Local preachers in the Tiverton and Wellington Methodist Circuit were introduced to Shoreline Conversations in the autumn of 2016 as part of their programme of continuing local preacher development. On the first of two sessions they looked at a range of Shoreline materials and explored the concept of ‘gracious conversation’. On the second occasion they focussed on the Pilgrimage pack and the small group process, ending the evening with an animated and spontaneous conversation about how the resource might be used in various settings.
We are a mainly rural Methodist Circuit made up of several very small congregations, and we considered the possibility of adapting some of the resources for single services or a series of services, particularly in churches where people are already comfortable to share thoughts and experiences. In other places we are developing café church and some people felt that Shoreline Conversations could be used in that setting. The local preachers were particularly interested in the use of a visual focus and of encouraging people to use the images in the resource packs, as well as the words. Many of the preachers also envisaged that the material would be helpful to their own preparation and leading of worship.
Report from Anne Browse, who attended a Shoreline training event in Exeter in January 2016
