Our Vision
Newsletter of the Bolsover and Staveley Circuit
July 2001 No 3
New Every Morning
Is the title of the Methodist Prayer Handbook which is now available for the new connexional year. The price is £1.75 per copy if we send in a bulk order, so if you would like to have a copy please see your church stewards, or come direct to myself, (before the end of July please), who can then pass on the list to me for ordering at the beginning of August so that we have the handbooks for the start of the year.
A Trip to the seaside?
A number of churches have organised a day trip in past years, but numbers have dwindled to the extent that it is no longer viable. How about a circuit event? Barlborough (Jay Raizada) would like to know of any interest for such a trip. To get a trip together this year – please ring Jay on 812184 NOW! – it will only take 5 from each church to fill a coach and we should still be able to organise something for late August onwards.
The circuit meeting
is having a change of format for their next gathering. Instead of just a business meeting, there will be a meeting followed by a Faith Tea and then a Social event. We need you to do your party piece at this event, so if you can sing, dance, make magic or whatever – please let me (David Green) know so that we can put a programme together for the evening. Finally don’t forget to put the date in your diary – Saturday 13 October at 4.00 pm
Safeguarding
26 July at Clowne will see a meeting of all the churches is to discuss the circuit’s plans to ensure the safety of children on Methodist premises – and ALL of us hope to have children on the premises at some time so it involves everyone! Please ensure that representatives come along on that evening.
The Methodist Conference
As you may or may not be aware, I came back from the Methodist Conference at Ipswich only a few days ago. And I thought I’d take this opportunity to reflect on the ten days of conference and the 600 hundred page agenda of reports that were undertaken during those days.
Firstly as the Revd Roy Newell pointed out this Sunday (1st July) we are part of a Connexion we are inter-linked with 1000’s of Churches in the UK. Our conference as a connexion is unique; no other denomination talks of a connexion. Our connected-ness is our strength, and if we begin to move away from that ideal we will all fall. Our denomination I believe cannot survive without it.
Yet the question many are asking, both ministerial and lay, is whether or not Methodism will exist at all in the future, never mind survive ! The answer at conference was NO !! Change is vital if we are to meet this present age. Sacrifice within districts, circuits and in individual Churches will be needed, if we are to be an effective presence for this age.
Yet does that therefore mean, that union with the Church of England is inevitable; the answer is…….. no.
But conversations on the subject continue, and a draft document on possible visible unity will be published this December for consideration by the Methodist people before Conference 2002.
The president for that year will be the Revd Ian White chairman of the Channel Islands district, who I know having trained in his previous district.
At the same time as bilateral conversations with ourselves and the C of E, trilateral conversation also continue between ourselves, the c of e and the United Reformed Church. The latter conversations await the outcome of the former conversations first, before any decisions are made.
Secondly. At present our connexion is suffering in a great many ways. Congregationalism is occurring, with Churches both large and small, ignoring both circuit, district and connexional structures of support. This is weakening our connexional structure, and is to be discouraged in the strongest possible terms.
Churches are suffering financially. One district stated at conference it could not meet its assessment for this year !! ( Page 14 Methodist Recorder 28/6/01)
For although the Methodist Church this past year broke even on its budget, the rise in assessment has meant the many, many Churches, circuits and districts have said, this far and no more in relation to further rises. The result was that conference agreed to cap the funds for Methodist training. The inevitable effect being that we can only train a limited number of people each year. If more than a set number are accepted, some will be deferred to the following year for training. Therefore the shortage of ministers will continue for the foreseeable future. Another major concern at conference was ministerial stress. This has increased greatly it appears in recent (or not so recent ) years. The numbers of ministers retiring early, leaving the full time ministry or resigning speak for themselves. Sadly another two of my friends had their resignations accepted at conference this year. One I knew about, the other I didn’t. I am immensely saddened to loose them from our ministry and life of the Church. Studies are under way to try and ascertain the reason for increase in ministerial stress. Yet such stress, not only affects the minister, but his or her family. I now know of ten friends whose marriages have now ended in separation and / or divorce. We must pray for all those who hold office in the life of the Church, in such difficult times.
I have great many other things to share with you in relation to my visit to conference, including MAYC - youth, Information Technology, Rural Issues, Speaking on behalf of the Methodist Church, Second Baptism, Holy Communion and more. Time and words will not allow in this letter, but perhaps there may be an opportunity at some point.
Overall conference was very positive and optimistic of the future. But the shape of Methodism WILL I have NO Doubt, change in the years to come. All such decisions, will I hope be undertaken with prayerful thought and the leading of the Holy Spirit; that all might be to God’s praise and glory.
Finally, I have decided to not attend conference next year, as it takes a minimum of two weeks out of my year. Two weeks that this circuit with only two ministers from September, can perhaps no longer afford. Though I reserve the right to change my mind if encouraged by others to do so. Yours in Christ. Mark T Coles
CIRCUIT DIARY
Circuit Meetings and Events
July 2001
9 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Barlborough
20 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Duckmanton
26 Safeguarding Meeting 7.30 pm Clowne
30 Network Summer Teas 3.00 pm Bolsover
30 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Brimington Common
August 2001
6 Network Summer Teas 3.00 pm Bolsover
10 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Inkersall
13 Network Summer Teas 3.00 pm Bolsover
20 Network Summer Teas 3.00 pm Bolsover
20 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Hillstown
31 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Brimington
5 September Local Preachers Meeting (Clowne)
7 September Network Meeting
19 September Network Come Together (Staveley)
13 October Circuit Meeting
19 October Chesterfield Mission Choir (Bolsover)
Other Events with Circuit Interest
18 August MHA Garden Party at Moorland House, Hathersage
23 September Circuit Service for Clowne 125 Anniversary
29 September Celebration Choir at Clowne |