Learning Network News Autumn 2019

Full team in East of England Learning Network Therese Barrett, new Learning & Development Officer writes:I have a background in teaching. I chose French at college because I had enjoyed time in France as a child and had a love of the food, swimming in the sea, sunshine, speaking French and probably first and foremost, holidays and the French joie de vivre.I enjoyed working with children and young adults and helping them to learn and grow in confidence so teaching was the obvious choice of career. After some years I branched out into working for a Christian housing association helping ex-offenders to move forward in life and gain qualifications and employability skills. Many were young adults with little English and those unable to thrive in mainstream education. I feel very blessed to have been able to combine this with bringing up my three children who are now all adults and largely flown the nest. In my spare time I enjoy art and I love to play around with colours being inspired by our amazing natural world. I also love to dance and have been known to jig around the kitchen - preferably when no-one is watching. In public I attempt to keep fit with Zumba and yoga.

Final Call for Methodist Youth President 2020/2021If you are aged between 18 and 23 and would be interesting applying for the role of Methodist Youth President, then keep reading. This is a 13-month Fixed Term Contract from 1 August 2020 to 31 August 2021 offering a salary of around £22,000 per annum.

This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to travel and work around Britain and overseas, supporting children and young people from all backgrounds. The work is varied and you will have experience of public speaking, debating, team and independent working, report writing, listening and facilitation, worship leading and more.For more details click here.Closing date for applications: 23 September at noon.

So What’s Your Faith Story?Telling our personal faith story can, at times feel like a difficult thing to do. Perhaps we feel unsure how people will react if we mention our faith in conversation. We know the early Christian communities met together regularly and gave testimony as to all that was happening as the faith grew.

The Methodist Church’s Faith Stories initiative has been developed to help us grow in confidence in sharing our story with others, so that they too may feel moved to explore their journey of faith further. In the East of England region we are holding a Faith Stories day at Haverhill Methodist Church on 9th November between 10.30am and 3pm. This day will be led by the Evangelism and Growth team in conjunction with the Cliff College evangelists. It will offer the opportunity, through workshops, practical activities and practice, to learn more about telling our own story and how to share faith stories effectively. The day will also equip participants to resource and encourage people in their own circuits to use testimony more often and more effectively.To book your place please click here.

Ministers Study DayThe next Ministers Study Day will be held on 20th November at Chesterton Methodist Church, Cambridge. The theme for the day will be ‘Holiness - Our Problematic Heritage’ and will be led by Revd Dr Calvin Samuel. This day is open to all presbyters and deacons in East Anglia and Beds, Essex & Herts districts. For further details and to book your place, please click here.

Creating Safer SpaceAdvanced Module dates:3rd Sept Wisbech13th Sept Chelmsford1st Oct Ipswich26th Oct Welwyn Garden City7th Nov Pulham Market Click here for the booking link

Details of future Advanced Module events between November 2019 and Easter 2020 will be publicised soon. Booking information will be circulated to church and circuit Safeguarding Officers.

Are you aged 16-25 with a call to preach?

This year we are launching a Young Local Preachers weekend, for anyone aged 16-25 who is a local preacher, or at any stage in the training, or even just thinking about it! The Methodist Church

and Cli� College will be hosting this weekend event full of inspiration, challenge and a chance to develop new skills. This event will be held at Cli� College from 20th-22nd September 2019.

Tickets and more info:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/young-local-preach-ers-weekend-tickets-59158401371#ticketshttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/young-local-preach-ers-weekend-tickets-59158401371#tickets

Navigating Change ConferenceNavigating Change is a movement that is concerned about the future of the Methodist Church in the UK. The figures speak for themselves, as year on year we have continued to decline in numbers to the point where it has become a critical issue. This movement could be a starting point for you and your leadership to regain a sense of urgency and energy, to catch a fresh vision and to begin the process toward growing and planting new churches.The question is, what now for the Methodist People? How does our common heritage of Evangelism, Discipleship, Church Growth and Social Action prepare and equip us for a common task going forward?Keynote speakers include: Revd Dr Jen Smith, Wesley’s Chapel. London; Prof Anthony Reddie, Council for World Mission; Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, Methodist Central Hall, Westminster.Workshops will include topics on Invitation Evangelism, Church Planting & Re-Planting, Fresh Expressions andCommunity-Focused Church.

The conference will take place at Swanbank Methodist Church, Burslam, Stoke-on-Trent on 19th/20th November. The cost of the Conference is £60 and can be booked here: Accommodation can be arranged directly with The Quality Hotel, (01782 202361) who are offering a special rate of £60 when quoting ‘Navigating Change Conference’ on booking.

Evangelism and Growth Team NewsIf your church doesn’t yet have a mission plan, the Mission Planning Toolkit has lots of resources to get you started and to guide you along the way. Mission Planning is a crucial step towards one of our strategic dreams ‘Every Church Growing’.

New Places for New People Grants Are you looking to pioneer something new in your circuit or church? We would like to help you get started, and affirm you as you seek God’s calling, with a “New Places for New People” starter grant.

We are looking for projects right at the start of their pioneering journey where £100-£1500 would lift a bit of pressure at that early stage.

Trey Hall, Director of Evangelism and Growth said: “As we prepare to launch a significant strategy change in 2020 around starting new churches, partnering with leaders in the most deprived areas of the country, and raising up a movement of young leaders, we’re excited to announce these micro-grants as a very small sign of the expansive commitment that we hope to make in 2020.”

Bullying & HarassmentAfter a successful ‘Dealing with Bullying and Harassment’ training event a few weeks ago, we would be very happy to offer this more widely. To register an interest in a future event please email:LNeast@methodistchurch.org.ukWe are also available to lead sessions on dealing effectively with conflict. For more information please get in touch.