Learning Network

Jon White is the South East District’s Learning Network Aligned Officer. The Learning Network is your key resource for learning and development, free at the point of use for anyone in our churches. The Network is made up of over 30 people with expertise across all of church life.

On this page, you’ll find information on:

  • The Learning Network webpages

  • The Events Calendar

  • Connexionally Delivered Courses

  • Bespoke Input

  • About Jon White, your LN Officer

  • How to Contact Jon

Contact Jon

Learning Network webpages

You can access the Network’s website here (https://www.methodist.org.uk/learning).

Connexional L&D Calendar

The Connexional L&D Calendar shows you what’s on, and when, and includes some things which aren’t listed on the Connexionally Delivered Courses page below:

https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/learning-and-development/learning-and-development-events/

Connexionally Delivered Courses

Connexionally Delivered Courses are available here: https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/learning-and-development/learning-and-development-courses/

This page offers sub-pages with links to book tickets. Most of these courses are delivered online via Zoom. Topics covered on this page are:

  • Circuit Stewards Training

  • Employment Support

  • Leadership Development

  • Biblical Literacy

  • Calling and Vocation

  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

  • Worship Leading & Preaching

  • Caring and Wellbeing

  • Supporting Rural Mission & Ministry

  • Supervision

  • Ministerial Wellbeing

  • Positive Working Together

Bespoke Input

I (or others in the Network) can develop and deliver more bespoke resources for Circuits and churches as needed. In my time here, I’ve developed and delivered events on:

  • Sharing testimony in worship

  • Delivering sustainable children’s, youth and family ministry (long-lasting and impactful, not low-carbon)

  • Prayer days

  • Bible study days

  • Being creative in preaching

  • Ministry in complexity

About Jon

I’m interested in conversations that make things happen: I lead on the 1-1 and team coaching training that the LN and E&G offer to pioneers, people working in NPNP projects, and leaders transforming their church or Circuit for mission. I collaborate a lot with Emma Nash, and I’m a credentialed coach with the International Coaching Federation.

When training, I’m paper-based: When I train, I’m less interested in PowerPoint presentations. My work is often based around the handout I write for that event first, and then I create the training around what I’ve written.

I’m a jack-of-all-trades: I’m reasonably good at a lot of things as my career has necessitated a lot of realising that something needs to be done, and then learning how to do it.

I’m an escaped Anglican Youth Advisor: I’ve been involved with children’s, youth and families ministry for approximately 25 years, as volunteer, church youth worker, schools worker, and latterly as a Diocesan Youth Advisor, supporting a Diocese roughly two-thirds the size of the South East District, containing similar contexts, except the coast – it was the midlands, after all.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of things I’ve recently delivered:

  • Some of the PWT courses: Mostly Bullying & Harassment, but the Network can also offer:

    • Growing Through Change & Conflict: A beginner course to help participants:

      • Understand how conflict works in ourselves, our churches, and

      • Experience some simple tools to transform conflict, and

    • Scripture, Spirituality & Conflict: A course to deepen our understanding of the impact and wisdom of scripture in transforming conflict, and in transitioning through change

  • The Reflective Line-Management Course

  • The Safeguarding Advanced Module

  • Youthscape Essentials: 10 sessions for Volunteer Youth Workers, usually delivered in Circuits over 3 x Saturdays, often delivered collaboratively with Charlotte and Tom, the youth champions for the District

  • Fundraising Training: How to get money out of grant-making bodies

  • Effective Conversations: A course using the simplest learning from coaching to make conversations easier and more effective. This also happens to be the coaching skills taster for the LN/E&G coaching training

  • Circuit vision / team development days

  • Supporting volunteers well

Contact

Our aligned Learning Network Officer is Jon White. Jon lives in Winchester, and grew up in Portsmouth, and is no stranger to the District.

You can contact him here: whitej@methodistchurch.org.uk.

Contact Jon