Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

57. The Fruitful Field Project
fundamental rhythms of prayer and
study and common life which remain
central to our understanding and
practice of Christian formation.”
200.3 A centre (through its structures,
resources and partnerships) should be
able to connect with partners across
the World Church. A connexional
committee, in its submission made
during the consultation period,
challenged the Connexion “to raise
its eyes beyond the traditional and
historic boundaries of learning
provision and to incorporate a
broader world-view. We also challenge
the Connexion to engender a culture
of learning which is outward-facing,
world-engaged and global in its
understanding of participation in
God’s mission. We challenge the
Connexion to develop an expression
of discipleship which expands
horizons and embraces the wideranging
perspectives of our World
Church partners.” As a submission
from a learning institution noted,
“we need an institution in the UK
that helps the world wide family of
Methodists to be shaped together
for mission, to learn with and from
each other, to be a partner with other
institutions [across the World Church]
to build their capacity and to receive
their wisdom and insights.”
200.4 A centre (through its structures,
resources and partnerships) should
be able to allow deep sharing with
ecumenical partners. As a tutor
noted in their submission made
during the consultation period, “there
is a richness to be derived from
training in community with partner
denominations and this requires
students to sit together and learn
together.” Directing us towards a wide
understanding of the role of centres
in the context of ecumenical working,
a postholder in a partner organisation
noted that “my observation is
that [newer denominations and]
churches in particular, look to the
historic churches as possessors of
theological and educational resources
which they do not have, and are
eager to develop relationships so
that those resources can be shared...
In other words part of the synergy
is what the historic churches have
and can bring to the table.” As a
partner organisation noted, “in a
post-denominational future we... see
the increasing need for institutions
in good standing across the wider
Church, offering training with a rich
ecumenical mix, whilst at the same
time offering Methodist charisms as a
gift to the Church universal.”
200.5 A centre (through its structures,
resources and partnerships)
should be able to nurture apt
and excellent scholarship and
research, in partnership with the
Higher Education sector. As a tutor
noted in their submission made
during the consultation period,
“the Methodist Church needs a
university validated institution
where some of the core areas of
Methodism can be academically
researched and studied. This is to
provide accessible scholarship to
Conference Agenda 2012 725