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Changes to the Circuit 2011
This paper is produced from the combined work of the Strategic Development Team (abbreviated in this paper to SDT) appointed from each of the interested Circuits.
Why a new Circuit?
The idea was initially triggered by Circuits and Superintendents being concerned about the relatively large number of ministers “on the move” in September 2011, and the potential lack of replacements. Discussions and subsequent meetings revealed a variety of significant opportunities and reasons for forming an enlarged Circuit, both practical and pragmatic as well as theological. These reasons include:
Pragmatic reasons:
1. The current structures leave a “hole in the centre”. The Methodist Central Mission has engaged with different Circuits in a variety of ways with different levels of ownership by each. However a new body could provide better coordination and a functional “centre” to the Methodist work in Birmingham.
2. We would create a leadership able to speak on behalf of a significant constituency of Methodists, and able to do so with a vision across the Birmingham area.
3. There will be, in the enlarged Circuit, some flexibility in the staffing & resourcing of work that is not currently possible e.g. the resourcing of the management of finances, property and administration.
4. There may be some synergistic (working together) benefits from financial amalgamation.
Theological reasons:
1. The God we serve is relational, both in the being of God (our theology of the trinity) and in God’s dealings with all creation. God’s church must therefore seek to be in relationship with other congregations, with other Christian groups in their geographical setting/area and with others who we understand to be seeking the aims of God’s kingdom (even if they would not express their work in those terms). The new Circuit could enable a more effective engagement in mission, through Methodist congregations cooperating more, through more effective ecumenical involvement and through more effective engagement with “secular” partners.
2. In the structure of Methodism, local congregations do not belong alone, but as part of the body of Christ need to express their interconnection with others (CPD S.O. 500). As the purpose of this is to further enable God’s mission and further the work of God’s kingdom, the opportunities to set up a Circuit that does so more effectively is in keeping with both our theology (understanding of God) and ecclesiology (understanding of the Church).
3. The experience of those, like Jean Vanier, who engage with people who have a variety of disabilities is that “the strong need the weak just as much as the weak need the strong”. This is at the heart of our following Jesus, the one regarded as weak, unsuccessful and afflicted (Isaiah 53) It may well be that as we join together, God will challenge those who think themselves “strong” through their experience of working alongside those they regard as “weak”. (2 Cor 4)
What is our Vision?
The following is offered as a mission statement to work with, but the SDT recognize that we are embarking on a journey and that, once set up and functioning, the new Circuit may chose to re-visit this. Comments would be valued. You will note that it is shaped in part by Our Calling’s four strands.
“The resourcing of Methodist people centered in and around Birmingham for effective evangelism, faithful discipleship, compassionate service and transforming worship within the wider Christian community.”
What makes up the new Circuit?
The Birmingham South West, Birmingham Asbury, Birmingham Moseley Road and Sparkhill Circuits along with the Birmingham Central Mission Project have committed to work towards a new enlarged Circuit for Birmingham. Both the Birmingham Elmdon and Birmingham Sutton Park Circuits are also participating but have not yet committed.
Potentially the new enlarged Circuit for Birmingham will have 4550 members who worship at 56 churches. A number of these churches are part of local ecumenical partnerships. There are around 30 presbyters (including existing superintendent ministers) with pastoral responsibility. There are also around 10 presbyters in other appointments, and additionally a number of authorised ministers, deacons, and supernumerary ministers. Based on existing lay employees, the Circuit would have 24 paid lay employees (working a range of hours) in roles including administrators, lay pastoral workers, youth workers and community workers. The Circuit would have responsibility for around 30 manses.
In addition to places of worship, the new enlarged Circuit for Birmingham has at least 12 specific instances of chaplaincy activity (covering education, retail, hospital and industry), two international student houses, and strong links with both the Queens Foundation and the Methodist Diaconal Centre.
What are our financial resources?
The SDT has gathered together information from all participating Circuits, in respect of 2008/09 accounts. This has undertaken at high level, considering only cash movements, and has not been in any way independently examined. Figures should therefore be regarded as indicative. It has also not taken any account of the financial status of individual churches.
The total Circuit Assessment given by churches was £883k, forming part of the total income of £1,384k. Total expenditure was £1,453k, staff costs accounting for £1,200k of this expenditure. Unrestricted reserves were £330k (just under 3 months of expenditure), and total cash reserves (including restricted funds such as Circuit Advance Funds) were £1,062k (just under 9 months of expenditure).
Whilst there is a range of sums raised per member, and a range of sums in reserve per member, no one Circuit is particularly well off compared to any other. While all Circuits are challenged to ensure their income meets their aspirations on expenditure, there is not any Circuit that is in serious financial difficulty. There are no major discrepancies between Circuits, and thus finance should not raise concerns to stop us moving forward.
What will be our structure?
At this stage we can only offer some “broad brush” suggestions: by next week we should have some more detailed suggestions. We envision a leadership that is not focussed on only one individual, but that necessarily has a named presbyter as “The Superintendent”, even if “the Superintendency” may be exercised by a small team of both lay and ordained staff. It is likely that as we move through implementation, and indeed the early life of the new Circuit, the structure will adapt in light of experience.
How will the governance of the new Circuit work?
Again this is still under discussion, but we are conscious that it will be important both to create groups that are small enough to function on behalf of the Circuit, including groups that can take forward manageable parts of the work of God in the enlarged Circuit, and also to provide mechanisms for the oversight of these groups. It will also be important to find ways that provide for the voice of the local Church to be heard. Further detail will be available shortly.
What is our recommendation?
In conclusion, we are conscious that there is still much that needs further work, some of which is required so that stationing and appointing staff can happen. We imagine that in the early stages of the life of the new Circuit individual members of local churches may find that “life goes on” much as before amalgamation. But through the process of working on this project the reservations of some the SDT have been, in part, eased. Some of us have become more enthusiastic about the better ways of working that the new Circuit could enable. Some of us are concerned to see the proposed structures and governance developed before our reservations can be allayed. We are convinced that from the fears about “death” that triggered the initial conversations God has been able to draw out potential for “resurrection” to further the work of God across the Birmingham area.
We commend the project to create a new Birmingham-wide Circuit to you.
Prepared by the Strategic Development Team