Governance Structure of Trafford Circuit  

The Circuit 

The circuit is normally a group of churches served by a team of ministers - in Trafford our ministers are Rev Jackie Bellfield, Rev'd Glayne Worgan and Rev'd Raj Patta (one day per week). Occasionally there are circuits with only one minister. Ministers have pastoral charge of churches, but will preach and lead worship in different local churches in the circuit, along with local preachers. The arrangements for leading worship in a circuit are drawn up in a quarterly plan.

Our circuit is led by The Rev'd Jackie Bellfield (Superintendent minister) who presides over the circuit staff (both lay and ordained) and the circuit meeting, and with lay and ordained colleagues facilitates and encourages mission throughout the circuit. She is also responsible for drawing up the plan and arranging the gathering of information about activities (eg baptisms, weddings, and funerals) and about membership statistics in the circuit.

Responsibility for the direction and policy for the circuit is shared between lay and ordained. Voluntary circuit stewards have responsibility for maintaining, buying and selling circuit property (usually manses), and for the general welfare of the ordained and employed staff in the circuit. There is also a circuit treasurer who in Trafford is Tom Hague.

The circuit is the place where new initiatives and changes in the pattern of church life need to happen. This is where the staffing capacity, where closures of chapels are debated, and where fresh expressions of church or new pioneer ministries are launched. 
 

Circuit Meeting - meets in the Trafford Circuit at least 4 times a year (September, December, March and June)

Trafford Circuit Meeting Constitution - who by role sits on the circuit meeting 

The purpose of the Methodist Church 

Is the advancement of:
a) the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church;
b any charitable purpose for the time being of any connexional, district, circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church;
c any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution being a society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church; d any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church. 

All members of the circuit meeting are managing trustees of the Trafford Circuit - full details on the role of trustees can be found below:

Guidance of Managing Trustees (link takes you to the Methodist Website)
Five golden rules of being a trustee (link will take you to a document)
Managing Faith Charities - (link will take you to gov.uk)
Charities with a connection to a non-charity (link will take you to the Methodist Church website)
Managing Conflicts of Interest (link will take you a document)
Automatic disqualification (link with take you to gov.uk) - please speak to Rev'd Jackie