GROUP REPORTS FOR AUTUMN SYNOD 2016
Reports included -
District Policy Committee
Learning and Caring Group – Sabbaticals, MWiB, World Action group, Under 19s
Service Group – Methodist Homes, Action for Children, Public Issues, Rural officer
Administration – Applying for a grant
District Policy Committee (DPC)
The DPC has met once since the last Synod to consider the business of the District and its committees. The latter have reported separately.
Revd Jacqui Horton gave her last report as our Methodist Council representative and Richard Armiger gave a DMLN update.
Dr Jack Lawson gave his last update as District Mission Enabler and was thanked for all his hard work over the years which had been warmly appreciated. Next time we will welcome Dr Yasmin Finch as she takes over from Jack.
We had an update on the District website which continues to be a challenge and we agreed some District appointments.
The DPC held an Away Day in May which provided opportunities for conversation about things collectively valued, core values and the District Policy (looking to update the one agreed by Synod in April 2014). We also started work on role descriptions for the Group Coordinators.
Susan Eldridge - Secretary to District Policy Committee
LEARNING AND CARING GROUP
SABBATICALS REPORT
Sabbaticals this year have taken ministers to Australia, India and Sri Lanka and, nearer home, to Iona and Lindisfarne. They have provided time for reflection based on photography, coastal scenery, music, Methodist history and theology and the effects of conflict. Importantly, family/friends time and time to pursue individual interests have been enjoyed too. Thanks especially to those who have made time to offer something of their experience to Grapevine for the District’s benefit.
Eight ministers are now due to take sabbaticals in 2016/17 and most of them have their planning well underway. A reminder that the guidelines suggest that a prospectus should be prepared in the autumn of the connexional year before the sabbatical is due which seems virtually impossible to me: but a plea to Circuits and ministers alike - if you know a sabbatical is coming up, please begin your planning well in advance. I am always happy to help.
Heather M Walker - District Sabbaticals Officer
MWiB
Anne Browse, the national President of MWiB led us for our residential weekend at Belsey Bridge early in March. We were fully subscribed, enjoyed worship, activities, lovely surroundings and rich fellowship.
Our District Days continue to be hugely successful. In April, at Upwell, our speaker was Rev Jennifer Potter from Wesley’s Chapel, London. She led us in exploring our hymnody past and present.
Several of us attended the residential conference at Swanwick . The main speaker was Jill Barber who shared with us her enthusiasm with the lives of often unmentioned women heroines of our church. There was a huge selection of different workshops.
We were represented at the official opening of the ‘Transforming the world from the Kitchen’ exhibition at Epworth. It is well worth a visit before the end of October.
In May we joined people from around the world at Westminster Central Hall for the concert with Paul Field and Garth Hewitt to celebrate the ending of the project supporting the work with Dahlit people in North India. The final total raised was over £78,500. A cheque was presented to two young Indian women who visited several MWiB events during a two week stay in England.
During Conference in London, MWiB held a joint fringe event with World Church Fund. We heard speakers from Italy, Fiji and Haiti. Anne Browse gave a challenging report on visiting refugees in Greece with a group from Churches Together.
Fund raising for our District project in aid of EACH is progressing well. Thanks for all the support.
Autumn District Day is at South Lowestoft on Oct 6th from 11am - 3.30pm. Our speaker Rev Michaela Youngson.
The Spring District Day, 26th April 2017,is at Downham Market, from 11am -3.30pm, and the speaker is Rev Julian Pursehouse.
Heather Sorrell
World Church Action Team (WCAT)
WCAT are a small group committed to raising awareness of world church issues in the District. When the news offers disturbing stories almost on a daily basis, it is crucial that we learn from the world church and find ways of 'embracing' those who are different. God calls us to unity in diversity and part of our mission is to show an openness to all regardless of race, religion or politics. So we bring the following to your attention:
•Latvia Link – Gita Mednis, Latvia District Superintendent, handed over to Edgars Schneider at the end of the summer. We continue to pray for our friends in Latvia, their ongoing mission and for Edgars in this time of transition.
•Mission Partner link - we continue to support Angleena Keizer through our prayers and interest during her time in Sri Lanka. Prayer bookmarks are available.
•One Mission Matters magazine – This replaces 'Mission Matters' and the new title “reflects God's heart for mission, and that we are one, wherever we are and whoever we are with.” The magazine provides inspirational stories and if you wish to order copies for your church, email or tel: 0845 017 8220. (Postage and packing will cost £2.50 regardless of order size.)
•World Church speakers/resources. Either telephone World Church Relationships on 020 7486 5502 or visit the website on The website provides a rich source of information to help with raising awareness and funds for world mission.
•World Church Bulletins – if you would like to receive these on a regular basis, email
•Membership of World Church Action Team – Do you have a heart for world church matters? Would you like to consider joining the WCAT? Contact Donna Ely on 01379 642791 or email
Thanks to Donna Ely et al for compiling this report.
Under 19s
Following the disbanding of the former committee, whose sterling work has been recognised before, the District Policy Committee, in conjunction with the DMLN, are looking at ways in which work with under 19s can best be supported and fostered.
In the meantime I would be pleased to hear from anyone in the District who is involved with youth or children’s work. If you are involved, or know someone who is, and have any ideas how that work can be supported or helped, please let me know. I am concerned that you do not feel that your work is done in isolation or without support.
Finally may I reiterate a previous request.
Although a number of groups within the Learning & Caring “umbrella” report separately, if anyone feels that their work is unrepresented, or that occasional special mention needs to be made I am only too happy to ensure that this is done. Again please let me know.
Richard Dean: L&C Group coordinator
SERVICE GROUP
MHA
It seems early, but can I make a Christmas appeal!
Each year this District has so generously sent me cards to give to the residents in our Methodist Homes in East Anglia.
We can simply send the official printed version, issued by MHA head office, but the ones which really resonate with our elderly
are the ones written or made by the folk in our circuits. Could the people in your church buy an extra card- or make one?
Often our elderly people don’t have many cards because their friends have died or are too infirm to send them one.
Last year one of our residents commented “Receiving a card from someone personally has made my Christmas. Last year I had none”
It is worthwhile! In order to deliver the cards, I really need to receive them by theend of November.
-and cards made by children are an especial delight.
Hoping to hear from you. Pam Bayliss - MHA East Anglia Rep.
This year’s Methodist Homes Sunday theme is ‘Creating Communities that Care’ and echoes what we see as one of the core purposes of everything MHA is involved in, whether in residential work, the activities of the Live at Home Schemes or in a growing desire to join with others in campaigning for a fairer society for older people. We address the issue of loneliness which highlights the need for people to be connected in a community of their choice and as the numbers of older people continue to grow, each of those three words will become increasingly important.
Thank youto all the ministers, local preachers and worship leaders who used our worship resources and held services, raising awareness and funds. If your church didn’t, it’s not too late. Please ring 01332 296200 and ask for Lesley France or email
For other fundraising ideas and resources to support the work of MHA visit our new microsite
Next year we celebrate MHA’s ‘Best Sunday for Ages’ on Sunday 11th June 2017.
Christmas Campaign 2016
We have had a great response to our competition to design a Christmas Card. Our judges have selected 24 winning designs
-One will be animated with sound to become MHA’s official, electronic card
-Ten will be printed as MHA Christmas cards
-All 24 will be used to create an electronic MHA advent calendar.
In keeping with tradition we will again be asking church groups to write Christmas cards which can be passed on to our residents and scheme members. We have also set a goal to raise funds to specifically support our Live at Home schemes. We are delighted to report that we have been able to support an additional 1,000 new members in our schemes this year and plans are in place to increase places and the number of schemes over the coming months. To see a video clip showing what a difference this service makes to our members please visit our website
Live at Home is good for older people, surveyed Live at Home members said that the key things their scheme did well were providing a combination of friendship and interesting activities and helping them feel less bored and lonely.
With your help we aim to eliminate loneliness among older people by connecting them in communities that care.
ACTION FOR CHILDREN
Most churches in the district celebrated Action for Children on 10thJuly and have also been busy emptying League of Light boxes.
Other activities include "Step Out for Children" in Great Yarmouth which raised approximately £600.00; Sheringham and North Norfolk have this year raised £6850.67. This included a Forties Weekend and £986.16 collected in League of Light and shop boxes.
Ely Circuit have also been quite active and
Wesley Church, Cambridge has collected over£1200.00 in the League of Light boxes. The Wesley Support group held a stall at the Annual Stourbridge Fair in the Leper Chapelon 3rd September selling cakes and jam, filled rolls, tea, coffee and soft drinks. This is a wonderful event resurrected about 12 years ago and goes back to 1209 when King John granted a licence for it to raise money to support the lepers in the Cambridge area.
Once again I should like to thank everybody who has supported Action for Children in any way.
Sheila Turner
Introducing our new political campaign: Fair by Five
The first five years of a child’s life are crucial.But a third of children aren’t ready to learn by the time they reach school at age five. We need child development to be a national priority, and soon.
Action for Children is committed to making sure every child has the love, support and opportunity to reach their potential.So we've launched a new political campaign called Fair by Five to call on the Government to make child development a priority.
You can help make sure every political party does its bit. Write to your MP today and join the campaign.
PUBLIC ISSUES
This year Katherine Fox (Aileen’s daughter) has spent time in Bethlehem with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) - a programme coordinated by the World Council of Churches (founded in response to a call from the local Heads of Churches in Jerusalem) that brings internationals to the West Bank. Itsmission is to witness life under occupation, to engage with local Palestinians and Israelis pursuing a just peace, and to changethe international community’s involvement in the conflict, urging them to act against injustice in the region. The volunteers offer a protective presence to vulnerable communities and monitor and report human rights abuses. Katherine will be speaking at TrinityMethodistChurch, Dereham on Saturday 1st October at 3.30 p.m. She will be giving an eyewitness account of the blockade of a Palestinian village in March 2016. She will explain why such an incident matters to us and suggest what we can do about it. Katherine’s talk will be followed by tea.
The situation in Palestine has been one of the factors which has fuelled growing anti-semitism in England. However much we may disapprove of the Israeli Government’s policies regarding Gaza and the occupied West Bank (and of the actions of Israeli settlers in the West Bank area) we must not allow this to undermine the good relations which generally exist between Christians and Jews in our own country. Those of us already involved with the Council for Christians and Jews would strongly commend membership of this excellent interfaith organisation. For more information visit .
The establishment of good cross-cultural and inter-faith relationships will become increasingly important as the number of refugees of many nationalities and religions continues to increase in our District. There is a need to break down the walls of prejudice and to use the stones to build bridges of friendship. David Yarham
DISTRICT RURAL OFFICERS REPORT
For those of you who don’t know, I am the new Rural Officer for the District, based in Heacham in the West Norfolk Circuit.
To date I have become a member of the Norfolk Rural Support Network, part of the Chaplaincy team for both Norfolk and Suffolk shows and a member of the Diocesan Rural Officers Regional team.
I feel very strongly about the Rural Church and its important role in the community and the need for local housing and facilities in our villages.
The role of the District Rural Officer is yet to be finalised, but I am happy at any time to come and meet with you to discuss any concerns or initiatives within your Church/community and help with advice on resources or perhaps just to talk through ideas you may have.
Please contact me either on email or tel: 01485 570232.
I look forward to working with you. Rev. Steve Oliver
ADMINISTRATION GROUP
I would like to draw people to the page in the handbook / directory “A Guide on Who to Approach for a Grant”. This will give you all the information you need if you are thinking of applying to the District for a grant.
NB It has been slightly updated since the directory was printed and the revised version is below –
A GUIDE ON WHO TO APPROACH FOR A GRANT?
1If your application is for a Personnel project (ministry & mission appointments), for grants towards the cost of outreach events and activities, or for courses and training for lay people,please contact:
The DISTRICT GRANTS’ OFFICER – the Rev Dr Michael Wilson on 01223 527560
Email:
2If your application is for a Property scheme,please contact:
Mr Angus Campbell on 01223 842267
Email:
We have two primary sources of funds, the Hunter Rowe Fund and the District Advance
Fund. Please begin with Angus, who will guide you through the process. Angus is the new
Hunter Rowe Administratorand he will send to you whichever application forms are
appropriate to you scheme. Please return to him only your completed application to the
Hunter Rowe Trust, one month prior to the next District Grants and Personnel Committee
(dates are found in the diary 2016‐2017 pages in this Synod Directory).
If you are seeking funding from the District Advance Fund, the form for this must be
returned to Michael Wilson, the District Grants Officer, also one month prior to the next
District Grants & Personnel meeting.
It is essential that you also contact the District Property Secretary, Mr Roger Pauley (01354
693 595) because no property grant can be claimed until
the District Property Secretary gives consent to the scheme.
3 If you are a Presbyter or Deacon, and you are seeking to claim up to two thirds of
the cost towards a course, training or development event (max. claim £300)please
contact: the DISTRICT TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT FUND OFFICER:
The Revd. Alison Walker, 12 Moss Drive, Haslingfield, Cambridge, CB23 1JB
Email:
If your claim for a course or training event (including support for degree courses and
studies) exceeds £300 per annum please talk to both Alison and to Michael Wilson as larger
training grants can be considered by the District Grants & Personnel Committee.
When making your application please be aware of the criteria outlined in the District Grant
Making Policy – which is available on the District website.
Andrew King – Administration Group Coordinator September 2016.