Wesley House in the 2010s
The Fruitful Field
The Fruitful Field was a major strategic review and reform process undertaken by the Methodist Church, focused on the future of theological education and ministerial training. It culminated in a report adopted by the Methodist Conference in 2012, which led to significant restructuring of how the Church prepares people for ministry.
Reports were received by Conference in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
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2010 Ministries, Learning and Development Report to Conference
This report introduced the Fruitful Field Project, a strategic initiative aimed at reviewing and reforming the Methodist Church’s learning and development infrastructure. It highlighted the theological foundation rooted in the “Liverpool Minutes” of 1820, emphasising spiritual growth, discernment, and transformation. The project sought to support governance bodies in overseeing education and formation, ensure coherence across programmes, and establish a reflective and missionally aligned learning structure. The report also proposed the creation of a Shadow Ministries Committee to guide the Church through a period of transition, while laying the groundwork for institutional review and new forms of ministerial and lay training.
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2011 Fruitful Field Project Report to Conference
This interim report provided a progress update on the Fruitful Field Project, offering a comprehensive mapping of the Church’s current theological institutions, regional training networks, expert staff posts, and financial expenditure. It identified pressing infrastructural and economic challenges, such as viability of institutions, sector-wide shifts in higher education, and sustainability of the Church’s dispersed learning systems. The report stressed the importance of a coherent, mission-shaped, and flexible approach to learning for ministry and discipleship, foreshadowing the need for significant changes. The report prepared the ground for deeper consultation and decision-making in 2012, particularly around the deployment of the Church's £5.7m annual education budget.
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2012 Fruitful Field Project Report to Conference
This final and comprehensive report marked the conclusion of the Fruitful Field Project and recommended sweeping reforms to the Methodist Church’s learning and development structures. It proposed the establishment of the Discipleship and Ministries Learning Network (DMLN) to unify and support formation, training, theological education, and scholarship across the Connexion. The report was the result of wide consultation, including over 500 submissions, and acknowledged financial, educational, and strategic pressures. It recommended a centralised network with two key hubs—Cliff College and the Queen’s Foundation—staffed by expert regional teams and governed under a new structure. These changes aimed to ensure accountability, resource efficiency, and a renewed focus on lifelong, missionally driven learning.
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2013 Discipleship and Ministries Learning Network Report to Conference
This report detailed the implementation of the 2012 Fruitful Field recommendations through the launch of the Discipleship and Ministries Learning Network. It confirmed that despite some practical and legal adjustments to governance and staffing, the core vision remained intact: to create a dynamic, integrated learning network supporting discipleship, ministry (lay and ordained), and theological scholarship. Five core thematic areas were developed—organisational structure, staffing, learning strategy, transition planning, and communications—ensuring the smooth handover from existing structures. The Queen’s Foundation and Cliff College were formally integrated as learning centres, and regional teams were established to provide locally responsive and contextually relevant ministry support throughout the Connexion.
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In addition the Conference of 2013 received a report from the Trustees of Wesley House which outlined their response to the 2012 decision not to include Wesley House as one of the new connexional centres for ministerial training. The Trustees proposed applying to the Charity Commission for a cy-près scheme to amend the Trust Deed, enabling them to continue theological education aligned with the original vision. Their goal was to reimagine Wesley House as an international Methodist centre for scholarship, research, and prayer within the Cambridge Theological Federation, supporting both ordained and lay ministers from Britain and the global Methodist community. The report emphasises there will be no further financial demands on the Connexion, and outlines plans to fund the redevelopment by selling or leasing part of the existing site.