Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

57. The Fruitful Field Project
which would be required to renovate
the premises at Wesley House, or
the dislocation, developmental work
and associated capital expenditure
which would be required to establish
new premises in Cambridge; (b) the
weakness of existing links between
Wesley House and the University
of Cambridge, as demonstrated by
the low number of Wesley House
students studying for University of
Cambridge awards and by the lack of
developed projects or partnerships
with the university at the level of
scholarship and research activity.
236 An assessment of configurations
involving the Wesley Study Centre,
Durham noted, among other
strengths, the contribution which
would be made by a continuing
association with Durham University,
its theology faculty and St John’s
College, all of which have taken a
proactive interest in establishing
robust and long-lasting links with
the Wesley Study Centre and the
Methodist Church. However, an
assessment of configurations
involving the Wesley Study Centre
also noted, among other weaknesses:
(a) the developmental work and the
very significant capital expenditure
which would be likely to be required
to establish a centre within a
context where the Wesley Study
Centre currently occupies limited
space within St John’s College; (b)
the difficulties which some across
the south of the Connexion would
experience in travelling to Durham,
especially given the location of Cliff
College in Calver, Derbyshire; (c)
the loss to the Methodist Church
of the use of the premises and
assets currently available at both
Birmingham and Cambridge in favour
of establishing new premises in
Durham, and the associated risk of
not being able to redirect assets from
the other two locations to Durham.
237 An assessment of configurations
involving three centres noted the
improved accessibility in terms of
transport links which naturally flows
from having a third centre. However,
such an assessment also noted
two overriding weaknesses: (a) the
very significant capital expenditure
which would be required to renovate
the premises, or the dislocation,
developmental work and associated
capital expenditure which would be
required to establish new premises at
two of the centres; (b) the increased
risk of replication, fragmented
provision, missed opportunities for
cross-fertilisation across and between
activities, and an inefficient use of
resources, as discussed at greater
length in paragraphs 201-204 above.
238 The Committee was grateful to a
tutor whose submission, made during
the consultation period, noted that
“the Ministries Committee has not
shirked its responsibility to be radical
and to challenge all of us working in
the sector, and I welcome that after
the frustrations of working within the
framework of the previous review of
training institutions.” However, when
it came to make a final decision
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