As the world’s borders open up, we are seeing the return of international travellers in and out of the Connexional Office. Recently Sheila Norris, Methodist Church of Great Britain Partnership Coordinator for Asia Pacific, spent five days visiting NZ as part of a regional networking trip that included Australia and Fiji.

Sheila is relatively new to her role. Following 36 years in Japan teaching Christianity and English at Kwassui Women’s University she felt the time was right to return to the United Kingdom. The global partnerships position description appealed, although she doubted she would make the applicant shortlist. “As a female lay preacher nearing retirement age I didn’t feel confident of my chances. I felt God saying, ‘Don’t you trust me not to offer you the position if it is not for you? Push the door and see’”. She did push the door and although the initial response was not convincing – the letter inviting her to participate in a Zoom interview was addressed to another applicant – the error was merely administrative. The interview panel decided Sheila was ideally suited to the role that had been vacant for over a year.

Sheila started at Church House, London in April and her immediate focus was on the annual Methodist Conference 2022 where she helped to host participants from the Asia Pacific region. Supporting the delegates from Korea, Samoa and Singapore was complicated by Covid-related issues and in between dealing with passport, vaccination, transport and travel arrangements, Sheila was called on for translation duties. She is fluent in Spanish and Japanese.

Being adaptable is a key attribute for her job and has proved to be an advantage during her visit to New Zealand. Originally she was to be hosted by MCNZ President Rev Andrew Doubleday but plans were disrupted when he tested positive for Covid. Rev David Bush stepped in to act as Christchurch guide and along with a tour of the city and surrounds, her visit included time with Murray Overton, Director CWS and Tara Tautari, General Secretary.

The primary purpose of the meetings in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji is to build relationships. Discussions have revolved around partnerships and finding new ways of working collaboratively to achieve goals, as the funding model of the past is coming to an end. “In Britain, the Methodist Church is changing the way we work with our partners. In the past we were mostly providing grants. Reports by the Charities Commission in the UK have resulted in our decision to reduce our funds to zero reserves. Asia Pacific will no longer be eligible for ongoing annual distributions. Instead, partners will be encouraged to apply for one last round of capacity building grants. The final decision on funding allocation will be determined by the Grants Committee that includes two representatives from each region. It is not a British decision,” Sheila says.

Sheila is keen to develop partnerships that bring benefits without an ongoing dependence on funding. “On a basic level, we can achieve so much by sharing information. For example young people and children meeting on Zoom – in-person visits are expensive and not easy or ecologically prudent.”

‘Twinning’ is another initiative that is effective in developing partnerships without incurring associated costs. Sheila describes twinning as a sister-city collaboration for churches. “British circuits, or districts, adopt a partner and create opportunities for sharing resources and expertise that offer advantages to both parties. Bristol is twinned with Korea. The Bristol Chair of District is an Honorary Bishop of the Korean Church and later this year our Youth President will visit Korea with his wife.”

In addition to the recent Australasian / Fiji visit, Sheila is tentatively planning a trip to India and Bangladesh in September and hopes to join the Youth President and his wife when they visit Korea in October.

Sheila is planning five years in a role that will see her into her retirement. “It is a fascinating position, but there is just so much to learn.” Given her multi-lingual skills, her experience as a theological lecturer, and her innovative approach to building partnerships, there is little doubt this global citizen will bring a whole new perspective to Methodist Church partnerships throughout the Pacific.