46.
AUTHORISATIONS COMMITTEE
Contact Name and Details
The Revd Bruce Thompson, Chair of the Authorisations Committee.
revbrucet@yahoo.co.uk
1.
The Authorisations Committee has reviewed applications from Circuits for authorisations to
preside at services of Holy Communion where there are insufficient ordained ministers to make
this provision, or where the new missional criterion is met.
2.
The Committee has, as always, paid careful attention to the details in the applications, and
given due consideration to the requests for help. We have not rejected any applications this
year, but we did find it necessary to seek further information from one circuit where the extent
of deprivation was not evident at first.
3.
The Committee was particularly grateful this year that we had the opportunity, for the first
time, to consider applications made under the missional criterion approved by the Conference
in 2012. We considered five applications made under this criterion, and we were impressed by
the quality of the information provided in support, which helped us immensely in our decisionmaking.
4.
The Committee considered a total of 112 applications, comprising applications in respect of
45 presbyter probationers, 3 deacons and 64 lay people, 5 of whom are applicants under the
missional criterion.
5.
The Committee expressed concern at the lack of clarity with regards to the criteria applicable to
diaconal applications, and requests further guidance from the Faith and Order Committee
about whether or not deacons should be authorised to preside at the Sacrament of the Lord’s
Supper. This year, in each case, we sought guidance from the Warden of the Diaconal Order,
and we recommend that the applications in relation to deacons be approved for one year only.
We urge the Conference to direct the Faith and Order Committee to address this issue as a
matter of urgency and to provide clear guidance to all concerned in time for next year’s
applications.
6.
The process of administration has passed to the Governance Support office at Methodist
Church House this year and this will continue for the future. Separate revised application forms
are now available for authorisation of probationer presbyters, deacons, lay persons, missional
applications and renewals. These will be available to District Chairs in October. Applications
need to be considered by Circuit Meetings, District Policy Committees and Synods before
submission. Subject to the views of the Faith and Order Committee on the principles of
applications on behalf of deacons, any applications in respect of deacons will also need to be
the subject of comment from the Diaconal Order. All applications for consideration in 2014
should be submitted to Governance Support by Friday 11 April 2014. The Committee will meet
at the end of April to consider the applications received.
7.
Authorisations, when granted, are for one year and their scope is limited to the Circuit in which
the person is a member. They automatically renew each year up to three (see lists B and C
below) unless the Committee is informed that the authorisation is no longer required.
8.
The Committee draws attention to the provisions in SO 011(7) whereby in emergencies arising
after the meeting of the Conference by the death of a presbyter or otherwise, the President, or
the Vice-President on his or her behalf, may grant an authorisation having immediate effect and
continuing until the 31st August following the next meeting of the Conference.
9. The Committee welcomes informal consultations with any Circuit considering making an
application for an authorisation.
***RESOLUTIONS
46/1.
The Conference received the Report.
46/2. The Conference directed the Faith and Order Committee, in consultation with the
Methodist Diaconal Order and the Authorisations Committee, to provide as a matter of
urgency greater clarity on the appropriateness of authorisations to preside at the
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper being granted to deacons.
46/3.
The Conference authorised the following persons to preside at the Lord’s Supper for the
year commencing 1 September 2013 in accordance with the provisions of SO 011:
AUTHORISATIONS TO BE PRESENTED TO THE 2013 CONFERENCE
Key: P = Probationer Presbyter; D = Deacon; L = Lay Person; M = Missional
LIST A – New applications for authorisations for three years
Circuit No
1/1
1/1
1/1
1/1
1/1
1/1
1/1
1/1
1/1
1/1
1/1
Circuit Name
Cymru
Cymru
Cymru
Cymru
Cymru
Cymru
Cymru
Cymru
Cymru
Cymru
Cymru
Application
Elizabeth Jones
J Philip Davies
Goronwy Ellis
Vera Jones
Maryl Rees
Mavis Williams
Eluned Williams
Merfyn Jones
Stephen F Roe
John Ellis
Tom Ellis
Cat
L
L
L
L
L
L
L
L
D
L
L
2/3
2/13
2/20
Bangor and Holyhead
Gwent Hills and Vales
Pembrokeshire
Howard Jackson
Catherine Lewis
Lorette Hinson
L
P
P
5/1
5/1
5/1
5/6
Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham (West) and Oldbury
Caroline Hague
Deborah Humphries
Karen Webber
Michael Hall
P
P
P
L
7/2
Bristol & South Gloucestershire
Peter Brazier
P
9/3
9/3
9/4
Kirkoswald & Alston Moor
Kirkoswald & Alston Moor
Whitehaven
Christopher Blackshaw
Brian Thornton
Lyn Edwards
P
L
M
9/4
9/4
9/15
Douglas McDevitte
Alan Moore
John Biggs
L
L
L
Bryan Bucknell
L
9/16
Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Ulverston with Ambleside &
Windermere (South Lakes)
Ulverston with Ambleside &
Windermere (South Lakes)
South West Cumbria United Area
Bob Mantle
L
11/08
11/18
Cheshire South
Stoke-on-Trent (Burslem Mission)
Jennifer Matthews
Philip Barber
P
L
12/1
12/3
12/4
12/7
12/20
12/20
12/20
Camborne - Redruth
Falmouth and Gwennap
Truro
St Austell
Camelford & Week St Mary
Camelford & Week St Mary
Camelford & Week St Mary
Marquis Honeychurch
Mike Ely
Mary Mawonera
Tony Warren
Glenton Brown
Robin Heywood
Brian Parkman
L
L
P
L
L
L
L
13/7
Barnard Castle and Teesdale
Audrey Williams
L
14/20
West Norfolk
Catherine Dixon
P
16/17
16/17
Aire and Calder
Aire and Calder
Barry Owen
James Robinson-Morley
P
P
17/1
17/4
17/5
17/14
17/14
17/19
17/22
Epworth and Scunthorpe
Mid-Lincolnshire
Grimsby & Cleethorpes
Louth
Louth
East Lincolnshire
Boston
Ruth Simpson
Eleanor Smith
Katie Deakins
Deryck Hand
Roger Maidens
Keith Locke
Michael Richard Simpson
P
P
P
L
L
L
P
18/8
Crosby
David M R Somerville
P
19/1
19/7
19/12
19/15
19/24
Manchester
Stretford & Urmiston
Shaw & Royton
Bramhall and Wythenshawe
Macclesfield
Lyn Gallimore
Margaret Curtis
Rachel Hope
Timothy Colin Nicholls
Helen Boardman
D
L
P
P
P
20/13
Bede
Neil Andrew Maynard
P
21/1
Burnley
Sharon Thraves Pennington
P
22/2
22/4
22/13
22/20
22/20
Nottingham South
Nottingham Trent Valley
Borders Mission
Erewash Valley
Erewash Valley
Simon Andrew Rose
Christine Anne Margaret Fox
Jonathan Reeve
John Moorley
Valerie Rollison
P
P
L
L
L
9/15
23/2
23/8
23/8
23/8
23/8
23/9
23/13
23/13
23/13
23/13
23/13
23/13
23/14
23/23
23/23
23/23
23/23
23/23
23/26
Wantage and Abingdon
Leicester North
Leicester North
Leicester North
Leicester North
Leicester West
Northampton
Northampton
Northampton
Northampton
Northampton
Northampton
Rugby and Daventry
Nene Valley
Nene Valley
Nene Valley
Nene Valley
Nene Valley
Milton Keynes
Katherine Pickering
Jo Kay
Sue Moore
Susan Smith
Roger Wilson
David Lawton
John Atkin
Norma Baxter
David Houghton
Linda Leathersich
Maggie Munday
Paul Wilson
Janet Thomas
Marie Armitage
Jean Hinchliffe
David Hudson
Barbara Smith
Jonathan Thompson
Ben Richard Haslam
P
L
L
L
L
P
L
L
L
L
L
L
D
L
L
L
L
L
P
24/3
24/18
24/20
24/25
Exeter Coast and Country
South Petherton & Crewkerne
Ilfracombe and Barnstaple
West Somerset
Bruce Sawyer
Anna Flindell
Geoffrey Harding
Mollie Brooks
P
P
L
L
25/14
25/14
25/17
25/17
Doncaster
Doncaster
Rotherham & Dearne Valley
Rotherham & Dearne Valley
Donald Reasbeck
Barry Parker
Karen Beecham
Anne Holmes
L
L
P
L
26/8
26/16
26/16
26/16
26/16
26/16
Romsey
Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
Stephen Ings
Helen Millward
David Masters
Margaret Potts
Jeff Ryall
John Wells
L
P
L
L
L
L
27/18
27/35
27/35
Skipton and Grassington
Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Glennis Hobbs
Timothy Francis
Sally Spencer
L
P
P
28/1
28/5
28/9
28/14
28/20
28/21
Wolverhampton
Vale of Stour
Stafford
Gornal & Sedgley
Kidderminster and Stourport
Telford
Christopher J Collins
Ruth Childs
Nathan Falla
Jemima Strain
Denise Elaine Williamson
Gabriele Britton-Voss
P
P
P
P
P
P
31/13
Scotland
David Saunders
M
34/1
34/1
34/10
34/14
North Bedfordshire
North Bedfordshire
Southend and Leigh
West Herts and Borders
Graham Keith Claydon-Knights
Gillian Rosemary Baalham
Hannah Mary Bucke
Derek John McLean
P
P
M
P
35/12
35/34
35/37
London NW Mission
Enfield
Teddington
Audrey Browne
Alan Combes
Victoria Elizabeth Davidson
P
P
P
36/21
North Kent
Bart Woodhouse
M
LIST B – Renewals after one year initially granted in 2012
Circuit No
1/1
1/1
Circuit Name
Cymru
Cymru
Application
Philip Davies
Elizabeth Jones
Cat
L
L
2/9
2/18
2/13
Cardiff
Neath Port Talbot
Gwent Hills & Vales
Catherine Reynolds
Christopher Jones
Leslie Jones
P
L
P
5/9
Tamworth and Lichfield
Timothy Flowers
P
6/4
Rochdale and Littleborough
Helen Johnson
P
7/2
7/2
Bristol & South Gloucestershire
Bristol & South Gloucestershire
Debra M Chidakwa
Josette A Crane
P
P
9/10
9/16
Kirkoswald
South West Cumbria
Brian Thornton
Rachel L Williams
L
P
11/15
11/16
Stoke on Trent
Kidsgrove
Joyce E Smith
Lester J Meredith
P
L
12/3
12/5
12/5
12/8
12/8
12/8
12/14
12/14
Falmouth and Gwennap
Newquay, Perrenporth & St Agnes
Newquay, Perrenporth & St Agnes
Bodmin, Padstow & Wadebridge
Bodmin, Padstow & Wadebridge
Bodmin, Padstow & Wadebridge
Lizard & Mounts Bay
Lizard & Mounts Bay
W Gerald Triggs
David Parker
Michael Fairhead
Penny Manders
Jill Garbett
Alan Priestley
Geoffrey W Tamblin
William T Reed
L
L
L
L
L
L
D
L
14/2
Ipswich
Kathryn A Flynn
P
15/1
Isle of Man
Andrew Emison
P
16/15
Wharfedale & Aireborough
Richard Ormerod
P
17/12
17/13
Sleaford
Market Rasen & Caistor
Ann L Lett
Ann R Coates
P
P
18/3
18/13
Liverpool (North Central)
Sankey Valley
David W Smith
Stephen D T Froggatt
D
P
20/2
Newcastle upon Tyne (West)
Nicola K Hilmy-Jones
P
23/4
23/11
23/28
23/28
Chipping Norton & Stow on the Wold
Hinckley Circuit
Amersham
Amersham
Christine Cond
Philip J Osborne
Pamela Sitford
John Poston
L
D
L
L
24/7
24/11
24/11
24/20
Tavistock
Bude and Holdsworthy
Bude and Holdsworthy
Ilfacombe & Barnstable
John M Swanston
Muriel Hodge
Clive Smale
Martin Reardon
P
L
L
L
25/14
Doncaster
Ian S Rutherford
P
26/2
26/3
26/3
26/3
26/3
26/10
26/12
Eastleigh
Kennet & Test Valley
Kennet & Test Valley
Kennet & Test Valley
Kennet & Test Valley
Christchurch and Wimborne
East Wight
Andrew Bird
Christine Thomas
Dorothy Regan
Muriel Wood
Helen Watson
David Hollingsworth
Mary White
P
L
L
L
L
P
L
27/31
27/36
Airedale
North Kirklees & Morley
Saidu Kanu
Alison L Crookes
P
P
28/2
28/3
28/12
Brownhills and Willenhall
Shropshire & Marches
Tipton
Michael S Smith
Heather Wilson
Denise Williams
L
P
P
34/7
34/10
34/17
Tendring
Southend and Leigh
Watford
Etleva Walker
Phillip J Warrey
Geoffrey F J Farrar
P
P
P
35/24
35/28
35/30
35/42
Ealing Trinity
Blackheath and Crystal Palace
Lesnes Abbey
Bromley
Suva Catford
Imran B Malik
James A Cruddas
Rachel M Parkes
P
P
36/4
36/5
36/13
36/25
Thames Valley
Staines and Feltham
Central Sussex United Area
South Kent
Margaret E Dudley
Mark Conlon
Peter G Rayson
Hugh Burnham
P
L
P
L
P
LIST C: Renewals after two years initially granted in 2011
Circuit No
2/18
Circuit
Neath Port Talbot
Applicant
Clement Raymond
Status
L
10/1
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Karen le Mouton
L
11/8
11/15
Cheshire South
Stoke North Circuit
Rebecca J Ingrouille
Paul Owen
P
L
12/1
12/7
12/11
12/11
12/12
Camborne - Redruth
St Austell
St Ives & Hayle
St Ives & Hayle
St Ives (Fore Street)
John Bailey
Catherine A Ward
Kenneth Bassett
Mary Rogers
William R Orr
L
L
L
L
L
13/17
13/17
Barnard Castle and Teesdale
Barnard Castle and Teesdale
William Bartle
Tracey Cooke
L
L
22/11
22/13
22/13
22/13
Ashbourne
Borders Mission
Borders Mission
Borders Mission
Merle Wilde
Harry Smith
Andrew Leam
David Hopkinson
D
L
L
L
24/11
24/16
24/16
24/20
24/20
24/22
24/25
24/27
Bude and Holsworthy
Tiverton & Wellington
Tiverton & Wellington
Ilfracombe & Barnstable
Ilfracombe & Barnstable
South Molton and Ringsash
West Somerset
Ringsash
Michael Reeves
Hilary Young
David Parkin
Sylvia Edwards
Arthur Mildon
Gloria Manning
Margaret Morris
Colin Rice
L
L
L
L
L
L
L
L
25/3
25/17
25/17
Sheffield (Brunswick)
Rotherham and Dearne Valley
Rotherham and Dearne Valley
Richard Wilshaw
Rita Edwards
Wayne Ashton
L
L
L
26/5
26/26
26/27
26/27
Gosport & Fareham
Sherborne & Yeovil
Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Anna M Bishop
Jennifer Gardener
Tim Hedgecock
Steve Smith
P
L
L
L
27/21
Settle
Wendy Holt
L
28/3
28/3
28/3
28/3
Shropshire & Marches
Shropshire & Marches
Shropshire & Marches
Shropshire & Marches
Betty Hughes
Christine Jones
Jean Susan Matthews
Brian Wallace
L
L
L
L
36/26
36/26
South Kent
South Kent
Edward Rumsey
Dudley Shipton
L
L