Current Issues

This page shows the latest issues, programmes and plans for the Liverpool Methodist District.

Creating a North West Methodist District

The Methodist Church is undertaking a review which it is hoped will lead to the merger of four existing Districts (Liverpool, Lancashire, Cumbria and Bolton & Rochdale) into a new North-West District. You can hear more about this via the link below., where different people talk about their hopes for the impact this new structure will have on our work and mission, alongside some perspectives on the impact on Circuits and the financial implications.

YouTube videos about proposals for the new North West District

Warm Spaces

Methodist respond to the cost-of-living crisis

Methodist churches have responded to the cost-of-living crisis by opening their doors to ensure that communities are not left out in the cold. More 450 Methodist churches have now registered on the Warm Welcome website as being willing to offer somewhere for people to find heat, comfort and companionship. This makes the Methodists second only to the Church of England in uptake of the scheme.

Warm Spaces

GOD IN LOVE UNITES US

How is our District Engaging with Discussions about Cohabitation and Same-Sex Marriage?

1. Prayer

Please pray for one another, and for our church in this process of discernment and decision making. The Methodist website provides some prayer resources for each day of the week here.

2. Provisional Legislation

The Methodist Conference 2019 voted for provisional legislation which would change our approach to marriage and relationships. This was through a report called: God in Love Unites Us. As a result we are now consulting across the District in preparation for a vote at our Synod on 25^th April 2020.

The vote will be on five resolutions as set out in this document.

Our votes and responses will then go forward to Methodist Conference 2020 for a final decision.

3. Conversations

Our conversations will seek to achieve two things:

a full open conversation between people coming from different perspectives;
to inform the District Synod of the range of views within the District.

We have trained a number of people to facilitate these conversations. You can access various documents and study guides below.

Find the full report here: God in Love Unites Us
Or in large print here: God in Love Unites Us (Large Print)
And here is the official Methodist Church study guide: God in Love Unites Us Study Guide
Cumbria District have produced an extended study guide which includes some helpful resources for looking at what Biblical sources about marriage and relationships have to say. Find their study guide here.
Methodist Evangelicals Together provide resources from a traditional perspective. Find their website here.
Dignity and Worth provide resources from a perspective which looks for change in our current practice. Find their website here.
Other resources are available from the Methodist Church in Britain website here: Marriage and Relationships resources