The Newcastle (Staffs)
Methodist Circuit 

   The Super's Desk

At the time of the signing of the historic Covenant between the Methodist Church of Great Britain and the Church of England in November 2003 I was Superintendent Minister of Blackburn Methodist Circuit. In preparation for the signing of the Covenant a number of meetings were held between members of the North Lancashire District and the Blackburn Diocese. As well as attending a joint Synod I also attended a meeting of Methodist Circuit Superintendents and Anglican Area Deans.

That meeting was well attended and proved to be very profitable. A number of searching questions were explored. Among them we were asked to suggest what, that was distinctive, we brought from our different traditions to enhance the proposed covenant relationship. Not perhaps surprisingly the Methodist response was immediate, positive and comprehensive. A number of Superintendents spoke enthusiastically about ‘the Circuit’ and ‘Connexionalism’. There was a long pause before one of the Anglican Deans finally responded with ‘the Parish’.

I know what he meant. The focus of the Parish is important. It is a constant reminder of the fact that the congregation has a community base and has a responsibility to serve the community in which it is set. It also offers a focus for mission. However, in reality, the idea of the Parish, at least in an Anglican context, has never slavishly been adhered to. In different Parishes different styles of worship and different theologies have developed and people have felt comfortable to cross Parish boundaries to find a congregation in which they feel at home.

By contrast, in Methodism, despite our affirmation that the Circuit is the primary unit of mission, there has developed a form of ‘parochialism’ that has led to a slavish attachment to our buildings to the detriment of both service and mission. We have alienated ourselves from that sense of Circuit and Connexionalism that was so much a part of the genius of our founding fathers. It is now in danger of bringing about our ultimate demise!

In no small measure Wesley had it right when in his letter to James Hervey, dated 20th March 1739, he used the phrase "I look upon the world as my parish...!" His overriding sense of a call to proclaim the Gospel meant that, for him, Parish boundaries were of no consequence. His letter goes on, "...thus far, I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear the glad tidings of salvation."

And there we have it. The question we have to ask ourselves is, ‘To what extent is our devotion to our buidings a help or a hinderance to our mission?’ It is a question being faced by Methodist folk the length and breadth of the Connexion as we come to terms with what it means to engage in mission in the 21st century. The answer will, without any doubt, determine our future.

Every blessing,

(May 2010)