The Church Council decided that from April the only evening services at UOMC will be a once a month for a tea or communion service, most likely on the first Sunday of the month, any any other special events

The Latest on Merging the Five Bristol Circuits into one

At the suggestion of the Chairman of the District, Revd Ward Jones, the Circuit leadership Teams of the five Bristol Circuits met together on the 3rd of March to discuss the possibility of merging Circuits together. Ward had prepared a series of options which we discussed over a period of three hours. After Lunch we resumed having whittled them down to two, in the ensuing discussion a voice said "Why don't we just have one Circuit" it was felt that the Spirit had spoken and it was quickly agreed to bring all the five circuits together.

This brief report tells you where we are up to at the moment and what decisions have already been made and continue to be made.

The first decision was to appoint an interim Leadership Team which would have the delegated powers to make the necessary decisions to set up the new Circuit. The interim Leadership Team would consist of three representatives of each Circuit being-The Superintendent, a Circuit Steward and another Lay Person. This group has met on three occasions so far.

There was considerable discussion about what we might call the new circuit. There were a number of suggestions and a strong feeling in certain quarters that it should reflect the whole area - so the name Bristol and South Gloucestershire has been adopted for a period of three years followed by a review.

Superintendancy

Again there was much discussion about how this might be handled - in the process we looked at the model being used by the new Manchester Circuit. It was decided to have a Superintendancy Team with a lead Superintendent, the current Supers to form this team and the lead to be chosen from among them. The interim Leadership team chose the current Super of the Bristol South Circuit Revd Jim Dobson to be the first Lead Super.

The Superintendancy Team will operate with Cabinet type responsibility, being responsible together for the whole range of the Superintendents work.

This will be representative of the Churches of the Circuit as it is at the moment, but it will need to be reduced in size in some way. We are working on possibilities. It will also need to see itself as much more the setter of policy and targets. The day-to-day activity would be delegated to the Circuit Council.

This could consist of the Superintendancy team, The Circuit Stewards - at the moment we are looking at two from each of the 5 current Circuits as the initial Circuit Stewards. And representative members of staff from each cluster.

The working parties are in the early stages of their deliberations so what we have to say must not be taken as final in any way.

Mission

The group will be looking to ensure that Mission (in the broadest sense of the term) will be forwarded in all the Churches in the Circuit. Exactly how it is delivered at the local level will depend on the particular circumstances -this links with clusters overleaf (page 4),

This group is in the process of preparing a budget for 2008/2009. The working groups will have to give their budget requirements to the Finance group before a final budget, which needs to be ready Easter time, can be drawn up.

This group is looking at what is currently happening across the five Circuits and what it sees as the needs of the new Circuit. At the moment we are in the process of drawing up possible Job Descriptions - it looks like we might need 3 part time posts as there is a diversity of skills required. We are also looking at where such people might be located.

This group is looking at the current staffing arrangements and what might happen in the future. At the moment we are committed to maintaining the arrangements which have been agreed for 2008/9, We will need to look at 2009/10 in the light of the evolving situation.

Clusters

We have been looking at the model of Circuit used in Manchester where 4 Circuits came together in 2002. One of the ideas they incorporated into their new set-up was the clustering of Churches together to help them to work together and to feel part of the new whole. We are hoping to examine how we might incorporate this idea into the new Circuit here, and wilt be consulting widely as we go, some points to bear in mind are that

They are NOT-

• Like Circuits with business meetings - the new circuit has those

• Like sections with its own minister - they will have more than one

• Necessarily the same set of churches as before - the groupings will have the primary aim of intentional mission, so will need to be designed for working closely together.

• A set size - they could be big or small as required

• Self-sufficient in resources - they are shared across the new circuit.

They could -

• Be geographical or non-geographical - common interests groups could be formed.

• include Methodist and other denominations

• Overlap - a church could be in one cluster geographically but share an interest with others churches across the circuit, churches on housing estates for example.

• Share staff with other clusters

• Evolve over time

They will typically work

• In staff meetings, leadership team meetings, action groups focussed around everyday mission and ministry;

• They will be represented on the Circuit Council so being part of the policy making of the Circuit.

Superintendancy Team September 2007.

The Timetable

Regular meeting of Interim Leadership Team and Superintendents Teams.

Report of Working Parties to ILT and Stage One agreement to Policy in the Combined Circuit.

Agreement on Structure of New Circuit i.e. Membership of a Circuit Council and Representation

on Circuit Meeting. Stage 1 Proposals for Circuit Appointments including Circuit Stewards.

FEBRUARY 2008

Agreement of Budget for 2008-9. Appointment of Lead Staff in areas of Circuit Life.

Stage 2 Proposals for Circuit Appointments. Further report from Working Parties and Stage 2

agreement on Circuit Policies. Progress reports to all joining Circuit Meetings including Budget

proposals. Agreement on Policy Property Management e.g. Manses. Agreement on Pastoral

Responsibility and proposal relating to concept of "Clusters"

Preparation for Stationing in 2009 and Review of Circuit Staffing.

Process for amalgamation of Circuit Meeting / Circuit Council.

Amalgamation of Local Preachers Meetings.

Creation of the new Circuit and act of Celebration. Initial Administration Structure in place.

Stage 1 amalgamation of Circuit Plan First Meeting of Circuit Council and Circuit Meeting.

Initial "Clusters" in place. Stationing Agreement and applications for 2009.

Agreement of Circuit Appointments and initial Policy proposals in place.

Ecumenical sharing initiatives.

Continuing work on Mission Policy, Finance, Staffing and issues.

Full amalgamation of Circuit Plan as appropriate.

Gradual integration of Circuit custom and practise.

1st Appointments made specifically to the new Circuit.

Ongoing Consolidation of Policies. Initial Review of Clusters.

Review of Budget.