TRANSFORMING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES

North Fylde Circuit Response to District Policy

This is what has come out of the two open Circuit Meetings which have been held to discuss the new District Policy Document: Transforming Lives and Communities.  Please prayerfully consider these responses and reflect how you might be a part of them.

 

To Energise Discipleship

 

1. By September 2011 we will develop plans to encourage at least half our members to attend prayer and Bible study groups by September 2012.

 

2. By September 2012 we will review our work across the circuit alongside children, young people and families, and will agree a five-year strategy for developing this work.

 

 

To Enable Leadership

 

3. We have held two special open circuit meetings at which we have agreed this response and these priorities.

 

4. The Circuit Staff & Stewards will continue to facilitate our ongoing response to Transforming Lives & Communities.

 

 

To Encourage Risk

 

5. We will encourage each local church by September 2011 to develop one innovative proposal - for either worship, learning/caring, service or evangelism – for which they seek Circuit and District support.

 

6. We will ascertain by September 2011 whether or not it would be helpful to re-schedule church business meetings in order to better enable discipleship and fellowship.

 

 

To Employ Buildings

 

7. We will encourage each local church by September 2012 to provide a ‘Statement of the Trustees’ explaining to God and their local community both how their church buildings are being used, and how they hope to develop that use to further the mission of God to their neighbours.

 

 

To Embrace Technology

 

8. We have yet to consider this part of the District Policy,

 

 

To Enrich Communities

 

9. Using the District’s audit resource we will by December 2012 to produce an audit of the local communities served by this Circuit.

 

 

To Engage All

 

10. By September 2011 we will identify the leaders of our local community, ensure that the Methodist Church is represented at local forums, and promote appropriate engagement with and regular public prayer for local community leaders.

 

11. By September 2012 we will locate opportunities for partnership with other groups within our local communities and to begin conversations with potential partners.

 

 

On the following page are listed the challenges which Transforming Lives and Communities makes to individual churches.  Each church was asked to consider the question which follows.  How would you answer it?

 

 

 

District Policy Challenges to Local Churches

To Energise Discipleship

1. Encourage at least a quarter of members to participate in the Bible Fresh campaign.

2. Commit financially to developing discipleship.

 

To Enable Leadership

3. Create at least one time-limited group to undertake a task or project in 2010/11 which can offer opportunities for new leaders to be involved.

 

To Encourage Risk

4. Consider making one weekday night free from business meetings to use only for discipleship and fellowship.

 

To Employ Buildings

5. Prayerfully consider a new opportunity to offer God’s building back to the local community during 2010/11.

 

To Embrace Technology

6. Agree 3 practical changes in the use of technology which will enrich the life of the church or the community in 2011.

 

To Enrich Communities

7. Use a community audit to identify a local need to which the church can respond.

8. Commit themselves to World Mission through supporting the partnership adopted by the Circuit.

 

To Engage All

9. Explore opportunities for joint charitable activities with other faith groups, employers and other voluntary sector groups e.g. Sports Relief, Comic Relief, responses to natural disasters.