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PDF Version Information about this connexional initiative in our District
What it is?
What does it means to be
a Christian disciple and how can we help people grow in their
discipleship?
EDEV is a programme for anyone who wants to
understand more fully their calling to follow Christ and to reflect
on what that could mean in ministry and service.
What it's not.
It is NOT a specific course to be followed but an exploration process. This process will include personal sharing, Bible study and theological reflection, practical experience through shadowing some-one in an area of work that the individual is interested in exploring, looking at what it means to do all this as a Methodist, learning about journalling to record their journey, having opportunity to do further study through courses possibly at Queens, Lincoln or District based. The group can decide how often they meet eg monthly for 18 months as in Birmingham or fortnightly for 6 - 9 months as in Durham
There is no formal outcome but it is hoped that people will discover their gifts to use in ministry and service both in the church and in the wider community.
It is NOT a reconfigured candidating procedure as the EDEV process wants to encourage a much wider group to consider vocation but an EDEV group may be where somebody begins to explore a call to ministry and their journalling is the beginnings of their portfolio. The candidating process is through Averil George with me supporting her.
Working links
EDEV comes under the Training Forums both District and Midlands. I am part of the team for EDEV together with Rev. Sara Wicks for Lincoln and Grimsby and Rev Caroline Wickens for Birmingham and Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Districts and there will be times when courses are offered across the Midlands.
Groups
I hope that we can begin to set up some EDEV groups around our District. A group could be in a single circuit or it could serve a number of circuits.
One concern is how to make groups accessible for people who have their pilgrim story to tell, who want to learn more about God's call on their lives but are not so academically minded. This is being considered.
Facilitators
A crucial element to the success of this initiative is to find people around the District prepared to be facilitators of the groups - supernumeraries, ministers, local preachers and others who are able to support people in theological reflection and help discern the Spirit at work. Support and training will be given to group leaders.
This could be a really exciting initiative - giving people the opportunity to explore what God is doing in their lives and how God might be calling them next.
Forthcoming Events
Is God calling you to ordained ministry or lay work in the Methodist Church? Date : Sat 14th Nov 2009 - www.methodist-nd.org.uk/detail.php?type=event&id=204
District Vocations Day - "God calls all" – Ministry for the many, not just the few - Date : Sat 13th Mar 2010 - www.methodist-nd.org.uk/detail.php?type=event&id=205
Contact Name : Rev Marian Crawford (0115 974 6883)
Web Site : edevpathways.org/
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