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 West Norfolk Circuit exists to:

• Worship God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit
• Deepen and strengthen spiritual life,
• Witness and serve as individual disciples and together as the Body of Christ,
• Befriend the communities we serve,
• Share God’s love and demonstrate God’s love in action.
• Be open to the new things God is calling us to do and be.

In working out our Mission/Policy Statement over the next three years we will focus on these priorities: Worship O Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture. Psalm 95:6

• Uphold the importance and value of worship.
• Encourage congregations to actively participate in worship.
• Enable churches to adopt styles which will encourage people from the community to share in worship.

Prayer Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances. I Thessalonians 5: 16-18

• Uphold the importance and value of prayer.
• Encourage people to integrate prayer into every aspect of their daily lives,
• Encourage churches to include prayer as a vital and natural part of it’s life.

Leadership One who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd. Numbers 27:17

• Review Circuit staff and how they are deployed.
• Review the viability of each society in ministry, mission and strategic terms.
• Encourage and provide training for lay leadership. NURTURE And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Christ Acts 5: 42
• Lead people to faith in Jesus and nurture them in discipleship.
• Encourage people to meet together for study, prayer and fellowship.
• Train people to lead such groups.
• Encourage churches to provide age relevant teaching.

Involvement For to me living is Christ, and dying is gain. Philippians 1: 21

• Encourage one another to discover our calling, recognise our gifts and develop them.
• Aim to create a Circuit team of gifts, skills and abilities that can be shared [including training].
• Develop effective communications within the Circuit.
• Develop a Circuit identity, through our common purpose and particularly by implementing:- 1. Twinning programme between churches. 2. Programme of Circuit events. 3. Circuit co-ordinated news and activity.
• Build stronger relationships with ecumenical and secular partners.
• Be in dialogue with other faith communities.

Open Door Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15: 7

• Encourage everyone to be welcoming to all those who come among us.
• Ensure our premises are open and attractive, available to all, with easy access.
• Encourage churches to provide notice boards with accurate information.

Service "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself." Luke 10:27

• Encourage churches to look beyond their own needs and doors.
• Provide help and support to churches in assessing the needs of their community.
• Ensure, by providing information and materials, that people in local churches are involved and not complacent on ‘justice issues’.
• Encourage churches to be aware of environmental issues.
• Encourage churches to support the world wide church.

Pastoral Care “Do you love me?” “Take care of my sheep” John 21:15 – 18

• Encourage everyone to be involved in pastoral care.
• Provide training for pastoral care. OUTREACH AND EVANGELISM Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
• Provide training so that we can all express our faith effectively to others.
• Examine whether new congregations can be planted either in existing churches or other buildings.
• Develop culturally relevant expressions of Church.
• Consider our mission relevant to the needs of those around us.
• Run and resource Circuit based youth groups and encourage our churches to be all age.

This Mission/Policy Statement was ratified at the West Norfolk Circuit Meeting held on the 4th. March 2008.