The Methodist Church

South Essex Circuit Policy

 

 

Worship

Service

Evangelism

Learning and caring

 

The South Essex Circuit cherishes its place as part of the Methodist Church and is committed to the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ and to social action.


Circuit policy 

The circuit’s role is to ensure the effective use of its resources to further the four dimensions of Our Calling as Methodists.

1. Worship—to increase awareness of God’s
presence and to celebrate God’s love;
2. Service—to be good neighbours to people in need and to challenge injustice;
3. Evangelism—to make more followers of 
Jesus;
4. Learning and Caring—to help people to learn and grow in faith through mutual support and care.

The circuit will, in conjunction with our ecumenical partners where possible, concentrate its prayers, resources, 
imagination and commitments:
a. on proclaiming and affirming its conviction of God’s love in Christ for us and for all the world; and
b. on renewing confidence in God’s presence and action in the world and in the church.

Ways to realise this:
• Underpinning everything we do with God-centred worship and prayer;
• Supporting community development and action for justice, especially among the most deprived and poor in Britain and world wide;
• Developing confidence in evangelism and in the capacity to speak of God and faith in all ways that make sense to all involved;
• Encouraging fresh ways of being Church;
• Nurturing a culture in Church which is people centred and flexible.


Worship policy

The circuit policy is to actively encourage churches to:
1. Help members to develop their own spirituality;
2. Develop worship that is creative, inclusive, culturally aware and relevant to local circumstances;
3. Examine and use new initiatives or opportunities for different styles of worship, including the creative use of our buildings;
4. Plan worship involving and using the variety of skills that members and worship leaders can contribute;
5. Regularly review the spiritual needs of all age groups, and ensure they are met;
6. Explore occasions to worship with other churches and the whole community;
7. The circuit will seek to provide opportunities to celebrate our faith together as a circuit.


Service policy

The circuit policy is to:
1. Encourage members to offer their gifts in Christian service in their community and to support the church in its total world mission;
2. Support campaigns to promote justice and equality throughout the world. 

Local churches will be encouraged to support an appropriate Christian response to significant local issues and community projects.


Evangelism policy

The circuit policy is to:
1. Equip all worshipers to share in God’s mission by proclaiming the faith, showing God’s love, and offering pastoral care to those within our local communities;
2.  Engender confidence in worshippers to share their faith by word and deed, giving the reason for the Christian hope that is within them.
3. Encourage local churches to provide ways into Christian discipleship;
4. Encourage the churches to be involved in outreach strategies.


Learning & caring policy

The circuit policy is to:
1. Provide opportunities for all associated with each of the circuit churches to develop their faith, and provide training to equip all for our Christian life;
2. Encourage churches to establish a pastoral system with members working in conjunction with staff;
3. Help each church to develop and support the work of small groups;
4. Support and encourage work with children and young people;
5. Be sensitive in our multi-faith society to people of other faiths and denominations and to face the challenge of being open to dialogue with them (emphasising what we have in common rather than solely focussing on those issues on which we differ).


Business & resources policy (people)

The circuit policy is to:
1. Maintain effective oversight of churches through the grouped responsibilities of staff and the location of manses;
2. Develop and support its ministerial staff and lay workers, who will meet regularly for mutual support, encouragement and conversation about circuit and church issues;
3. Train and authorise local preachers and worship leaders, who together with the ministers have the primary role in leading the worshipping life of the churches;
4. Seek appropriate people to join the leadership team as circuit stewards, ensuring that they receive training for that role.


Business & resources policy (buildings)

The circuit will:
1. Maintain and improve, where appropriate, those manses for which it is responsible;
2. Continue the independent quinquennial
inspections of all circuit property supported
by annual physical inspections by the relevant stewards and will maintain a list of relevant maintenance and professional agencies;
3. Require churches to comply with the 
safeguarding and equality legislation and connexional policy promote the use of their facilities for all;
4. Require churches' compliance with current
buildings health & safety legislation;
5. Seek to support and provide advice on the improvement and maintenance of church premises.
6. Seek to support and provide resources towards energy efficiency, health and safety, accessibility and property improvements for outreach.

Business & resources policy (finance)

The circuit policy is to:
1. Encourage each church to maximise the use of regular, tax-efficient giving;
2. Consider and approve an annual budget, together with two forecast years;
3. Consider and review future circuit finance;
4. Consider and approve the annual church 
contributions, in the knowledge that giving is one response that we can make to God’s constant love.

Business & resources policy (business)

The circuit policy is to seek to plan and discharge its responsibilities in an efficient and effective manner.


November 2011