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| Bristol District | Welcome | Find a church | Faith | About us | What do we do | Links |
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The Bristol District - Ecumenical Portfolio |
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Portfolios: |
Ecumenical PortfolioGod's love is for the 'whole inhabited earth' (oikoumene), not just our familiar bit of it.
Ecumenism is the whole Church offering the whole Gospel to
the whole earth -
These words taken from the Churches Together in England website are the basis for the work of the Ecumenical Portfolio. The Bristol District is called and committed to working ecumenically. It therefore has to play its part in the whole church offering the whole gospel to the whole of the Bristol District. It is called to work in partnership with other churches, as the introduction to ‘Priorities of the Methodist Church’ has stated ‘In partnership with others wherever possible, the Methodist Church will concentrate its prayers, resources, imagination and commitments on this priority: To proclaim and affirm its conviction of God’s love in Christ, for us and for all the world; and renew confidence in God’s presence and action in the world and in the Church’
Offering the whole gospel to the whole world means working not only with other churches but also with other faiths and with civic authorities. Thus the Ecumenical Portfolio has three main areas of work. Inter-denomination Inter-faith Regional Government
Ecumenical work is carried out at all four administrative levels: Connexion, District, Circuit and Local. The District through its Ecumenical Officers and Ecumenical Panel will act as the channel of communication between Connexion, Circuit and Local as appropriate and give encouragement, support and advice for ecumenical work carried out at Circuit and Local levels.
It is at District level that there is the strongest link with the so-called Intermediate Bodies, the County Ecumenical Bodies that fall within the District’s Geographical region. These are Greater Bristol, Gloucestershire , Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. Each county region has two people from the District, one designated the Ecumenical Officer who represent the Methodist Church on these County Bodies, attending their various Councils, Executives and Forums as required and providing a Methodist input to the work that is carried out by the County Body.
These county representatives are there to support circuits and local church will encouragement and advice and to help in the sharing of what work well, and what doesn’t! in ecumenical practice and relationship. The District Ecumenical Officer co-ordinates the work across the region and through membership of the District Leadership and Policy Committee ensures that an ecumenical dimension is can be considered in all District Business.
As part of there advice to local churches Ecumenical Officers can supply or direct to a wide range of ecumenical resources. Many of these resources are now published on the websites of Churches Together in England, the individual denominations and County Bodies.
One aims of this District website is to help you find these Resources directly.
Another aim is to provide a means of sharing information and stories about ecumenical work throughout the District. For that your help is needed in two ways:
Send these by email to john.emmett@methodist.org.uk who will arrange for them to put onto this website. Thank you.
Inter-denominationalMost ecumenical activity is inter-denominational. It has a different emphasis at Connexional District, Circuit and Local level. As with all church activity, ecumenical co-operation in mission is largely delivered at the local level through congregations and individuals working together. The main role of Connexional, District and Circuit is to support that local mission and they do that is different ways.
At Connexional level provided general resources and advice through the Connexional Ecumenical Officer (Revd Peter Sulston) and the Development Officer for Unity and Mission (Mr Chris Sissons). They can be contacted directly especially if there are anomalous or difficult issues to be resolved. However it is best to try the District Ecumenical Officers first and to keep them informed of any direct contact with the Connexional officers. For most enquiries the initial information you will need can be found on either the Methodist Church website or the Anglican Methodist website.
Through the Resourcing Mission Office in Manchester, Covenants, Constitutions and Sharing Agreements are scrutinised. These should be sent to that office for the attention of Mr Chris Sissons, copied to the District Ecumenical Officer.
At District level the Ecumenical Officer and Assistants for each county should be able to give advice or tell you where to find it. This website has been set up to help you do that for yourself.
At Circuit level it is the Superintendent and the Leadership who are responsible for ensuring proper resourcing and encouraging ecumenical activity throughout the Circuit. This is particular important when drawing up Church Profile and visit interviews when there is a change in ministerial appointment.
At Local level that is where ecumenism is put into practice in the mission of the church. Churches may enter different kinds of relationships: LEP, Churches Together Group, Chaplaincy or ‘Fresh Expression’. There are various levels of formal recognition of such groupings. Hopefully the more the arrangement, the more likely the group can be sustained through changing circumstances and personal because of the commitment to each other is better agreed and overseen.
Help is needed from the local level to build up this website in two areas:
Please send a brief description, a couple of lines that’s all, to john.emmett@methodist.org.uk
more to follow Inter-Faith
The Revd Cass Howes is the District Inter Faith Advisor and our representative on the SW Council of Faith.
more to follow
Regional GovernmentThe District is represented on the South-West Churches Forum by Revd Ward Jones and Revd Cass Howes.
more to follow
District Ecumenical Officers and Panel
The District Ecumenical Panel is the group that have the oversight of ecumenical issues in the District. Its current convenor is Revd John Emmett who is the District Ecumenical Officer. It consists of the Chair of District, two members, preferably one ordained and one layperson, from each of the five ‘county’ region covered by the District, the inter-faith advisor and one of our representatives on the SW Regional Forum. One of the members covering each of ‘county’ region is designated the Methodist Ecumenical Officer for that county. The District Ecumenical Officer co-ordinated the activities of the County Officers and has a place on the District Leadership team and the Policy Committee. Thus an ecumenical dimension can be encouraged in all District business.
The current constituency of the Panel is: Officer: Revd Dr John C A Emmett Assistant Ecumenical Officers: Gloucester: Revd John O James Greater Bristol Revd Rosemary Davies Somerset Revd Dr John C A Emmett Swindon Revd Derek J Collins Wiltshire: Revds Martyn J Skinner & Christopher Cory with the following representatives to the County bodies: Churches Together for Greater Bristol: Chairman of the District Revd Rosemary Davies Mr David Carter Gloucestershire Churches Together: Chairman of the District Revd John O James Mr Alan Garnham Somerset Churches Together: Chairman of the District Revd Dr John C A Emmett Vacancy Wiltshire Churches Together: Chairman of the District Revd Martyn J Skinner & Christopher Cory Vacancy Swindon Churches Together: Chairman of the District Revd Derek J Collins & Revd John W H Wiltshire Vacancy
Methodist/U.R.C. Oversight Group: Chairman of the District Revd Dr John C. A. Emmett Revd Nicola Slateford
Representatives to SW Churches Forum Chairman of the District Revd Cassandra Howes
Representatives to SW Regional Revd Cassandra Howes Council of Faiths and District Inter-Faith Advisor
There are vacancies on the Panel, We need more lay persons to join and there are vacancies for County Assistant Ecumenical Officers that must be filled if we are to show our commitment to ecumenical working to our partner denominations. See the Vacancies page for more details including a basic job descriptions. Gloucestershire
The Methodist Assistant Ecumenical Officer for Gloucestershire is Revd John James (until August 2008). He and Mr Alan Barham are the members on the District Ecumenical Panel that represent Gloucestershire.
From September 2008 with the formation of the new Gloucestershire Circuit the Ecumenical Officer will be Revd Carrie Seaton.
The County Ecumenical for Gloucestershire is Revd Dr Alison Evans, a Baptist minister.
The Gloucestershire Churches Together website is www.gloucestershirechurchestogether.org.uk
more to follow Greater Bristol
The Methodist Assistant Ecumenical Officer for Greater Bristol is Revd Rosemary Davies (until August 2008). She and Mr David Carter are the members on the District Ecumenical Panel that represent Greater Bristol.
The appointment of a new County Ecumenical for Greater Bristol is under discussion.
The Greater Bristol Churches Together website is under review. Somerset
The County Ecumenical for Somerset is Mr Robin Dixon, an Anglican Lay Reader.
The Somerset Churches Together website is www.sctog.org.uk
more to follow Swindon
The Methodist Ecumenical Officer for Swindon is Revd Derek Collins There is a vacancy for a member on the District Ecumenical Panel to represent Swindon.
The appointment of a new County Ecumenical for Swindon is under discussion.
The Swindon Churches Together website is www.swindonchurches.ik.com
more to follow Wiltshire
The role of Methodist Ecumenical Officer for Wiltshire is shared between Revds Christopher Cory and Martyn Skinner. There is a vacancy for a member on the District Ecumenical Panel to represent Wiltshire.
The County Ecumenical for Wiltshire, Revd Morris Munns, a Baptist minister has recently retired. Discussions are in hand for a replacement though it will be in a slightly different role as an Ecumenical Development Officer.
The Wiltshire Churches Together website is www.wiltshirechurches.net Ecumenism at Connexion Level
At Connexional level the Methodist Church produced many reports to Conference that affect ecumenical working. These are available on the Methodist Church website www.methodist.org.uk
The Methodist Church is in bi-lateral conversations with other denominations both nationally and internationally. Two are worth special mention..
An important report has been published recently from the international commission between the Roman Catholic Church and the Methodist Church.’The Grace Given to You in Christ’
In England the Anglican- Methodist Covenant was signed five years ago and the final report of the Joint Implementation Commission (JIC) is to be presented to the Conference and General Synod in the summer of 2008.
The Covenant has set up its own website and it is an excellent site for resources for local ecumenical working. Its address is www.anglican-methodist.org.uk
more to follow
Ecumenism at District Level
At District level ecumenism operates largely through the work of the Ecumenical Officers. They ensure that Methodism is properly represented on the Intermediate County Bodies. The Ecumenical Panel members are available to give advice and support to Circuit and Local churches.
An example is when Ecumenical Officers can help is when they are invited to discuss the formation of a Churches Together Group or LEP. They can explain to the participating churches what needs to be addressed and what documentation needs to be produced.
more to follow Ecumenism at Circuit Level.
Our District two of the few but growing number of United Methodist-URC Ecumenical Areas in the country: Mid-Wiltshire and West Wiltshire. These United Area are a mix of united and single denomination churches that can come under the pastoral charge of either a URC or Methodist Minister. All the URC ministers in the area are given AM (Authorised to Serve) status and the area has a lead minister who can be from either denomination. For legal reasons one of the Methodist ministers in the area has to be the Superintendent but not necessarily the lead minister.
For all Circuits in the District currently considering realignment and amalgamation, it is an opportunity not to be missed, indeed laid upon us by our commitment to the Anglican-Methodist Covenant, to involve and inform our ecumenical partners in any decision-making at the earliest opportunity. Closer alignment of circuit and Anglican deaneries for instance will enable partnership to be set up more effectively for the resourcing of mission.
Many Circuits have churches that are in LEPs. The ministers of other denominations in these LEPs are invited to accept a recognised status in the Methodist Church. This can be either AM/D (Authorised to Serve) or Associate Minister SM/D. The Authorised to Serve AM for presbyteral and AD for diaconal roles would be the norm for an LEP. The Associate Minster SM/D (presbyteral/diaconal) is a relative new status introduced for those in less formal and occasional roles in Churches Together groups. There is a standard form that the minister must fill in and get agreed by the Circuit Meeting and their relevant denominational approval process. Copies of these forms can be obtained from the Ecumenical Officers or downloaded from the Anglican-Methodist website. www.anglican-methosist .org.uk
more to follow Local EcumenismMost ecumenical work in the District happens at the local level as churches work together sharing resources for mission to the area they serve. Much depends on there being good working relationships between the local church leaders and congregations. Historic divisive issues and suspicion have to be recognised and overcome. No one denomination has the resources to do everything and there is little justification for duplication of activities in a locality.
Local ecumenical work has various degrees of formal recognition. They vary from churches informally agreeing to work together on a particular project to churches forming a Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP).
An LEP is formally recognised and registered by the partner denomination and their intermediate ‘county’ body. They have to have a agreed written covenant (statement of intent) and a constitution which define relationships and responsibilities of the partners. Oversight is given by the intermediate body through support groups and persons, periodic reviews and involvement in whichever denominational procedure takes place when there is a change in ministerial appointment. For the Church of England, involvement in an LEP enable significant sharing of ordained ministry under the application Canon B44.
There are various types of LEP: Single congregation LEPs worship in one building with ordained ministry provided by any or all of the participating denominations. A minister from another denomination in such a situation would be grated Authorised to Serve (AM) status. A Sharing Agreement has to be set up in this case to safeguard the resources and availability of all participating denominations, especially those do not own the building, or those who have financially invested in it.
Multiple congregation LEPs worship in different buildings usually each having an ordained minister for each congregation. They are encouraged to see there buildings as a coomon resource for the mission of the church in that area.
Christian mission in the community rather than through church buildings, when set up ecumenically are usually LEPs. The most common examples are chaplaincies, in education, hospitals, industry, commerce etc
When new churches are set up in new housing areas there will always be a strong encouragement from county and denominational bodies to form an LEP often with denominational sharing the cost of buildings and ministry.
Less formal a partnership are the ‘Churches Together’ groups. These are when separate denominations in their own buildings with their own denomination placing the ordained minister, agree to do certain activities together. Even here, it is advisable for for these to have a covenant statement of intent) and a constitution. These sets out in writing the mutual understanding of what it means to work together.
more to follow Ecumenical Groupsincluding a list of our current LEPs, initially, followed by Churches Together Group. Please contact the Ecumenical Officer at john.emmett@methodist.org.uk to register you group (formal or informal LEP, Churches Together, Chaplaincy, Fresh Expression etc.) on this page. Thank you
e.g. Bath Circuit 7/13 All churches in the Circuit are members of Churches Together in Bath Batheaston Methodist Church is a member of Batheaston Churches in Partnership, a Roman Catholic - Church of England- Methodist LEP. News Stories
You are invited to submit news stories that you are willing to share with other in the District. Please e-mail a brief note to the Ecumenical Officer john.emmett@methodist.co.uk
An example
Weston-super-Mare and Burnham Circuit
Bournville LEP; an Anglican-Methodist LEP that meets for worship and outreach in the Healthy Living Centre, a new building that includes a doctors surgery and other community groups was visited by the Queen and Prince Philip in July 2007
more to follow
please send in your stories Links to Ecumenical Bodies
The Churches Together in England website is www.cte.org.uk
The Methodist website is www.methodist.org.uk
The Anglican-Methodist website is www.anglican-methodist.org.uk
more to follow VacanciesThere are currently two Assistant Ecumenical Officer vacancies to be filled by September 2008: Greater Bristol and Somerset.
Outline Person and Job Description: Assistant Ecumenical Officer
A person who is a committed ecumenist, preferably with experience in an ecumenical church setting. A good supporter and encourager of ecumenical activity. Able to network at local and regional level.
A job which involves representing Methodist on Intermediate County meetings. (Executive, Council/Forum – perhaps six to eight meetings per year). Member of the Ecumenical Panel (annual meeting).Opportunity to serve in other ways (task, support, oversight groups etc.) on a voluntary basis. Opportunity to attend connexional ecumenical events/meetings and attend training courses at the District expense.
Required to keep up to date on Methodist ecumenical policy (now usually via the website) and to arrange for Methodism to be represented on local groups as requested.
Form a good working partnership with the Ecumenical Officers of other denominations/ Resources
The Anglican-Methodist website www.anglican-methodist.org.uk contains a large amount of useful information about working ecumenically that applies to relationship with our other partner denominations.
Of particular importance is a document produced by the Church of England entitled ‘Local Covenanted Partnerships. This can be obtained in booklet form from Church House Publishing but has also been put in the Covenant website divided into sections corresponding to the chapters of the report.
more to follow |
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