This paper describes possible changes to way the Methodist Church:

• organises and administers Worship Leaders;
• offers Circuit-based support to Local Preachers and Worship Leaders;
• records Local Preachers on the Circuit Plan.

• the calling of those who offer to serve as Worship Leaders;
• how well the Circuit's initial training provision of Worship Leaders equips people for the role;
• how well the Circuit offers resources and support for the continuing development of Worship Leaders.

• Worship Leaders to become Circuit appointments (where the Circuit Meeting is advised by the Circuit LWP Meeting ­ see 2. below). The Circuit Meeting, with the help of the Circuit LWP Meeting, would negotiate the remit of each Worship Leader: · serving in one named church (as at present); or:
  • serving in two or more named churches;
  • or in small Circuits, for example:
  • serving in any church in the Circuit.

The Circuit, in a Circuit service, to recognise the admission of new Worship Leaders and (after a satisfactory 5-year [rather than triennial] review) the continuing ministry of existing Worship Leaders. The service to include the presentation of a dated 5-year certificate.

Worship Leaders moving Circuit to be able to offer their ministry to a new Circuit subject to production of a dated 5-year certificate, a satisfactory reference from the previous Circuit and an appropriate induction period arranged by the new Circuit's LWP Meeting.

Worship Leaders to be used only in services where a preacher is planned.

The preacher to retain overall responsibility for the worship, but to seek to use the gifts and talents of Worship Leaders and all those taking part in worship;

'Local Arrangements' to be services without a preaching element arranged and led by the local congregation themselves, for example in a way that Paul would recognise: bringing a psalm, hymn or word of encouragement. A `Local Arrangement' service might also include prayers led by worshippers, prayerful reflection by worshippers on a Bible-passage, testimony, silence and meditation, interviews, discussion, recorded music ­ and more! A congregation should not use 'Local Arrangement' services of any name or kind to pressure Worship Leaders, Local Preachers or other preachers into taking on additional worship leading and preaching responsibilities.
 

The quarterly Circuit Local Preachers' Meeting (the 'LP' Meeting) to become the Circuit Leaders of Worship and Preachers' Meeting (the 'LWP' Meeting), with a membership of Local Preachers, Worship Leaders, Ministers, Deacons with a preaching ministry and those from other denominations who have been recognised by the Meeting.

The Circuit LWP Meeting to have a much shorter agenda that encourages fellowship, support, development, care and collaboration and that uses efficient ways to exercise oversight of training and discipline.

The Circuit LWP Meeting to adopt a pastoral secretary role that promotes pastoral care of Local Preachers and Worship Leaders, either as an additional post or as an aspect of the Circuit LWP Secretary role. Methodist Conference agreed this in principle in 2003.

This role would also enable a local expression of the proposed LWP Trust whose purposes are envisaged as:

• to support the initial training, education and continuing development of those leading worship and preaching;
• to develop resources and materials to assist those in carrying out their duties in leading worship and preaching;
• to support the pastoral care of those leading worship and preaching;
• to assist those in need who are involved in leading worship and preaching, whether active or retired, and their widows or widowers, parents, parents in law, children, and other dependants including the provision of housing, treatment, care, advice and advocacy.

The Circuit LWP Meeting to address the following matters either directly (especially if the meeting is small in numbers) or through the use of authorised sub-groups appointed by the LWP Meeting:

• the training of Local Preachers;
• Local Preachers On Note;
• Local Preachers On Trial;
• Support for Continuing Local Preacher Development.

the training of Worship Leaders:

• completion of initial training course to a satisfactory standard;
• testing the calling of Worship Leaders during a probationary period of normally 4 consecutive quarters;
• assessing the leading of a congregation in worship by Worship Leaders on at least 2 occasions during the probationary period;
• using the paper What is a Worship Leader?, relevant parts of the Service Report Form and at least one conversation during the probationary period to test the call and assess the leading of worship;
• ensuring the completion of the probationary period to a satisfactory standard;
• recommending to the Circuit the commissioning of those who have completed satisfactorily the probationary period;
• 5-year review of Worship Leaders (arranged by the Circuit as a rolling programme from September 2005 and using the specification of What is a Worship Leader?) The outcomes of the review could be:
  • commission renewal; or
  • commission after additional training to a satisfactory standard; or
  • no further commission.
• any matter of discipline and pastoral concern (concern, not pastoral care) relating to Local Preachers and Worship Leaders in the following areas:
  • Calling
  • Commitment
  • Conduct
  • Competence
  • Creed
• using the Guidelines for matters of discipline and pastoral concern (see accompanying paper).

When preachers have had to interrupt their preaching ministry, the date of admission as a Local Preacher has been changed to an artificial year to indicate a shorter period of preaching. This has caused disappointment and hurt, especially when the circumstances which caused the hiatus were beyond the control of the Local Preacher concerned.

It is proposed that Circuit Plans made after September 2005 should list Local Preachers in alphabetical order. The indicating of each preacher's year of admission should be optional ­ agreed by the Circuit LWP Meeting. If they are included, the actual year of admission as a Local Preacher should be used, rather than any other.

The Circuit Plan should continue to record:

• Local Preachers (i.e. those who are active preachers),
• Local Preachers On Trial,
• Local Preachers On Note

where possible, giving names (Christian name and surname), addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.

Then, the Circuit Plan should also list names (names only) in a new category:

• Local Preachers Resting (i.e. those who, for whatever reason e.g. retirement, ill-health, sabbatical, maternity/paternity leave - are not active this quarter).