REGROUPING FOR MISSION
a new circuit for sheffield
BRIEF HISTORY OF OUR JOURNEY
Evidence
indicated that there were
great inequalities between some
circuits in the same city; some were
very rich and others very poor.
Staffing did not reflect levels of need;
there were inconsistencies about how
staff were supported and mission
opportunities realized.
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Alternative
approaches were
considered and proposed. It was
concluded that anything other than
a single circuit would propagate
rather than address inequalities.
After
debate, agreed that 2-3
communities outside City of
Sheffield would remain in new
circuit.
3
There
was recognition that such a
proposal would be controversial
and any progress towards a single
circuit would take time.
Hearts
and minds needed to be
won!
4
Circuit
and inter-circuit discussions
ensued, facilitated by the DMDE
and the Chair of the District.
Members of the Steering Group
attended Circuit meetings
Relationship
building was a key
feature of this period.
5
In
December 2011 The 8 Sheffield
Circuits agreed to work together to
explore what the future shape of
the Circuits could be. This was
driven by a Steering Group.
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MISSION FOR WHOLE-LIFE DISCIPLESHIP
GOD’S MISSION IS CENTRAL TO ALL OUR THINKING ABOUT A NEW CIRCUIT.
Mission Statement
We are seeking at all times:
to discern what God is doing in our churches,
communities, city and world
to enable all those within our churches to respond to
God’s activity by living out their discipleship in the
whole of their lives.
Our vision is that everyone across the new circuit
ministers, lay people and individual churches –
should be released to follow their particular calling
and gifts and be provided with appropriate
resources for this purpose.
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SHEFFIELD DISTRICT
Mission Policy
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RELEASE PEOPLE FOR MISSION BY...
Freeing
local churches to follow a particular calling
Supporting
all people to discover and use their
gifts
Releasing
a proportion of the ministers (presbyters
and deacons) time to be able to follow a particular
mission concern e.g. social justice, seekers,
evangelism and deepening discipleship, age
specific ministries, etc.
Offering
appropriate learning and development
opportunities to all
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MISSION ACTION
GROUPS
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Evangelism and Fresh
Ways of Being Church:
• Diverse styles and
patterns of worship
• Age specific ministries
• Community projects
• Spirituality
• Internet
Healing, Wholeness,
Spirituality
• Spiritual discernment
• Prayer
• Mental health
• Chaplaincy
• Bereavement
Justice and Peace:
• Action on poverty
• Fairtrade
• Asylum seekers
• Unemployment
• Environment
• Political engagement
• World Church
Learning and
Discipleship :
• Local Preachers and
Worship Leaders
• Children and youth
• Mission Intro
• Study / Vision days
• Discipleship courses
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STRUCTURE
Circuit
Meeting
Mission
Vision
Team
MAGs
Justice & Peace
Health & Healing
Evangelism &
Fresh Ways of
being Church
Learning &
Discipleship
Local
Work
Mission Resource Team
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CIRCUIT STEWARDS
There is the potential to free up a lot of
people to use their gifts in other areas.
The suggestions are:
that there be approximately 15 Circuit
Stewards
that the Circuit Stewards will have
responsibility for the pastoral care of
the ministers
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CIRCUIT STEWARDS
that
there will be a regular meeting
between the Circuit Stewards' and the
Superintendency team which will
enable the ‘local voice’ to be heard on a
regular basis.
One of the Circuit Stewards would need
to be the named Treasurer.
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MISSION VISION TEAM
TASK
To
implement the focus, vision, and mission
as directed by the Circuit Meeting
To ensure that the Circuit Meeting remains
focused upon the Circuit Mission Policy
To turn the Mission Statement into strategy
and action
by allocating resources to mission (finance,
person-power, etc.)
by overseeing the implementation of the
strategy
by overseeing review of Mission Policy
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MISSION VISION TEAM
TASK
To
respond to local church needs
To facilitate an on-going process of
church mission audits. These audits will
ask difficult questions!
To ensure that churches and projects
that are engaged in mission in tough
places do not disappear just because
they are not self-sustaining
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MISSION VISION TEAM
MEMBERSHIP
2
Co Supers
2 Circuit Stewards
3 Ministers
4 Lay Mission Action Groups Reps
Circuit Manager
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SUPERINTENDENCY
Four co-Superintendents working as
a team. Nominated from those who
would be serving at 1st September
2012
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SUPERINTENDENCY
Corporate Qualities
They should energize and envision
others offering theological reflection
and a missional perspective to the
whole circuit.
They should be individuals who can
work as a team, as collaborative
ministry is essential. This needs to be
modelled in the Superintendency so
that it can be an example of good
working practice for the whole circuit.
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Each
will have pastoral responsibility in a
local context, giving a sense of being
rooted in everyday ministry.
Superintendency should be a maximum of
50% of workload.
It is not vital that the Supers are
geographically spread in the beginning
across the circuit but they will preach and
be seen across the whole circuit. In the
future there may be an evolution towards
greater geographical spread.
20
Preaching
around the new circuit in a
systematic way will offer corporate
leadership and a sharing of Circuit
priorities.
The aim is to listen to concerns of
local congregations in creative ways;
this may be by going to church
councils, attending a ‘social’ event or
worship etc.
21
Specialisms:
Mission
through Ministry
Mission
through worship
Mission
through partnerships
Resourcing
mission
22
Timeline
Dec
2007 – DPC agree the formation of a District
group to look at the Mapping a Way Forward Regrouping for Mission (R4M) initiative which
had begun with the adoption of the report to
the Conference of the then General Secretary in
2007
September 2008 District Group sends a
questionnaire to all circuits (using a pro-forma)
and each circuit visited
April 2009 a report was presented to spring
synod with recommendations for regrouping of
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circuits for mission
Timeline
Further
consultations with circuits took place to
discus recommendations
January 2010 a special synod was held and 8
Sheffield Circuits agreed to journey together to
explore options
June 2011 a document was produced detailing
what a New Sheffield Circuit could look like
September 2011 Circuit Meetings received this
document
for presentation and discussion
of the outline proposal for
the new Circuit.
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In
October a resolution was proposed by the
DPC and made available for each Church
Council so that they could register a view and
make their recommendation to their Circuit
Meeting.
Mid October to end November 2011 – Church
Councils expressed their views on the
proposals and sent back their comments to the
Circuit Meeting.
December 2011 – Circuit Meetings voted for or
against the proposal (from DPC) and showing
their willingness to confirm their previous
decision or otherwise commit to the Single
Sheffield Circuit.
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February
2012 – the decisions of the Circuit
Meetings were fed back to the DPC who then
prepared a resolution to go to Synod.
April 28th 2012 – the vote was taken at Synod
on the proposals for a single Sheffield Circuit
and they were recommended to Conference
July 2012 – Methodist Conference voted for
the proposals for a single Sheffield Circuit
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ON-GOING JOURNEY
Use
of Crestos database and plan making
software
http://www.thenmedia.co.uk/products/chrestos.html
Appointment
of Circuit Stewards
Principles for use of MTF
Meeting with key groups: LEPs, Local
Preachers and Worship Leaders,
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ON-GOING JOURNEY
Co
Supers working as a team from
September 2012. Weekly meetings
Budget and principles for assessment
Prayer 8 (Monthly days of prayer)
Gatherings of ministers to develop ways
of mutual support/ accountability
Circuit manager appointed, office
identified. Consolidation of existing admin
team
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SOME ISSUES
Understanding
Co Superintendency
Maintaining momentum
Communication
Reality of an evolutionary approach vs
‘they can’t make up their minds’!
Involving Circuit Stewards
Relationships across the District
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