| CHURCHES |
Bolsover and Staveley Circuit
Circuit Policy Document
1. Introduction
Shaping the Circuit for the future: luxury or necessity?
The church in the UK has been in decline since the 1850?s. These are overall
statistics. It is true that new church buildings
were erected in numbers since
that time in neighbourhoods and villages to express new-found faith in Jesus
Christ. But
overall the decline was there and it continues. This decline is one
of the defining problems that we have faced and continue
to face in this
Circuit. Do we sadly continue with the Circuit structure as it is awaiting the
seemingly inevitable? Or do we
do
something positive to change our Circuit
structure with a view to the future?
The Circuit exists to enable strengthen and support the Local Churches in
their witness mission and service to the
community.
It is the vehicle by which
the Churches experience and express their interconnexion in the Body of
Christ. The
work of the
Kingdom of God is carried forward in the Circuit by the
effective development and deployment of the
resources of ministry.
These
resources include people, property and finance.
As the number of members in the Circuit decreases, so the ability of members
to take on new responsibility diminishes. A
key consideration in adopting a
Circuit Policy must be the effective deployment of available resources.
The fact must also
be accepted that those activities and policies, which
attracted people a generation ago, are no longer relevant in the lives
of
people of the New Millennium. The basic patterns of worship and the social
activities of the Local Churches have
remained largely unchanged for almost
a century. Any Circuit Policy adopted must be relevant to the society in which
we live.
Thirdly, policy must be realistic. If unrealistic expectations are raised the
result will be disappointment and a demoralised
membership. The aim of
adopting a Circuit Policy is to ensure that the work of God's Kingdom goes
forward in the lives
of members of the Churches and the members of the
communities served by the churches. This is not the same as saying
that the
aim is to keep all the present church buildings open because based on current
trends that is an unrealistic
expectation. The theology behind this Policy
Document is the theology of effective presence. Jesus said that if he were
lifted up, made visible, then people would be drawn to him. Jesus is made
visible today by a Christian presence in
communities. This was the idea
behind the building of so many of our churches; a theory of presence based
on buildings
which was effective in its time. To close the building need not
remove the Christian presence. We are constantly seeking
ways to be a more
effective presence. Our Christian presence does not rely on buildings but on
the witness of the people.
The buildings we use must be bright, well
maintained, warmly decorated and the people welcoming. We must balance
the value of the resources within our buildings and their relevance to the
communities we serve.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, in formulating this Policy Document,
we have tried not to lose sight of the
possibilities of the intervention of the
Holy Spirit. The document is realistic and achievable from a human point of
view,
but at every point we are open to the guidance and challenge of God. It
is hoped that the adoption and ongoing review of
this policy will make us more
effective in our witness, mission and service.
In the consideration of our Circuit policy there will inevitably be overlaps
between the different sections.
2. Aims
Through this policy document we aim to
- Build each other up within the Circuit
- Maintain an effective witness, and enable the proclamation of the
Gospel.
- Maintain and develop the work of the Kingdom of God in the
communities served by our Circuit
- Halt the decline in church membership
- Provide a church in which all the members can express their faith,
carry on the work to which they are called and
be enabled to grow
as Christians.
- Develop the work of mission and evangelism with which we have
been charged.
- Ensure proper and effective use of resources, including finance and
personnel, by making realistic and achievable
demands on the
Circuit staff and enabling them to use their particular gifts to
the best advantage.
3. Worship
The worship of God lies at the centre of our existence and identity as
Christians. Worship is at heart a corporate activity
but not exclusively so, and
the Circuit policy must encourage and enable *both worship together and
worship through the
everyday life of each member in the communities in
which they live. Worship runs much deeper than following a certain
order of
service, in a certain building, at a certain time, or indeed having a "quiet time".
For in essence, true Worship,
rather than revolving around a format, revolves
around a relationship - between God and us.
- Churches are encouraged to provide meaningful services of
public worship, having due regard to the experience of
each
congregation and being relevant to the needs of the community.
Consideration should be given to making
worship seeker friendly
and inclusive and the possibility of providing different kinds of
worship to meet the differing
needs of members.
- Churches are encouraged to set up Worship Consultations,
consider the teaching needs and worship styles of their
congregation and communicate these needs to the Local
Preachers' Meeting and the superintendent minister. So
far as is
possible these needs will be met within the resources available.
Preachers are to be encouraged to relate service style and
content to the local Church's needs and worship
resources.
- There should be opportunity for each member of the Circuit to
attend a service of Holy Communion at least once
per month.
- Churches are encouraged to produce and keep in review their
own worship directories which will contain details
of what they
can contribute to worship together with names and telephone
numbers to facilitate communication.
- Churches should be on the look out for those who have gifts in
leading worship and encourage them to consider
training as
Worship Leaders, or Local Preachers. Churches should also
affirm and encourage all who have gifts to
bring to worship
(drama, music, dance etc.)
- The Circuit will provide or enable appropriate training of Worship
Leaders and Local Preachers, both initial and
continuing.
- From time to time, and at least once in every preaching plan, the
Circuit will arrange united worship to give
opportunity for those in
smaller churches to experience the larger celebration. The Circuit
will also arrange united
services on special occasions. (eg Carol
Service, Welcome of new member of staff, recognition of Local
Preacher
and Worship Leaders and others). These united
services could be held morning, afternoon or evening.
4. Fellowship
The Circuit spans many communities which have few obvious links or ties.
There is a need therefore to establish and
strengthen a Circuit identity and a
sense of belonging and interdependence. One of the ways this may be
achieved is by
encouraging regular fellowship together.
- A United Circuit Service will be held on an appropriate Sunday in
each plan. The venue will rotate around the
Circuit. After this
service there will be opportunity to meet and chat over a cup of
tea or coffee with members from
other churches in the Circuit.
This service may be arranged by the Superintendent and led by
the Ministers or Local Preachers or an outside
speaker may be
invited.
- The Circuit will hold a regular Praise and Healing Service at
which opportunity will be given for people to seek
specific prayer
or counselling.
- Churches will be encouraged to invite the Circuit to join special
events (eg Harvest Festival, Chapel Anniversary,
and Fellowship
Rallies) and as far as possible, ensure that the dates of these
events do not clash with those of
other churches.
- Churches are encouraged to organise appropriate social events,
outings, concerts, etc., and invite those from other
churches to
join.
5. Mission
The Circuit recognises the primary importance of mission, and is committed to
keeping the subject to the fore in all our
thinking and planning. Mission is
defined as bringing people to Jesus and Jesus to people wherever they are.
Mission
should lead to both numerical and spiritual growth. Mission to the
local community is one of the primary reasons for the
existence of local
churches and therefore the Circuit will seek to enable encourage and
resource the Local Churches for
Mission. The circuit recognises that work
overseas is an important aspect of mission.
- The Circuit pledges our support for the continuing employment of a
District Evangelism Enabler, and we will
continue to contribute
financially as generously as we can as long as this is required of us by
the district.
- The Circuit will engage in conversations with the District Evangelism
Enabler to explore ways in which she can
advise, train, encourage or
lead Churches in mission.
- The Circuit will provide appropriate training and support for those
whose gift is in mission.
- Churches are encouraged to build relationships with their local
community by looking and listening to identify needs
or opportunities
for service to the community and by engaging in projects either alone
or in partnership with other
organisations or groups which will be of
benefit to the community and will demonstrate the practical side of the
Gospel.
- The Circuit is committed to play our part in the Local Ecumenical
Partnership set up to provide a Chaplain to the
North Derbyshire
Tertiary College. We recognise the important work done by the
Chaplain and pledge continued
support both financial and practical.
- The Circuit will set up a mission committee which will meet regularly to
support churches, share ideas and
experience and co-ordinate,
arrange and lead mission/outreach events. Hurches facing difficulties
are encouraged
to approach the Circuit Mission Committee for practical
help and advice. The Circuit Mission Committee will
oversee the
effective targetting of available resources to areas of greatest need.
- The Circuit will consider any suggestion made for Church Planting in
an area where there is currently little or no
Christian Witness, such
consideration being made in consultation with Churches of other
denominations and any
resulting church plant being in the context of a
Local Ecumenical Partnership
- The circuit recognises the work of Network and J.M.A. and encourages
churches to forge links with mission
activities overseas as well as in
this country and to fully support the work of the World Church.
6. Local Preachers
In this Circuit we recognise the debt owed to Local Preachers and the burden
sometimes placed upon them because of
the pressures caused by the need
to fill all the appointments on the Circuit plan. The policy of the Circuit is to
support,
encourage and enable Local Preachers to exercise their ministry in
the most effective way. The Circuit has an excellent
record of identifying and
training Local Preachers, many of whom now exercise their ministry in other
Circuits.
- This Circuit operates a quarterly preaching plan running September to
November, December to February, March
to May and June to August The Local Preachers' meeting is held Four times each year in line with
the preaching
plan and is constituted in accordance with standing
orders. Over a twelve-month period, all the items required by
standing
orders will appear on the agenda. There will be two-way
communication between Church Councils and
the Local Preachers'
Meeting on any matters concerning the worship, mission or teaching
ministry of Local
Churches.
- In addition to the normal Local Preachers' Meeting, there will be a
Local Preachers' Fellowship Meeting held three
times a year. Issues of
importance and relevance to preachers will be tackled at these
meetings in the context of
fellowship and informal sharing.
- Local Preachers will be expected to continue to develop and study by
appropriate means in order to ensure that
their preaching is informed
and relevant. Such assistance as is possible will be given to any Local
Preacher wishing
to avail himself or herself of training courses or
events, local district or connexional. Financial assistance will be
made
available out of the Circuit Training budget if required.
- Recognition services for new Local Preachers will always be Circuit
events held in the Church of the preacher's
choice.
- Preaching in the Circuit will be held under constant review to ensure
the maintenance of a high standard and
adherence to Methodist
Doctrinal Standards.
- Whilst Preachers and Ministers in the Circuit are under considerable
pressure due to the number of appointments
that have to be filled on
each plan, this creates opportunities for Churches to make individual
appropriate
arrangements. Support and encouragement should be
offered to those who take on this responsibility.
7. Administration
- Normally, the Circuit Meeting will meet three times each year in the
autumn, spring and summer. The summer
meeting will be specifically
to consider items 7 and 8 below. The Circuit GP Meeting, comprising
the Church
Treasurer and a Church Steward from each church,
together with the ministers, lay workers and Circuit Stewards,
will meet
once each year prior to the Spring Circuit Meeting to prepare a report
for that meeting on the budget,
matters of property, staffing, and
stationing. The GP committee will double as the Stationing Committee,
holding
meetings as and when necessary.
- The Circuit Meeting annually will ascertain from representatives of the
Circuit Churches whether the guidelines in
the Safeguarding of
Children Policy of the Methodist Church are being implemented in all
the Churches.
- The Circuit Meeting annually will ascertain that each church has in
place a policy to enable persons with disabilities
to participate fully in
the life of the Churches, and is making reasonable progress towards
the implementation of
requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.
- The Circuit Meeting annually, at its first meeting following the due date
for the submission by Churches of the
annual Property Schedules, will
ascertain whether all Schedules B have been received and that they do
not contain
any incorrect information. In the case of any missing or
incorrect Schedules the Meeting will take the necessary
action to
ensure that accurate Schedules are to hand for submission to the
District.
- The Circuit will endeavour to fill at each Spring Circuit Meeting all
Circuit offices and other positions on
Committees/Group.
- The Circuit will review regularly (a) this Policy Statement and (b) the
Constitution of the Circuit, i.e. the
membership of the Circuit Meeting
and other Circuit Committees/Groups, and ensure that members of the
Circuit
with particular gifts are, where possible and if they are willing,
given responsibilities commensurate with those gifts.
- The summer Circuit Meeting Agenda will always include an item
considering the work of God in the Circuit. Under
this will be
considered along with other concerns,
- the pastoral oversight of the churches,
- the organisation of the sections,
- Mission and service to the community
- the proper and appropriate use of the resources (personnel,
financial and property) available to the Circuit.
- Every three years the Circuit meeting will receive from each Church a
report on the progress of the work of God,
and vision for the future
development in that society. The preparation of this report is assigned
to the Annual
Church Meeting under the Agenda item on the
Conversation on the Ministry and Witness of the Church. The
report
should be presented by the Church Stewards
- The Circuit Steward with responsibility for finance will present a budget
each year and Churches are encouraged
to fully support the budget
once agreed. The Circuit meeting will keep under constant review the
method by which
the financial requirements of the Circuit are
apportioned to churches to ensure that the fairest and most equitable
system is used. Churches are encouraged to recognise and celebrate
their commitment to meeting their share of the
Circuit budget.
8. Staffing
At the present time the Circuit staff consists of 2 paid presbyteral ministers, A
part time paid circuit administrator and one
volunteer lay pastoral assistant.
- The Circuit values the work of the lay pastoral assistants. Their
conditions of service and job descriptions will be
reviewed biannually.
The pastoral assistants are expected to avail themselves of the training
and support structures set up by the district
and connexion. The Circuit
will meet the costs of any training event deemed suitable, relevant and
necessary.
- The Circuit reluctantly accepted the reduction in our establishment of
ministers from three to two. We recognises
that this situation is unlikely
to improve, but at the same time acknowledges that the Circuit is
understaffed. Though
this may not appear to be the case on paper,
there are factors which make it so (e.g. Geography of the Circuit,
expectations of the local community, rites of passage work etc.)
- The Circuit will explore the possibility and viability of other methods of
staffing (Full Time Lay Workers, Deacons,
and administrators) in order
to expand and develop the work of mission or youth and community
work. We aim to
emply a full time lay pastoral assistant as soon as is
practically possible
- The organisation of the Circuit will be reviewed from time to time and
definitely on each occasion when there is a
change of ministerial staff.
- The circuit will consider ways of strengthening and supporting
innovative local lay leadership, providing training for
its development
and overseeing its work and function.
9. Youth Work
- The Circuit will adhere to all the requirements and guidelines published
by the connexion to ensure the safety and
well being of all young
people and children within our care. Churches will be asked to produce
evidence that they
have a policy regarding the safeguarding of children
and young people, and they will be asked to review and
update that
policy no less frequently than every other year.
- Churches will be encouraged to ensure that all those who work with
children and young people are properly
trained. Local Churches will be
responsible for the cost of such training, applying for assistance from
the Circuit if
necessary.
- The Circuit education and youth committee will meet three times a year
to arrange and co-ordinate youth events
throughout the Circuit, and for
mutual support and encouragement. Each church will be expected to
send
representatives to this committee.
- A youth service, planned by and for the young people will be held at
least once in each preaching plan, and more
frequently whenever
possible.
- Our young people will be encouraged and given every assistance to
attend Provincial and National events
arranged by MAYC.
- The Circuit aims to employ a youth worker as soon as is practically
possible.
10. Review
Under normal circumstances this policy will be reviewed biannually, the next
review to be undertaken no later than
September 2004. A review will also be
undertaken each time there is a significant change in the circumstances of the
Circuit, or at such times as the Circuit Meeting considers such a review to be
appropriate.
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