What is the Spirit saying to our Churches” A Pentecost Sunday District Zoom Gathering Sunday 31st May at 6.30pm – 8.00pm. A Zoom gathering hosted by Leslie Newton, Chair of District, with sharing from people within the District and a space for conversation together.
It was great to welcome people from all around the District for our Pentecost Zoom Gathering. A sincere thanks to Andy Lindley, Heather Shipman, Lansford Penn-Timity, Amy Shephard, Liane Kensett, and Richard Teal for their contributions. I’m so sorry that the upgraded Zoom subscription that should have allowed our numbers to be over 100 failed. Huge apologies to those who tried to get in but couldn’t.
It is not possible for Representative Synod to physically meet together this Spring. However, in addition to papers sent out to Synod members, Revd Leslie Newton, Chair of District, will offer a live video for Synod members (and anyone else who wishes to view) lasting about half an hour on Saturday 25th April at 10am.
Tune in live on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/leslie.newton.562 (it will also appear on our District Facebook Page and District Facebook Group) or for those who are not on Facebook, you should be able to view the video on this page below:
As Easter People we now embark on the “Great 50 Days” leading from Easter to Pentecost Sunday. In the midst of our current severe challenges, our Chair of District, Revd Leslie Newton encourages us to join in faithfully responding by focussing on these three themes: LOVE, PRAY, GIVE.
Yorkshire North and East District invites you to make these three themes a priority between Easter and Pentecost 2020: Love Pray Give
We will be sharing more resources online and by email in the coming weeks to support us in exploring these themes.
Please note: if you need to contact the District Office, please call our District Admin, Siân, directly on 07809 431871 for the time being – Don’t ring the office phone, as you won’t reach us, but use the mobile number provided above. All other contacts remain the same.
District-led Gatherings for Conferring Together on the God In Love Unites Us report and proposals
As you will be aware the Connexion is inviting wide-spread conferring about the “God In Love Unites Us” report, exploring marriage and relationships, and its proposals. The Representative Spring Synod on Saturday 25th April 2020 will have a further discussion and hold the necessary vote. All ministers in the active work have received both the report and the study guide. Copies can viewed, or ordered, at:
Our plans for conversation within the District, as agreed by both the Superintendents and the District Leadership Team are as follows:
All local churches and circuits are encouraged to have local conversations, using the material provided, as they so wish. Two facilitation training meetings are being arranged within the District to support those who will lead these conversations and ministers are being advised of these separately.
Four District
led gatherings for conferring will be held around the District in
February/March 2020 as set out below. These meetings will be widely advertised
and open to all and I very much hope that all Synod members will attend one of
these gatherings. They will be important
opportunities to share and confer sensitively and graciously across
circuits.
Additionally,
having read the whole report, if anyone would like to offer a reflection in
writing, this can be submitted to the District Office by 20th March
2020. A paper summarising reflections from
the gatherings and offered in writing will be prepared for distribution to
Synod members prior to the Representative Synod.
The Representative
Synod on Saturday 25th April 2020 will have further conversation and
will then express its mind as requested. It is important to note that Synod
members are ‘representatives’ rather than ‘delegates’. We will all come to that Synod aware of views
expressed locally, at our District gatherings and in writing, but we gather to
confer together and then prayerfully express our mind through the vote we are
asked to make.
Every week during December and January we will sharing some of our “Good News Stories” videos – featuring projects, events and success stories of many varieties from all around the district! These will be posted on our Social Media channels on Facebook and Twitter.
You may have already seen a few of these on our website and at Flourish, but we look forward to sharing others with you which haven’t been released before.
Yorkshire North and East Methodist District is to undertake important research on homelessness.
We are pleased to announce that Mark Bevan, who has a background in housing research and issues surrounding homelessness, will be working with us over the next year to see how local churches and the District as a regional voice can make a positive impact on homelessness.
There are now a few dates and venues confirmed for Digital Training sessions around the District over the coming months. Take a look at the Digital Resources page. If you want to organise a training event in your local circuit or area, get in touch.
