Farnworth and Worsley Methodist Circuit

'They will soar on wings'
(Isaiah 40:41a)

The Methodist Church in Great Britain

Our Calling

The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission. It does this through:

WORSHIP

Increase awareness of God's presence and to celebrate God's love

LEARNING & CARING

Help people to learn and grow as Christians, through mutual support and care

SERVICE

Become a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice

EVANGELISM

Make more followers of Jesus Christ

Priorities for the Methodist Church:

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

As ways towards realising this priority, the Methodist Church will give particular attention to the following:

• Underpinning everything we do with God-centred worship and prayer
• Supporting community development and action for justice, especially among the most deprived and poor - in Britain and worldwide
• Developing confidence in evangelism and in the capacity to speak of God and faith in ways that make sense to all involved
• Encouraging fresh ways of being Church
• Nurturing a culture in the Church which is people-centred and flexible

Bolton and Rochdale Mission Statement
District Policy 2002

READY for the FUTURE by PREPARING in the PRESENT

Common Concerns

• Evangelism and Mission
• Learning to live with fewer Presbyters and discovering new models of Ministry
• Ecumenical co-operation - as an expression of Mission
• Spiritual growth

We are a District that...

• is confident in the Gospel
• accepts the centrality of local mission and ministry
• encourages collaborative and accountable patterns of work
• attempts to unify the Church, whilst rejoicing in diversity
• minimises bureaucracy, whilst providing support
• shares positive stories
• designs structures to serve local churches and our schools
• believe in the Kingdom of God in Church and Society
• commends 'Our Calling' as an effective model of Church life.

Nature and purpose of the Circuit (SO500)

1. The Circuit is the primary unit in which Local Churches express and experience their interconnexion in the Body of Christ, for purposes of mission, mutual encouragement and help. It is in the Circuit that ministers, deacons and probationers are stationed and local preachers are trained and admitted and exercise their calling. The purposes of the Circuit include the effective deployment of the resources of ministry, which include people, property and finance, as they relate to the Methodist churches in the Circuit, to churches of other denominations and to participation in the life of the communities served by the Circuit, including local schools and colleges, and in the ecumenical work in the area including, where appropriate, the support of ecumenical Housing Associations.
2. Since every member in the Circuit is as such a member of the Methodist Missionary Society, the purposes of the Circuit include the promotion of understanding of and support for the work of the Society to the end that every member may share actively in world mission.

Farnworth and Worsley Methodist Circuit

Mission Statement

To enable the circuit churches to communicate the good news of Jesus effectively by

• enriching the quality of worship
• empowering ventures which lead to growth
• embracing people of all faiths and none.
• enabling the above through workable structures and training

Circuit Policy

The Circuit Policy seeks

• to encourage the implementation of the Priorities of the Methodist Church in Great Britain and the Bolton and Rochdale District within the context of the Farnworth and Worsley Circuit.
• with regard to ministry, to commit itself to providing oversight and leadership for the churches, and training in order to exercise the gifts of the whole people of God.
• to undergird worship, spiritual growth, mission and evangelism with prayer.
• to see finance, buildings, property-related matters and resources as a part of the mission-life of the whole church and Circuit, and will be reviewed regularly.
• through the structures overleaf, to encourage the growth and development of the Circuit, individual churches and the people who make up the circuit, and also to encourage awareness of the vision of the wider church.

Constitution of Circuit Meeting

1. Ex Officio Members - Suprintendent, Presbytyers, Deacons, Lay Workers Circuit Stewards, Circuit Treasurer Circuit Meeting Secretary Local Preachers Secretary
2. From each Local Church - 1 steward, treasurer
3. Representatives elected by each Church Council as follows - Boothstown 1, Christ Church 2, Cleggs Lane 1, Kearsley Mount 1, St. Catherine's 1, Trinity 2, Walkden 2, Worsley 1, Worsley Rd North 1, Wharton URC (In Covenant Agreement) 1
4. No more than two substitutes, appointed by and from the Church Council, may attend on occasions when the church representatives are unable. In this situation, the Superintendent minister should be informed before the meeting. Substitutes must be named by the Church Council
5. Additional persons as the Circuit Meeting may desire and appoint to ensure that all areas of the life of the Circuit are adequately represented -
   

   Connexional Funds Secretary	Circuit Network Secretary
   Circuit Property Secretary	Circuit Network Treasurer
   Circuit Missions Secretary	Education and Youth Secretary
   Mission in Britain Secretary	NCH Action for Children
   JMA Secretary	Circuit MHA Secretary
   Social Responsibility Secretary	Safeguarding Representative
   2 Local Preachers as appointed by the LP'S Meeting

Constitution of Forums

1. The Forums may be chaired by Presbyter, Deacon, Lay Worker or lay person
2. A designated presbyter, Deacon or Lay Worker
3. Two named people from each church, of which at least one must be present The named people may be a representative of an organisation mentioned under (5) above.
4. All other interested people
5. The forums will appoint a secretary
6. The forums may set up task groups according to need, for a particular purpose and a specific length of time
7. The forums are accountable to the Circuit Meeting
8. The Circuit Meeting may delegate tasks to the forums

Circuit Leadership Team

• Presbyters/Deacons/Probationers/Lay Workers
• Circuit Stewards
• Circuit Treasurer (who has Circuit Steward Status)
• Others may be invited with specific expertise or interest as necessary

'Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen' (Eph 3:20-21)