Asbury Circuit - Our Calling in God’s Mission
The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission
The Birmingham Asbury circuit, as a community of churches and people in the North-West of Birmingham, representing the Methodist Church and linked with people and Churches in many parts of the world:
Affirms God’s creative and life-giving love for all the peoples and communities in which we are set.
looks for the fulfillment of God’s purposes in our neighbourhoods and
seeks to be friends with people of faith in living out our discipleship.
To do this we are committed to celebrating the rich diversity of our congregations and community life by

acting ecumenically

encouraging opportunities for spiritual growth
developing leadership
enabling churches and neighbourhoods to work with change
encouraging sustainable church growth
The churches in the circuit, the circuit leadership team and the circuit meeting are invited
in this initial phase, to suggest specific actions as illustrations: (see below)
and subsequently, each year to set specific goals for each part of the circuit calling, in the light of the current priorities for the Methodist Church
The circuit meeting which began the process and the group which produced this outline, made suggestions like...
Celebrating community and diversity — in worship which encourages people to join in
— welcoming strangers
— learning from our links all over the world
Acting ecumenically - working with other churches wherever practical
— building positive relationships with Sikh, Muslim and Hindu neighbours
for spiritual growth - learning to tell people what matters to is about being Christian
— providing centres for meeting and learning together
developing leadership - paying special attention to the full diversity of our congregations
working with change — finding appropriate times and places for people to gather together
sustaining church growth - encouraging commitment
- making good relationships with neighbours
- drawing people into prayer, caring and working together in community

Adopted by Circuit Meeting September 2006