133 New area development

133.1 Introduction

The Forum Standing Committee supports a cooperative approach to developing churches and parishes in new areas.

There are strong reasons for this as well as a theological rationale. There is much evidence that our Christian witness is given greater credibility when we are working together. Also the cost of land and buildings is such that duplication consumes already stretched resources.

There are now several models for a cooperative approach coupled with willingness by the Forum to support local initiatives. The support of the participating Partner churches is vital for the success of new ventures and it is critical that this support is continued past the formation stage in a planned and progressive way.

The three options are set out below.

133.2 Denominational initiative

The first option is for a Partner to inform other Partners in the area that it proposes to take an initiative with regard to establishing a denominational congregation in a particular area. It is recognised that there are circumstances in which this approach to a particular development is the preferred one and the right of each Partner to take such action cannot be denied.

133.3 Full cooperation

The second option is that the Partners in a given area may after consulting with the local people agree that a covenant to develop a Cooperative Venture in a particular location is the most appropriate way to proceed with the new area development. The Partners not established in the area should also be invited to participate. The commitment is clear from the beginning that the Partners party to the agreement will support the development and that the ultimate line of development is towards some kind of self-supporting Cooperative Venture.

133.4 Freedom of initiative

The third option is this approach which would be marked by the following points.

a) A Partner may request through the JRC a freedom of initiative to develop a new ministry or congregation in a given area in the name of the Partners.

b) This freedom of initiative venture would be in the name of all or some of the Partners.

c) The other local parishes while giving a freedom of initiative would have a representative on any local development committee.

d) Freedom of initiative would be given initially for a period of between three and five years at which point all involved would be consulted by the JRC to reach a decision on the new cause. At the appropriate time after consultation with the local development committee or its successor, the JRC may invite the appropriate courts of the Partners to consider an agreement establishing the venture on a formal basis.

e) The Partner taking the initiative would be responsible for the ordained ministry and plant of the development.

f) The developing venture would as far as possible be developed on the basis of the Common Provisions and guideline papers published in Guide toProcedures.

Note.

New Area is a generic term to describe a variety of situations where, a substantial increase in population has changed the demographic nature or zoning of an area