Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where is the role of the Circuit Local Preachers’ Secretary described?

There’s a role description that you can download here: lp-secretary_role-description. This is a guide, and you may find the expectation varies from circuit to circuit. If you have any doubts about what you are expected to do, talk them over with your Superintendent Minister or the Chair of your Local Preachers’ Meeting.

I am having problems using the Local Preachers’ Return Form – is there an alternative?

The LP Return Form is simply a way to advise the Local Preachers’ office of any changes in your circuit that they need to be aware of. Examples are new students, long-service certificate requests, and preachers who have died. Some circuits report these changes through the “Stats for Mission” website. If you are struggling with either of these methods, it’s fine to simply email the changes to localpreachers@methodistchurch.org.uk and we will update the records as you request.

How often should I send a Local Preachers’ Return Form or contact the LP Office with any changes?

You only need to tell us when something significant changes. Normally, changes occur as a result of reports or actions from the Local Preachers’ Meeting. We advise that after each meeting, you consider whether anything has changed and if so, complete an LP Return Form.

What is the best way to check that the information held about our circuit is accurate?

If you have access to the "Stats for Mission" website, you will be able to see a snapshot of the information held for your circuit. Otherwise, you can write to us at localpreachers@methodistchurch.org.uk with specific queries. To comply with General Data Protection Requirements (GDPR) we cannot provide bulk data and can only respond to specific queries.

What is the position about issuing Long Service Certificates in cases where a local preacher has not served continuously in the Methodist Church?

Every case is different, and this is a matter of pastoral discretion for the circuit. It is worth bearing in mind that time away from Methodism may have been spent preaching in another context. The Local Preachers’ office will issue certificates on request for all LPs currently on our database based on their date of admission.

What are the rules for storage and archiving of minutes from Local Preachers’ meeting?

Standing Order 562 requires the LP Secretary to “record decisions, advice and recommendations” of each meeting held. It is good practice to retain these for a period and a good guide would be to follow standard legal and commercial practice and keep them for seven years. Many circuits have an archivist who will be able to advise the best methods of retention of the notes, and any data protection (CLPD) guidelines.

Should we keep records of who has completed mandatory training (Safeguarding, EDI etc)?

Your circuit will have a Safeguarding Officer whose role includes keeping records of training and DBS checks. You should keep contact with them so they can advise you on any forthcoming training or DBS updates required.

For EDI (or other training the Conference may require in future) it is best to keep your own records of who has completed the training.

How can I work effectively with the Superintendent Minister?

The Superintendent Minister has overall responsibility for the circuit plan, and for ensuring that the LP Meeting happens. However, they can delegate chairing the meeting to someone else, who need not be a presbyter. Superintendents usually value the support, ideas and insights of the Local Preachers’ Secretary. Aim to meet the Superintendent from time to time and work together to plan future Local Preachers’ Meetings. You should also aim to keep your Superintendent updated on issues affecting local preachers and worship leaders – don’t assume they know everything you do!

What happens when things change in my circuit?

Changes in a circuit, such as mergers with other circuits, church closures and staff changes can cause disruption. As the Local Preachers’ Secretary, you can play a key role in ensuring that the needs and contributions of LPs and WLs are taken into account during periods of change.

The Local Preachers’ Meeting should be discussing the work of God in the circuit, and LPs and WLs often have key insights to contribute to the process of change. As the Local Preachers' Secretary, you are a member of the Circuit Meeting. You can therefore represent the interests of LPs and WLs at this meeting. ent and the Chair of the meeting is vital at times of change.

What is the role of the LP Secretary in the training of new LPs and WLs?

The contribution of the LP Secretary to the training process in described in the Role Description which you can download here.

In summary, it includes:

1. Communicating with the LP Office about progress with training, especially at the beginning, where your information will trigger the enrolment process.
2. Making sure the LP Meeting fulfils its responsibilities, including assessed services, interviews, trial services etc.
3. Keeping a record of training progress in consultation with Tutors and Mentors.

How can I keep track of the progress of people in training?

You should keep your own record of progress for each of the trainees in your circuit. This will help you to plan ahead for Interviews, Trial Services and Recognition Services at the key points in their training. You should also keep a record of the quarterly assessed services and you can download a form to help with this wlp-worship-record-sheet.

Where can students, tutors and mentors find basic information about the Worship: Leading & Preaching course?

Everyone who is newly enrolled on WLP receives an invitation to a 90 minute Online Induction on Zoom. Others who want to find out about the course are welcome to attend a session. Sessions are booked through Eventbrite. The booking link can be found on the WLP Training page at www.methodist.org.uk/wlptraining.

We have someone who wants to start training as WLs and LPs but we’re struggling to find a Mentor.

Being a Mentor is a wonderful and rewarding role as it involves supporting the next generation of preachers and being involved in their growth and development. In summary, a Mentor shares their services with their student whilst they are on Note, then continues to meet with them (at least once a quarter) to encourage and support them through the rest of their training.

More information is in the Guide for Tutors and Mentors which you can download from the WLP Resources page here.

The key requirements for being a Mentor are a willingness to listen, encourage, empathise and support someone through their training. Some people are encouraged to know that it’s mainly about listening, praying and supporting, and passing on their own enthusiasm and wisdom.

We have someone who wants to start training as WLs and LPs but we’re struggling to find a Tutor.

Tutors need to have a grasp of theology and a passion for supporting the learning of others, but need not themselves be local preachers. The circuit is responsible for finding a Tutor for your students, but if you can’t find a Tutor in your own circuit, your District Local Preachers’ Secretary or Tutor may be able to help. They may know of other Tutors in your District with active Tutor Groups.

The Tutor need not be based in your circuit because much of the work can be done online and via video. The Learning Network Officer who is aligned to your District may also be able to help to identify a Tutor for your student.

How can we support people who need help in overcoming challenges in accessing the training course online?

Various adaptations are available to help people with disabilities and special educational needs. From time to time we also offer Study Skills training sessions for students and Further Skills training for Tutors: more information can be found at www.methodist.org.uk/wlptraining.

An Additional Needs Guide is available for download wlp-additional-needs-guide. The Learning Network Officer aligned to your District may be able to help and to put you in touch with someone with expertise in the particular area of need.

Who do I direct people to about technical issues with WLP and the Moodle website?

The best way to get technical support is to contact the Local Preachers’ office at localpreachers@methodistchurch.org.uk. We do not have a dedicated technical team, but will aim to resolve any issues as quickly as we can.

We have a student who has moved between circuits and we’re not sure where they are up to with their training. What can we do?

Contact the Local Preachers’ office at localpreachers@methodistchurch.org.uk. We can advise on current status of training and suggest what needs to be done to get training back on track.

What are the requirements for training of Worship Leaders and how is the Local Preachers’ Meeting involved?

Worship Leaders are appointed by the Church Council for service in their own church. Training follows selected parts of the Worship: Leading & Preaching course. As a minimum, Module 2 (including the Worship: Foundations workbook) should be completed, but Worship Leaders are free to complete the whole of Portfolio A. Training can be locally delivered but a Tutor and Mentor (who may be either Worship Leaders of Local Preachers) are required.

WLs in training should be enrolled on the WLP course and reviews of their progress conducted as for LPs at the meeting. Further details can be found on the Worship Leaders' webpage.

What options are available to complete the Worship: Leading & Preaching course quickly?

There is no minimum time for completing the course, and some students have completed it in a year, but this requires high levels of time and commitment. Unfortunately, the “WLP in a Year” programme which ran for a while is no longer available.

Some students find that the Explore Online provides a helpful framework for maintaining progress, as it provides quarterly intensive weekends of Explore sessions. More information about WLP Explore Online is available on the WLP Explore webpage.

Is there a Summer School at Cliff College for LPs and WLs in training?

Sadly, declining demand meant that we have had to discontinue Summer School for the time being. We are exploring alternative shorter and cheaper options for students to meet together to study. Keep watching the LPWL eNews for information and you’ll be the first to find out. If you are not already on the mailing list for this, go to the Keeping in Touch page.

I am in the Armed Forces, and move regularly in my role. Is there a way for me to train as a Local Preacher?

There is a training pathway available specifically for people serving in the Armed Forces. This takes account of the fact that your role requires you to move around, and opportunities to lead worship in church may be limited. Armed Forces Pathway description.

How can I encourage people to take part in Continuing Local Preacher Development (CLPD)?

All Local Preachers are obliged to participate in a programme of continuing local preacher development (Standing Order 563 (3)(iii)) and the Local Preacher’s Meeting is obliged to provide one (SO 561 (v)).

This might seem onerous, but in practice all preachers and worship leaders are likely to be already doing CLPD in several ways: through reflecting on the books they read, the films they watch, the conferences they attend, and events in the world. CLPD can draw on all these things, and is a key opportunity to reflect together on topical issues and helpful training that can enhance our skills and competence in worship and preaching. Fundamentally, it’s about being disciples together.

A simple online CLPD Log tool is available to help keep track of your CLPD. You can register at the Ongoing Learning Hub.

What resources are available to help with CLPD?

The Ongoing Learning page is full of ideas for CLPD. These include an alternative meeting plan based around worship and learning, and a range of off-the-shelf session plans on a variety of topics which can be used as the focal point for a meeting.

The best CLPD suggestions usually come from Local Preachers and Worship Leaders themselves, and reflect the issues and topics that matter to them.

At least every three years each LP should be given an opportunity to share their discoveries in continuing development with the LP Meeting. These contributions can provide CLPD input for the whole meeting to benefit.

The Ongoing Learning Hub is also a growing source for CLPD resources. Anyone can register for Ongoing Learning and the hub includes a useful tool for people to log their continuing learning.

What resources are available for including Bible studies into CLPD?

Many resources are available for use in study groups, and Local Preachers and Worship Leaders are often very accomplished at facilitating discussions.

Bible Month can provide a helpful focus, and all back issues of Bible Month are available from LWPT.

The Bible Project produce a vast range of informative and approachable videos on Bible books and topics.

Another idea: consider the lectionary readings that are coming up, perhaps taking a look too at commentaries and resources that people find helpful.

Is there an easy tool available to help people to keep track of their own CLPD?

The Ongoing Learning Hub, provides a simple CLPD Log. You can register yourself with Ongoing Learning Hub then use the CLPD Log to record any ongoing learning you do with your reflections and comments, and any thoughts on how you could share this with your fellow LPs and WLs. Everything you add to your CLPD log is private and held in your own account on WLP.

Alternatively, some people find journalling using a notebook a helpful devotional practice.

As local preachers, we are required to “review our ministry”. What does this involve?

Reviewing our ministry is closely linked to continuing development, and simply means reflecting on our own calling as a Local Preacher. Whilst this has a personal dimension, we are also called to hold each other to account as discernment is always best done prayerfully, in community. The guidelines on this suggest that every local preacher should have an opportunity at least once every three years for a conversation in the Local Preachers’ Meeting. This is an opportunity to reflect with the group on how things are going in your role, the opportunities and challenges, and what new things you are learning.

There is no obligation to share anything you’re not happy to share, but your insights may be a great encouragement to your friends who share your calling. The guidance on Reviewing our Ministry can be downloaded here.

We are finding Peer Review difficult because we can’t find opportunities to listen to each other leading worship and preaching.

Peer review is about making an opportunity to talk about our experience as LPs with a friend who understands. It’s great to be present at worship led by each other as it provides a focus for conversation.

However, it’s not essential, and it’s better to meet for a coffee and have an encouraging chat than not to meet at all. Remember, the conversation you have with your peer is private and not reported anywhere. It’s sufficient to know that you have the opportunity to share in this way.

Guidance on Peer Review is available for download here.

We are responsible as local preachers for holding each other to account. How can we do that when so many people are absent from meetings?

This is a challenge, and is one of the practical reasons why all local preachers are required to attend Local Preachers’ Meetings unless there is a specific reason why they can’t be there. We should all do everything we can to make our meetings relevant, accessible and convenient for as many people as possible. This may include meeting at different times and places and being flexible with times and locations to take into account people’s shift working or caring responsibilities.

The aim should be to enable all to fulfil their commitment to be present, so that our community can be built up in faith and confidence.

Some ideas for transforming your LP Meeting can be found on the Ongoing Learning page.

As an Eco-Circuit we are starting to look at Net Zero planning- how can local preaching and worship leading contribute to this debate?

The Action for Hope project is starting to look at this too, and to be effective, we may need to change the ways we work in various ways.

Ideas that have emerged so far, include:

1. Holding worship and meetings in smaller, better insulated spaces with more eco-friendly heating/cooling.
2. Ensuring travel to meetings is minimised by choosing more central venues with public transport access. There is no reason why LP Meetings need to visit every remote chapel in your circuit.
3. Making maximum use of video conferencing, which can also enable more people to attend meetings.
4. Meeting in venues that are already heated and in use for other reasons.

Of course, the big challenge relates to local preachers travelling to distant appointments. A rethink of how our circuit plan works may be in order, but not if it is detrimental to our effectiveness in mission and ministry.

How can we encourage people to consider becoming a Worship Leader or Local Preacher?

Often people in church simply don’t know that it’s possible to get involved in leading worship and preaching. From time to time, we could say a little in our services about what we do, and encourage others to think about whether they could get involved.

Vocations Sunday is also a chance to affirm worship leaders and preachers and suggest that others could consider the roles themselves. And don’t be afraid to open up the conversation with someone you think God might be calling.

Two small booklets explaining the roles are available from Methodist Publishing.

We have one young person training as a local preacher. How can they connect with other young people who feel a call to lead?

It’s really important to be in contact with others who share your passion and enthusiasm. There is a community of younger adults who are involved in leadership in the church. It’s called Frontline. You can find out more by emailing youngadults@methodistchurch.org.uk.

Is it possible for people to “try out” leading worship as a way of working out whether God is calling them?

There is no reason why anyone can’t be asked to participate in a service we’re leading. Perhaps they could introduce a song, or lead a prayer, or say a few words about their own faith and life?

Local Arrangements are also a great opportunity for people to get involved, and perhaps surprise themselves by what they can do. Sometimes, people have no idea how to get involved, but are very pleased to be asked.

Are Worship Leaders welcome at the Local Preachers’ Meeting?

Of course – they certainly should be! Although the meetings are called “Local Preachers’ Meetings in our Standing Orders, many circuits welcome Worship Leaders and Local Preachers, and some have renamed the meetings as “Leaders of Worship and Preachers’ Meetings” or something similar.

It is good for all those involved in leading worship to worship, learn and have fellowship together. Occasionally, it might be necessary to hold a discussion or take a vote that only applies to either Local Preachers or Worship Leaders, but this can usually be done by temporarily dividing into different groups in the meeting.

In our LP Meeting, the Local Preachers are reluctant to invite Worship Leaders. How can we encourage them to be more inclusive?

Both Worship Leaders and Local Preachers are responsible for leading people into God’s presence in worship – we share the same goal and mission, and we’re called to co-operate in this work. Sharing worship, fellowship and learning together must be a good thing and there’s nothing to be gained from staying separate. Meeting together should be encouraging for people in both groups – we can learn so much from each other.

How can we make our LP Meeting more interesting?

Unfortunately, our meetings tend to become just another committee meeting, but this needn’t be the case. There are some fresh ideas for planning Local Preachers’ Meetings on the Ongoing Learning page.

These include an outline for a complete meeting (Listening for God), some suggestions for refreshing your meetings, and a series of session plans for learning together, which can be used as the focus of your meeting.

Is it necessary to meet 4 times per year, and how many meetings can be on Zoom?

Our Standing Orders require us to meet at least quarterly, but there are no rules on how we meet. Zoom (and Teams, Skype etc.) has enabled more people to attend meetings, including those who can’t attend physically for various reasons.

It is good to share the service of Reaffirmation of our Call each year in person, but as for the other three meetings, circuits can decide what works best for all the LPs and WLs in the circuit. If you meet online though, make sure you provide interesting topics for conversation to ensure people find attending to be worthwhile.

How do we encourage people to attend the Local Preachers’ meeting?

Firstly, make it interesting and relevant – people will find time to come if they see it as a worthwhile use of their time. It’s always good to ask those who don’t attend: what would persuade them to come along?

The answer might be to change the time or the venue for the meeting. It’s also really important to ensure that there is something really worthwhile to learn or talk about that’s topical and will help with their preaching. This takes a little planning, but there are loads of ideas on the Ongoing Learning page.

How do we get people to consider the state of God in the circuit?

There aren’t many things we have to do at a LP Meeting, but one of them is to discuss the state of the work of God in the circuit. Some circuits struggle to get this conversation going. One idea is to take a topic like “Intergenerational Worship”, “Preaching as Evangelism” or “Praying for Social Justice” and use it to review what is currently happening in the churches, and what skills or resources we might need to do things better.

Another idea is to spend some time praying for every church in your circuit, inviting contributions from those who have preached there recently.

Who can chair the Local Preachers’ Meeting?

Although it’s conventional for the Superintendent Minister to chair the meetings, they don’t have to. The role can be delegated to someone else (lay or ordained) with the skills for the task. If they are themselves passionate about worship and preaching, the meetings may well be transformed by their contribution.

What is the Local Preachers’ Secretary required to do?

There is a Guide to the role of Local Preachers' Secretary.

It is designed to be useful to those considering the role, as well as to be a reference for people who have lots of experience.

Is there a suggested pattern of LP meetings across the year?

The only essential is to hold a service to Reaffirm our Call. Best efforts should be made to ensure that all Local Preachers attend this - it’s one of our duties set out in Standing Order 563. This service often includes communion, and can be held as part of the Circuit Service so that the whole circuit has an opportunity to support and pray for Mr Wesley’s preachers.

Apart from that, you are free to plan the meetings through the year to best suit the needs of the worship leaders and preachers, and our shared mission and ministry. You could alternate between online and in-person meetings, or devote particular meetings to topical discussions or prayer - the choice is for the meeting to decide.

As Local Arrangements become more common, what positive opportunities do they present?

Whilst Local Arrangements are sometimes seen as “failures to fill the plan”, they offer all sorts of opportunities. They provide a chance for everyone in the congregation to participate in some way to the worship, and if facilitated well, all can feel included. The Church Stewards are responsible for ensuring the Local Arrangements happen, and for ensuring those who facilitate are supported practically and prayerfully. Singing the Faith Plus has a page dedicated to Local Arrangement here.

There’s also a Guidance Note on Local Arrangements you can download here.

How can Local Arrangements be made more appealing for regular and occasional worshippers?

Firstly, don’t call them Local Arrangements! Names such as “Community Praise” or “Worship Together” are far more positive and appealing.

They are opportunities to try out different ideas:

• perhaps a “Community Praise” service where a number of people choose a favourite hymn and explain what it means to their faith.
• you could ask a home group to lead worship based on what they’ve been discussing recently,
• hold informal “café-style” worship with coffee and bacon rolls and ask people to share a little of what they will be doing “this time tomorrow…”

Make sure you let people know that this service will be different, but special.

What resources are available to help prepare Local Arrangement services?

If churches choose to use a Local Arrangement to hold a “conventional” service of worship, three resources are particularly helpful:

Singing the Faith Plus has a page dedicated to Local Arrangements. It includes complete service outlines based on themes, or on the four priorities of “Our Calling”, many of them written by Christine Odell.

A series of service outlines based on the twelve “stations” of a Methodist Way of Life is available on the Methodist Way of Life page.

The Vine, published by Twelve Baskets, offers a subscription service for service outlines for every Sunday of the three-year lectionary, including everything needed for a complete act of worship. Care is needed however to make sure these services are not simply read by rote. You can make use of the individual song suggestions, prayers, all-age activities etc. to supplement your own planning.

Are Local Preachers (including those on Trial) allowed to lead Local Arrangements?

Local Arrangements are sometimes seen as a failure to "fill" the Preaching Plan. Actually they are a great opportunity to involve the whole congregation in leading worship, including some who may not volunteer normally. Therefore, they're a training ground for future potential worship leaders and preachers. The temptation to simply invite a Local Preacher to step in should be resisted. LPs have already offered their available dates for the plan, and asking them may put them under pressure to do more then they’re comfortable with. It is especially important not to overburden those in training, who may not feel they can say no. A Local Arrangements should be seen as an opportunity for the whole church to create worship together. Great things can result and some may even find skills and gifts they never realised they had - or even a call to be a Worship Leader or Local Preacher.

It is becoming difficult to fill appointments on our plan because local preachers are placing so many conditions on appointments they are prepared to fulfil. What can we do?

All Local Preachers are obliged (in the Duties and Responsibilities of Local Preachers (Standing Order 563) “to be available for an appropriate number of appointments per quarter…” We are all called to serve the circuit and to be available where the need arises. The Standing Order makes allowance for “the situation of the preacher” but as Local Preachers, we should be prepared to go where we are required to go, unless personal circumstances prevent us from doing so.

Placing restrictive conditions on what we are prepared to do could be seen as a lack of attention to our duties in SO 563. If concerns arise like this, a frank conversation is usually the best place to find a resolution, before resorting to the sanctions and remedies provided by our disciplinary procedures.

We’re in an eco-circuit – how do we move away from having to travel long distances to preach?

Issues of carbon neutrality are becoming more important, and challenge the historic Methodist model of itinerant preachers travelling long distances between preaching appointments.

Resolution will require imaginative thinking by each circuit, but some ideas to consider might be:

• Making better use of local Worship Leaders to lead worship in their own church
• Collaboration in the preparation of sermons by groups of preachers, so sermons can be shared and delivered by a preacher who is more local to each church.
• Use of video to provide the preaching content of the service remotely, with the rest of the service led locally.
• Imaginative sharing of transport by identifying worshippers who travel to attend church and may live close to the preacher.

Is there a way that people who have previous training and experience as Lay Preachers in other Christian traditions can become Local Preachers?

Anyone who wishes to explore a call to be Local Preacher in the Methodist Church can do so. They must be a member of the Methodist Church in Britain first, and then speak to their Minister or Superintendent. The Local Preachers' Meeting has responsibility for working with the person through a process of discernment which is described in Standing Order 566A. Download this guidance: Welcoming Lay Preachers from other traditions.

If someone wants to train as a Local Preacher and has already studied theology or similar, do they have to complete WLP?

We have a process for Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning (APEL) which allows recent, relevant stuy to be taken into account. This takes into account that becoming a Local Preacher is a process of formation, and academic studies may not cover the same ground as the WLP course in preparing a preacher for their role. APEL Process & Application Form to download.

Is there a way that people who have previous training and experience as Lay Preachers in other Christian traditions can become Local Preachers?

Anyone who wishes to explore a call to be Local Preacher in the Methodist Church can do so. They must be a member of the Methodist Church in Britain first, and then speak to their Minister or Superintendent. The Local Preachers' Meeting has responsibility for working with the person through a process of discernment which is described in Standing Order 566A. Download this guidance: Welcoming Lay Preachers from other traditions.

If someone wants to train as a Local Preacher and has already studied theology or similar, do they have to complete WLP?

We have a process for Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning (APEL) which allows recent, relevant stuy to be taken into account. This takes into account that becoming a Local Preacher is a process of formation, and academic studies may not cover the same ground as the WLP course in preparing a preacher for their role. APEL Process and Appliction Form