Reshaping for Mission The Methodist Church in the Louth Circuit June 2009

Over the past year our Circuit Leadership Team (CLT) have been seeking to find a pattern for our Circuit that is both sustainable and missional in nature.

At the Circuit Meeting on 11th June it was agreed that the CLT continue to develop the plan below.

Nothing is set in stone and there is much still to consider. We have not put a timescale on this process but envisage that the Chapels that have been identified with either a traditional or a fresh expressions focus will be set within a year. The remaining 6 Chapels may have discerned their future in this time but equally may still continue as they are. It is hoped that all are focused by the end of the Connexional Reshaping for Mission timeframe of August 31st 2013.

There is no plan to reduce Circuit input to any society at this time, that said we are clear that our limited resources have to be more appropriately focused and this could have a knock-on effect elsewhere.

Comments and suggestions are welcome on this plan to any member of the CLT.

Fresh Expressions: A Fresh Expression is a form of church for our changing culture, established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church.

In the past decade our Circuit has moved from a pattern of sections—which have enabled a Minister to operate over a given area but not always enabling them to exercise their gifts for the benefit of all. Through the pattern of clusters (left) which has allowed that Circuit wide expression of ministry with Lay Pastors providing more localised care and support. This has been very effective but has not built up that Circuit wide spirit we have a vision for. Some of our communities have strong links with others in a different cluster and because of it’s nature and size all have a link with Louth.

Our Plan is to maintain our balance of Lay Pastors and Ministers and to move to a more open network. Here each Chapel continues or develops the links that are appropriate. Each Chapel is then freed to offer a style of worship and pattern of ministry that is appropriate to their community and wider area without cutting across the role of another.

In this way the Circuit can be more directive in it’s support and have a clearer understanding of roles and objectives.

We have named two groups as we move into this new pattern:

4 traditional Worship Centres Louth, North Somercotes, Saltfleet & Saltfleetby. The focus will be the Sunday service and rites of passage.

4 Worship Centres for Fresh Expressions Fulstow, Grimoldby, Marshchapel & Louth. The focus will be on engaging with the community in different ways, Café / Breakfast Church, mid-week worship etc.

Still to ascertain the future of our 6 remaining Chapels Authorpe, Alvingham, Conisholme, Grainthorpe, South Elkington, Utterby. These Chapels may remain as they are (though we recognise that there will be a certain level of vulnerability in this) or develop in other ways.

Circuit Leadership Team

Ministers

Rev David Newlove (Superintendent)
Rev Langley Mackrell-Hey

Steward

Mr Bryan Utteridge

Lay Pastors

Mr Roger Maidens
Mrs Mavis Fowler
Mrs Marjorie Borman
Mr Deryck Hand
Mr David Robinson

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