Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Getting Ready for your new
MOCC Minister
An Introduction for Receiving Circuits
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Hospitality
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Hospitality
Health
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Exploring Hospitality
Education
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Exploring Hospitality
Driving
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Exploring Hospitality
Manse
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Hospitality
Support for spouse and family
With the minister in a new role with plenty of work to get on
with, it may be hard for the spouse and any children. They may
find it harder to integrate into the local community, and it may
not be easy for them to make friends initially.
Section 5.7 in the Induction Handbook has some advice as to
how to offer good hospitality. Finding the right balance is a real
skill. Maybe a small, informal, and discrete support group can
be established to ensure the family is not excluded or
overwhelmed.
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Hospitality
Finance : Stipends, expenses, bank accounts, pensions and tax
Please ensure that you have fully read Appendix C of the Induction
Handbook. This outlines basic information about financial matters
which the minister and the circuit need to be aware of.
Incoming ministers would normally be briefed on these matters at
their own residential induction in mid August. However, it is
possible that this may not be able to take place in its traditional
form this year, and therefore those in the receiving circuit may
need to offer greater support and induction.
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Difference
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Equality
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Equality
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Equality
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Equality
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Equality
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Equality
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Equality
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Diversity
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
DIversity
Diversity is about recognising, respecting, valuing and drawing on the positive aspects of differences
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Diversity
Dignity
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Inclusion
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Inclusion
family
work
home
public space
church
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Inclusion
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Language
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Language
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Language
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Language
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Language
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Unconscious Bias
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Unconscious Bias
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Dave FriswellLearning & Development Coordinator
Unconscious bias is a natural part of how our brains work. From
an early age, our minds learn to be comfortable with the familiar
and to be sceptical of unfamiliarity.
It is thought that when human beings lived in nomadic tribal
groups, this was an important part of keeping the group safe
from danger, as anything or anyone unfamiliar could be a risk.
However, the modern world is slightly more complex, and
human societies are much more diverse and varied.
Our human societies have a better understanding of how human
diversity is beneficial, rather than threatening.
Unfortunately, unconscious biases can also lead to unintentional
discrimination. The biases of human societies are subtly
communicated from one generation to another, and societies
continue to have strong biases and prejudices about people who
look, sound or act different to the majority.
However, if people are aware of their biases, they are better
able to avoid unintentional discrimination. It is possible for
people to ‘unlearn’ old habits and old biases, and learn how to
be more inclusive and accepting of diversity.
Unconscious Bias
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→affinity, rather than rejection. As human beings we have a better understanding of people who are like us, and situations that are familiar to our own.
Consequently people who look like us, sound like us and share our interests are easier to understand, and therefore, easier for us to identify with.
Sometimes our biases and affinities are deep-rooted in the subconscious mind: people make decisions that bypass our normal, rational and logical thinking. It happens when we are under stress or anxious, or if we need to make decisions instantly.
Social psychologists call this phenomenon ‘social categorisation’, whereby we routinely and rapidly sort people into groups. Some people might call it ‘intuition’ but the categories we use to sort people are not logical, modern or perhaps not even legal. Put simply, our neurology takes us to the very brink of bias and of poor decision making.
So as we prepare to welcome our new ministers from other churches and conferences, let us be deeply thoughtful as to how we engage with and respond to those who may look, sound or act differently from ourselves.
Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Support Structures
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Support Structures
Supervision
MOCC ministers will take part in Supervision in exactly the
same way as ministers from within our own Connexion.
However they may need more support as they may not have
experienced our style or process of Supervision before.
Those in the circuit Staff Team will be best placed to offer
support and share first-hand benefits of why Supervision is
important.
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Support Structures
Induction Process
Incoming ministers and their families have taken a big step in
coming to the UK – physically, mentally and socially.
Circuits have also taken a big step in inviting a MOCC minister
and their family.
It is really important that both the minister and those in the
circuit are fully prepared for each other so that their ministry
together will be fruitful and positive, and that it will lead to a
growing understanding of diversity of Methodism in Britain and
around the world.
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Support Structures
Induction Process
The incoming ministers and their families will meet for three
days in August for the first gathering of the group for their initial
induction. The ministers, spouses and children will spend time
together and in separate groups exploring what it means to
begin a new ministry in the Methodist Church in Britain.
This material you are engaging with now is also a key part of
the induction process and support from the Connexion for you,
your circuit and the incoming minister and family.
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Support Structures
Induction Process
The more you can do to help people in the churches think
about how important it is to welcome, support, encourage and
pray for their new minister the better.
Do share as much information as you can – including the
Induction Handbook and this presentation.
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Support Structures
Understanding CPD
The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist
Church (CPD) helps guide the workings of the church. Although
sometimes seen as the ‘rule book’, the reality is that it steers
the church to operate in a way that enables the mission of God
to be fulfilled whilst ensuring order and good working practices.
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Support Structures
Understanding CPD
The equivalent document in other national churches may be
quite different, so it may be helpful to introduce our CPD to the
incoming ministers. This will help them with running Church
Councils, understanding procedure of synods, lay employment
and so much more.
Do please make sure your incoming minister has a hard copy
of CPD and knows where to find it in electronic format on the
MCB website.
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Support Structures
Supporting First Experiences
There may be some things that a minister from another
Conference may be doing for the first time. Whenever anyone
moves to a new country they will find new challenges,
opportunities and experiences. Some of these things we may
just take for granted as being ‘normal’.
So it is important to be able to recognise when something is
new for the incoming minister or their family and to offer
appropriate additional support over that time.
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Support Structures
Circuit-wide Engagement
Start to consider how the MOCC minister and their family will
be introduced right across the circuit. This is much the same as
with a new minister coming from within our own connexion.
Consider how the minister is spread across the circuit on the
preaching plan. This will help the new minister get to know the
churches and chapels as well at the members of the
congregations. It will also help the members get to know the
new minister.
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring Support Structures
Circuit-wide Engagement
Circuits vary enormously in size but try and ensure the new
minister is planned for the main Sunday service in each church
at some point over the first two quarters – in much the same
way as you would probably do with any new minister to the
circuit.
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring the 18 Months Ahead
Spend a bit of time thinking about the points in the
following slides.
What does your circuit need to put in place to help
make the next 18 months the best they can be for
the incoming minister, their family and the circuit?
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring the 18 Months Ahead
• Take another good look at the sample calendar at Appendix A of the
induction handbook
• Share this around your CLT and ensure that you have developed our own
version of this for your incoming minister (and family if appropriate)
• Start to put together a ‘work’ diary for your MOCC from 1st September 2020
onwards – make sure the meeting dates are in place. (See Appendix B)
• Consider and plan your welcome – there may be a circuit welcome plus
individual welcomes at the chapels at which the minister has pastoral
charge
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Exploring the 18 Months Ahead
• Plan in opportunities for the minister and their family to share about the
church they have come from
• Be prepared to face some difficult issues and misunderstandings. (if they
don’t happen, then that is great – but they might!)
• Think carefully about culture specific events in the year eg Remembrance
Sunday. Be sensitive and explore creative ways together to add depth for all
• Remember it will take your MOCC minister a whole 12 months to
experience and begin to understand fully a Methodist year!
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Ministers from Other Churches and Conferences
Thank you for taking the time to work through this
presentation. We are deeply aware that much more
could have been shared if we had been able to meet
together at Cliff College as planned.
However, please do make a note of all your questions
and concerns and we look forward to ‘meeting’ with you
by Zoom at the end of the month.
Stay well,
Revd Dr Claire Potter (Ministerial Coordinator for the Oversight of Ordained Ministries)
Dave Friswell (Learning & Development Coordinator)
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