Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

57. The Fruitful Field Project
history, sponsored a number of
institutions, colleges and centres
to provide a range of services
and opportunities in the fields
of formation, learning, training,
theological education, scholarship,
research and development. However,
the rationale for sponsorship of such
a high number of institutions and
communities has not always been
clearly articulated, nor has a clear
account always been given of that
which the Church hopes to achieve
through its sponsorship of particular
institutions, colleges and centres and
of institutions, colleges and centres
in general.
199 To aid its reflections on the
contribution of institutions, colleges
and centres to the Discipleship and
Ministries Learning Network, the
Committee sought to identify the
unique role which centres can play
within the life of the Church and the
Network. In doing so, the Committee
sought to be realistic about its prior
decision to focus its resources on
an expert staff team in the first
instance, but also realistic about
those things which, within the wider
educational context, can only be
achieved through a centre and its
associated infrastructure. In all of this
the Committee drew heavily on its
understanding of the life and witness
of those institutions, colleges and
centres currently sponsored by the
Church and on the submissions made
during the consultation period.
200 The Committee concluded that a
centre should be able to make the
following unique contributions to the
life of the Methodist Church and the
Discipleship and Ministries Learning
Network:
200.1 A centre should be a community of
faith which nurtures and supports
a deep expertise in formation,
learning, training, theological
education, scholarship, research
and development. Such a centre will
benefit from the synergy between
different activities and from the
interaction between different learners;
it will engender a prayerful community
which allows students, learners,
guests and staff to affirm, share and
engage with diverse insights, cultures
and convictions.
200.2 A centre should provide a home and
a gathering place for a community
of students and learners (resident
and visiting, full-time and part-time),
guests and staff (teaching and
research staff; administrative staff;
domestic and maintenance staff;
and visiting colleagues from across
the Network); and should be able to
provide residential hospitality for short
and longer periods of time. Such a
centre will be able to offer a base
to support the broad and dispersed
activities of the Network. Such a
centre will also be able to support a
broad range of pathways, including
those which will rely on periods of
residence. As a learning institution
noted in its submission made during
the consultation period, such a centre
will also be able to sustain “the
724 Conference Agenda 2012