Simplifying Structures - Running Churches vs Being Church!
This is about how we organise ourselves to 'be more church'. How we can focus our efforts on mission and worship. It is NOT about closing church buildings!
Each Methodist Church Council is required to have Office Bearers e.g. Minister, Treasurer, Church Secretary, Pastoral Secretary, Stewards, a Circuit Steward plus at least 6 general members. (other clauses also may apply). These members are Managing Trustees and hold legal governance responsibility for the Church, such as decisions and oversight of finance, property, safeguarding, health & safety.
In churches with smaller membership, it is increasingly challenging to appoint Office Bearers and, due to size, almost all church members are Managing Trustees. This is a heavy burden.
At present our 18 church councils meet at least 2x a year (min. 36 meetings). From September 2026 there will be two Ministers Stationed in the Circuit making September and February each year very pressurised with church councils. Virtually the same Trustee business is being repeated in each church venue. Oversight by two Ministers of this number of church councils is challenging.
By 2031 the law will change about who must register as a charity. At present most churches are exempt but by 2031 this exemption will be withdrawn and each church will become a charity in its own right. This brings with it greater trusteeship scrutiny.
Many Circuits are moving to a structure whereby several individual church councils (not buildings/congregations) form themselves as 1 church council (one trustee group for e.g. 6 churches). This reduces the number of trustees needed (releasing people to other roles – or no role!) It reduces the number of church council Office Bearers needed, and over time builds stronger relationships and support between the churches in each group.
These are termed ‘multi-site churches’ 1 church council (group of Trustees) overseeing several church buildings/communities.
The next gathering is Saturday 16th May.
