best
connexional practice.” A submission
from a District Chair noted the
importance of “effective networking
708 Conference Agenda 2012