Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

59. Memorials to the Conference
urges the Conference to require the
connexional Safeguarding Team to produce
a shorter alternative to Creating Safer
Space: Foundation Module for use by
people already trained in safeguarding by
other recognised agencies so as to equip
them for work in the Methodist Church
context.
Reply
The Conference thanks the Southampton
District Synod for its memorial. The current
Creating Safer Space: Foundation Module
is designed to be delivered in a single
session of between two and two-anda-half
hours, and the Conference does
not believe that this is excessive. The
presence in a session of some people who
already have experience of safeguarding
training and practice in other environments
can enrich the session for all those who
attend. Providing separate alternative
sessions would add considerably to the
work of those providing them as it would
potentially double the number of sessions
needing to be run.
The Conference therefore declines the
memorial.
M31 Use of alcohol in churches which
are community centres
The Vale of Glamorgan (2/27) Circuit
Meeting (Present: 31. Voting: 20 for,
7 against) draws the attention of the
Conference to the fact that just as some
Methodist premises are predominantly
used as conference centres so others
are being designed and built to serve
predominantly as community centres
and often in partnership with the
local community. It therefore asks the
Conference to amend Standing Order
922(3A)(i) by the insertion of the words
‘or community’ between ‘conference’ and
‘centre’.
Reply
The Conference thanks the Vale of
Glamorgan Circuit Meeting for its
memorial. Amendments were made to
Standing Order 922 in 2004 following
a report from Westminster Central Hall
highlighting their need as a centre of
hospitality to be able to offer alcohol for
income reasons. The current position
enables any Methodist premises with the
consent of its District Policy Committee
to be able to have alcohol consumed
on their premises where a significant
part of their work and mission is as a
conference centre. There has not been
significant demand for the policy on alcohol
consumption in Methodist premises to be
further relaxed.
Inserting the word ‘community’ into
Standing Order 922(3A)(i) would drastically
widen the scope of this Standing Order
and significantly increase the number
of Methodist premises able to seek
designation by the appropriate authority
as a community centre in which the lawful
supply, sale or use of alcohol is permitted.
The Conference believes that this would
not be appropriate at a time when there
is justifiably much public concern over the
too-ready availability of alcohol.
The Conference therefore declines the
memorial.
Conference Agenda 2012 791