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The Methodist Church Lincoln & Grimsby District
Reshaping for Mission
An Ecumenical Perspective
This leaflet has been prepared on behalf of the District to encourage circuits and
churches when engaging with the Mapping the Way Forward process to reflect on issues related to ecumenical relationships.
There is no one prescribed way in which this could or should happen. However, through reflecting on the subjects raised and the questions
which follow it is hoped some of the key aspects of relating ecumenical matters to a local situation will be addressed.
The Church of England
The Lincoln Diocese is in the midst of its own reshaping process (New Era post- 2008).
Aware that our processes run in parallel, representatives of the District and
Diocese have met regularly to share information to identify useful areas of coop-eration.
Key issues for the Diocese revolve around the dearth of resources (particularly in
terms of ordained, stipendiary ministry) that is anticipated over the next decade.
More responsibility for the conduct of worship will be placed in the hands of trained
and authorized lay people who will have completed the Parish Foundation/ Lay Ministry programme which is available to participants from both denominations
For Reflection:
- Has the circuit explored the possibilities of sharing ordained and lay ministry with its Anglican neighbours to maintain Christian presence in the communities
both seek to serve?
- What could be the advantages of this?
- What might be the first steps which need to be taken to enable this to happen?
The deanery is developing its importance as a unit of Anglican organization. Despite
superficial resemblances, a deanery is not equivalent to a circuit. However, as the
deaneries take on more responsibility for mission in their area, they present them-
selves as the most natural partners to the circuits. John Cole produced an helpful
paper on this (Embracing the Covenant (2008), pp136-45).
The diocese is hoping to reduce the number of deaneries and to redraw boundaries.
For Reflection:
- Has the circuit discussed its mission strategy with the deanery/ies? If not
how could this be explored?
- What channels of communication exist to enable this to take place
and what might need to happen to enable and encourage this?
- How will any changed circuit boundaries sit against the deanery and
vice-versa? What might be the mutual benefits of closer co-operation
between the circuit and the deanery/ies?
A major development is the introduction of Area Mission Forums. There are seven
of these, broadly corresponding to Local Authority boundaries. They will have some
oversight of resources for mission across their areas (with some, limited, funds)
and be the voice that speaks to local government and other bodies at that level.
Methodist involvement has been or will be invited.
For Reflection:
- How can the circuit relate to and be represented on the Mission Forum?
- As this might also involve neighbouring circuits how will your circuit liaise with them?
Other Ecumenical Partners
Five other Christian denominations (the Roman Catholic Church, the Baptists, the
United Reformed Church, the Salvation Army, and the Society of Friends) are mem-
bers of Churches Together in All Lincolnshire (CTAL) as is the Ground Level Network.
Apart from (possibly) the URC, none of these is interested at present in organic union
or the sort of covenant relationship that we have with the Church of England. For various reasons, with some (the Quakers, Roman Catholics, and Ground Level) ‘institutional ecumenism’ (such as forming an LEP) is at present simply not an option.
However, all our partners are interested in mission and the focus in CTAL is on enabling mission ecumenically.
Recent developments in ecumenical thinking have focused on ‘receptive ecumenism’.
As its name suggests, this suggests ecumenical activity is not so much to bring our
‘traditions’ richest store’ as to receive from others what they have to offer. This may also entail the humility to recognize that others do some things better than we can do
them.
For Reflection:
- What are our ecumenical partners engaged in that serves our purposes as well as theirs?
Basic to all of this is simply knowledge of other churches. Some denominations (e.g.,
the Baptists) operate a congregational ecclesiology which leaves each church to plan
for mission (though with some encouragement and resourcing). But all are changing.
Ground Level continues to grow and to plant new churches. The URC is adjusting to a
radical simplification of its structures. The Baptists are engaged in a programme called
‘Lincs for God’. The Roman Catholics are the denomination most affected by the influx
(and departure) of migrant workers.
For Reflection:
- Somewhere in the Mapping process each church and circuit needs to ask the questions:
‘How aware are we of what is going on in the other churches in the area and how might this affect our mission priorities?’
Conclusion
The distribution of churches of other denominations across the District, the way in
which Anglican personalities can affect the implementation of the Covenant, and the
differing histories of local ecumenism suggest that the ecumenical dimension of
Mapping The Way Forward may be different in each circuit. The questions may be
the same in each area; the answers will be unique.
Help in identifying and responding to them can be obtained from the contacts below.
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For more information or to respond to any queries please contact:
Revd. Jonathan Hustler
District Ecumenical Development Officer
Tel: 01507 522045
email: jrhustler@tiscali.co.uk
Chris Jones
Development Enabler
Tel: 01522754782
email: methodistjones@btconnect.com
Simon Dean
CTAL Facilitator
Tel: 01522 504071
email: simon@ctal.org.uk
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