Minister's Monthly Message

Autumn 2011

Dear Friends,

Rather than pick a topic to write about this time, I need instead to write about a couple of Methodist 'current affairs‘.

Firstly, you may have heard that Methodist Conference has approved the publication of a new hymn book, 'Singing The Faith‘, to succeed 'Hymns and Psalms‘. The latter was published in 1982, and became quickly out of date with the explosion in the writing of contemporary hymns and worship songs. Of course it takes time to sort out which of the newer material has staying power, but Hymns and Psalms is a publication that quickly aged and has needed replacing for some time (at least in my opinion).

How it was to be replaced was a matter of debate. In this fast- moving electronic age, many argued (and I agreed with them) that a new hymn book was not the best approach. Instead, we needed a rolling resource of new material. However, Methodism is still tightly wedded to hymn books and Conference authorised a new one. It was finally published in mid-September, and is largely – I believe – a good replacement. It was out of date the moment it came out, but as hymn books go, I think it‘s pretty decent.

Knowing this was about to happen, the Leadership Team had a conversation some months ago about it. Around that time, Barney Baylis‘ sister donated some money to KMC in her brother‘s memory. Knowing that one of Barney‘s loves was music, and also knowing that money was getting tighter in our church accounts (we posted a deficit on our last year of around £2000), we decided not to shell out from our general funds but use this gift. You will have seen the

invitation in the church notice sheet for people who wanted their own copies to add their orders to our official one. We have bought sufficient music copies for our singers and musicians, an electronic copy to project via the church laptop to the big screen, a couple of large print copies and twenty ordinary words copies for use in smaller acts of worship like the evening service or CAMEO, (In CAMEO‘s case, it can supplement their existing song book.)

At a suitable service soon, I hope we shall dedicate the new books. Watch out for information on that.

The second matter to share with you also has to do very significantly with money. Over the summer, Revd Chrissie Howe, the minister in charge of Byfleet and Weybridge Methodist churches, informed the circuit she wished to leave us next summer – two years earlier than expected. We were advised by the Chair of District to accept her request for a =curtailment‘, and we have done so.

In normal circumstances, a circuit would immediately proceed into the invitation system to obtain a new minister. However, our circuit has a problem. While everyone is convinced that the circuit needs four ministers in pastoral charge to function well, we cannot at the time of writing be sure whether we can guarantee the funds for four ministers from the =assessments‘ paid by the churches to the circuit. We have to be sure we can pay a new minister for the minimum term of five years if we are to go into the invitation system.

Hence, around the time I am writing this article, all the churches in our circuit are holding extraordinary Church Councils to discuss whether they can meet the likely levels of giving to meet a circuit budget for four ministers. If we are to replace Chrissie immediately, we need to have a profile for her successor with the District by 1st October, so you will see there is considerable time pressure.

If the churches are not sure, then we may go a year with only three ministers and then either revert to four or find new long-term patterns of ministry. There are various options if we have to take that final choice, but they are a little complex to spell out here. In any case, we happen to be in the middle of reviewing where we are in the life of the circuit, using the Healthy Churches material that Knaphill studied some years ago. There will be outcomes from that process to take into account.

Whatever happens, there will be some reshaping of circuit ministry next year, because we have been unable to secure further funding to keep Deacon Richard Goldstraw beyond his five years, and he will be leaving next August anyway. We shall have to make decisions about how his pastoral and community work at Addlestone and St Michael‘s Sheerwater are covered.

What I do ask is that everyone prays for the circuit to hear God‘s will at this difficult time, and then go forward in obedience to whatever that will is.

Now as ever, then, is a time to pray – a time to pray not only about ministry and finances, but to pray that God‘s mission will not be derailed or sidelined by all these difficult conversations and decisions.

Your minister and friend,

david.faulkner@methodist.org.uk

http://bigcircumstance.com

http://twitter.com/davefaulkner