Birmingham Methodist District Synod
Zion Christian Centre, Halesowen on Saturday 12th September 2009
Theme - "Give thanks in all things"
10.1 Opening worship was led by members of the Blackheath & Halesowen Circuit,
with Rev Paul Donnison and Richard Wilde, joint Superintendents, and a worship music group.
10.2 Apologies and dispensations were noted and recorded.
10.3 The minutes of the previous Synod 25th April 2009 had been approved after the amendment at
09-8, Appointments - Synod Secretary, Mr Peter Mills not David Mills
10.4 It was agreed that letters be sent to:
Mr John Davies, Hereford (South and East) Circuit
Rev John Ingyon, Birmingham Sutton Park Circuit
Mr Pat Welch, Past Vice President
Deacon Don Pritchard, Tamworth and Lichfield Circuit
Mrs Gail McGowan, Redditch Circuit
Rev Carol Popley, Redditch Circuit
all of whom were unable to attend Synod through illness.
10.5 The District Chair, Rev Bill Anderson welcomed new Presbyters and Deacons, and their families,
into the Birmingham District.
Rev Deborah Cornish, Hereford (South and East) Circuit
Rev Mike Crockett, Birmingham (Elmdon) Circuit
Rev Muduma Francisco, Queens Foundation
Rev Jenny Hurd, permission to study
Deacon Karen McBride, Methodist Diaconal Centre
Rev Malcolm Peach, Tamworth and Lichfield Circuit
Rev Harold Stuteley, Birmingham Asbury Circuit
Rev Heather Taylor, Birmingham (South West) Circuit
Rev Bob Thomas, Redditch Circuit
Rev Shirlyn Toppin, Birmingham (Sutton Park) Circuit
Rev Jayne Webb, Birmingham (Moseley Rd and Sparkhill) Circuit
10.06 Registrations for weddings were confirmed.
10.07 Directory amendments had been circulated. Any other amendments send to District Office
10.08 Appointments as listed in the Synod Directory were confirmed
10.09 Resolution re changes to Circuits in 2010.
"The Synod of the Birmingham Methodist District notes the proposed formation of the Shropshire and
Marches Circuit in the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District with effect from 1st September 2010.
The Birmingham Synod agrees to circuits 5/25 Cwm and Kingstone and 5/26 Leominster, Presteigne and
Kington joining the Shropshire and Marches Circuit at 1st September 2010 and therefore becoming
part of the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District.
It is noted that the existing Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District Circuits of 28/3 Shrewsbury
28/23 Wem and Prees Green, 28/24 Oswestry Ellesmere and Chirk, 28/25 Llanymynech,
28/29 Shropshire South and 28/31 the Marches, will also be part of the new Circuit."
The resolution was proposed by Rev Gordon Tonge and Rev Mary Jolly, Superintendents of the two Circuits
and was passed unanimously.
10.10 Rev Doreen Hare made a statement that the Harborne congregation had amalgamated with the Selly Oak
congregation with effect from 1st September 2009
10.11 Rev Bob Thomas made a statement that the Headless Cross had combined with St Lukes Church of
England and had become an LEP with the name of "The Bridge", meeting in the Parish Church.
10.12 Rev Bill Anderson reported that a review was taking place regarding the re-invitation of
Rev Stephen Willey as lead Chaplain to the Work Place and Economy. A decision would need to
be taken on this matter at some future date.
10.13 Candidating Rev Peter Bates spoke to Synod reminding particularly Superintendents about the new
procedures for Candidates, noting especially the strict timetable which had to be adhered to. He
recommended the information available on the Methodist Website and encouraged the online application
for any prospective Candidates.
10.14 Matters from Conference 2009
10.14.1 Views of Conference were given by Peter Mills, Frank Marius, Chris Collins, and Rev Anne Smith.
Comments included being part of a wide church, impressed as a first timer by the business, the debate
on climate change, and by the Hymn Collection debate. Rev Smith spoke about her role as letter
writer and the Ordination service at Worcester Cathedral.
10.14.2 Rev Paul Wood and Rev Ian Worsfold gave a presentation about the work of the Music Review Group
and the voting at Conference to go forward with a new Hymn Collection in book form and on CD. They
offered to lead events in circuits, and then led the singing of several new hymns/songs.
10.14.3 Rev Bill Anderson spoke about the fact that The Gambia had now been declared an autonomous
District, which meant that there were no longer any "overseas territories" listed in the Minutes of
Conference. He said the Methodist Church is world wide and autonomous.
10.14.4 Neil Bolus, recently a member of the Connexional Youth Participation Strategy team, gave a young
person's perspective on Conference, and described how the Youth Conference had brought to
Conference issues concerning dual church membership for students, matters of sexuality, making
EDEV more accessible to young people, and revising Faith and Worship in the Local Preachers
examinations.
10.14.5 Rev Bill Anderson updated Synod on Bible Fresh 2011, Methodist Publishing and Ecumenical matters
10.14.6 Four people then introduced topics which were then discussed in smaller groups
Rev Bill Anderson -safe space, the ground out from which we take risks
Deacon Kerry Smith - theology of desire, trafficking etc
Rev Stephen Willey - holding a business ethic in the face of recession
Rev Caroline Homan - hope in God's future, discipleship in climate change
10.14.7 Rev Warren Bardsley made a presentation concerning the Ecumenical Accompaniment
Programme in Palestine and Israel. He also spoke of a lady from Coventry and two sons detained in
Egypt and encouraged members of Synod to send e-mails to the Egyptian Embassy in London asking
for their release.
10.15 Mapping the Way Forward -Regrouping for Mission Peter Mills gave a presentation, outlining the original
report and progress. He said that the General Secretary was asking for more progress and showed maps
of the Birmingham District and the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District, indicating the extent of the
overlap of work along the long border between the two Districts. He also noted the amount of work done
across Districts by some officers, and others connexionaly.
He presented a resolution.
"The Birmingham District resolves to hold a joint Synod with the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury
District in September 2010, to receive reports from Conference and to discuss its mutual work in the life
of the Church."
After discussion the resolution was passed with 140 votes in favour and 5 against.
10.16 Representatives to Conference 2010
Only two nominations for Lay Representatives had been received by the due date, so they were
automatically elected. Mrs Diane Webb and Mr Peter Mills.
Three further nominations had been received prior to the start of Synod, so they too were elected without
a vote, to complete the five allocated places. Ms Jane Cudjoe, Mrs Mal Glenn, and Mr Michael Sergeant.
Only one Deacon had been nominated so they were elected automatically. Deacon Don Pritchard.
A vote took place to decide on the three places allocated for presbyters. Those elected were Rev Victoria
Bravette, Rev James Pritchard, and Rev Paul Wood.
The presbyter reserve will be Rev Helen Cameron. Subsequent to the meeting Mr. Chris Shaw offered to
be the reserve for the lay representative.
10.17 Representatives to Youth Assembly 2010
Mr Arkle Bell proposed that Katherine Thompson and Neil Bolus be the Birmingham District
representatives. Synod agreed. It was noted that other young people should encouraged to attend and the
District would assist with finance if this was required.
10.18 Synod Elected Representatives The Synod Secretary noted that these positions had not been
filled in recent years. By having Synod Elected representatives there would be an assurance of some
continuation in those attending Synod, and it would release spaces for others to represent their Circuits.
Synod agreed that there should be nine Synod Elected Representatives, serving for an initial period of
three years. Nominations will be requested for a vote at the Spring 2010 Synod.
10.19 Property Consents A presentation was made by Rev Doreen Hare and Mr Chris Osborne. It
was noted that there was now a new process with lots of information available on the website.
Representatives were reminded that in theory the new process would become paperless! A new District
Consents Panel was agreed by Synod to be Rev Doreen Hare, Mr Chris Osborne with power to co-opt.
The Chair thanked them for all their hard work in this important area.
10.20 Our life and work in the District and elsewhere reports/comments/notices were given:-
Solidarity Fund Rev Stephen Willey
Press and Publicity Mrs Jean Jackson )
Lay Employment Mrs Sue Harper ) The Chair welcomed these two new appointments
Music Events Rev Paul Wood - Coventry Central Hall
Oct 4th day of prayer for G20 summit Rev Caroline Homan
Soul Clinics Rev Pauline Warner
10.21 Future Synods The Chair referred to ideas for future Synods and asked for help in these
or suggestions for other topics.
Fresh Expressions - Andrew Roberts (Nation F E Team) and others
Two Circuits to present mission stories from their Circuits
Emergency Services, please let the Office have any contacts for people employed in,
or chaplains to, emergency services.
10.22 Next Synod to be held on April 24th in the Worcester Circuit.
10.23 Holy Communion the Synod closed with a celebration of the Holy Communion.
Rev W H Anderson Peter A Mills 25/09/09
Birmingham District Chair Birmingham District Synod Secretary
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