REPRESENTATIVE SYNOD

19 SEPTEMBER 2015

10.30am – 4.00pm

ST PETER’S METHODIST CHURCH, CANTERBURY

CONTENTS

Page

1. Calling Letter 1

2. Letter of Welcome 2

3. Map and Directions to St Peter’s Methodist Church 3

4. Important Notes for Members of Synod 5

5. Car Park 6

6. Outline Programme 7

7. Nomination for Synod-Elected Members of the District Council 9

8. Nomination for District Representatives to the Methodist Conference of 2016 11

Enclosed separately:

District Development Plan 2016 - 2020

From the District Chair: The Revd. John Hellyer The District Office Unit 4b Basepoint Business Centre Metcalf Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 7XX

Tel: 01293 813970 e-mail: john.hellyer@methodistsoutheast.org

09 September 2015

To all members of Representative Synod Dear Synod Member, I write to invite you to the next gathering of the Representative Synod of the South-East District of the Methodist Church which is being held at St Peter’s Methodist Church, Canterbury from 10.30am to 4.00pm on Saturday, 19th September 2015 starting with a service of Holy Communion. Drinks will be provided, but please bring your own packed lunch.

The main theme for the day will be Positive Working Together which is the title of a report received by the Conference in July which is about promoting good working relationships and managing conflict within the Church. We will also be hearing about some examples of positive and creative ways in which some of our churches are working in their communities. There are some exciting initiatives happening around the district that range from opening churches in areas of new housing to pioneering developments in worship that are helping people experience traditional approached to spirituality in fresh ways. I hope that you will be able to take back ideas for action and support that people in the churches in your circuits can get involved in.

We will be receiving a report about the Conference that met in earlier this year in Southport. One of the most important thing that happened was the adoption of the report on the Past Cases Review, Courage, Cost and Hope which will have a significant impact on the way we work. The church needs to undergo a change in culture that means we are willing to be accountable by the introduction of effective supervision for all those engaged in ministry.

If you are a lay representative and are unable to come to synod, please send your apologies through your Superintendent Minister, who may be able to ask a substitute to come in your place. Presbyters and deacons who are unable to attend should request a dispensation in writing, please send your requests to the District office. All Supernumeraries are of course very welcome to attend Synod, but if you are not able to come please do not feel you must let me know particularly if doing so would be a burden.

With best wishes,

THE CANTERBURY AND EAST KENT METHODIST CIRCUIT

Dear Member of Synod, Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has called us to follow, worship and serve Him in and through the Methodist Church. On behalf of my co-superintendent, Rev Geoff Boxer, (who is on sabbatical at the time of writing), the Canterbury and Coastal Circuit, the Leadership Team and the Stewards and congregation of St Peter’s, it is a pleasure to welcome you to Synod on Saturday 19th September 2015 at St Peter’s Methodist Church, Canterbury. It is our prayer that it will be a valuable and inspirational day both in the sessions of Synod and in the meeting and making of old and new friends from across the District. St Peter’s is situated in the heart of Canterbury within the ancient city walls, near the West Gate. The Synod information pack provides the information for finding your way to the Church, including details of the local car parks and Park and Ride facilities, (with prices). There is no parking at the Church, but we are pleased to offer limited Disabled parking at the nearby St Peter’s Methodist Primary School. If you wish to reserve a space, please contact Wendy Cory at the District Office to book it. Thank you. Kent College is kindly offering parking and a minibus service to the Synod. If you would like to use this facility, please contact Wendy Cory to book a place. The Church is only a ten minute walk from Canterbury West Railway Station and fifteen minutes for Canterbury East. This historic City, with its wonderful Cathedral, gets very busy, attracting visitors from all over the globe. So, please allow plenty of time to avoid being held up with other pilgrims pouring into the City! Needless to say, should you wish to go out at lunchtime, there are numerous cafes, restaurants and hostelries within metres of the Church. Along with the Circuit and Church, I look forward to welcoming you in person and hope that you will have a safe, trouble-free journey to and from Canterbury for Synod. Thank you. Grace and peace. With best wishes, Stephen On behalf of Rev Geoff Boxer (co-superintendent), the staff, stewards and members of Canterbury and East Kent Circuit.

St Peter’s Methodist Church, St Peter’s Street, CANTERBURY, Kent, CT1 2BE.

Rev. Stephen Skinner, (Co-Superintendent) “The Sycamores”, 89a Ramsgate Road, BROADSTAIRS, Kent, CT10 2DF.

Directions to St Peter’s Methodist Church

St Peter’s Street, Canterbury, CT1 2BE

Directions to St Peter’s Methodist Church

St Peter’s Street, Canterbury, CT1 2BE

4

By Road

The Canterbury district has excellent road links with the M20 (M25/M26) and M2 motorways providing easy links to London and the west of the District. The A2 and A260 connect Canterbury with Dover, Folkestone and the south of the county. Herne Bay, Whitstable and the Isle of Thanet are an easy drive from Canterbury, via the A28/A291 and A290. Park and Ride Canterbury City Council actively encourages all visitors to use the Park and Ride facilities rather than city centre car parks. It is the greenest, cheapest and fastest way to get to the heart of the city and beat city centre congestion. The all day Park and Ride fee is £3.00 for a car and up to 6 passengers and customers can park in one of the 1,800 spaces available across the three sites at New Dover Road, for travellers from Deal, Dover and South Kent; Sturry Road, for travellers from Herne Bay and the Isle of Thanet; and Wincheap for travellers from the north and west of the District. Each site is conveniently situated on the main routes into the city. Buses run approximately every eight minutes to Canterbury Bus Station, Monday to Saturday, from 7am to 7.30pm.

By Rail

Canterbury has two mainline railway stations, East and West, and is served by frequent trains to and from London St Pancras, London Charing Cross, London Victoria (approximately 90 minutes) and elsewhere in Kent. Both railway stations and the bus station are within an easy 15 minute walk to St Peter’s Methodist Church, located in the High Street. Parking Charges Daytime parking charges in City centre car parks apply between 7 am and 9 pm. Linear tariff, currently £1.20 per hour, means you get the exact amount of parking time for the amount of money you put in. A range of coins is accepted but the machines do not give change. Please note that there is great demand for these car parks from local shoppers and sightseers so they are likely to be full early in the day.

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Important Notes for Members of Synod

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Other notes and information

Refreshments (tea, coffee, squash and Danish) will be available from 9.45am.

Bring your own packed lunch—drinks will be provided.

During Synod there will be a "Soap-box" opportunity. You have two minutes to get the attention of Synod over an issue that you are passionate about. It is not intended for giving out notices! If you want a spot please contact the District Office by 10th September 2015.

Synod is an open meeting and people are welcome to come as observers. An observer cannot vote, but may speak by permission of the Synod. Please let the District Office know the names of any Observers so that name badges can be prepared.

Registration

Registration is in the Hall. Please collect your name badge and holder and wear it throughout your time at Synod. At registration you will also pick up your welcome pack which contains additional papers and information that you will need during the day. The ‘Synod Mailboxes’ are in the Hall — please make sure that someone from your circuit collects your mail during the lunch break.

Refreshments

Refreshments will be served in the Hall.

Lunch

Lunch may be eaten in the Hall.

Market

There is a Synod Market Place (Agora) for the exchange of information and ideas, and this will be located on the ground floor in the Hall.

Greetings from Synod

If you have requests for letters of greeting then please complete a green card that you will find in the main theatre. You are asked to remember that the Synod Secretary is human and does not know the addresses of people that you wish to send greetings to or the reason for your greetings/concerns unless you record it on the form.

Feedback forms

These yellow forms are also in the main theatre. Your feedback is very helpful to the Synod Planning Group.

Assembly Point

In the event of the fire alarm sounding (a continuous ring) follow directions from the fire marshals and assemble in the main car park.

6

Car Park

Canterbury City Council actively encourages all visitors to use the Park and Ride facilities rather than city centre car parks. It is the greenest, cheapest and fastest way to get to the heart of the city and beat city centre congestion. The all day Park and Ride fee is £3.00 for a car and up to 6 passengers and customers can park in one of the 1,800 spaces available across the three sites at New Dover Road, for travellers from Deal, Dover and South Kent; Sturry Road, for travellers from Herne Bay and the Isle of Thanet; and Wincheap for travellers from the north and west of the District. Each site is conveniently situated on the main routes into the city. Buses run approximately every eight minutes to Canterbury Bus Station, Monday to Saturday, from 7am to 7.30pm.

The St Peter’s Methodist Church has no car parking available on site for mobility impaired visitors but we will make arrangements at a nearby car-park. To book a space please contact Wendy Cory at the District Office by Thursday, 10th September 2015.

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REPRESENTATIVE SYNOD

Saturday 19 September 2015 St Peter’s Methodist Church

PROGRAMME

10.30 – 11.30 Session 1 (part 1)

Welcomes

Housekeeping information

Service of Holy Communion

11.35 – 12.45 Session 1 (part 2)

Preliminaries – attendance, apologies, dispensations, time-keeping

Appointments, elections and nominations

Introduction to the theme of ‘Positive Working Together’

Presentation 1:’The ‘Positive Working Together’ report by Graham Hindle

Learning Curves 1: A new church building at Battle by Peggy Heim

2014 Conference highlights

Experiences of a first timer, Kwabena Amankwah

Video

Learning Curves 2: Gibraltar by Fidel Patron

Any notice(s) of motion

Synod Information and Notices

12.45 – 14.15 Lunch and Market Place

14.15 – 16.00 Session 2

Results of elections

Presentation 2: Messy Church

Synod soapbox

Presentation 3: 3Generate by Katie Deadman

Safeguarding, to include the ‘Past Cases Review’ report District Development Plan

Other Synod Business

Thanks to Church and Circuit

Learning Curves 3: Ignatian Spirituality by Clive McKie

Closing worship

16.00 Drinks and depart

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LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK

The Methodist Church: South East District

Nominations for Synod-Elected Members of the

DISTRICT COUNCIL

9

Nominations are invited for THREE Synod-elected members of the District Council of the South East District. The candidates may be Lay or Ordained. Elected members of the District Council are appointed for a term of one year and may be re-elected annually. After four years’ continuous service they shall not be eligible for re-appointment before the expiry of one year. The appointment takes effect from the close of the Synod at which they are appointed. The Council has NINE members appointed by the Synod, of which a minimum of TWO should be from each of the three Areas in the District and ONE a Deacon. SO 402(6) says: “Subject to Standing Order 451 the persons who are eligible to be members of district committees are those who, if ministers or probationers, are members of, or (in the case of forces chaplains and chaplains’ assistants) are entitled to attend the Synod or, if not ministers or probationers are members in the District or members of other communions involved in partnership schemes within the District which have been approved by the Conference.” Current Synod-Elected members are: Mrs Jean Bright Eastern Area Rev Helen Letley Eastern Area Mrs Anne Haggarty Western Area Deacon Andy Packer Western Area Rev Ian Suttie Southern Area Mrs Rosemary Willock Southern Area Name of Person Nominated: .......... .................................. .................................

TITLE CHRISTIAN NAME SURNAME Address: ..................................................................................................................................... Post code: ............................................... Telephone: ............................................................ e-mail: ..................................................................................................................................................

Circuit: ...................................................................................................................................... Current appointments or offices within the Church (if any)

The Methodist Church: South East District

Nominations for Synod-Elected Members of the

DISTRICT COUNCIL

10

Supporting Statement from Proposers: (25 words) Personal Statement (up to 50 words) to indicate what the nominated person believes they could bring to the District Council.

Note: The Supporting Statement and the Personal statement will be presented in writing to the Representative Synod meeting on 19 September 2015.

Proposed by two Synod Members: 1. ................................................................ .........................................................................

NAME (block capitals): SIGNATURE:

2. ................................................................ ......................................................................... NAME (block capitals): SIGNATURE:

Completed nomination forms must be returned to the Synod Secretary, Mr David Ridley, 11 Tamarisk Rise, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1WG

to arrive no later than 14 September 2015

The Methodist Church: South East District

Nominations for District Representatives to the

METHODIST CONFERENCE 2016

11

Copies of this nomination form may be obtained by email from the Synod Secretary, and completed and returned to him by email. Please ensure that the completed nomination form is copied to both of the two proposers and to the person nominated.

Nominations are invited for representatives from the South East District to attend the Methodist Conference

of 2016 meeting in London:

Presbyteral Session 30 June – 1 July

Representative Session 2 July – 7 July

The South East District has been allocated places for 10 representatives: 4 who may be Presbyters or

Deacons and 6 Lay Persons, in addition to the District Chair. The Synod meeting on 23 September 2006

agreed that the Synod Secretary (or by agreement the Presbyteral Synod Secretary) should be an ex officio

representative.

‘District representatives elected to the Conference must be ministers who are members of the Synod; or

ministerial probationers who are members of the Synod; or persons who are members in the District or

members of the Synod under Standing Order 410(3)(iii); or persons who are members of other communions

who hold office or are elected members of meetings under the constitution of partnership schemes in the

District authorised by Conference or (if so empowered) by the Synod.’ [SO 417(1)]. In making a

nomination, please take account of the Conference directive that in electing representatives ‘members of the

Synod shall have regard for the composition of the membership of the District as a whole with regard to age,

sex and ethnic origin.’ [SO 417(2)]

In order to provide some continuity in our representation, it is intended to elect ONE representative for a

period of THREE years.

It is expected that ‘the district representatives will meet the Chair for consultation… shortly before the date

of Conference.’ [SO 417(5)]

District Representatives who attended the Methodist Conference of 2015 were:

Mr Kwabena Amankwah, Mr Timothy Baker, Rev William Grady, Ms Jenny Jackson, Rev Kavula John

(who has served two years of a three year term), Deacon Jonathan Miller, Deacon Andrew Packer, Rev Fidel

Patron, Mr David Ridley, Mr Ben Robinson and Mr Edward Tullet .

Name of Person Nominated: ............................................................................................................ TITLE CHRISTIAN NAME SURNAME

Address: .......................................................................................................................................

Post code: ......................................................... Telephone: ..................................................

e-mail: ......................................................................................................................................

Circuit: ......................................................................................................................................

The Methodist Church: South East District

Nominations for District Representatives to the

METHODIST CONFERENCE 2016

12

Current appointments or offices within the Church (if any)

Age group on 2 July 2016 (circle one):

Under 26 26 – 44 45 – 64 65 and over

Ethnic origin (circle one):

White Black-African Black-Caribbean Black-other

Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Chinese

Other (please specify)

Year most recently attended Conference: ...................................................................

Are you willing, if elected, to serve as a representative for a 3 year period? YES/ NO

Supporting Statement from Proposers: (25 words)

Personal Statement (up to 50 words, to indicate what the nominated person hopes to achieve through his/

her attendance at Conference):

Note: The Supporting Statement and the Personal statement will be presented in writing to the

Representative Synod meeting on 19 September 2015.

Proposed by two Synod Members:

1. ................................................................ ......................................................................... NAME (block capitals): SIGNATURE:

2. ................................................................ ......................................................................... NAME (block capitals): SIGNATURE:

Completed nomination forms must be returned to the Synod Secretary,

Mr David Ridley, 11 Tamarisk Rise, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1WG

to arrive no later than

14 September 2015

Copies of this nomination form may be obtained by email from the Synod Secretary, and completed and

returned to him by email. Please ensure that the completed nomination form is copied to both of the two

proposers and to the person nominated.