30 October 2009
Getting the best for Local Preachers
The Methodist Church is carrying out a major review of training
and support for local preachers throughout Great Britain.
This week, questionnaires and discussion documents have been sent
to all circuit local preachers' secretaries and circuit
superintendents inviting them to facilitate a review of continuing
development programmes for Britain's 10,000 local preachers.
Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church,
said; "Local preachers are essential to the life and ministry of
the Church. As a team, we are committed to listening to local
preachers about their needs and concerns so that we can offer them
better support and training, helping them to live out their calling
to the full."
The first phase of the consultation will ask local preachers about
what kind of continuing development programmes they would find most
helpful. Each local preachers' meeting has been asked to encourage
all local preachers present to complete a questionnaire about
existing and future continuing development provision. Each meeting
is also being asked to discuss what the major challenges are for
local preachers today and how they can best be supported in their
ministry. Documentation to support the consultation is available
online at www.methodist.org.uk/lpconsultation.
Speaking of the Church's duty to nurture and uphold the ministry of
local preachers, Revd Dr Mark Wakelin, Secretary for Internal
Relationships, said; "Sitting in a pew I want the person leading to
know that they are not simply there to fill a plan appointment, but
because God has called them, that the Church recognises this and
had tried to equip and support that call. I have been most helped
when a preacher exudes a sense of their worth and value as God's
messenger."
A second consultation phase in spring 2010 will specifically
consider Faith and Worship, the local preachers' training
course.