Minutes of the Ministerial Session of Synod

held at Bromyard Road Methodist Church, Worcester on

Tuesday 21 March 2006

Present: Revd Bill Anderson (District Chair)             

Revd David Easton (Synod Secretary)

With 94 Ministers from the District

Revd Anne Smith, the Superintendent Minster of the Worcester Circuit, welcomed Synod to the Bromyard Road Methodist Church.

The Chair of District led the opening devotions.

The Synod agreed to send letters of greeting to seven people.

Session 1 – ‘Incarnate God’

Synod had a lively debate arising from the Chair’s address.  Other points were raised about the work of God in the District and the contexts in which ministers are working.  Several speakers referred to church structures as inhibiting rather than releasing the church in Mission.

Session 2 – Business Sessions

Report of the Probationers Committee

Revd Don Pickard (Probationers Committee Secretary) presented a verbal report to the Synod concerning the work of the Probationers Committee.

1.   Synod received the reports on the progress of Jonathan Musselwhite, Gillian Le Boutillier-Scott and Tanja Luebben.  It was agreed that Jonathan and Gillian continue on probation and a report be sent to the German Church on Tanja’s progress.              

2.  In the case of Jayne Webb, Synod agreed that she should be recommended to the Connexion for Ordination      and Reception into Full Connexion at the Conference of 2006.

In each case the Synod voted unanimously in favour of the recommendations of the District Probationers Committee.

Synod was informed that the Ordinands Testimony Service would be held at Lansdown Crescent Methodist Church, Malvern at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 24 May 2006.  The questions required to be put to the Ordinand will be asked at the Spring session of the Representative Synod.

Permission to Sit Down

The following Ministers asked for permission to sit down and each in turn had opportunity to reflect briefly on their ministry.  Synod gave permission to the following people to sit down.

Revd Keith Roberts

Revd Donald Pickard

Revd Raymond Lunt

Movements of Ministers to different stations

The Chair indicated the names of those who will be moving within the District or to another District.

Obituary (Appendix 2)

Synod received an obituary for Douglas Field.

Permission for Members wishing to attend Conference at their own expense

None

Notices and Any Other Business

None

Holy Communion with Act of Rededication (Appendix 3)

The Chair of District led the Synod in a service of Holy Communion including an act of rededication.  The preacher was Revd Israel Selvanayagam.

Revd William H Anderson                                                        Revd David J Easton

District Chair                                                                            Ministerial Synod Secretary