upd8 (may 2006)

upd8 (May 2006) PSRu

P olicyS upport and R esearch U nit

upd8 – May 2006


Policy Support and Research Unit

Current thinking on the future shape of the Connexional Team

News of the projects: 7: Relationship between mph and the Connexional Team 11b: Reviewing principles underpinning the formation of the Connexional Team budget12: Putting all grant making in one ‘place’

The twelve projects (a reminder)

A prayer

Contact details

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This upd8 features the current thinking of the future shape of the Connexional Team. There is also the latest information on some of the projects.

Decision-making framework


Here are slides from May’s Team Training Session for the Connexional Team. The presentation was also made at the Connexional Leadership Team and the Strategies and Resources Committee.

The suggested shape includes:• Leadership and Management• Operational Areas• Specialist Areas• Project Work• Some indication of the wider Church context

A more detailed version and glossary is in the handout, which was given out at the presentations. If you haven’t received a copy, then click here.

Current thinking on the future shape of the Connexional

Team

Click here to view the slides now.

Strategic Leadership

Strategic Leadershi

p

Strategic Leadership

Strategic Leadershi

p

Leadership Support

& Research

Communication Advocacy

Financial & Human Resources

Operations &

SupportSenior

Manager (Specialism)

Senior Manager

(Specialism)

Senior Manager (Projects)


Click here to see the next stage

Communication Advocacy

Help Desk

Human Resource

s

Finance

IT Office Support



Leadership Support People

Pro

ject/

Sp

ecia

lism

R

esou

rce P

eop

le

Pro

ject/

Sp

ecia

lism

R

esou

rce P

eop

le

Project/Specialism

Resource People

Project/Specialism

Resource People



Scrutiny Groups

Scrutiny Groups

Conference

Council SRC CLT

Scrutiny

GroupsReference Groups

Reference Groups

Reference Groups


PSRu

Networks

Networks


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Networks

Agencies

Connected Bodies


This is the end of this section – click here to return to the main menu


The Team Framework diagram expresses the spirit of Team Focus. At the present stage the titles in the boxes are deliberately imprecise, but by Conference 2007 the Church will need to be clear what they will contain. We need a tool that allows for clear decision-making about that on the basis of criteria that the Church at large can own.

Using the commitment in Team Focus that the Team will ‘focus on what is best done or can only be done by the Team in pursuit of Priorities’ JSG has worked on a tool that converts that principle into an aid for deciding which bids for Team resources should succeed.

This is only a tool to help prepare for decisions; difficult judgements still need to be made.

The diagrams that follow show the key stages in using the tool. More detail is provided in the presentation handout available by clicking here.

Decision-making framework

Click here to view the slides now.

Methodist Church Test

Required by Statute or explicit Methodist decision?

No

Yes

Test degree of Import

Refer back to proposer

>10

<10

God’s Mission Expressed in Priorities or other Conference Policy?

Yes

No

Stop


Example Filter Questions Max

score

Is the proposed work.....

... requested by an ecumenical partner

on behalf of the wider Church? 3

.... helping to bind the Connexion

together? 2


Consider wider Connexional resources

Test:

Is there a team role?

<10

>10

Should Connexional Team resources be used?


Example Filter Questions Max score

Would the Team contribution to the proposed work....

.... promote a required consistency of

practice across the Connexion? 4

.... bring its own funding? 2


Special creative risk-taking?

Yes

No

E³


Test:


<10

>10

Should Connexional Team resources be used?


Exciting

Experimental

Enterprises


EEE


Should Connexional Team Resources be used?

Decisions

Costs

PartnersScale of Team resources required? Risks

Time


Test:


<10

>10 Special creative risk-taking?

Yes

No

E³

Click here to see the next stageThis is the end of this section – click here to return to the main menu


The twelve projects cover:• Evangelism and speaking of God and faith in ways that make sense to all involved

• Re-visiting Team support for local church, circuit and district ministries

• Re-visioning work with children and young people

• The work of public issues staff, MRDF, World Action and Mission Education, with a view to improving advocacy and communication

• Improving communication between the whole Team and the whole Church

• A re-configuration of World Church partnerships

• The relationship between mph and the Team

• The working arrangements between TMCP and the Team

• Conversations with ecumenical partners

• Developing a twenty-first century approach to education issues

• Improving the budget-making process, including a fresh look at accountability

• Putting all grant-making in one ‘place’


Project 7:The relationship between mph and the Connexional TeamA report went to April’s meeting of Methodist Council. In terms of the Connexional Team it recommended that:

To find out more information, e-mail Ken Kingston.

• A clear and simple agreement (along the lines of a service level agreement) be produced in regard to the inter-relationship of mph and the Team, within a shared accountability to Methodist Conference.

• The Communication Office’s Design and Production remain London-based but linked and integrated with the Design and Production staff of mph in Peterborough to make a single Design and Production Unit, with a single line of accountability.

• A single commissioning/permission-giving/editorial/overseeing group be established for the ‘Methodist Publishing House’ imprint which would deal with all Conference and Team publications.

• New arrangements are also being made so it remains possible to publish worthwhile material from the Team, which may not necessarily be commercially viable.The Methodist Council received the report and sent it to Conference.

mailto:[email protected]


Project 11bReviewing principles underpinning the formation of the Connexional Team budgetThe PMG is Deacon Myrtle Poxon (Chair), Revds David Deeks and Ken Howcroft, Revd Anne Brown (District Chair ), Bob Lolley, (ex District Treasurer), Revd Linda Barriball (Superintendent) and Peter Cotgrove (ex Connexional Treasurer).

This first meeting considered the work to be done and it was readily agreed that finance within the Methodist Church is very complex and if it can be simplified through this Project, that would benefit everyone.

It is important to consider the Connexional Team Budget in the context of the finances of the whole Church and work was identified to be done before the next meeting on 16th June. Two sub-groups considering some non-team items in the Connexional Team Budget and the timetable and process for future budgets, are also getting underway.

To find out more information, e-mail John Nelson.


upd8 (March 2006) PSRu

Project 12:Putting all grant making in one ‘place’

The detailed objectives and critical path can now be viewed by clicking here.

This project relates to grants made from within the Connexional Team’s budget and also makes some suggestions for grants that are made by the districts.

To find out more information, e-mail Luke Curran.


God of my life, create in me the heart of a pilgrim.

There is a part of me that fights letting go. Do not allow me to become so rooted or so accustomed to my daily tasks and inner securities, that I miss your voice calling me to greater growth and deeper maturity in faith.

I want to hoard my blessings, to hang on to my gifts, to hide my talents and the blessings of my life. I want to take them out one by one, only when I know that it is safe and I wont get hurt or emptied.

Stir in me a fire of such a great love for you and your people that I will constantly celebrate life and appreciate its beauty, even when it is painful.

Allow me to ‘see visions and dream dreams’ so that I can live with your vision and not be overwhelmed by the struggles of the journey.

God of Exodus, I know you are near. Grant me the courage to change, whether that change is an inner or an outer one.

Deepen my awareness of your faithful presence and bless my pilgrim heart. Amen

(Joyce Rupp. Praying Our Goodbyes)


Policy Support and Research Unit 7th floor,

Methodist Church House25 Marylebone RoadLondon NW1 5JR

To e-mail a particular member of the PRSU click on their name.

John Ellis Luke Curran Ken Kingston John Nelson

Peter Relf William Swires Anne Topping

Tel: 020 7467 5149E-mail: [email protected]











upd8 (may 2006)

Documents

connexional leadership

connexional team budget12

team contribution

spirit of team focus

team framework diagram

connexional teamclick

connexional teamnews

mays team training session