1. Dioceses and Districts sharing offices
2. The Yorkshire Covenant
3. Joint Synods - London NW and St Albans
4. Winchester and Southampton - strategy document
5. Derbyshire strategy document
6. Joint training for new Local Preachers and Readers
7. Study days for Local Preachers and Readers
8. Lincolnshire strategy brochure
9. Launch of Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services Ltd
10.
11. Bishops authorising Methodist ministers
Dioceses and Districts Sharing Offices
From the Cornwall District and the Truro Diocese (repeated also between the Lincoln Diocese and the Lincoln and Grimsby District - and York Diocese and York and Hull District)
In all three places, the Diocesan Office now provides office accommodation and shared facilities for the Methodist District administration. In Lincoln Alison McNish combines the role of administrative assistant both for the Chair of the Methodist District and for Churches Together in All Lincolnshire.
E-mail contact: Lincoln: Alison@ctal.org.uk
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The Yorkshire Covenant
From the York Diocese, the York and Hull District and the Darlington District
On 24 May 2003 Anglicans and Methodists in the area covered by the York Diocese (including Middlesborough, York, Scarborough, Selby and Hull) signed their own Covenant. The story is told on their web site www.yorkshirecovenant.org
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Joint Synods - London NW and St Albans
The Bishop of St Albans and the Chair of the London NW District recently presided over a successful joint synod which explored "Fresh Expressions" with members of the project team.
Other Dioceses and Districts are developing programmes by which Synods meet either in parallel or jointly.
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Winchester and Southampton - strategy document
Winchester Diocese and Southampton District were among the first to produce a joint strategy document. Their covenant relationship is now sustained through a permanent steering group.
Derbyshire strategy document
Derby Diocese and Notts and Derby District have also produced a strategy document and have their own steering group.
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Joint training for new Local Preachers and Readers
From the Bristol Methodist district and Bristol Diocese
We've now begun the second course jointly run for lay readers in the Bristol diocese and local preachers in the District. Our first Methodist 'graduate' is being accepted onto full Plan this month. It's a 2-year taught course, with fortnightly tutorial sessions led by Anglicans and Methodists, but based on the syllabus of Faith and Worship - with specific Methodist bits such as H&P hymn numbers removed! Humbly, we think we're showing the rest of the world how to do it! Joint recognition perhaps in the future?
E-mail contact: emichael.jakins@surefish.co.uk
Phone contact: Paul Johnson 01454 887433
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Study days for Local Preachers and Readers
From the Lincoln Diocese and the Lincoln and Grimsby Methodist District
Two linked study days were laid on recently for Readers and Local Preachers, introducing each group to the finer points of leading worship in each other's churches. The days were well attended and valued by participants. The next step could be for a Reader and a Local Preacher to share the preparation of a service in each other's church, before they take sole charge in what can often seem a strange environment.
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Lincolnshire strategy brochure
From the Lincoln Diocese and the Lincoln and Grimsby Methodist DistrictThe commitment between the District and the Diocese to work together within a covenant relationship is being worked out at many levels. John Tomlinson, Diocesan Ecumenical Officer reports:
"At a district and diocese level we are now committed to shared worship at the local level - the bishop and district policy committee have given blanket agreement where cooperation is possible according to the canons and standing orders - outlined in a paper called 'New Ways to Worship'.
We are committed to an integrated approach to mission - and are inviting churches to make application to both diocesan and district funds for new work and fresh expressions.
Social responsibility and chaplaincy is fully integrated through Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services - all our appointments are made ecumenically with the Anglican and Methodist churches as the two key players."
News of many of these developments is given in an impressive full colour brochure.
Details from John Tomlinson john.tomlinson@lincoln.anglican.org
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Launch of Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services Ltd
After several years in the planning, Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services Ltd was launched recently, co-ordinating sector ministries across the county on behalf of all Lincolnshire Churches, including chaplains to industry, agriculture and the university and colleges - as well as a newly appointed chaplain to migrant workers.
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Joint meetings between Bishop's staff and Methodist leadership
Regular meetings are now in the diary between members of the Bishop's staff and District Leadership Teams in several dioceses and districts, eg, Blackburn/North Lancashire and Lincoln/Lincoln and Grimsby. Clearly this arrangements shows the greatest potential when the diocese and the district cover similar areas. What arrangements can bring decision-makers together when the diocese overlaps five districts (eg, Oxford Diocese) or the district overlaps five dioceses (eg, Oxford and Leicester District)?
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Bishops authorising Methodist ministers
Many Church of England Diocesan Bishops, including Ripon and Leeds, Lincoln, Carlisle and Derby, are now offering general consent for Methodist ministers to conduct services in parish churches wherever local relationships are growing and where the incumbent and Parochial Church Council request it.
These arrangements are consistent with the guidelines issued by the Church of England's Council for Christian Unity.
Download the guidelines issued to bishops for the application of the Church of England's Canon B43 in the context of the Covenant
Download a pro forma letter from a PCC to a bishop requesting permissions in accordance with these guidelines
