Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

57. The Fruitful Field Project
across which it is realistic to deploy
the regional teams which are
recommended here. The Committee
acknowledges that this aligned
development may not be possible,
and that further work will be required
on the Committee’s part during
2012/2013 if it is unlikely that the
working party will be able to offer
a complete picture to the 2013
Conference. However, we reiterate our
hope that strategic and collaborative
working will deliver mutually-beneficial
outcomes by the time of the 2013
Conference, and we therefore further
recommend that the concept and
nature of the regional teams be
an important consideration for the
Methodist Council’s “larger than
Circuit” working party.
Posts based in centres
172 We recommend the establishment
of staff teams within centres. The
centre-based staff teams will form
part of the single team of expert
staff, and, as with the whole of the
staff team, will focus on serving
and supporting Circuits and Local
Churches. The context within which
they will do so is developed further
in section J below, where the role
of centres is discussed. These
paragraphs emphasise that the
centre staff will:
l
l
work within the context of a
community of resident and
visiting students, learners and
guests
have a particular responsibility
l
l
for developing and maintaining
centres as communities which
can connect with partners across
the World Church
have a particular responsibility
for developing and maintaining
centres as communities of deep
sharing with ecumenical partners
have a particular responsibility
for developing and maintaining
centres as communities of apt
and excellent scholarship and
research, working in partnership
with the Higher Education sector.
173 We therefore recommend that each
post within the centres should have
as its primary focus:
173.1 either ministry development, in all
its forms: forming and equipping
lay and ordained Methodists who
share in the ministry of God within
the life of the Church to be effective
leaders, servants and partners in
God’s mission; helping to train,
form and equip those who exercise
lay ministries and roles within the
lives of Circuits and Local Churches,
with a particular focus in the first
instance on the initial and continuing
development of Local Preachers
and Worship Leaders; helping to
train, form and equip those who are
preparing for diaconal and presbyteral
ministry (as student ministers
and probationers), supporting the
continuing development of those
who serve in Circuit appointments,
including Superintendents, and
accompanying those candidating for
ordained ministry
Conference Agenda 2012 713