• Phil Mason (our co-ordinator) is putting together his next 'Update' which will address some of the things to come out of this meeting. This will go out by e-mail as well as appearing on this site.

• Ken Tait described how the MCCN database had been reorganised over the summer. It is now in two parts:

  • Churches and Projects
  • People
  Although the two lists can be updated separately links connecting people to particular churches or projects can be easily made. He asked that any changes in information could be sent to him and he would pass them on to Rebecca Kearns at Victoria Hall, Bolton, who maintains the database.

  MCCN is now recognised by the connexion as the keeper of the official list of city centre churches and projects. The list on the web site is derived directly from the database and those churches and projects known to be on the official list are marked with an asterisk.

  The database is used to communicate with the network. Any one who wishes to receive information the MCCN and its activities should ask to be added to the database giving (at least) an e-mail address. The same goes for churches and projects and for these the address of a web site is useful.

  Other than the list on the web site the information in the database is restricted to the MCCN Executive so as not to fall foul of the Data Protection Act.

  The meeting was encouraged to keep visiting the web site and to send in items of news or comment that would be of value to the betwork as a whole.

• Mark Pengelly (our treasurer) thanked members of the group for their financial support. Donations supporting the work of MCCN is enabling a new level of communication between those involved in town and city centre ministries. Last years accounts were independently examined and this year a budget of expenditure in the region of £7000 is projected.

  A plea was made for more support, especially using an annual Standing Order, which will put the administrative and communication work on a firmer footing as the Newtwork plans for the future. Suggested donations are £50, £75 or £100 pa.

  (Download/View/Print Standing Order Form. [PDF 68KB])

• Paul Ingram (Property Office) reminded the meeting that all churches with an income of £100,000 (or more) would have to register with the Charity Commission as separate charities. He promised more information on this at our next meeting.

Ian Serjeant and Angela Donnelly explained the background and the proposed research relating to Methodist Central Halls.

Ian is the Conservation Officer in the Methodist Property Office and Angela is a research student in the project working towards her PhD.

At the meeting Ian gave a short presentation setting out the background and Aims of the project. Angela followed this with an overview of the research she will do.

• View or download a summary of Ian's presentation [PDF, 413KB]
• View or download an overview article by Angela [PDF, 279KB]

These are some of the issues mentioned during our discussion:

• Single circuit church or part of a larger circuit? A large circuit may be able to offer more resources to a city centre church. On the other hand the special situation of a city centre church may not be appreciated. Mention was made of a city centre church that had moved from a single circuit situation larger circuit and then chosen to revert to the single circuit context.
• Are city centre presbyters specialists or GPs?
• Should a specific vocation to work in city centre be recognised and acknowledged?
• Are there advantages to be gained from having a period of overlap with the previous person when someone new is stationed in a city centre church or project.
• Are decisions about city centre churches and projects driven by logistics rather than mission?