Minutes of the Birmingham District Methodist Synod

8 April 2006 at National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh

Present:              Chair Revd Bill Anderson

                            Secretary: John Nodding

                            Together with 194 members of Synod

The chair welcomed Gordon Gatward and John Moverley.

A welcome to the Agricultural Centre was given by John Moverley (Chief Executive of the Royal Agricultural Society of England).  In 1935 Royal Agriculture Centre was born.  It is committed to promoting practice and scientific debate as to what happens in the agricultural world.  It is proud of the Arthur Rank Centre.  There is lots of pressure in the rural community.

Revd Bill Anderson said that he wanted to come to the National Agricultural Centre.  It is very important to be here and the work here is important.  He wants to information from the seminars to go back to circuits regarding the rural communities. He then led the devotions based on Psalm 23.

Revd Dr. Stuart Burgess gave a talk on the “Work of Countryside and Rural Advocate” 

He talked about the Rural Scene under the following headings: -

Setting the Scene – Urban and Rural

He applied for jobs in the public sector. He has been introduced to the Prime Minister and had a marvellous journey over the last 18 months. He said it was wonderful to have the Birmingham Synod meeting at Stoneleigh.  He paid tribute to the National Agricultural Centre which brings together urban and rural. Issues facing society are interconnected between urban and rural, they belong together. Referring to Energy Watch, which made our homes run more efficiently. The farmers were going through a massive change in the agricultural industry. Those who come from villages and rural areas value the support and being part of a bigger area.  It’s easier to identify disadvantage situations in urban areas rather than rural areas.

Theology of creation/Climate change Environment

He compared the farming industry to what had happened to the mining industry, although the change was slower. When he recently was taken round a farm the farmer said things were changing, now his sons were employed elsewhere and not on the farm. In Cumbria where they experienced “Foot and Mouth” things had to change. Farmer in his 30’s left farming for teaching. In future there will be fewer farms, but larger ones. There were a handful of people at Synod who had anything to do with farming or the agricultural industry. 

The Future of Farming

Many farmers have been promised money but not received it from the Government. There is no blame to individuals, but how do we get out of it?  He said we would send an emergency resolution to the government. He knew of one farmer who was waiting for £70,000.

Do we really want farmers to grow food for ourselves? How many go to Farmer’s Markets?  Usually farms pass on to various generations but there is now not much future for today’s generation. 

We have got used to buying cheap food – if we want good food we need to pay for it.   We must support farmers markets and farm shops if we want the best locally gown food and have to be prepared to pay slightly higher prices.

“Migrant” workers

Lincolnshire would collapse without migrant workers. Who serves you at restaurants?  Poor housing – language difficulties – not being able to access services around them. There were enormous issues around migrant workers. We need to become involved in rural issues

He asked if the Prime Minister was going to listen.  He was going to send a letter to him regarding these issues.

Natural Environment and Rural Communication Act

The NERC Act affected him personally. Royal ascent was given just a week ago.  He was the Rural Advocate, which was a personal appointment to the Prime Minister

Natural England

He had visited rural areas and picked up problems, mentioning Cornwall, Cumbria, Isle of Wight. In Truro 150 people had turned up giving him a hard time. He said Cornwall had declared UDI. He listened to people and communicated their problems to the Prime Minister

Commission for Rural Communication

The commission needed to bring hard based evidence to government. Avoidable housing was a huge problem. No go areas to buy houses. In Penzance 55% of the houses were owned by second home people, resulting in difficulties for the local population to afford houses. Cottages could cost £200,000. There were also Post Office closures

His roll was also to act as a watchdog for Bills going through Parliament.

The Challenge of the churches

He said that the present Cabinet was more “church-going” than in previous years. This Government is really interested in Faith communities. He referred to the Covenant between the Anglicans and Methodists and their mission to work together. There were examples where buildings can be used effectively. Chapels can be re-furbished and used as post offices and shops for the communities. He said that in September the Government was setting up a commission in Birmingham

The Eucharist

Worship lies at the centre of life. It is a preview of what heaven is all about. Look at the liturgies. Hallelujah go in peace in love to serve the Lord. Forget about re-structuring the church – look into the community. Grasp the nettle.

At 11.00 am we broke up the Synod into three Seminars. These were as follows:

The Rural Scene: Revd Dr. Stuart Burgess and Revd Graham Jones led this. Revd Bill Anderson chaired the session.

UK Agriculture: This was led by Revd Gordon Gatward and Keith Ineson and chaired by Deacon Lynne Sylvester-Tonge.

Food Trade, global and local: This was led by Chris Jones and Jef Tuyn and chaired by Revd Anne Smith.

After lunch Revd Gordon Gatward arranged a guided tour for those who wished to see more of the Agricultural centre.

The Big Noise

The afternoon session commenced a DVD called “The Big Noise” introduced by a youth worker, Catherine Ralph, showing how youth had taken on community project at Lyndon in the Birmingham (Elmdon) Circuit.

The business session followed with apologies and greeting letters.  Attendance forms had been passed round for signature and indication of apologies. Letters were agreed to be sent to Revd John and Margaret Taylor, Margaret Holyoake and Gill Weller.

District Policy Committee recommendations. – Mark Aldridge brought forward additional recommendations to Synod, which were not included in the handbook. These included those authorised to preside at the Lord’s Supper and Appointments to various offices in the District. These recommendations and also those contained in the handbook were approved.

As Mark was stepping down as Secretary to the District Policy Committee at this Synod the Chair took the opportunity to thank him for all the work he had done over the years.

Revd Raymond Lunt gave an additional report from the Grants Committee. He stated that Connexion had agreed a grant of £16,000 per annum from 2006/7 for chaplaincy and a further grant of £15,000 for work involving parish nurses from 2006/7.

The chair turned to the handbook containing all the reports submitted and asked if anyone had further questions. The rest of the reports were therefore approved.

A report given by Linda Innes of the work carried out at the Methodist Council included the following: -

• Foundation Training – No future plans for Foundation Training, which will be phased out by 2007/8. Vocational Exploration – 6 012 people will meet together to explore their vocation with tutors for 300 hours. Majority of these want to candidate. Cost would be £200 - £300 per person plus expenses.

• Future use of training places to address needs of the church using the finances more effectively. 8 centres were mentioned  (Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham, Manchester/York, Sheffield, Scotland, Wales). These were to be financed by block grant of £30,000 per person per institute. Two full time residential colleges in Cambridge and Durham. More information to be gathered.

• Approval of the Self-appraisal system, which has been going for 10 years, needs review. Needs to conform to DTI requirements. Pilot project looking at this in Liverpool area

The chair thanked Linda for all the work she is doing.

Life in the face of Death

Revd Julie Hulme reported on “Life in the face of Death”.  She said there was a wonderful richness coming in a secular space. We as Christians have to take responsibility to interpret the Christian aspect.  Other faiths are looking at the Christian story.

District/ World Project

John Nodding outlined the ideas that had been discussed in the district concerning bringing a party of Palestinian children over to the UK for a short experience. He had heard a number of different views and sort the help of Synod to appeal to those who had experience to contact him in order to progress this venture.

Ministerial Synod Report

Revd Bill Anderson reported on the following:

After Jayne Webb answered the three questions set out in section 728 of the Constitutional Practice and Discipline to Conference Synod commended her for reception into full connexion and ordination.

Permission had been given for those ministers who were invited to sit down.

It was reported that Revd Douglas Field had died.

Memorials

Two Memorials to Conference were presented. The first memorial focused on the place of the ministry of healing and wholeness in the life of the Methodist Church:

The Birmingham District, bearing in mind the centrality of healing in the ministry of Jesus and the apostles, notes the absence of reference to healing in the Methodist Church's priorities. It requests Conference to instruct the Methodist Council to ensure that appropriate reference to healing be included in forthcoming statements of priority and mission. In addition, bearing in mind the stress on healing in the ministry of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels, it asks Conference to instruct the Faith and Order Committee to prepare a report which will indicate how health and healing can be better understood, nurtured and encouraged as a key focus of ministry and mission in the life of the Church

This was proposed by Revd John Atkinson and seconded by Revd Paul Donnison.  Voting was 193 in favour and 1 against.

The second memorial, presented by the District Network Group, concerned the Churches changing relationship with Nestle. This was passed after slight re-wording:

The Birmingham District understands that the advice given to the Church by the Advisory Committee on the Ethics of Investment concerning investment in the multi-national company Nestlé has recently changed. It is now not considered inappropriate for the Church to buy shares in Nestlé on the grounds that it is better to be in dialogue with the Company rather than being confrontational. It is our understanding, however, that the Central Finance Board has not as yet bought any shares in Nestlé.

The Birmingham District remains concerned about the way in which Baby Milk products are promoted in

the developing world. It requests Conference to ensure that no shares are purchased in Nestlé without a mechanism being in place to monitor annually Nestlé’s ethical performance. It requests Conference to determine specifically, who will meet each year with the senior executives of Nestlé to keep these concerns under review and requests a report to Conference of the outcome of these meetings.

This was proposed by Mrs Joyce Powell and seconded by Mrs Margaret Dow. Voting 192 for 1 against and 3 abstentions.

Testicular Cancer

Lloyd Archer gave a talk on Prostate Cancer saying that sickness was not a respecter of persons either rich or poor. He stressed the need to get checked at an early stage and said that leaflets would be given out at the end of synod.

Touch of Hope

Revd Clive Fowle updated Synod on the on-going work in Croatia and said that it was making an impact. He urged Synod to read the literature and support this cause in any way possible.

District Review

Money – the present process of distributing the assessment will be reviewed.  There was excitement by the situation in Cumbria.  Here they declare the budget and then ask what the circuits are going to give.

Revd Bill Anderson reported that work was progressing. A power-point presentation had been given at the last Synod, a number of think tank evenings had been given over to this discussions. A draft document was now in the circuits. This needs to be brought in form and structure by the September Synod. The document was not written in tablets of stone so please come back with your ideas.

The chair was asked where woman’s network fitted in. He said that it would be included.

Notices

The chair brought Synod’s attention to the fact that nominations were required for 

• Synod elected representatives.
• Youth Conference Nominees
• Nominations for those wishing to go to conference 2007.

The chair mentioned that he is doing an exchange with Revd Jim Tubbs in America from July 10th to August 31st.

The chair thanked all those people that had been involved in the preparation of Synod in the Leamington Spa Circuit and Revd Gordon Gatward and Revd Graham Jones and all the staff at the Arthur Rank Centre.

Tribute to Revd John Hellyer

The chair made a special thank you for the work that had been carried out by Revd John Hellyer and congratulated him on his move to be chair of the London South East District.

Emergency Resolution.

The Synod resolved to send a letter to the Prime Minister regarding delays in Single Farm Payments.

Dear Sir,

On April 8th. at a meeting of the Birmingham Methodist District Synod major concern was expressed at the impact that delays to the Single Farm Payment (SFP) are having on rural people and communities.  After repeated assurances that English farmers would receive their payments by the end of March 2006 it is now unlikely that many will be paid until June or even later.  We also understand that the current amount still owed to English farmers is in excess of £1 billion. 

This situation is not only causing considerable financial distress but the continued delay in payments and the growing despair at the Rural Payment Agency’s inability to administer the scheme have left many farming and rural people feeling that they do not matter and that their problems are of no interest and concern to both government and the rest of society.  It is clear from contacts with farming charities, clergy and farming press that many people are now in a desperate plight and tragically, in a few cases some have committed suicide.  

These problems come against the background of several years of falling incomes across nearly all sectors of farming, leaving little capacity to absorb additional financial burdens and creating major cash flow problems for many farm based businesses.  The impact is further felt across the wider rural economy as all those who trade with affected farms and their households grapple with the problems of unpaid bills and growing debt.

Following a meeting between representatives of the National Farmers Union, the County Land and Business Association, the Tenant Farmers Association and the acting chief executive of the RPA on 5th April the farming organisations issued a statement calling on the government to introduce a system of part payments as soon as possible.  The need to get cash payments out to as many businesses and families could not be more urgent and unless something is done immediately the consequences for farming and the rural economy in general will be dire.

We therefore implore this Government :

• to speed up the payment process
• to consider all options that could give some immediate financial relief, especially the introduction of part payments. 
• to increase its support for the Farming Help charities through the Rural Stress Action Plan. 

At the same time we are calling on all churches to support and pray for those who are suffering hardship as a result of the current situation including many of the staff of the Rural Payments Agency.

Yours faithfully

Low Carbon Future Project

Katherine Shepherd gave a short talk on the benefits to churches of adopting aids that can reduce carbon. She said that a small thing could make such a big difference.

Closing Worship

Revd Graham Jones and Revd Gordon Gatward led this.

Tea was available for those who wished to stay after Synod.

During Synod a collection was taken for the Methodist Ministers Children Relief Association. This amounted to £320.94 of which £169.67 was gift-aided.

Signed:

Rev Bill Anderson                                                                 John Nodding

Chair of District                                                                      Synod Secretary

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