The Connexion
The Methodist Connexional Office, established in 1936, operates under the direction of Conference and the leadership of the Presiding Bishop. It is responsible for the administration, leadership co-ordination, and governance of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa — as meticulously organized as a diplomarbeit schreiben lassen . The office of the Presiding Bishop has oversight of the work of all the Units and Districts.
Districts
The Methodist Church of Southern Africa is part of the worldwide Methodist family and is a member of the World Methodist Council. In Methodist-speak, the MCSA is referred to as a Connexion, which in turn is made up of 15 Districts. The Connexion is led by the Presiding Bishop and Connexional Executive and the principal decision-making body at a Connexional level is the annual Conference. Each District is led by a bishop and a District Executive, with the main decision-making body at a District level being the annual General District.
As of 2020 we have 15 Districts
6.1 THE DISTRICTS
The area under the jurisdiction of Conference is divided into Districts that are associations of local Circuits as determined by Conference.
6.2 THE SYNOD
6.2.1 In each District an annual Synod shall be held, whose chief function is to provide mission leadership as well as spiritual direction and inspiration for the District.
6.2.2 A Special Synod may be called by the Bishop for the purpose of dealing with mission issues/emergency situations in the District. Fourteen days’ notice shall be given. The membership shall be those who attended the last annual Synod and 80% of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
6.3 The rules and procedures of Synod are laid down in the Synod Order of Business (Appendix 5) and the Rules of Debate (Appendix 4).
Membership:
6.4 Synod comprises the following Ministers and Lay Members who reside in the District, such Lay Members having been members of the Church for at least the past 2 years:
6.4.1 all Ministers and Deacons, (including Supernumerary and Probationer Ministers and Deacons), except those who are at Seminary. Dispensation may be granted by Synod in case of illness or other reasonable cause;
6.4.2 One Conference appointed Seminarian; (4.28)
6.4.3 one Representative of each Mission Group appointed by Synod;
6.4.4 one Circuit Steward from each Circuit;
N.B: The Circuit Stewards alternate in attending Synod. If a Circuit Steward is unable to attend, the other Circuit Steward should attend.
6.4.5 three other Representatives of each Circuit;
6.4.6 one additional Representative of each Circuit with between 1 000 and 2 000 Full Members, or with 3 or 4 Ministers or Probationer Ministers (excluding Supernumerary Ministers);
6.4.7 one further Representative of each Circuit with more than 2 000 Full Members, or with 5 or more Ministers or Probationer Ministers (excluding Supernumeraries);
6.4.8 the Alternates for those Representatives and Circuit Stewards who cannot attend;
6.4.9 the Convener of the District Disciplinary Committee;
6.4.10 the District Treasurer;
6.4.11 the District Statistical Secretary;
6.4.12 the District Treasurers of Connexional Funds;
6.4.13 any Ministerial or Lay Connexional Official;
6.4.14 the General Presidents of the Men’s League, Local Preachers Association, Women’s Association, Women’s Auxiliary, Women’s Manyano, Young Women’s Manyano or Young Men’s Guild, where they reside in the District, if the registered membership of the Organisation in the Connexion exceeds 2 000;
6.4.15 the District President and the District Secretary, or their authorised Al- ternates, of the Men’s League, Local Preachers Association, Women’s Association, Women’s Auxiliary, Women’s Manyano, Young Women’s Manyano, Young Men’s Guild and Unzondelelo, if the registered mem- bership of the Organisation in the District exceeds 400. If the mem- bership is below 400, the District President or alternate may attend;
6.4.16 one Local Preacher recommended by the Local Preachers Committee, appointed by Synod to oversee Local Preachers’ work in the District;
6.4.17 five Representatives elected by the District Youth Synod;
6.4.18 an Evangelist and a Bible Woman appointed by the District Evangelist’s and Bible Women’s Committee;
6.4.19 the Manager of any Christian Connexion Resource Centre in the District, if a member of the Methodist Church;
6.4.20 the District Trust Properties Secretary and one other member of the
District Trust Properties Committee;
6.4.21 two representatives of the District Music Association;
6.4.22 any official of the World Methodist Body residing in the District.
6.5 The following, inter alia, are the functions and duties of Synod:
6.5.1 to provide spiritual leadership for the District, applying the lead provided by Conference;
6.5.2 to determine mission priorities and activities in the District;
6.5.3 to allocate resources and provide material and other assistance to the Circuits;
6.5.4 to consider and deal with the matters contained in the Order of Business for Synods (Appendix 5), subject always to the decisions of Conference;
6.5.5 to enquire into the disciplinary behaviour of all Ministers in the
District;
6.5.6 generally to administer the District considering and implementing matters referred to it by Conference or the Connexional Executive;
6.5.7 subject to the final authority of Conference, to determine Circuit boundaries, divide or unite Circuits, and establish new Circuits.
6.5.8 Any change in Circuit boundaries shall be detailed in the Minutes of Synod and the District Secretary shall send a copy of the record to each Circuit affected.
6.5.9 To appoint the District Stationing Committee.
NB:
(a) Obituaries of deceased Ministers and Deacons shall be forwarded by Synod to the General Secretary.
(b) The expenses of Supernumeraries attending Synod shall be charged to Connexional Funds.
6.6 SYNOD MISSION GROUPS
6.6.1 Synod may establish such Mission Groups and other Committees as it considers necessary, and shall appoint their members and officers. The Bishop, the Vice-Chairman, the District Secretary and the Statistical Secretary are ex officio members of each Committee;
6.6.2 The purpose of Mission Groups and other Committees is to promote the mission of the Church at Circuit and Society level.
6.6.3 Each Mission Group or Committee may co-opt members who do not thereby become members of Synod.
6.6.4 The Secretary of each Mission Group or Committee shall report on its behalf to Synod on the work for the year and may require from the Circuits and Societies such Accounts, Schedules and Reports as are necessary for this purpose.
6.6.5 The Secretary of each Mission Group or Committee shall keep its records and documents.
6.7 Synod shall elect a District Executive from among its members. Such members hold office for one year from the rising of Synod and are eligible for re-election. The Executive may co-opt further members who do not, thereby, become members of Synod. The following are ex officio members:
6.7.1 the Bishop, Vice-Chairman, District Secretary, Statistical Secretary, District Lay Leader and District Treasurer;
6.7.2 any lay Member of the District who is a member of Conference;
6.7.3 The District Executive shall include adequate lay representation;
6.8 The functions and duties of the District Executive are:
6.8.1 general administration of the District between meetings of Synod, including providing spiritual direction, establishing policy and plans, implementing the decisions of Synod, and referring tasks to the Mission Groups, Committees, Circuits and Societies;
6.8.2 to receive and make necessary changes to the draft of the stations of Ministers in the District received from the stationing committee, for presentation to Synod;
6.8.3 deciding who may attend Synods as visitors without the power to
vote;
6.8.4 ensuring that no Connexional or District Convention shall be held in any Circuit without the authority of the District Executive Committee;
6.8.5 such other functions as are delegated to it by Synod.
6.9 THE BISHOP
6.9.1 The Bishop is the official head and principal pastor of a District and is subject to the directions of Conference and the Laws and usages of the Church. The Bishop exercises his/her duties in the spirit of servant- leadership that was taught and modelled by our Lord Jesus Christ and in a consultative and democratic spirit.
6.9.2 The Bishop is inducted to the Ministry of oversight at the commencement of his/her term of office.
6.9.3 The Bishop shall be a full-time itinerant Minister, in service of the MCSA and may be fully or partially separated from Circuit work according to the circumstances of the District.
6.9.4 He/she is accountable to the Conference through the Presiding Bishop and the Connexional Executive, and to the District through the Synod and the District Executive.
6.9.5 The term of office of the Bishop shall be five years from the 1st January of the year in which the term begins, but he/she may assume office earlier by mutual agreement with the incumbent Bishop. A Bishop may serve a second term of 5 (five) years.
6.10 The functions and duties of a Bishop are, inter alia:
6.10.1 to be the spiritual leader of the District and to provide for the
spiritual nurture of both laity and clergy;
6.10.2 to be the mission-leader of the District and to promote and provide for the mission and growth of the Church;
6.10.3 to be the principal pastor of the District and provide for the pastoral
care of the clergy and their families, as well as the laity;
6.10.4 to strive for and be the custodian and focus of unity in the
District;
6.10.5 to teach and safeguard the doctrines of the Christian faith as they have been received by the MCSA;
6.10.6 to oversee the on-going training of clergy and laity for the work of
the Church;
6.10.7 to oversee the liturgical practice and worship in the District and ensure that the directions of Conference in this regard are observed;
6.10.8 participate in the ordination of presbyters and deacons stationed in the District or preside if deputed by the Presiding Bishop;
6.10.9 to represent the Church ecumenically and in the wider society;
6.10.10 to facilitate the prophetic function of the church in society;
6.10.11 to have general oversight of the work in all Circuits, Organisations
and institutions in the District;
6.10.12 to enter any Circuit in the District and/or preside at any Circuit meeting if satisfied, after consultation with the Superintendent, that such intervention is necessary;
6.10.13 to convene and preside at the annual District Synod;
6.10.14 to convene and preside at the District Executive;
6.10.15 to ensure that proper minutes and records are kept of the District Synod and District Executive and to sign, secure and safeguard such records;
6.10.16 to oversee the stationing of ministers in the District through the District Stationing Committee, the Synod and Connexional Executive and, wherever necessary, to apply to the Presiding Bishop to fill any vacancy or make any necessary change in stations during the course of the year;
6.10.17 to recommend to the Connexional Executive and the Presiding Bishop the appointment of Superintendents of Circuits, or any necessary changes in or withdrawal of Superintendency;
6.10.18 to ensure that the directions, decisions and requirements of the Conference, the Connexional Executive and the Synod are carried out by the Circuits, Societies, ministers, officials, organisations and institutions in the District;
6.10.19 to participate in Connexional leadership and attend Conference,
the Connexional Executive and other Connexional meetings;
6.10.20 to be the chief channel of communication between the District, and
Conference;
6.10.21 to deal with any administrative matters which are required from time to time by the District, or the Connexion;
6.10.22 to Chair Connexional Committees or Unit Meetings as directed by
the Presiding Bishop;
6.10.23 to be appointed as Superintendents of Circuits in exceptional cases
only and where there is a strong motivation;
6.10.24 To be the Public Relations Officer within the District in liaison with the Superintendents. A Bishop may appoint liaison officers with the local press and the regional media;
6.10.25 to delegate any of these duties to the Vice-Chairman.
ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF BISHOPS
6.11 The following regulations and procedures shall govern the election and appointment of Bishops.
6.11.1 The procedure for electing a Bishop is detailed in Appendix 11.
6.11.2 Candidates for nomination by Synod as Bishops shall be Ministers in full Connexion. Supernumerary Ministers and Non-itinerant Ministers are not eligible. The elections shall take place in the last year but one of the current Bishop’s term of office, unless there are special circumstances, in which case the Connexional Executive or Presiding Bishop shall make a ruling.
6.11.3 The District Secretary shall invite all Circuit Quarterly Meetings within the District to nominate any Minister in full Connexion, whether in the District concerned or not, at the January Quarterly meeting. These nominations are to be submitted to the Secretary of Conference by 31st March. The Bishop shall be appointed by Conference following their election by Synods for a term of 5 (five) years, renewable for 1 (one) final term
6.11.4 The Conference is the final authority for the appointment of Bishops and has the right to veto the nomination of a Synod. In such a case the Conference may institute a new election process.
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN
6.12 The Vice-Chairman is elected by the Synod immediately prior to taking office. The Synod shall vote by ballot without previous nomination but only for a Minister in full Connexion and who is in the service of a Circuit in the District. The person elected shall have a simple majority of the votes cast.
6.13 The Vice-Chairman shall act at all times subject to direction of the Bishop.
6.14 Should the Bishop die, become incapable of the work of a Bishop, be impeached, or be absent for a prolonged period, the duties shall devolve upon the Vice-Chairman until the Bishop can return, or until the successor elected by the next Synod assumes office, as the case may be. This provision does not derogate from the powers of Conference to appoint a new Bishop with immediate effect.
6.15 The Vice-Chairman is ex officio member of all District Committees.
6.16 The Vice-Chairman shall hold office for a term of 3 (three) years from the 1st January and may be re-elected.
THE DISTRICT SECRETARY
6.17 The District Secretary shall be appointed by Synod after nomination from the floor. The District Secretary holds office for 3 years from the 1st January and may be re-elected. The District Secretary may be a lay-person or a Minister.
6.18 The duties of the District Secretary are inter alia:
6.18.1 to support and facilitate the administrative work of the District;
6.18.2 to keep proper records of all proceedings of Synod;
6.18.3 to prepare one unbound copy of the records for immediate forwarding to the General Secretary, and three bound copies for signature by the Bishop, the Vice-Chairman and the Secretary. One bound copy to be forwarded to the Methodist Connexional Office;
6.18.4 to forward all documents, reports, resolutions and schedules as
required;
6.18.5 persons appointed by Synod to any office, Group or Committee shall be advised accordingly by the District Secretary;
6.18.6 to discharge such other duties as the Bishop or Synod may require.
6.19 The District Secretary is ex-officio a member of all District committees.
6.20 Synod may appoint an Assistant Secretary.
THE STATISTICAL SECRETARY
6.21 The District Statistical Secretary shall be appointed by Synod, holds office for 3 (three) years from the 1st January after appointment and may be re-elected;
6.22 The Statistical Secretary is ex-officio a member of Synod and of all District Mission Groups and Committees and shall gather the required statistics of the District, interpret them, and forward them as required.
DISTRICT LAY LEADER
6.23 Election and Appointment of District Lay Leader
The District Lay Leader shall be nominated, with motivation, at District Synod for election and appointment for a 3 (three) year term, and may be re- elected for a further term.
6.24 Role and Functions of a Lay Leader
Within the broad parameters of the following, each District shall determine the nature and functions of this role within its own context.
Guidelines for the office of the District Lay Leader may include the
following:
6.24.1 to represent the views and interests of the Church and its members throughout the District;
6.24.2 to be an advisor to the Bishop and District Executive;
6.24.3 to advocate for greater involvement of Laity and for the District to
focus on issues facing the Church;
6.24.4 to facilitate dialogue on missional and Organisational issues;
6.24.5 to have an educative focus, conscientising and informing lay persons
on critical Church and Social matters;
6.24.6 to galvanise support for Connexional and District projects and
events;
6.24.7 to assist Laity in adding value to the Methodist Church of Southern Africa’s vision and Mission.
DISTRICT FINANCES
6.25 Synod shall elect a District Finance Committee comprising the ex-officio members (as designated in Laws and Discipline para 6.6.1) and not less than 4 (four) other persons with appropriate skills and competencies. Members of the Committee are elected for a period of three years and may be re-elected. Synod shall designate the Chairman of the Committee.
6.26 The functions and duties of the District Finance Committee are, inter alia:
6.26.1 to prepare a District Budget for submission to the District Executive
and Synod for consideration and approval;
6.26.2 to give oversight of all financial matters pertaining to the District, Organisations and Institutions; and ensure that all expenditure incurred is in accordance with approved budgets;
6.26.3 to ensure that all audited Annual Financial Statements pertaining to District, Circuit and Society finances are prepared and submitted to the District Treasurer by Synod and ensure that paragraphs 9.87 to
9.89 (Financial Form 4c and 4s Schedules) are implemented within
the District;
6.26.4 to scrutinise the data sent to the District Treasurer in respect of Circuits that are in arrears, and to ensure that paragraphs 9.54 (Consequences for Circuits which do not pay assessments), and 9.56 (Arrears), are implemented within the District;
6.26.5 to have oversight regarding the implementation of the Connexional Policy on Financial Management and the Institutional Competency Assessment (determined by Conference) within the District, to give assistance to the Bishop, Superintendents and other persons within the District in respect thereof, and to ensure that the required reports are submitted to Synod;
6.26.6 to advise the District of any financial concerns or irregularities regarding finances within the District Executive and to ensure that any investigations or remedial steps that may be required are undertaken;
6.26.7 to ensure that Trust Funds, Bequests and other Funds designated for specific purposes are used for their intended purpose and/or mandate;
6.26.8 to nominate to Synod persons to serve as members of the District Finance Committee.
THE DISTRICT TREASURER
6.27 The District Treasurer shall be appointed by Synod, holds office for three (3) years from the 1st January after appointment and may be reappointed.
6.28 The functions and duties of the District Treasurer are inter alia:
6.28.1 to assist the Bishop and District Executive in the effective financial
management and administration of the District;
6.28.2 to ensure that all banking accounts conducted in the District, including Organisations & Institutions are correctly opened and maintained and that any deposits into or withdrawals from such bank accounts are procedural and properly recorded;
6.28.3 to ensure that all payments on behalf of the District, Organisations and Institutions are drawn by cheque or debit order and that all payments are signed by two duly authorised persons. No credit card transactions are permitted. Electronic payments are only permitted where there is dual control of authorisation of payment and separate confidential passwords are utilised;
6.28.4 to nominate to Synod for appointment a book-keeper, if required,
and an auditor for the District accounts;
6.28.5 to submit annually to Synod the audited District Annual Financial Statements and District Budget for the forthcoming year and a verbal and written report. The written report shall be included in the Synod Blue Book;
6.28.6 to submit to the General Treasurers before 31st March a District
Finance Report in the prescribed format;
6.28.7 to build relationships with and liaise with all Circuits and Society Treasurers and Circuit Stewards in respect of financial and administrative matters within the District;
6.28.8 to help ensure that all Circuit 4c and Society 4s Schedules within the District are submitted to the Finance Unit by 15th June annually;
6.28.9 to report any matter of concern pertaining to finance and administration to the General Treasurers of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.
6.28.10 to ensure that no Connexional or District Convention is held in a Circuit that is not financially viable, or that is in arrears with stipend assessments.
GENERAL REGULATIONS
6.29 Connexional and District Conventions
6.29.1 No Connexional or District Conventions shall be held in a Circuit
that is not financially viable, or that is in arrears with assessments.
6.29.2 No Connexional or District Conventions shall be held in any Circuit without the authority of the District Executive Committee.
7.1. Districts are divided into Circuits each consisting of a number of Societies.
Circuits oversee and coordinate the work of Societies and promote and ensure the
implementation of mission imperatives throughout the Circuit.
7.2. Circuit Quarterly Meeting:
The Circuit Quarterly Meeting administers the affairs of the Church within the Circuit. The Circuit Quarterly Meeting is responsible for planning, promoting and monitoring the spiritual life and mission of the Church in the Circuit. The Order of Business in Appendix 8 of the Laws and Discipline must be included in the agenda of any Circuit Quarterly Meeting.
7.3. The Circuit Quarterly Meeting shall establish such Mission Groups as it deems necessary, and shall appoint the members of the Groups and convenors with power to appoint further members. Mission Group members may be drawn from beyond the membership of the Meeting but they do not thereby become members of the Circuit Quarterly Meeting.
7.4. The Circuit Quarterly Meeting may appoint ad hoc committees to initiate and implement special projects. Mission Groups and committees receive their authority from, and are accountable to the Meeting.
7.5. The Circuit Quarterly Meeting may appoint a Circuit Executive Committee consisting of the Ministers, the Circuit Stewards, the Circuit Treasurer and others elected from the Meeting so that there are at least as many lay-persons as Ministers. The Superintendent shall preside over the Executive Committee.
7.6. The Circuit Quarterly Meeting shall be held once a quarter in the Circuit, usually in January, April, July and October, the October Meeting being devoted to planning the Circuit’s work for the coming year.
7.7. The Circuit Quarterly Meeting shall devote significant time, at least twice a year, to mission planning and reflection.
Membership:
7.8. The following are members of the Circuit Quarterly Meeting, provided that they are full members of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa for at least the past two consecutive years:
7.8.1. the Ministers, Probationers, Supernumerary Ministers, Deacons and Evangelists stationed in the Circuit, any other Ministers who are
members in the Circuit, and the Biblewomen and Lay Agents in the
Circuit;
7.8.2. the Circuit Stewards and the Society Stewards in the Circuit;
7.8.3. the Circuit Secretary;
7.8.4. the Circuit Treasurer;
7.8.5. conveners of the Mission Groups in the Societies;
7.8.6. one Steward of the Poor Fund from each Society;
7.8.7. the duly appointed Leaders of all Classes, Junior Classes, Home Bible Study and Fellowship Groups, and of Ministries established by the Societies;
7.8.8. five Local Preachers elected annually by the Local Preachers’ Quarterly Meeting;
7.8.9. the Circuit President and one duly appointed representative of the Circuit Women’s Manyano, Young Women’s Manyano and Young Men’s Guild;
7.8.10. the President or duly appointed representative of every branch of the Women’s Association, Women’s Auxiliary and Men’s League;
7.8.11. any office-bearer of the General Executive or the District Executive of the Women’s Association, Women’s Auxiliary, Women’s Manyano, Young Women’s Manyano, Young Men’s Guild, or Men’s League being a member of a Society in the Circuit;
7.8.12. every person appointed to preside over a Trust Properties Committee
in the Circuit;
7.8.13. a representative of every branch of the Youth Unit, who shall be not less than eighteen years of age;
7.8.14. the Secretary of the Circuit Youth Unit Council;
7.8.15. any member of the Connexional Executive who resides in the Circuit.
7.9. A united congregation, forming part of a Circuit, shall be represented at the Circuit Quarterly Meeting on the same basis as a Methodist Society.
Powers and Duties:
7.10. The powers and duties of the Quarterly Meeting are inter alia:
7.10.1. to spread the Gospel and extend the work of the Church especially by planning, promoting and monitoring the spiritual life and the mission of the Church in the Circuit;
7.10.2. to control and administer the affairs of the Circuit;
7.10.3. to appoint Circuit Mission Groups and monitor their activities;
7.10.4. to receive, consider and act upon spiritual, numerical and financial reports of the Societies in the Circuit, and of Women’s, Men’s and Youth work in the Circuit, and of such Units of the Church as are required to operate within the Circuit, as well as any other societies and organisations in connection with the Societies;
7.10.5. to elect by majority vote, after nomination by the meeting, up to four Circuit Stewards and to give them authority jointly to operate upon the banking account of the Circuit;
7.10.6. to appoint a Secretary to the Meeting;
7.10.7. to appoint a Circuit Auditor and, if considered necessary by the Meeting, a Circuit Treasurer;
7.10.8. the Circuit Treasurer shall be appointed after careful consultation between the Superintendent Minister and the Circuit Stewards and ratified at the October Quarterly Meeting. The appointment shall be for a 3 (three) year term renewable up to a maximum of 3 (three) terms;
7.10.9. to appoint, if considered necessary, a Circuit Finance Committee to assist in the management of Circuit finances. Such a Committee shall be representative of the Societies in the Circuit;
7.10.10. to make provision for Circuit expenses and to pay, through the Circuit Stewards, all claims on Circuit funds including traveling expenses within the Circuit, the amounts due to Connexional Funds and the stipends and other allowances of the Ministers;
7.10.11. to consider paying an allowance in lieu of rent to Ministers who
provide their own accommodation;
7.10.12. to receive reports of contributions of the Circuit to Connexional Funds;
7.10.13. to approve or otherwise Candidates for the Ministry nominated by
the Superintendent;
7.10.14. to invite, upon the nomination of the Circuit Stewards, Ministers
to labour in the Circuit;
7.10.15. to appoint Lay pastoral staff to work in the Societies;
7.10.16. to make recommendations to Synod;
7.10.17. to consider and act upon such matters as may be referred to it by Conference, the Connexional Executive or Synod;
7.10.18. to elect representatives to Synod and to elect an alternate should a Circuit Steward not be able to attend Synod;
7.10.19. to approve the necessary reports and schedules for submission to Synod;
7.10.20. to appoint a Treasurer to the Ministerial Students’ Fund, who shall promote the interests of the Fund and solicit subscriptions on its behalf;
7.10.21. to perform and discharge the functions and duties of a Circuit Local Preachers’ Meeting where there is no such Meeting;
7.10.22. to perform and discharge the functions and duties of a Local Trust Properties Committee where there is no such Committee;
7.10.23. to consider necessary changes in times of services on the Lord’s Day in consultation with the Local Preachers’ Meeting.
General Regulations:
7.11 If a Circuit Quarterly Meeting invites Synod to meet in an area where there is more than one Circuit, it shall collaborate with the other Circuit Quarterly Meetings before extending such an invitation, unless it is prepared to meet all the local expenses involved.
7.12 Membership Records
Circuits shall keep permanent records of all persons received into full
membership.
7.13 Gambling
No Circuits, Organisations and Societies shall raise funds through “games of chance” (e.g. raffles, gambling etc.).
7.14 Care of Prisoners
Conference directs Ministers with prisons within their Circuit boundaries to ensure that Methodist Spiritual Workers are appointed to such prisons. The procedure for such appointments is a personal application to the Head of the Local Prison, where Form G317 must be completed in triplicate.
7.15 Stationing of Ministers
7.15.1 Stationing through Invitation:
The Circuit Quarterly Meeting may invite a Minister to labour in the Circuit in a duly recognised appointment. The following regulations must be observed but nothing shall derogate from the authority of the Connexional Executive to decide the annual appointments of all Ministers.
7.15.1.1 When an invitation is to be extended, whether for an initial or a subsequent period, the Circuit Stewards shall report to the Bishop. The Circuit Stewards shall then convene a Circuit Stationing Committee comprising the Superintendent and Circuit Stewards. If the invitation relates to the Superintendent then the Circuit Stationing Committee shall comprise the Bishop and the Circuit Stewards.
The Circuit Stationing Committee shall call a meeting of the Society Stewards of the Societies affected by the invitation in order to consult on principles (not names) such as budget, profiles and the mission needs of the Societies. This Society Stewards’ consultative meeting shall not vote at any stage other than at the Circuit Quarterly Meeting. No less than three and no
more than five Society Stewards shall be elected by this consultative meeting to be members of the Circuit Stationing Committee while the invitation that affects them is considered.
7.15.1.2 Before the Circuit Stationing Committee finalises a list of names of ministers who could potentially be invited, they shall consult with the Bishop, or the person mandated by the Bishop, who may add names to this list for consideration. The Bishop will also engage the Committee on transformational issues such as gender and race. No invitation (or re-invitation) shall be extended to any minister without the agreement of the Bishop.
7.15.1.3 Before taking any steps to replace a Minister the Circuit Stewards shall advise that Minister.
7.15.1.4 The Circuit Stewards shall all sign a Letter of Enquiry, asking whether the Minister selected by the Committee would accept the appointment concerned. A copy of this letter shall be forwarded to the local Bishop as well as the Bishop of the District in which the Minister is currently stationed.
7.15.1.5 A Minister shall not consider such an enquiry before advising the local Circuit Stewards and Bishop.
7.15.1.6 The Minister shall reply in writing within two weeks of receiving the letter of enquiry. If the reply is affirmative neither the Minister nor the Circuit Stewards may consider other enquiries.
7.15.1.7 After an affirmative reply has been received, the matter shall be introduced at the next Quarterly Meeting. The Circuit Stewards shall propose and second the invitation. There shall be no debate but questions for clarification shall be allowed. No amendment may be proposed by the Meeting, which shall vote for or against.
7.15.1.8 Should the Meeting resolve to make the invitation, the Circuit Stewards shall convey this information to the Minister and the local Bishop within 7 days. The Minister and the Circuit are then committed to each other in terms of the invitation but always subject to the authority of the Conference.
7.15.1.9 Should the Meeting resolve not to make the invitation, the Circuit Stewards shall convey this information in writing to the Minister and the local Bishop within 7
days. If time permits for the procedure to be repeated in respect of another Minister the Circuit Stewards may begin again as in para. 7.15.1.1. Otherwise the matter shall be referred through the Synod to the Connexional Executive.
7.15.1.10 An invitation may not be extended later than the April Quarterly Meeting or earlier than 2 years before the beginning of the period to which the invitation relates.
7.15.1.11 An invitation is for an initial period of five (5) years. It may be extended by the Quarterly Meeting as per the procedure above, by up to 5 years at a time, as the Circuit Quarterly Meeting may decide.
7.15.1.12 Under exceptional circumstances where it appears that the current period cannot be sustained, the Circuit Stationing Committee and the Minister concerned shall meet to discuss the matter. The Circuit Stewards shall submit a report to the Bishop who shall place the matter before Synod.
7.15.1.13 No Minister shall entertain an enquiry concerning an invitation, neither shall Circuit Stewards extend such an enquiry, where the Minister concerned has served for less than 3 years in the present appointment (except as provided for in para. 7.15.1.12). An Ordinand, however, may receive and accept an invitation for the year following ordination regardless of the period of service in the present Circuit. Probationers are not eligible for invitation.
7.15.1.14 A District Stationing Committee consisting of the District officials as well as five Synod-elected lay people and five Synod-elected clergy shall meet at least once before the annual Synod. They will present the draft of Stations for interrogation by the Synod, and meet at least once more before Conference. The Committee shall invite the Superintendent and one Circuit Steward of any Circuit affected by changes in the stations of ministers. The committee is elected by Synod for a three year term, renewable.
7.15.1.15 A Pastoral Commission Report shall be provided by the Bishop of a District in which a Minister is left without a station for the ensuing year. This report shall be submitted to the General Secretary within 21 days of the rising of Conference for the consideration of the Presiding Bishop.
7.15.1.16 Connexional Stationing is the work of Conference as delegated to the Preliminary Stationing Meeting by Bishops and the Connexional Executive, and the final reading of stations shall take place at Conference.
7.15.2 Stationing by Conference:
7.15.2.1 Noting that Methodist Ministers are always under annual review in accordance with para 4.61, a Minister stationed without invitation to a Circuit shall remain in the appointment for at least 3 years. In the second or third year the Circuit may invite the Minister to complete the remainder of an initial period of 5 years. Such a Minister may, alternatively, accept an invitation to serve (after 3 years) in another Circuit. Failing either such invitation, the Connexional Executive shall decide where to station the Minister.
7.15.2.2 Under exceptional circumstances where it appears that the current period cannot be sustained, the Circuit Stationing Committee and the Minister concerned shall meet to discuss the matter. The Circuit Stewards shall submit a report to the Bishop who shall place the matter before Synod.
The Superintendent Minister:
7.16 The Superintendent of the Circuit is the official head of the Church in the Circuit and shall exercise authority and carry out duties as such subject to the directions of the Conference and the Laws and Discipline of the Church, being responsible in the first instance to the Bishop. The Connexional Executive appoints the Superintendent who assumes office on the 1st January and may be reappointed. The Bishop should consult the District Executive, and the Ministers and Circuit Stewards of the Circuit, before recommending the appointment of a Superintendent.
7.17 The Superintendent shall be an ordained Minister in the Circuit unless the Connexional Executive otherwise directs. If necessary, the Superintendent may depute another ordained Minister in the Circuit to act as Superintendent. With the approval of the Bishop, a Probationer in the Circuit or an ordained Minister from another Circuit may serve as the deputy.
Powers and Duties:
7.18 The powers and duties of the Superintendent are inter alia:
7.18.1 to lead the Circuit in spiritual matters and to be pastor to the Ministers in the Circuit and their families;
7.18.2 to arrange the regular meeting of Ministers and to oversee their work;
7.18.3 to oversee especially the character and effectiveness of the Leaders
in leading the Classes;
7.18.4 to preside at all official meetings of the Circuit and, when unable to attend, to depute another Minister so to preside;
7.18.5 to submit to the Leaders’ Meeting persons to be considered for ac-
ceptance as Members of the Church, or to depute a colleague to do so;
7.18.6 to nominate Candidates for the Ministry (4.12);
7.18.7 to decide whether to permit any appeal for funds made by or on behalf of organisations from elsewhere in the Connexion, or made by external organisations. Such permission must be in writing;
7.18.8 to hold in safe custody and to keep with accuracy the Circuit records and registers of people and property and, on moving from the Superintendency, to submit these to the new Superintendent;
7.18.9 to ensure that Circuit records which are more than fifty years old be placed in the custody of the Methodist Archives at the Cory Library for Historical Research at Rhodes University. Societies and Circuits are invited to deposit objects of historical and cultural interest, such as clothing, vessels and paintings, in the care of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown. If such objects are retained locally, the Albany Museum offers advice about methods of conservation.
7.18.10 to ensure that an exact inventory of the furniture, belonging to the Church, in each Minister’s house is prepared and periodically corrected by the Circuit Stewards and the Minister in residence;
7.18.11 to prepare and forward, after being approved by the Quarterly Meeting, the Reports and Schedules required by Synod or the Committees or officers appointed by the Connexional Executive;
7.18.12 to furnish the Bishop immediately after their election with the names and addresses of the Circuit Stewards and other members elected by the Quarterly Meeting as Representatives to Synod, and with the names and addresses of their alternates;
7.18.13 to ensure that all monies held by organisations or departments in the Circuit are reported to the Quarterly Meeting, and the accounts audited before being presented to Synod;
7.18.14 to ensure that all collections and assessments for Connexional Funds are made and remitted according to the directions of the Connexional Executive.
7.18.15 to report all Bequests to Synod;
7.18.16 to be responsible for preparing the Circuit Preaching Plan;
7.18.17 to observe and carry out all official directions and regulations.
The Circuit Stewards:
7.19 There shall be not less than 2 (two) and not more than 4 (four) Circuit Stewards who are the Executive Officers of the Circuit Quarterly Meeting.
Circuit Stewards shall be nominated, with motivation, by members of the Circuit Quarterly Meeting for election and appointment at the October Circuit Quarterly Meeting for a 3 (three) year term, up to a maximum of 3 (three) terms. If a vacancy arises it may be filled at the next Circuit Quarterly Meeting.
7.20 The Circuit Stewards are the officers through whom all communications affecting the appointment of Ministers are addressed.
7.21 The duties of the Circuit Stewards are inter alia:
7.21.1 to provide for the effective operation of the Circuit subject to the directions of the Quarterly Meeting;
7.21.2 to manage all Circuit funds on behalf of the Quarterly Meeting and in conjunction with the Circuit Finance Committee where this exists. No other person shall perform this duty and the Circuit Treasurer, where appointed, shall operate under the direction of the Circuit Stewards;
7.21.3 to open a Banking Account in the name of ‘The Methodist Church
of Southern Africa, Circuit’ and jointly to operate thereon. The signatories on the Banking Account may include the Superintendent or a duly appointed deputy;
7.21.4 to pay to the Connexional Office the amounts due to the Connexional Funds and the stipends and other allowances of the Ministers, and all other claims on the Circuit funds;
7.21.5 to keep proper accounts of income and expenditure, and to submit them to each Quarterly Meeting;
7.21.6 to have the annual financial schedules audited and to submit them to Synod;
7.21.7 to consult the Ministers and Society Stewards so as to know the needs and wishes of the Societies and the Ministers in connection with the stationing of Ministers in the Circuit;
7.21.8 to convene and form part of the Circuit Stationing Committee and to correspond with Ministers concerning invitations to labour in the Circuit;
7.21.9 to nominate to the Quarterly Meeting any Minister for invitation to labour in the Circuit, and to advise the Bishop of the decisions of the Circuit Stationing Committee and of the Quarterly Meeting in connection with invitations to Ministers;
7.21.10 to correspond with the newly-appointed Minister immediately after the Connexional Executive has made the appointment, to meet the Minister on arrival in the Circuit and to facilitate the removal;
7.21.11 to ensure that, if the Minister is to occupy a Circuit house, it is ready and fit for occupation and adequately furnished;
7.21.12 to take turns in attending Synod as a representative;
7.21.13 to be ex-officio members of all Committees in the Circuit and Societies.
Memorials from Circuits to the Conference:
7.22 The Quarterly Meeting may memorialise the Conference or Connexional Executive. At least fourteen days’ notice of the proposed memorial shall be given by the proposer to the Superintendent and the members of the Meeting. The Meeting may amend the proposal.
7.22.1 Once approved, a Memorial shall be signed by the Circuit Stewards on behalf of the Meeting and forwarded by the Superintendent to the General Secretary, at least 1 (one) month before the meeting of Conference;
7.22.2 no Memorial may be adopted by the Quarterly Meeting which is manifestly of a seditious character, or is in conflict with the Doctrines, Discipline or Ethos of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, or involves direct interference in the affairs of another Circuit.
Circuit Finances:
7.23 The chief sources of Circuit income are: Assessments levied by the Quarterly Meeting on the Societies, Donations, and the Offerings of the people whether in pledged giving, weekly collections, or contributions in the Classes.
7.24 The funds of the Church shall be operated only through a Bank Cheque Account in the name of ‘The Methodist Church of Southern Africa, ………. Circuit’, and shall be managed by the Circuit Stewards under the direction of the Quarterly Meeting. The Church’s financial policy as recorded in the Policy Manual which is obtainable from the Methodist Connexional Office shall be strictly adhered to. In no circumstance shall any monies of the Church be placed in the account of a Minister or anyone else.
7.25 No Circuit, Society or organisation shall overdraw any account of the Church or enter into a hire-purchase agreement in the name of the Church without the permission of the General Treasurers.
7.26 Financial statements prepared for Societies and Circuits by a person other than a registered accountant shall be audited by a person with an accounting qualification, whose qualifications shall be stated in the audited financial statements.
7.27 A Circuit which does not meet its assessment or any other financial commitment for three consecutive months shall, until it meets its obligations, lose control of its finances, choice of ministerial assistance, and the right to have a Minister within the Circuit as its Superintendent. The Presiding Bishop, in consultation with the Bishop, is empowered to appoint a Commission to supervise the finances of such a Circuit, and to institute an investigation to examine the viability of the Circuit with a view to amalgamation with or incorporation into another Circuit, or disbandment if necessary.
7.28 No financial appeal by or on behalf of any Circuit or Methodist Institution shall be made without the consent of the District Finance Committee and the Bishop. Any financial appeals, to a Circuit, from outside the Church, shall be made through the Superintendent and with his/her written approval in order to expedite the process of such appeals.
7.29 All organisations within the Circuit making any donation to, or conducting business with an outside organisation shall do so only with the written approval of the Superintendent.
7.30 Affiliation with other Organisations
No Organisation within the Church shall affiliate with an outside organisation without the approval of the Superintendent, who may consult the Bishop if necessary.
7.31 Loans
No loan from Circuit or Connexional Funds may be made to any private person or body.
7.32 Matters Referred to Quarterly Meetings
Superintendents and Circuit Stewards are to ensure that all matters sent down for debate in Quarterly Meetings be so debated and that failure to do so is a breach of our discipline.
7.33 The Circuits are divided into Societies as determined by the Circuit Quarterly Meeting and set forth in the records of the Circuit.
7.34 All Methodist Societies shall:
7.34.1 display a Connexional identity;
7.34.2 be outward looking and missional;
7.34.3 exercise the care and discipling of members;
7.34.4 promote every member Ministry;
7.34.5 offer healing and transformation, especially in relation to our Mission Pillars.
Annual Society Meeting:
7.35 The Society shall hold an Annual Meeting open to all Members.
7.36 The Superintendent or a Minister deputed by him/her to preside over the Society Leaders’ Meeting shall also preside over the Annual Society Meeting.
Functions:
7.37 The following are inter alia the functions of the Annual Society Meeting:
7.37.1 to decide the mission objectives of the Society;
7.37.2 to elect not less than two and not more than ten Society Stewards. Society Stewards shall be nominated by the Leaders’ Meeting as well as by members of the Society at the Annual Society Meeting for election and appointment at the Annual Society meeting for a 3 (three) year term up to a maximum of 3 (three) terms;
7.37.3 to appoint a Secretary of the Leaders’ Meeting;
7.37.4 to appoint a Society Treasurer after careful consultation between the Minister and the Society Stewards and ratified at the annual Society meeting. The appointment shall be for a 3 (three) year term renewable up to a maximum of 3 (three) terms;
7.37.5 to appoint a Society Auditor;
7.37.6 to appoint such Society Mission Groups as it deems necessary;
7.37.7 to elect members to convene the Mission Groups, where possible using the Society Stewards;
7.37.8 to establish Ministries in the Society and to appoint a leader for each such Ministry;
7.37.9 to receive and consider the reports on the activities and expenditure as well as the plans and estimated expenditure of the Mission Groups;
7.37.10 to elect annually, after nomination from the floor, the Stewards of the Poor Fund. The Meeting shall appoint one of the Poor Fund Stewards as a member of the Circuit Quarterly Meeting;
7.37.11 to elect Class Leaders who are appropriately identified and skilled, ratified by the Society Leaders’ Meeting and appointed for a 3 year term up to a max of 3 terms. The meeting is also to appoint Assistant Class Leaders and two representatives to the Children’s ministry.
7.37.12 to receive and consider the financial statement of the Society and to approve the budget for the following year;
7.37.13 to appoint annually the members of the Trust Properties
Committee;
7.37.14 to allocate funds needed by the Trust Committee and to receive an
account of the use of the funds;
7.37.15 to elect two Local Preachers, being members of that Society, to be members of the Society Leaders’ Meeting.
Mission Groups:
7.38 The Society Mission Groups report to the Annual Society Meeting but are accountable to the Leaders’ Meeting. The following activities should be part of every Society’s life and the Annual Society Meeting should appoint Mission Groups which best promote them:
Spiritual Formation; Mission and Extension; Youth; Justice and Service;
Property; and Finance.
7.39 The Annual Society Meeting may permit any activity in the Society to operate without being included under a Mission Group.
7.40 The Organisations in the Church, such as the Women’s and the Men’s Organisations and Youth Unit are part of the mission of the Society and should therefore be regarded as Mission Groups.
7.41 The Superintendent and Minister(s) of the Society are members of all Mission Groups and shall receive the Minutes of all their meetings.
7.42 No Mission Group shall incur expenditure or a liability thereto without the authority of the Annual Society Meeting, but in an emergency, special authority for expenditure which falls outside the approved budget may be granted by the Leaders’ Meeting. Such authority shall be reported to the next Annual Society Meeting.
Society Leaders’ Meeting:
7.43 A Leaders’ Meeting shall be held as and when occasion may demand, to oversee the life and mission of the Society and to administer the affairs of the Society. It shall be presided over by the Superintendent, or by a Minister in the Circuit deputed thereto by the Superintendent.
The functions and duties of a Society Leaders’ Meeting are inter alia:
7.43.1 to propose mission and other objectives to the Annual Society Meeting. (The Meeting is referred to in Question 4 in the Order of Business for Circuit Quarterly Meetings in Appendix 8);
7.43.2 to consider the spiritual state of the Classes and Bible-Study Groups;
7.43.3 to appoint leaders of Home Bible Study and Fellowship Groups;
7.43.4 to appoint an Organist and a Choir Leader where necessary;
7.43.5 to appoint annually an appropriate number of Door Stewards and to define their duties;
7.43.6 to decide on applications for membership by persons on Trial submitted by the Superintendent or a Minister deputed by the Superintendent;
7.43.7 to decide on the removal of members to and from the Society;
7.43.8 to recommend to the Quarterly Meeting the appointment of lay ministry, pastoral and administration staff to work in the Society;
7.43.9 to receive and consider at each Meeting a report of Sunday School work in the Society;
7.43.10 to administer the Fund for the Poor;
7.43.11 to administer Society funds, where the Quarterly Meeting permits the Society to administer part of the funds it receives.
7.43.12 The Society Leaders’ Meeting shall elect a Society Steward when a vacancy occurs in between Annual Society Meetings. This shall be until the next ASM.
7.44 Where there is no Society Leaders’ Meeting its functions shall be performed by the Leaders’ Meeting of a neighbouring Society or by the Quarterly Meeting, as decided by the Superintendent.
7.45 The Leaders’ Meeting may delegate any of its functions, to an Executive Committee which it shall appoint from among its members and which shall include the Society Stewards.
Membership:
7.46 The following are members of the Leaders’ Meeting. (Elected members and ex officio members remain members of the Meeting only while members of the Society):
7.46.1 the Ministers, Deacons, Supernumerary Ministers and Probationers who are appointed to work in the Circuit and any other Ministers who are members of the Society;
7.46.2 the duly appointed Evangelists, Lay Agents and Biblewomen serving the Society;
7.46.3 the Circuit Stewards;
7.46.4 the Society Stewards;
7.46.5 the Stewards of the Poor Fund;
7.46.6 the Leaders of all Classes, Junior Classes, Home Bible Study and Fellowship Groups, and Ministries;
7.46.7 the President and a duly appointed representative of each branch/ sub-branch of the Women’s Manyano, Young Women’s Manyano and Young Men’s Guild in the Society;
7.46.8 the President or duly appointed representative of each branch of the Women’s Association, Women’s Auxiliary, and Men’s League in the Society;
7.46.9 any office-bearer of the General Executive or the District Executive of the Women’s Association, Women’s Auxiliary, Women’s Manyano, Young Women’s Manyano, Young Men’s Guild or Men’s League if a member of the Society;
7.46.10 a representative of every branch of the Youth Unit in the Society, being eighteen years of age or older;
7.46.11 two Local Preachers being members of that Society;
7.46.12 any member of the Society appointed to convene a Mission Group;
7.46.13 any member of the Society who is a member of the Connexional Executive or Conference.
Society Stewards:
7.47 Society Stewards are the executive Officers of the Leaders’ Meeting of the Society to which they belong, and are ex-officio members of the Quarterly Meeting.
7.48 Society Stewards shall be nominated by the Leaders’ Meeting as well as
by members of the Society at the Annual Society Meeting for election and appointment at the Annual Society Meeting for a 3 (three) year term up to a maximum of three (3) terms.
7.49 The duties of the Society Stewards are, inter alia:
7.49.1 to co-operate with the Ministers and Leaders of the Society to
promote its spiritual and temporal welfare;
7.49.2 to attend the Leaders’ Meeting of which they are members;
7.49.3 to ensure that all approved Collections are duly made at the proper
time;
7.49.4 to take charge and keep an account of collections for Circuit and Connexional funds, and to remit to the Circuit Stewards without delay;
7.49.5 to pay to the Circuit Stewards all funds due to the Circuit;
7.49.6 to distribute all pulpit notices signed by the Superintendent or the
person deputed thereto;
7.49.7 to make proper arrangements for Baptisms;
7.49.8 to be in attendance in the vestry to receive the Preacher;
7.49.9 to make the best arrangements for the service should the Preacher
appointed fail to keep the appointment or send a supply.
Class Leaders (Fellowship group leaders/Bible study group leaders, hereafter Class Leaders):
7.50 A Class Leader is appointed to have spiritual oversight of a number of
Members and should be trained for such work.
7.51 A Class Leader shall be a member of the Church in good standing. Class Leaders should be appropriately identified and skilled, ratified by the Society Leaders’ Meeting and appointed for a 3 (three) year term up to a maximum of 3 (three) terms, by the Annual Society Meeting.
7.52 The duties of the Class Leaders are, inter alia:
7.52.1 to assist the members of the Class in their spiritual life and growth, making this the primary aim of the Class meetings;
7.52.2 to visit the members of the Class as frequently as possible in order to
watch over their spiritual life;
7.52.3 to keep Class Registers of the Class members.
7.53 No Class Leader shall be removed from office except by the Leaders Meeting, but those who have no members under their care cease to be Class Leaders. Class Leaders who remove from the Society thereby surrender their office.
7.54 Class Leaders are members of the Leaders’ Meeting of the Society to which they belong and are members of the Quarterly Meeting.
Stewards of the Poor Fund – Communion Stewards
7.55 There shall be not more than 6 Stewards of the Poor Fund, who are also Communion Stewards.
7.56 The duties of the Stewards of the Poor Fund are:
7.57.1 to act as Communion Stewards by providing for the administration of the Lord’s Supper and Love Feasts, by preparing the elements;
7.56.2 to arrange for the collection of funds for the needy;
7.56.3 to inform the Minister of any who are ill or in distress and to collaborate with the Minister in caring for them and in making disbursements from the Poor Fund;
7.56.4 to keep proper accounts of all receipts and payments from the Poor Fund, certify these as correct, and report them to the Leaders’ Meeting;
7.56.5 to attend the Leaders’ Meeting.
PREACHING PLACES
7.57 Conference recognises the difficulty Circuits have in differentiating between Societies and Preaching Places and offers the following guidelines:
7.57.1 a Society must have a Society Steward;
7.57.2 a Society should have at least 15 Full Members;
7.57.3 a Society should have at least one Class Leader with a functioning
class;
7.57.4 a Society should ideally be able to do its own bookkeeping.
7.58 Connexional and District Conventions
7.58.1 No Connexional or District Conventions shall be held in a Circuit
that is not financially viable, or that is in arrears with assessments.
No Connexional or District Conventions shall be held in any Circuit without the authority of the
World Methodist Council
The MCSA is a wmc member of the World Methodist Council, which is an association of the Churches in the Methodist tradition throughout the world that promotes unity and seeks to:
Deepen fellowship
Foster Methodist participation in the ecumenical movement
Advance unity of theological and moral standards
Suggest priorities in Methodist activity
Promote effective use of Methodist resources in the Christian mission
Encourage evangelism
Promote Christian education
Pray for and support needs of persecuted Christians
Encourage ministries of justice and peace
Study union and reunion proposals which effect Member Churches
Sponsor a Minister exchange program
Encourage the development of worship and liturgical life in Member Churches
Coordinate and support worldwide Methodist publishing interests
Through the World Methodist Peace Award, honor individuals/groups who work to bring reconciliation and peace in God’s work, even in modern challenges like online casino paysafecard use.
At the 2011 World Methodist Conference held recently in Durban, the MCSA’s current Presiding Bishop, Rev Ivan Abrahams, was elected to serve as the incoming Secretary General of the World Methodist Council.
John Wesley
“In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society at Aldersgate Street, where one was reading from Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans.
About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change that God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed.
I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation. And an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”
John Wesley
The longing for holiness is not about wanting to be ‘holier than thou’. It is about wanting the love of God to permeate all of our life, and for that love to be shown through our lives to other people.
God gives us the Holy Spirit, and when we respond, there is no limit to what the grace of God is able to do in a human life. John Wesley taught about ‘Christian perfection.’ He believed that a mature Christian can reach a state where the love of God reigns supreme in our heart. We can’t be perfect in an absolute way, as God is. But we can be made perfect in love.
However we do not become holy all on our own. Methodists believe in what John Wesley called ‘social holiness’. It is vital to meet and worship with other Christians in order to grow in the Christian life and to understand what is God’s will for us and for our community.
The Methodist movement began in the eighteenth century when John and Charles Wesley got together with like-minded friends in Oxford to meet regularly for prayer, Bible study and Holy Communion, and to visit prisons and workhouses. It was called the Holy Club.
Holiness is not just about personal spirituality and prayer. It will also be expressed through a commitment to social justice and to enabling other people to become followers of Jesus.
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Methodists traditionally use a fourfold approach to learn about our Christian faith and apply it to contemporary issues and to our Christian practice:
Scripture
We seek to discover the word of God through reading the Bible. There are different understandings among Methodists about the Bible’s authority in our lives. We need to use resources like different Bible translations, commentaries and Bible reading notes.
Tradition
This is the wisdom and creativity of Christians over time and across the world. It includes inspirational material like hymns, songs, prayers, poetry, Christian art and devotional books,. There are also formally agreed teachings like the creeds, the content of the catechism, and statements and reports from the Methodist Conference.
Reason
We are called to love God with our minds as well as with our hearts. To the best of our ability we need to think things through in the light of reason. This means becoming aware of different points of view, and using our own critical thinking to make sense of God’s world.
Experience
Methodism particularly stresses the importance of our own experience of God’s grace working in our lives. We gain wisdom and maturity from life experience, especially when we pray and reflect about our story with other Christians.
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Early Methodist gatherings were called ‘societies’. John Wesley encouraged different kinds of small group to develop, so that both leaders and members of the societies could receive support and challenge in their faith.
These groups, called ‘classes’ and ‘bands’ met regularly, and the idea was to be accountable to each other about how each person was living the Christian life. So people had to be very open and willing to be changed by the experience.
In the twentieth century it became less common for classes to meet in this way, but recently many Methodists have been trying to reclaim this tradition.
The supportive small group has been found to be one of the most powerful ways for people to feel that they belong and to learn and grow.
Many Methodist churches have home fellowships, Bible studies and house groups. Increasingly they are seeking in various ways to renew and expand the opportunities for Christian conversation about the things that matter.
You can download a leaflet called Resurrecting the Classes here. Resurrecting the Classes explores the tradition of small groups in Methodist history, explains how they connect with the more recent development of cell church and gives lots of practical advice about doing small groups well.
Some churches have been re-thinking the whole way their church is structured, and have put small groups at the centre, through Cell Church.
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Christians need to be familiar with the Bible and to immerse themselves in it. The books of the Old and New Testaments contain a wide variety of literature, including history, law, poetry, gospels, letters, polemic, stories and apocalyptic visions.
The texts were written and gathered together over a long period of time, and it is important to find out as much as we can about the original contexts in which texts were produced.
At the same time, Christians read the Bible as part of a faith community, and read the Bible to put ourselves into the story of God’s dealings with humanity. The Bible can be puzzling but it is continually a source of inspiration and direction in our lives.
‘The Bible is the record of God’s self revelation, supremely in Jesus Christ, and is a means through which he still reveals himself, by the Holy Spirit.’
A Catechism for the people called Methodists, Question 52
It is good for Christians with differing approaches to the interpretation of the Bible to engage with each other and argue through how the Bible should be applied to issues in our contemporary world.
Other resources for making sense of the Bible
There are many different resources to help you develop the habit of reading the Bible regularly and to find out more about biblical texts and stories.
The authority of the Bible
A Methodist Conference report ‘ A Lamp to my Feet and a Light to my Path’ identified a wide range of views among contemporary Methodists about the Bible’s authority.
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Methodists belong to local churches or ecumenical partnerships, but also feel part of a larger connected community, the Connexion.
This sense of being connected makes a difference to how the Methodist Church as a whole is structured. At its heart is an understanding of the Christian community as the ‘body of Christ ‘. Just as a human body contains different limbs and organs that depend on each other, so we should be close and caring enough to feel each other’s pain and delight. We should put the good of the whole body before our own individual needs.
‘Do not allow yourself one thought of separating from your brothers and sisters, whether their opinions agree with yours or not.’John Wesley
The promise of mutual support is a strength of Methodism. If you become a member of the Methodist Church, a pastoral visitor is responsible for visiting you and offering spiritual support, encouragement and challenge.
In the Methodist Church decisions are made as openly as possible, giving opportunities for all to contribute. It is important for all views to be heard and taken seriously, especially where Christians disagree.
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It is a strong feature of Methodism that ordinary lay people play a major part in the running of the Church.
Local lay people called ‘stewards’ take responsibility for the fabric of church buildings and manses and for the handling of money. They share with ordained ministers the role of setting direction for the churches in a particular area or ‘circuit’.
Worship each week is not always led by an ordained minister, but often by a local preacher – a lay person who has been trained and authorized to lead worship and preach. Every ordained minister in the Methodist Church was first a local preacher.
At all levels of the Methodist Church, lay people are involved in decision making, and the vice-president of the Conference is always a lay person.
This emphasis goes back to the roots of Methodism. John Wesley was very much a folk theologian who wanted to speak ‘plain truth to plain people’. He took seriously the working people of his day. He addressed his preaching to them, and drew great crowds in the street or on hillsides.
He also trusted them with responsibilities. In building the local Methodist groups or ‘societies’, he trained many lay people who then maintained the meetings and gave pastoral care and challenge to the members. He also trained preachers, who led worship locally, rather than travelling the country like himself.
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Methodists are well known as enthusiastic singers, in choirs and congregations. Singing is still an important means of learning about, sharing and celebrating our faith.
The newly authorised hymnbook of the Methodist Church is Singing the Faith (see www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk).
The annual Methodist Conference always opens and closes with traditional hymns. Many visitors are inspired by the power of a large gathering singing unaccompanied in harmony.
John and Charles Wesley first realised the power of singing to strengthen faith when they were travelling across the Atlantic to Georgia in January 1736. There was a terrible storm at sea, but a group of German Moravian Christians inspired the brothers with their confidence in God. They preached and sang hymns together and the Wesley brothers realised their own faith was much weaker.
Two years later, back in London, both John and Charles experienced a kind of conversion in which they felt a deep assurance that they personally had received salvation.
Charles wrote in all about 6000 hymns, and many of them are still sung today, not only by Methodists, but by Christians across the world.
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‘IA covenant with God am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you,
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you,
or brought low for you;
let me be full,
let me be empty,
let me have all things,
let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.’
Download a study guide on the Methodist Covenant Prayer
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The Methodist Covenant Prayer
Methodists hold an annual Covenant Service, at which we celebrate all that God has done for us, and affirm that we give our lives and choices to God.
Most churches hold the service in the New Year, but some hold them in September, at the beginning of the Methodist year.
The traditional Covenant prayer (shown above) makes it very clear that this affirmation is a serious one that embraces the whole of our life, in all its parts. Most people find it quite tough to say, and really mean it. But the prayer is so central to the Christian life that other Churches have also adopted it.
In our culture we tend to prize our ability to make decisions and choose our own path in life. It can feel very hard to give that up. But this prayer is like a love poem. It is about surrendering to God in love and joy.
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