Research Matters. research projects being undertaken by Methodism and for Me. Upcoming Conferences

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1 Scholarship Research & Innovation Issue 1 March 2016 Research Matters Welcome to the first edit tion of Research Matters. You ll find details of research projects being undertaken by Methodism and for Me ethodism, conferences, ces, study trips,, publications and other ways for Meth thodists to learn from and contribute to re esearch. We hope you find this helpfu ul. Please forward this on to others s who might be interested in this. Upcoming Conferences The inaugural Methodist Research Conferen nce takes place at St John s College at Durham University on Wednesday 27 April This is a combined conference between the Methodist Church and the Methodist Studies Seminar Series. The Conference will include key notes and four streams of short papers by 20 plus Methodist scholars and updates on Methodist research. On Tuesday 26 April 2016, at St John s College there will be a conference on Growing Methodism in the No orth East discussing the findings of a research project overseen by Dr Andrew Orton (Durham) into factors assisting and hindering growth within Methodist congregations. Booking in advance is necessary for these two events. Please Penny Bissell at p.a.bissell@durham.ac.uk. Attendance is free. Rural Ministry: An effective Chri istian Presence Conference (a joint event between the Methodist and United Reform Church) takes place on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 Ju uly 2016 at Cliff College, Calver, Sheffield. The Conference invites rural practitioners to speak about various aspects of rural mission or ministry. It is hoped to publish a collection of essays from a Methodist/United Reform Church background around the concept of rural mission and an effective christian presence. To register your interest harmerd@methodistchurch.org.uk There is an 80 delegate rate for this conference; this cost includes all meals and single en-suite accommodation at Cliff College. For further information on all these events see the Methodist Church Website at: The Migration and Mission Con nference takes place at the University of Roehampton, London on Wednesday 7 September The one day event being run by the Susanna Wesley Foundation in conjunction with the Methodist Church, will explore the rich, complex relationship between migration and ministry across a broad range of academic disciplines, faith traditions and religious organizations. The conference offers an opportunity for that dialogue and for the generation of new perspectives with potential for real impact. Contributions are invited, please send abstracts or summaries ( words) to swf@roehampton.ac.uk by 31 March P a g e Images Freeimages.co.uk

2 Other dates for your diaries Wesley Historical Society: 2016 Annual Lecture & AGM with supporting programme, being held at Brunswick Methodist Church in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, 25 June See details at Interested in becoming an Honorary Research Fellow? The Methodist Church currently has agreements with four institutions regarding Methodist Honorary Research Fellows. A number of Methodists who meet the general requirements for Hon Research Fellow status - which is normally to be a PhD holder and either actively researching or hoping to more actively research - are welcome to contact the Director of SRI to discuss this possibility. You may wish to be associated with a particular institution because it fits your specialism or it is located close to you. The hope is that this Honorary Research Fellow relationship might encourage and enable more to become engaged in research. The institutions currently involved are: The University of Roehampton; Oxford Brookes Univeristy; The Queen s Foundation; and St John s College Durham. Responsibilities of a Research Fellow will include participation in annual events, actively researching, and willingness to share insights with others. Privileges will include access to library facilities including e-resources. For those interested, please contact the Director of SRI at Skuces@methodistchurch.org.uk with a copy of your academic CV. 2 P a g e

3 A New Top 10 Seller? Holy Habits Holy Habits by Andrew Roberts Holy Habits The call to Christian Discipleship is a call to adventure. Holy Habits explores this adventure through a rich mix of biblical material and inspiring stories. Both the nature and nurture of discipleship are explored. Andrew Roberts is a Methodist Minister presently serving as a Discipleship specialist in the Discipleship and Ministries Network. Previously he was Fresh Expressions Director of Training. He co-authored the critically acclaimed fresh! An introduction to fresh expressions and pioneer ministry. What others are saying: This is one of the very best books I ve read on discipleship Lucy Moore, Messy Church Just the job! An accessible and authentic account of Christian Discipleship, full of encouragement and insight Martyn Atkins, Team Leader and Superintendent Minister, Westminster Central Hall. Holy Habits can be purchased through Amazon.co.uk priced at Roberts/dp/ /ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie =UTF8&qid= &sr=1-1&keywords=holy+habits 3 P a g e

4 Regional Research Groups A small number of regional research grou ups are in the process of being established. Some already exist (for example in Sheffield) and it is hoped that it will be possible to establish perhaps six or seven additional groups. These groups will develop as is appropriate locally but will likely include a small number of senior Methodist researchers, some who are interested in developing research, as well as those who might have a background in another discipline but look forward to theological conversation at a different level to what might normally happen in local church and circuit settings. There will be groups that are established and groups that already servee such a purpose but perhaps could be better known and recognised. Sheffield: This group meets approx twice per year. Please contact Rev d Dr John Vincent or Rev'd Dr Noel Irwin North East: This group is being established and will meet in conjunctionn with the Research Seminars at Wesley Study Centre, Durham. Please see and contact Penny Bissel p.a.bissel@durham.ac.uk to book in (at no cost) for any of the seminars. Groups for Scotland and the Bristol area are under construction at the moment. If you think there is value in such a group in your area, please contact the Director of SRI Stephen Skuce skuces@methodfistchurch.org.uk to discuss this possibility. 4 P a g e Images Freeimages.co.uk

5 Study y Trips to Jerusalem, Rome & Taizé June 2016: For young Methodists aged 18-29, joining with other young people from across Europe, being held in Taizé é, France. For further details contact Meg Prowting at: prowtingm@methodistchurch.org.uk 2-8 June 2016: The study tour in Rome will think through issues relating to Methodism and ecumenism. Accommodation will in recently developed Methodist Accommodation at Ponte Sant Angelo. It is possible to do a Cliff College certificate in ecumenical study as part of this. Contact harmerd@methdistchurch.org.uk 7-18 July 2016: This 11 day study tour thinks through issues related to reading scripture in a particula context. Parts of the tour engage with Christian communities in Nazareth and Bethlehe em and include overnight stays with Palestinian families in Bethlehem. Contact Cathi Thacker c.thacker@cliffcollege.ac.uk 5 P a g e Images Freeimages.co.uk

6 Higher Education: Financial Support Presbyters and Deacons: If you are seeking financial support to undertake a Higher Education Award, the Methodist Church currently supports presbyters and deacons up to 1,500 per annum for two years, with a possibility of additional years, if you meet the criteria for applications. Lay Employees: Methodist employees who work full-time for a Methodist congregation, circuit or district may be eligible for some support for HE study. Please go to the Methodist Church Website Study Support pages (see link above) for the application criteria and deadline details. Pioneers: All Methodists involved in pioneering may be able to receive support for additional study to help their pioneering activity. This might include an HE award or a Cliff College certificate programme. Please see the Methodist Church Website Study Support pages for full details of the application criteria and the dates by which you need to apply. Research Projects The Strategic Research Team has been carrying out research in a number of areas to support Working Parties, Committees and at the direction of Conference and Council. These include; Regrouping for Mission, Superintendents, Impact of DMLN and Resourcing Leadership. Some of this research will become publicly available and other research is incorporated into reports for Committees. 6 P a g e

7 Other research projects include: Circuit based learning with Susanna Wesley Foundation: The Susanna Wesley Foundation is working closely with Methodism on a number of levels including carrying out research that Methodism would otherwise have to finance directly. In the current year this has included initial research into circuit based learning approaches. Growing Methodism in the North East with Dr Andrew Orton: We have been working with Dr Andrew Orton on a research project looking into factors assisting and hindering growth in Methodism. This research reports at a conference on Tuesday 26 April. This work will be considered in due course alongside an on-line research project carried out by the SRI Team into Growing Methodism. Statistics for Mission: Regular collection of Methodist statistics began in 1766, when membership numbers were reported for the first time. The present system of data collection and statistical reporting, based on an online annual returns round, is known as Statistics for Mission and dates back to From this information, a Connexional-level statistical report is prepared for the Methodist Conference every three years. The latest report in this series is the 2014 Conference report. See the statistics for mission page at: 7 P a g e

8 Future Research 2016/17: As almost all our research projects are as directed by Methodism, some of this only becomes apparent after conference meets. To date we are aware that new research projects will include major projects on: - Fresh Expressions - Further research regarding Regrouping for Mission Profile Corner: Meet the SRI Team: : (This issue Rev d Dr Alan Piggot got) A former civil servant and a Church of England priest, Alan brought his experience in pastoral ministry and operational research to the Methodist Church in November 2013, taking over the statistical research and reporting role. Before ordination training Alan worked in the National Audit Office, reporting to parliament on topics as varied as defence infrastructure and sheltered employment schemes. Alan's parish ministry was served in Hackney and Tower Hamlets in London, and he was priest-in-charge of one of the churches affected by the regeneration and urban development programmes arising from the 2012 Olympic Games. This led to a major piece of work on urban change and its implications for mission and ministry, commissioned by the Bishop of Stepney. Alan's theological education began at his Methodist Sunday school and continued through an MA in Cambridge and an Oxford DPhil (Belief and Practice; The Rise and Decline of Liberal Anglo- Catholicism (2004)). His professional training was through the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy 8 P a g e

9 (qualified 1992) and the Joint Services Defence College at Greenwich (psd jsdc 1997). He has lectured both in church history and in church statistics, contributing to the recent debate on church growth. Alan has a pastoral, preaching and liturgical ministry in Hackney and in a central London parish close to his main workplace at Methodist Church House in Marylebone. Alan is concerned with maintaining British Methodism's fine tradition of statistical reporting, but also developing it so that it doesn't just read like a gloomy record of numerical decline. While working in the Diocese of London, he co- of London 2003 authored the report Another Capital Idea: Church Growth in the Diocesee As well as working on the headline report to Conference, Alan is responsible for helping districts and circuits make good use of Methodist statistics, and in maintaining and developing the Methodist webmap. He also prepares detailed reports and supporting material for other parts of the Connexional Team. In addition to research into London Methodism, Alan is currently engaged in a statistical review of circuit reorganisation, planning for ecumenical joint working, and surveying Fresh Expressionss and church activity other than public worship. Meth hodist Researchers Dr Andrew Orton Andrew is a Lecturer in the School of Applied Social Sciences at the University of Durham, and has just finished a 6 year term as a Circuit Steward in the East Durham Circuit. He has a professional background in community and youth work, particularly in Christian contexts, as a practitioner, manager, trustee and consultant. He has worked with a wide range of churches and other organisations in voluntary, public and faith- have based sectors in these roles and through his research. His research projects included: Current work on research into Leading Together in Growing Methodist Churches in the North East, and a separate two year project with the Centre for Theology and Community exploring Christian responses to debt and financial exclusion in the North East and London. A two year project with the Methodist Church of Great Britain exploring Deacons' perspectives on 'Good Practice in Diaconal Ministry', in partnership with the Wesley Study Centre. This has been followed by current pilot work in the York area with the Common Awards scheme to begin to explore how deacons initial training is fitting with this scheme there. A co-authored, research council funded literature review which critically explored connections between localism and community empowerment. 9 P a g e Images Freeimages.co.uk

10 Work with the Council of Europe: o exploring improved approaches with policymakers to building migrants' belonging within local communities, which led to a recommendation to member states being adopted by the Committee of Ministers in o exploring ways of engaging with 'Faith in Intercultural Cities' in 2014, leading to work on tackling prejudice against religious groups planned for Work with the Department for Communities and Local Government (2009) exploring cross-community interactions in England, which informed subsequent government guidance. This research has also included a range of other international engagements, including running initial participatory workshops exploring religious mobilisations comparatively in Brazil and England, attending the international Oxford Institute for Methodist Theological Studies (2013), and contributing to an international Consultative Workshop on Faith-Based Participation in Civil Society in Sarajevo (2013), as well as making an invited contribution to an event on youth work and spirituality in Adelaide in Andrew is Programme Director for MA programmes in Community and Youth Work at Durham University, including teaching management within these programmes. He also supervises a range of PhD students within his research areas, and has been an external examiner for undergraduate Centre for Youth Ministry programmes for several years. Andrew's research interests focus on issues of faith, dialogue and diversity in professional practice and ministry, with a particular interest in how practitioners and others apply their faith in practice and/or decide what is 'good practice' within related work. This work is often interdisciplinary in nature, particularly combining practical theology with social sciences to explore forms of Christian community work and ministry. Whether working with practitioners, policy-makers, and/or people within local churches and communities, Andrew's research frequently builds in impact from the outset by actively involving people within the research process, and he welcomes conversation with other researchers working in related areas. Publications from the above work, including links to his work on Methodist diaconal ministry and a recent article on liminal leadership in religious organisations, are available (together with further information on his research projects) on his webpage at If you would like to engage with Andrew s current work further, there will be a free day conference sharing emerging findings from the Leading Together in Growing Methodist Churches project that is being organised by Andrew at St John s College, Durham on 26 th April A separate conference involving the findings from the Christian responses to debt research will take place at the same venue on 8-9 th September. To book either, please contact Andrew via a.j.orton@durham.ac.uk. 10 P a g e

11 Who we are: Scholarship, Research and Innovation (SRI) Team Along with others in the Methodist Church, the SRI Team is seeking to promote scholarship, research and innovation to assist the church as we live our lives as disciples and engage missionally with the world around us. By learning with and from each other we will seek to understand better what it means to be a Methodist in the present age, and live out Our Calling. Contact Us: Methodist Church House 25 Marleybone Road London NW1 5JR harmerd@methodistchurch.org.uk The Team includes: Rev d Dr Stephen Skuce Director of Scholarship, Research & Innovation Dr Hamish Leese Research Officer Rev d Dr Alan Piggot Research Officer (Statistics & Mapping) David Harmer - Administrator Follow us on Facebook and Twitter The Scholarship, Research and Innovation Team are on Facebook and Twitter. Follow us at: Church Research This is a great way to stay up to date with research related insights and opportunities of relevant to Methodism. 11 P a g e

12 Future Issues: What would you like to see in future issues of this Newsletter? Ideas, suggestions and/or contributions please to Dates for future publications: June 2016 October 2016 February P a g e