Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

59. Memorials to the Conference
Conference notes that the Connexional
Grants Committee has provided substantial
funding for locally-based projects of wider
significance as a sign of connexional
support for such work; there is no policy
change being proposed in relation to this.
The Conference recalls that the impact
of the inter faith work done specifically
within the Connexional Team has been
scrutinised before and as a result of the
Team Focus process the previous fulltime
post was ended in 2008. A four-year
project with a budget of around £110,000
was set up to explore the various ways in
which the priority of inter faith work could
best be embedded in the regular life of
the Team and the wider Connexion, and a
part-time project officer was appointed to
support this. It was also agreed to retain
a part-time Inter Faith Officer position for
the duration of the project at the cost of
around another £160,000.
That project has now come to its end
and there was never any intention or
commitment to extend its funding. Its
output was studied in the light of the
instruction from the Conference of 2011
to constrain overall budget expenditure,
and in the light of the various places in
the Team and beyond where effective inter
faith work has been taking place. It was
also noted that many vital areas of the
Church’s life thrive without a desk officer
in London. In this total context it was
considered that to reinstate a full-time
inter faith post could not be justified in
present circumstances.
As noted in the Connexional Central
Services Budget report to the Conference,
several important resources will be in
place to support inter faith work. The
Secretary for External Relationships,
who has been prominent in dealing
with the major inter faith issues since
2008, will be the point of contact for
external parties. The Inter Faith Advisor
of Churches Together in England will
continue to be substantially funded from
the Connexional Central Services Budget
and provide support as is appropriate.
Working ecumenically in this way is in
line with the Conference’s instruction to
work in partnership with others wherever
possible. It is expected that expertise
will also be drawn from centres around
the Connexion such as Touchstone in
Bradford and St Philip’s in Leicester
to help fulfil this important area of the
Church’s engagement in society. It is
hoped that an authorised volunteer can
also add prominence to the Connexion’s
engagement with the issue, as is already
the case with areas of work such as health
and healing and music in worship.
The budget proposal brought to the
Conference hence envisages continuing
support for the Connexion’s interfaith
work from central resources but not the
introduction of a full-time staff member. The
reply to the memorial is therefore contained
in the resolutions of the Conference.
M25 Inter Faith Relations
The Birmingham District Synod (R)
(Present: 120. Voting: 70 for, 37 against)
greatly regrets the Central Services Budget
proposal not to continue the post of
Connexional Inter Faith Relations Officer
after the summer of 2012.
Conference Agenda 2012 787