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Methodist Council The Methodist Council usually meets four times between annual meetings of the Methodist Conference. The Council exercises some delegated powers on behalf of the Conference. It has just under 70 members representing the Methodist districts, youth executive, racial justice committee and other groups within the church. 12 April 2010 April
2010 meeting of the Methodist Council The Methodist Council met on 10-12 April at Royal Holloway College, University of London in Egham, Surrey. This is the third Council meeting of this Church year. A key theme running through the Council’s discussions was the vision of Methodist heritage in its past, present and future forms. A major issue addressed by Council was the 2009 Methodist Conference commitment to establishing the Church’s position on the situation in Israel and Palestine. The Council approved a report submitted by the Israel Palestine Working Group for presentation at the 2010 Methodist Conference. The report gives guidance on how to take action to promote justice and peace. One of the report’s resolutions encourages Methodists to write to their MPs, MEPs and Government ministers and call for urgent help to be given to people who are suffering as a result of the Occupation. It also encourages Methodists to visit Israel and Palestine through the help of agencies that convene meetings with Palestinian Christians engaging in respectful dialogue with Jews and Muslims. Another resolution supports the World Council of Churches 2009 call for an international boycott of Israeli goods from illegal settlements. The Church’s carbon reduction project was also on the agenda. The Council accepted a report identifying how established policy and practice impacts on the carbon footprint of the Methodist Church and how reductions could be made to reduce the Church’s carbon footprint in line with the Government’s targets of 80 per cent reduction by 2050. The report included recommendations that Methodist Circuits be encouraged to fund Government sponsored smart driver training among lay workers, ministers and preachers where appropriate; that local churches sign up to Hope in God’s future pledge and that changes are made to Standing Orders in order for energy performance and energy efficiency requirements to become mandatory for church buildings and manses. Thaddeus Dell, Carbon Reduction Policy Officer for The Methodist Church, said: “The risks and impacts of climate change and the responses to tackle it are increasing. It presents the Methodist Church with both a theological and practical challenge. The recommendations seek to encourage an enabling framework to make it easier to implement carbon reduction in the key areas that will maximise benefits whilst tackling other significant impacts.” Methodist Heritage was also discussed. The Council backed resolutions to financially support four key heritage sites – Wesley’s Chapel in London, John Wesley’s Chapel in Bristol, The Old Rectory in Epworth and the Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum of Primitive Methodism in Crew – whose preservation, the report stated, link heritage to mission.
Jo Hibbard, Methodist Heritage Officer, said: "I am grateful for the huge support of our work over the past year which I and the Methodist Heritage Committee have received from the Council today, particularly the appreciative remarks referring to the new Methodist Heritage Handbook. I am delighted that we have been given such a strong and positive mandate today to develop opportunities for mission offered by our historic sites and the use of our collections as fresh expressions of heritage." Other topics discussed at Council included the audit committee annual report, the Connexional budget, safeguarding, Equality and Diversity, Wesley College Bristol, the review of the Resourcing Mission Office, fundraising, ministries learning and development, social media, Epworth press and the new Methodist hymn collection. 2
February 2010
February
meeting of the Methodist Council The Methodist Council met on 1 – 2 February at the High Leigh Conference Centre in Broxbourne. This is the second Council meeting of this Church year. Key themes running through the Council’s discussions were relationships and communication both within the Church and with the wider world.
The first major issue tackled by Council was that of the Church’s engagement with social media such as Twitter, Facebook and blogging. Council members considered new guidelines for Church representatives in using new media. The guidelines seek to encourage representatives to make creative use of new media, while at the same time they highlight the potential pitfalls of its misuse. The Council has requested further revisions to come to the April meeting before the final version goes to the Conference in June. Toby Scott, Director of Communications and Campaigns, said, “How we relate to one another and to those outside the church is central to our calling as individual Christians and as a Church. New media presents exciting opportunities for Christians, but it also challenges us to behave with integrity and respect as in all other spheres of engagement.” The Council also discussed the nature of leadership and authority in the Church and whether the Church’s current leadership structures should be reviewed. In particular, members considered the roles of President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference. Currently, the President and Vice-President are elected to serve for one year, with the President as a presbyter and the Vice-President as a lay person or deacon. Council members considered the possibility of a new a tripartite ‘Presidium’, consisting of a presbyteral President and two co-Presidents - one lay person and one deacon. The report will be considered by the Working Group in light of the Council’s discussion, and a suggestion that a further option be provided for a two person presidium (one member being a presbyter and the other either lay or a deacon). The final report will go to the Methodist Conference in June for a final decision. The Revd Ken Howcroft, Assistant Secretary of the Methodist Council, said; “Clear and effective structures of leadership are essential for any organisation, and for the Church it is especially important that our leadership reflects our Methodist identity and our Christian commitment. As we explore this ground together, we don’t know what the final version of this will look like, but there is a clear desire for a collaborative leadership, combining the skills and wisdom of our lay and ministerial members.” Other topics discussed at the Council included urban mission, a future strategy for world church relationships, the Church’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and changes to the Methodist Ministers Pension Scheme. All of the papers discussed by the Methodist Council can be found online at: http://methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=1325. 22
September 2009
September
meeting of the Methodist Council The Methodist Council met on 21-22 September at Methodist Church House in London. This is the first Council meeting of the new Church year.
Discipleship
was high on the agenda for this Council meeting. General Secretary the Revd Dr
Martyn Atkins, introduced the discussion by asking Council members to consider
the challenges that Christian discipleship presents to the contemporary church.
Presenting a vision for discipleship, John Ellis, Secretary for Team Operations,
said; “Christian discipleship isn’t just about self improvement and
it’s certainly not about self promotion. We want to encourage people to grow
in faith and action as their own lives change and grow. As the life of John
Wesley has taught us, Christian discipleship can change the world.” The Council also discussed a new fundraising strategy for the Church, which will now be developed in consultation with Methodists around Britain. Fundraising Coordinator David Bennett, said, “At the heart of this strategy is better communication with all those who give so generously to the Methodist funds. We want them to see the enormous difference their money makes to the lives of people all over the world. We couldn’t do any of this work without their support.” The Council spent time in discussions about the progress of the Anglican-Methodist Covenant, which was signed in 2003. Groups discussed how the covenant might be further progressed in practical ways, including different models of episcopacy and how the churches might consult and make decisions together. The Council also welcomed the Revd Kirsty Thorpe, a minister of the United Reformed Church (URC), as a participant observer. The Revd Alison Tomlin, President Designate of the Methodist Conference, will attend the URC Mission Council in November. Other topics discussed at the Council included a new communications strategy for the Church and plans to lease Southlands College to Roehampton University, with continued Methodist involvement in the life of the College. The papers of the Methodist Council are available online at: http://methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=1325. 17 February 2009
February
meeting of the Methodist Council The
Methodist Council met on 16-17 February at High Leigh Conference Centre in
Hertfordshire. This is the second of three meetings planned for the current
Church year. In
a ground-breaking new initiative, the Council approved the appointment of three
Companions to work with particular international partner churches. The
Companions are the first to be appointed in a pilot scheme that will seek to
strengthen the Church in its relationships with partner churches around the
world. Revd Jennifer Potter, Revd Ward Jones and Revd Conrad Hicks will
specifically work with churches in The
Revd Ken Howcroft, Secretary of the Methodist Council, said; “We are really
pleased to have made these appointments and hope that this scheme will develop
and strengthen the international work of the Church. The Companions will be able
to offer a greater presence in specific areas than has previously been possible,
offering the support of the The
Council also pledged support for the Stamp Out Poverty campaign. Stamp
Out Poverty is a network of organisations including Christian Aid and Oxfam
which campaigns for additional sources of finance to help bring the world’s
poorest people out of poverty. It urges Children’s
charity Action for Children featured on the agenda, with Council members
approving a strategy for closer working between Action for Children and
the Closer
to home, Council members discussed the development of the Church’s ecumenical
vision for working with other British denominations, including how local
churches might be encouraged in such partnerships. As a practical expression of
the Church’s commitment to ecumenical working, the Council also pledged to
invite a representative from the United Reformed Church’s Mission Council to
attend future meetings as a participative observer. A representative from the
Methodist Council will also attend Mission Council meetings and the two bodies
will explore the possibility of a joint meeting to be held in 2010. Christine
Elliott, Methodist Secretary for External Relationships, said; “This
development in our relationship with the United Reformed Church enables us to be
more intentional about finding new and practical ways of engaging in mission
together.” Other
topics discussed at the Council included the Church’s engagement with the
media, the need to support local churches in fostering discipleship and the
Church’s pension schemes for ministers and lay employees. 14 October 2008 The
October meeting of the Methodist Council The Methodist Council met on
13-14 October at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire. This is the
first of three meetings planned for the current Church year. Issues discussed included the
impact of current financial turmoil on the Church, climate change, the shape of
the Church’s ministry and deployment, and the setting up of research and
strategy projects for the coming year. The Council endorsed the
formation of a climate change and theology working group, to produce a report on
climate change from ethical and theological perspectives. The group will be made
up of representatives from the Methodist Church, United Reformed Church and the
Baptist Union of Great Britain. Their report will focus on the need for both
individual and corporate action, particularly in terms of the national
Churches’ environmental policies. It will be presented to Council in April
2009, before going to the Methodist Conference in July. There were lengthy discussions
on the nature of ministry in the Church and in particular the distinctive
Methodist processes involved in candidating, training and serving as a Methodist
minister. Members of Council considered issues such as how to more easily
identify and make use of the distinctive gifts of ordained ministers and how to
encourage and promote lay discipleship. The Council also received a
report on some of the consequences of the recent financial turmoil on the
finances of the Church. Connexional Treasurer Ron Calver recommended that hasty
decisions not be taken and that any detailed judgements affecting the Church’s
finances be made next year when the financial situation has become clearer and
there has been time to consider some of the long-term issues. The Council is also responsible
for approving the work plan of the Church’s Connexional Team. Projects
approved for the coming year include further research on alcohol use and health
warnings, a study guide on early human life and establishing a Methodist
Heritage Committee. The council will next meet on
16-17 February in High Leigh. 16 April, 2008The
April meeting of the Methodist Council The Methodist Council met on 15-16
April at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire. As this was the
Council’s last meeting before the Methodist Conference in July, it had a busy
agenda. It is a number of years since the Methodist
Conference addressed issues relating to early human life, and in that time
medical advances have opened up many new possibilities but also raised new
ethical questions. The Council considered a major report on early human life
that will now go to the Conference. The Revd Ken Howcroft, Coordinating
Secretary for Conference and Communication, said: “This is a complex area that
many people have strong feelings about. This report offers a detailed look at
the medical issues and the theological responses to them.” Although the report
does not reach a conclusion about the legal time limit for abortion, it will
recommend to the Conference that this area needs further work. The Council passed a resolution deploring the
situation in
7 February, 2008 February meeting of the Methodist Council The Methodist Council met at High Leigh Conference Centre on 6-7 February. Although the Council had a full agenda, it had fewer papers to consider compared with recent meetings, and so had more time to spend on each. A major piece of work currently underway is looking at Equalities and Diversity. A working group has been exploring this issue and developing an equal opportunities policy for the Church. A parallel paper looking at diversity and Methodist identity pointed out that widely varying national and cultural backgrounds are found in the Church today, from long-established Chinese Methodist congregations in Epsom, London and Birmingham to Urdu-, Punjabi- and Parsee-language Methodist groups elsewhere. The reports call for equality and diversity to be seen as core Methodist identities, and more than just the concern of special-interest groups. The Fresh Expressions joint initiative between the Church of England and the Methodist Church will come to the end of its initial five-year period in 2009, and proposals are being formed for its second phase. The Council heard plans for the next phase, which will include the aim of integrating Fresh Expressions into the ongoing life of the churches. The Revd Ken Howcroft, Coordinating Secretary for Conference and Communication, says “Fresh Expressions has been a great success and we are pleased with the plans for its next phase. It represents a great challenge to the churches, but also wonderful opportunities to meet people in different ways, and to share our faith with them.” The Council also approved spending plans for new ways of meeting the training needs of the Church. A new training framework, called Extending Discipleship and Exploring Vocation (EDEV), aims to support the training and development needs of all Methodists, including lay staff and volunteers. Also, the new Regional Training Forums will be supported in their early years by the release of funds originally raised by circuits and districts to support ministerial training. Due to an under spend of those funds in recent years, Council heard that there is now the money available to thoroughly set up the new training schemes and to cover the transitional costs from the current schemes. The Council will meet again in April, which will be its final meeting before the annual Methodist Conference meets in Scarborough on 5-10 July. 16 October 2007 The October meeting of the Methodist Council · Major topics included Team Focus, human sexuality and new church growth The October meeting of the Methodist Council was held on October 15 and 16 at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire. The first of three meetings planned for the current Connexional Year, it addressed a wide range of topics. As part of the Team Focus process, the Council considered the appointments of the next General Secretary and the three new posts of Team Secretaries, who will jointly form the senior leadership of the Team from 1 September. The Council nominated the Revd Dr Martyn Atkins as General Secretary and Secretary of the Conference, and his name will go to the annual meeting of the Methodist Conference in July for confirmation. Mr John Ellis has been appointed to the post of Secretary for Team Operations; the Revd Dr Mark Wakelin to Secretary for Internal Relationships; and Ms Christine Elliott to Secretary for External Relationships. All will take up their appointments on 1 September, but will where possible start doing some work under the direction of the current leadership. The Revd David Deeks, current General Secretary of the Methodist Church, said “We wish them well as they prepare themselves in the coming months to carry out their leadership responsibilities. The Church faces both challenges and exciting opportunities, and both the current and the designated team will work hard to meet these.” Another major report is into the appointment of pioneers to build new congregations. The Fresh Expressions organisation, which is jointly sponsored by the Methodist Church and the Church of England, has been successful in developing new forms of church and growing new church groups. But most of those attending Fresh Expressions-style churches are those who previously have had some contact with traditional churches. The pioneer scheme is designed to reach out to those who have never had any significant contact with any church, and this group includes a growing proportion of young people. The innovative and exciting scheme aims to fund about 20 pioneers for five years to build new young congregations across Great Britain and to support up to 60 more local initiatives. Council agreed the plan in principle. The 2006 Methodist Conference directed the Council to conduct a consultation on the 1993 resolutions on human sexuality. In particular, the consultation should see if there is a wish to revise the 1993 resolutions. Following a lengthy and thorough process, the working party conducting the consultation judged that there is no wish to revise them. A little over half of the greater than 1,000 responses said that they were happy with the resolutions as they stand. Of the half who felt that there should be change, there was a wide range of opinions as to whether they should be relaxed or made stricter. As a result, the Council will recommend to the Conference that there be no revision. All of the non-confidential Council papers are available on the Methodist website at <http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=1714>. The Council next meets on 6-7 February. 3 April, 2007 The March meeting of the Methodist Council The Methodist Council met on 30-31 March, for its last meeting before the annual Methodist Conference in July. As it always the case for the last Council meeting before Conference, it addressed a wide range and a large number of topics. The Council papers are online at <http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=information.content&cmid=1355>. The main topic was the Team Focus process, which is reconfiguring the Connexional Team in order to better serve the circuits and districts and to release resources to churches for innovative new mission. This subject has created a lot of discussion within the Council and the wider church, and the Council addressed it in three separate sessions in order to be confident in the proposals it sends on to the Conference. The Revd Ken Howcroft, Coordinating Secretary for Conference and Communication, said “thanks to the hard work of the Council and everyone else who has contributed to the process, the Team Focus proposals are now ready to be prepared for presentation to the Conference. Some of the decisions have been difficult to make. The details of others still need to be worked out and tested before they are finalised, but we are now confident that we have the right structure for the Team in order to encourage and liberate exciting work in churches, circuits and districts.” Other topics discussed include the future shape of the Youth Conference, the best way to structure adult training and the leadership of the Church. 30 - 31 January 2007 The Methodist Council met on 30-31 January at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire. The Council, which serves to carry forward the work of the annual Conference, addressed a wide range of topics, which were mostly looking at internal matters. The biggest items of business related to the Team Focus process. This is the process to produce a Connexional Team - the officers and servants of the Church - that is more responsive to the needs of the local churches, and to give more flexibility and resources to local church bodies. Some of the work currently undertaken centrally by the Connexional Team will in future be done by circuits and districts, allowing them to act in ways that take into account local conditions and needs. The Team is required by Conference to cut 30% of its budget between 2005 and 2008. Council endorsed the general direction of the proposals, although it raised some areas of concern that will be addressed at the March council. All the Team Focus proposals will be decided by the Methodist Conference in July. The Revd. Ken Howcroft, Coordinating Secretary for Conference and Communication said "although the Team Focus will sadly lead to job cuts, at its heart is a move to liberate the energy and imagination of individual Methodists in carrying forward the Church's mission in their communities. We do not want our structures to get in the way of new ideas, and we are moving to a vision where the Team supports local churches in ways that suit them." The Council also discussed a report on the consultation on What Sort of Bishops? This follows a report received by the 2005 Methodist Conference, which opened a discussion on whether or not the Methodist Church should adopt bishops, and if so in what form. That called for a widespread consultation, the results of which are now available. The consultation report says that there is at this point no call to take further steps towards creating Methodist bishops of any kind. As a result, there is no need for a major debate on this at the 2007 Methodist Conference. However, given the Methodist Church's Covenant relationship with the Church of England, it is not possible to say that the issue will not arise again at some point in the future. Notes: The papers considered by Council are available online at: http://www.methodistchurch.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=information.content&cmid=1325 The minutes of the Council meeting will also be online in the same part of the website in a few weeks. ________________________ 31
October-1 November
The Methodist Church is currently reviewing many of its decision-making bodies and processes, and is also looking at the future structure and role of the Connexional Team, the staff who provide services and support to the Church. As a result, much of the Council's business focussed on these areas. Nonetheless, Council also gave a lot of time to other matters. These included the response to the Church of England's Commission for Urban Life and Faith (CULF). Although CULF's report Faithful Cities was produced to address issues affecting Anglican churches, it was chaired by Revd. Kathleen Richardson, former President of the Methodist Conference and many its recommendations also apply to the Methodist Church. Other issues discussed included a process to review the 1993 resolutions on human sexuality. The 2006 Conference repeated its commitment to the earlier resolutions, but also asked for a group to study whether or not the Church membership wants to revisit them at a future Conference. Another matter under consultation is the question of what a Methodist understanding of Bishop. Council heard an update and appointed members to a group to review the responses received to date and to make recommendations on taking the process forward ________________________ The
April meeting of the Methodist Council The Methodist Council met at All Saints Pastoral
Centre, London Colney, on 6 & 7 April, for its last scheduled meeting before
the annual Methodist Conference meets in June. The Bedfordshire, ____________________ Highlights of the February meeting 2006 The consolidated accounts give total income for the Methodist Council and
the funds it controls of £35.3 million for the year to 31 August 2005. Total
expenditure for the same period was £34.6 million, of which the biggest
component was the grants programme of £18.7 million (£15.1 million from
unrestricted funds). Of this, 64% went to projects in the UK. In addition, £5.1
million went to support Formation in Ministry training, while £4.9 million went
to Direct Mission & Ministry and £614,000 on Advocacy and Education. These
accounts do not cover all of the Church’s income and spending, as much of this
takes place within Districts and Circuits. ________________________
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