MCCN

Conference

Conference 2001

In 2001 a paper was presented to Conference on Ministry and Mission in the City Centre
(There is a presentation related to this paper).

As a result Conference agreed the following:

	Each district, by resolution of the district Synod, to review, no later than August 2002, which communities were to count as City Centre Churches or Projects.
	Large town or city centre projects needed to request inclusion.

Being included on the connexional city centre list means:

	10:1a Assets cannot be dispersed, especially when property is sold, but must be restricted to city centre use.
	10:1b No connexional advance priority fund (CAPF) levy is to be charged to city centre churches or projects.
	10:1c Appropriate care will be taken when presbyters or deacons are stationed. Recruitment will be aimed at people who have an aptitude for city centre work. Proper orientation and induction training will be given to those taking up new posts.
	10:1d Encouragement and adequate budget will be given by the connexional team to the Ministers City Centre Group to faciliatate mutual support, training, sharing of experience and good practice.
	10:2a A regular and rigorous review of the whole shape and context of city centre ministry will be mandatory before any redeployment of capital assets or significant change in staffing levels.
	10:2b The local overseeing body (either the church council or curcuit meeting or specially designated management group) should be responsible for regular reviews of its city centre work. Whenever there is a thorough review, other appropriate bodies should be invited to participate [such as an external consultancy with expertise in city centre ministry, ecumencial partners as well as any district personnel with appropriate experience].

Each project or church should aim to have:

	1 A clear strategy of what the Methodist Church can contribute to the well-being of each identified city, complementing the ministry inpout of our ecumencial partners.
	2 A robust five-year business plan, aimming to reduce dependency on grants and thermometer fund-raising, identifying imaginiative partnerships and entrepreneurial activities which look to achieve a 'return' on expenditure in order to build up resources for future development.

The relevant section in the Report of the 2001 Conference is available through the web site of the Methodist Church of Great Britain. It is not easy to find so here is a direct link valid in May 2007.

23 May 2004