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A vision of fruitfulness for the Methodist Church

The Methodist Council discussed the Church's long-term visionwhen it met at High Leigh Conference Centre on 10-11 October.

Council members considered two key documents setting the Church'sdirection and focus for the coming years: the General Secretary'sreport to the 2011 Methodist Conference and the Fruitful Fieldreport, which re-examines the Church's learning and trainingresources. Revd Gareth Powell, Secretary to the Methodist Council,said, "This Council meeting has offered a rare opportunity to spendsignificant time in thoughtful discussion about what kind of Churchwe believe God is calling us to be in today's world. What we areconcerned with is preparing the Church to fulfill its calling, tobecome more confident and effective in our task. We look to thefuture with hope as we work out what this looks like inpractice."

A wider consultation on the Fruitful Field project's proposals willbe launched on Monday 17 October. See www.methodist.org.uk/fruitfulfield

Speaking to Council members about the Church's need to focus inorder to be effective, Revd Dr Mark Wakelin, Secretary for InternalRelationships, said "There is always cost and loss, as well asbenefits. But I feel a real call and a real commitment to encouragethe Church to believe that it is possible to be different. It ispossible to be more effective as a discipleship movement shaped formission." Other matters discussed by the Council include plans toestablish the Methodist Academies and Schools Trust to support theChurch's 65 state funded schools in their transitions to becomingacademies.

Other matters discussed by the Council include plans to establishthe Methodist Academies and Schools Trust to support the Church's65 state funded schools in their transitions to becomingacademies.

Note: The Methodist Council meets three times annually to undertakeongoing work on behalf of the Methodist Conference, which is thegoverning body of the Methodist Church. Methodist Conference 2012will take place in Plymouth from 28 June to 5 July.