Radcliffe Methodist Church

Nottingham and Derby District Newsletter following the

Held at Scarborough, July 2008

Contributions from Wes Blakey, Ann Blakey, Vivienne Gray, Frances Hopwood, Sue Nickson, Tony Pick and Elaine Robinson.

The original scripts have been edited to fit the page. The full text may be found on the Conference website http://www.methodistconference.org.uk/index.htm or obtained from Rosemary Harrison, 16, Parker Gardens, Stapleford, Nottingham, NG9 8QG rosemary.harrison10@ntlworld.com

A full report of Conference may be found on the Connexional website www.methodist.org.uk

Conference this year reflected in very specific ways that the British Methodist Church is very much part of the worldwide Methodist Movement. The rainbow fabric which was draped round the central cross and other rainbow banners were a visual reminder of this throughout Conference.

Each morning prayers were led by groups of World Church representatives. The Methodist Missionary Society AGM agreed that the Methodist Church in The Gambia will receive full autonomy on Wesley Day, May 24th 2009. The Youth Conference encouraged the whole church to pray for Burma and action on the global food crisis was urged. Conference resolved that the world-wide family of Methodists be adequately-resourced, appropriately-supported and wellmanaged.

This report received by Conference is commended to the Methodist people, particularly pastoral committees, circuit staff and leadership team meetings. It concerns local pastoral policies with particular reference to confidentiality. The salient points are:

Confidentiality in worship. The report recommends that intercessory prayer in public worship should always have the permission of named persons.

Formal pastoral relationships where the pastoral worker is representing the church should be supported by structured supervision.

Standing Orders already expressly provide that there is a duty of confidentiality in discipline matters, stationing and local pastoral committees. Information about data protection Information about confidentiality in record keeping including the use of technology.

The document “Guidelines for Good Practice in Confidentiality and Pastoral Care”

constitutes a summary of the whole report and will be in the guidance section of CPD and on the Methodist Church web site.

The current Connexional team was formed in 1996 and, over three years, has been reconfigured and will commence its new role from 1 September 2008. All the new services are based around “Our Calling and Priorities for the Methodist Church” and aim to help circuits and churches in their outreach. As a result advice will be more easily accessible; there will be simplified Connexional processes for giving consent to property schemes and for grant-making, including creative mission projects; District resources of people and finance will be enhanced and complemented; partnerships, ecumenically and around the globe will be moved forward and costs charged to the Assessment will be reduced.

The LP Office and London Districts are piloting a programme that delivers the content of Faith and Worship, and study skills during four residential weekends and weekly tutorials. The course is aimed at those who will benefit from additional learning support.

The Steering Group initiated by the 2007 Conference to propose ways of achieving active participation by young people in the structure of the Methodist Church recommended the creation of a role for young people called Youth Enablers, to be appointed at local District level, to carry out bespoke, targetted projects that would involve active work with and for young people. Conference agreed a 5 year project, costing £4m. The project will be part of a rolling plan from the regional/connexional initiatives and managed by the Regional Participation Workers. These 32 Youth Enablers will be employed on a part time basis (9 -15 hours) for a period of one year, to allow for other work/study commitments. They will be supervised and mentored by the new Regional Participation Workers. They will be employees of the Connexion, and Districts will receive grants from central funds to support their work.

From September the Superintendent will be the person to receive formal complaints, and she / he will then process the complaint in the either to a District Reconciliation or else to a Connexional Complaints Officer. It is hoped that proper mediation will enable more complaints to be resolves.

Conference has requested that “Embracing the Covenant” – and its recommendations be studied as widely as possible with responses sent to Assistant Secretary of Conference by 31.12.09

The Conference calls upon churches across the Connexion to have Bibles in appropriate translations and formats available to give to new Christians and those seeking to know more about the Christian faith. 38 recommendations of Stationing review Group have been adopted. These will be discussed with Superintendents and Circuit Stewards in the first instance enabling their wider implications will be shared to all.

Challenge to think seriously how we approach such issues as abortion; embryo screening;

saviour siblings etc. Created in God’s Image.

Conference had so much in its agenda that inevitably there was not time to discuss everything in detail. There was much good stuff – not everyone will be interested in everything – but there is something in its deliberations for all. Watch out for more

Wes Blakey