What is a Federation?Circuits working together Introducing Circuit Federations A federation is a group of two or more circuits working together to gain mutual benefit through the sharing of expertise, staff, volunteers or resources across a larger structure, while retaining autonomy in some or all areas.In practice a federation is likely to consist of three neighbouring circuits which have started working together to overcome the issues that they are too small to deal with on their own. They are likely to share training, such as that provided for Local Preachers and coordinate their property and finance teams to take advantage of experts in one circuit and a shortage of volunteers in another. They have agreed to coordinate stationing decisions, and may share a minister if pressures of finance or availability of appropriate presbyters dictates. The staffs of the three circuits meet together for mutual support and to plan some joint events; when a minister is on sabbatical or ill, those from the other circuits work together to limit the impact on continuing work. It is impossible to accurately define what makes a federation.The underlying principle is that both the working practice, and the theory behind it, is under the control of the circuits involved: a federation is what its constituents want it to be. Circuits can delegate some activities to a federation group, such as training, while other things are simply shared to improve mutual understanding. Volunteers, such as finance officers, could help each other by sharing experience, or costs could be shared to jointly engage a Lay Employee. Perhaps the greatest advantage comes when stationing is shared across the federation.
Federations can be temporary, perhaps while coping with staff changes, or permanent because common interests make this sensible. Federations can even be transitory: specifically formed to manage the process of merging circuits gradually.
A complete booklet covering this information is available to download and print for use in church or circuit meeting: Circuits working in Federation |
 Printable Version |