FL

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FL
URISHING
CIRCUITS
... reflections on the nature of circuit
version 1 March 2011
Paul Taylor Ministries, Learning Development
Officer The Discipleship Ministries Cluster of
the Connexional Team
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Regrouping for Mission Mapping a Way Forward

• The Task
• Discerning and developing ...
• sustainable and relevant circuit structures
  which will serve and oversee the
  mission-obligations of the Church in the early
  decades of the 21st century
• new ways for Circuits to fulfil their
  responsibilities and purposes in line with SO
  500 the circuit is the primary unit in which
  Local Churches express and experience their
  interconnexion in the Body of Christ, for
  purposes of mission, mutual encouragement and
  help.

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people . ... co-ordination
of ministers, lay staff, preachers
links ... with churches, circuits,
district, connexion,
ecumenical partners
Circuit
Circuits core function?
Standing Order 500
property ... trustee of manses, overview
of churches other
bldgs
finance ... oversight of
general funds, model trust
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worship ... underpin everything with
God-centred worship prayer
people
links
learning caring ... nurturing a people-centred
flexible culture
evangelism ... developing confidence in
evangelism speaking of God and faith
Circuit
Circuit centred on Our Calling the Priorities?
Our Calling, 2000 Priorities of the Methodist
Church, 2004
service ... supporting community development
action for justice
property
finance
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discerning ...focusing on gifts calling
people
links
reflecting ... supporting an appropriate
range of lay ordained ministries
learning ... developing discipleship with a
small group focus
Circuit
Circuit centred on EDEV principles?
EDEV Report to Methodist Conference, 2006
rooting ... encouraging Methodist identity
property
finance
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mission culture ... centred on mission, growth
Gods grace
people
links
mission priorities ... focussing on realistic
objectives appropriate strategies
Spirit focussed ... open to the energy of the
Holy Spirit
Circuit
Circuit centred on Missional nature of Circuit?
The Missional Shape of the Circuit Report to
Conference, 2008
mission structure ... creating structures that
enable mission
property
finance
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being Christian ... characterised by grace,
love humility hope
people
links
being Methodist ... emphasising Methodist roots
identity encouraging risk taking
being in the world ... supporting community
engagement
Circuit
Circuit centred on Holiness Risk statements?
Holiness Risk Conference, 2009
being a disciple ... focussing on God,
telling our story sharing faith
property
finance
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focused on Christ ... modelling centrality
of Christ in all things
people
links
whole-life ... advocating lives shaped by Christ
belonging ... encouraging transformative
communities of faith
Martyn Atkins, Discipleship ... and the people
called Methodists, 2010
Circuit
Circuit centred on Methodist Christian
discipleship?
life-long ... promoting learning renewal for
all
property
finance
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valuing ... all ages are embraced understood
teaching challenging ... providing
opportunities resources for
learning challenge
people
links
think, talk, be with God
... focussed on God
supporting workers ... supporting,
encouraging developing people
Circuit
Circuit centred on themes of the Connect
strategy
Methodist Children Youth Connect Strategy, 2010
participation ... promoting participation of all
21st century church ... exploring/experimenting wi
th new ways of being church
speaking out ... developing a culture
of responding to issues
property
finance
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Methodist ... modelling Methodist ways of working
people
links
specialist ...
developing specialisms,
eg. ecumenical, heritage
pioneering ... exploring opportunities
for pioneering and fresh expressions
Reflections offered to Shadow Ministries
Committee, 2011 (from DDEs, TOs, Principals, FX
Staff, Connexional Team staff)
Circuit
Circuit centred on Ministries Circuits
reflections
learning ... promoting a culture of learning
networks ... working in partnership
ministry ... developing ministry of all focussed
on gifts
property
finance
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people
resources
learning
ministry of all
worship ...
underpin everything with
God-centred worship prayer
evangelism ... developing
confidence in evangelism
speaking of God and faith
values
contextual
supportive
think, talk be with God
Circuit
Some common themes ...
places
finance
21st century
participative
mission
learning caring ...
nurturing a people-centred
flexible
culture
service
... supporting community
development action for
justice
rooted
pioneering
disciples
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Regrouping for Mission Mapping a Way Forward

• Some questions
• What do we mean by circuit?
• What are the opportunities and challenges of
  this focus on circuit?
• Does this model offer ...
• a ... a helpful way of understanding circuit?
• b ... something that could be helpful with some
  changes?
• c ... something that is not relevant for the
  Methodist Church today?