Coleshill Road, Atherstone

2. Aim: By 1st September 2013 the Circuit would consist of 4 Methodist Centres Coleshill Road, Atherstone St John’s, Nuneaton Mill Street, Bedworth Central Hall, Coventry Proposal 1

3. Membership of new Churches Proposal 1

4. Advantages • Sale of Circuit property releases resources for mission • Larger pool of people to work out Our Calling together • Opportunities for Cell or Fellowship groups to develop without strain of managing buildings • Encourages local ecumenism

5. Advantages • Strategic use of Ordained staff releasing time and energy to work with laity. • potential for more creative use of ordained ministry, especially in the Coventry mission centre. • Super based at the geographical centre of Circuit • Matches one of the priorities of the Methodist Church to do better together what we struggle to do on our own • Demonstrates a visible sign of Christian Unity

6. Disadvantages • Not all members will transfer to other Methodist Societies • Transport needs will require financial resources • Loss of Church buildings where people’s faith journeys have taken place • Loss of income to Circuit through loss of members & lettings potential • Very large pastoral load for Coventry

8. Aim: By 1st September 2013 the Circuit would consist of 5 Methodist Centres Atherstone Nuneaton Bedworth Coventry S Coventry N Proposal 2

9. Membership of new Churches *Because of their nature Fillongley & Keresley are not included in this proposal Proposal 2

10. Advantages • Sale of Circuit property releases resources for mission • Larger pool of people to work out Our Calling together • Opportunities for Cell or Fellowship groups to develop without strain of managing buildings • Encourages local ecumenism • Recognises and seeks to address the larger geography of Coventry

11. Advantages • Strategic use of Ordained staff releasing time and energy to work with laity. • potential for more creative use of ordained ministry, especially in the Coventry mission centre. • Super based at the geographical centre of Circuit • Matches one of the priorities of the Methodist Church to do better together what we struggle to do on our own • Demonstrates a visible sign of Christian Unity

12. Disadvantages • Not all members will transfer to other Societies • Uneven split of membership would require extra support for Coventry South • Transport needs will require financial resources • Loss of Church buildings where people’s faith journeys have taken place

13. Disadvantages • Loss of income to Circuit through loss of members • Potentially lengthy conversations and negotiations while Societies decide which church buildings are strategically placed • Time taken with ongoing conversations within churches • Length of time and likelihood of paying for external support to enable conversation

15. Aim: By 1st September 2013 the Circuit would adopt a Team Ministry approach for its Ordained and Lay people. URC Minister Methodist Minister 1 Methodist Minister 4 Proposal 3

16. Advantages • Laity encouraged to use their skills and talents in the life of the local Church & Circuit • Stronger Circuit identity • Distinct role descriptions in place for both ordained & lay staff • Presbyters released to explore their particular calling • Allows Churches more time to explore their local vision and mission

17. Advantages • Opportunity to improve communications around the Circuit • Time opportunity for serious ecumenical conversations in different communities • Opportunities for more collaborative ministry & mission between the Churches that are geographically linked.

18. Disadvantages • Churches without ‘their’ minister • Question of who has ‘pastoral charge’ • Potential for presbyters to be spread too thinly • Financial resources remain unreleased through sale of property • Need to identify and appoint laity to chair teams and committees in local churches • Need to identify governance issues within Methodism

19. Disadvantages • Struggling Churches still struggling with less personal support

21. Aim: By 1st September 2013 the Circuit would consist of 5 Methodist Churches each of which has a number of satellite Churches Atherstone Nuneaton Coventry North Bedworth Coventry South Proposal 4

22. Horeston Grange Arley Attleboro’ St John’s 172 (Deputy Super) Atherstone 18 Stock’ford Hartshill Ridge Lane Bedworth 132 (Superintendent) Barnacle Collycroft Ryton Proposal 4

23. Coundon Lime Tree Balsall 251 Coventry North Radford Meriden C’stone Earlsdon Central Hall 448 Coventry South Mac Rd Woodside Proposal 4

24. Agreed Parameters • Specific Mission opportunities encouraged & supported at Satellite Churches. • Ministers respond to Pastoral Matters, i.e. Funerals or weddings at Satellite Churches • Sunday worship led by Ministers in the central Church • Mid week worship may be offered by Minister at the Satellite Churches

25. Agreed Parameters • Church Councils combine at central church to reduce number of business meetings. • Meetings required in Satellite Churches to be led by laity

26. Advantages • Ministerial time released for mission opportunities • Greater possibility for specific work and fellowship focused on Satellites • Laity encouraged to use their skills and talents in the life of the Church & Circuit • Stronger Circuit identity • Distinct role descriptions in place for both ordained & lay staff

27. Advantages • Allows Churches more time to explore their local vision and mission • Opportunity to improve communications around the Circuit • Time opportunity for serious ecumenical conversations in different communities • Opportunities for Churches to share together and support one another

28. Disadvantages • Uneven split of membership would require additional support for Coventry South • Financial resources remain unreleased • Need to identify governance issues within Methodism • Bringing the combined meetings to one place will require careful handling to control length and number of such meetings • Possible loss of connexional identity for the satellite Churches

30. Aim: By 1st September 2013 the Circuit would consist of 5 Methodist Centres Atherstone Nuneaton Coventry Central Bedworth Coventry S Proposal 5

31. Membership of new Churches *Because of their nature Fillongley & Keresley are not included in this proposal Proposal 5

32. Advantages • Sale of Circuit property releases resources for mission • Larger pool of people to work out Our Calling together • Opportunities for Cell or Fellowship groups to develop without strain of managing buildings • Encourages local ecumenism • Recognises and seeks to address the larger geography of Coventry

33. Advantages • Strategic use of Ordained staff releasing time and energy to work with laity. • potential for more creative use of ordained ministry, especially in the Coventry mission centre. • Super based at the geographical centre of Circuit • Matches one of the priorities of the Methodist Church to do better together what we struggle to do on our own • Demonstrates a visible sign of Christian Unity

34. Disadvantages • Not all members will transfer to other Societies • Uneven split of membership would require extra support for Coventry South • Transport needs will require financial resources • Loss of Church buildings where people’s faith journeys have taken place

35. Disadvantages • Loss of income to Circuit through loss of members • Potentially lengthy conversations and negotiations while Societies decide which church buildings are strategically placed • Time taken with ongoing conversations within churches • Length of time and likelihood of paying for external support to enable conversation