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INTRODUCTION
The Rural Dean welcomed all the Synod members and
Archdeacon John Reed. The Revd Phil Regan led the meeting with prayer.
Due
to unforeseen circumstances the readers’ presentation has been deferred
until the next Synod.
PRESENT:
The Rural Dean - The Revd Nigel Whinney
The Lay Chairman – Catherine Cavender
House of Clergy - 8 with 1 apology
House of Laity - 46 with 11 apologies
Visitors - 7
Minutes of the last meeting
(21st October 2003) having been circulated to the Synod membership with the
Agenda for this meeting, were, after consultation, approved and signed as
a correct record.
(Proposed: Henry Best; Seconded Ross Coad)
MATTERS ARISING:
There were no matters arising
RURAL
DEAN'S NOTES
7.
ELECTIONS
Due to Revd Stephen Kivett’s move from
the Deanery, the Revd Michael Gallagher will replace him in the House of
Clergy at Diocesan Synod, and the Revd Alan Elwood will replace him on the
Deanery Synod Standing Committee. They were voted on nem-com. Nigel
expressed his thanks to Revd David Jasper for his support.
b) DATES: 3 March 7.00 pm Holyrood
School Chard Bishop Peter This is a MUST for all PCC members,
Clergy and Readers.
17 March Quiet Day for Clergy, Readers at Haselbury
Plucknett
12 May Archdeacon’s Visitation Ilminster
9 June 7.30pm Deanery Synod at Curry Rivel
27 June 6.00pm Deanery Evensong at Chard Furnham
21 October 7.30pm Deanery Synod at Ilminster
c)
FTTL:
We need more than the 3 who have volunteered to be
VISITORS. A job description is available. There will be regular
bulletins to advise progress of the initiative.
d)
BREAK-INS:
Nigel reported an increase in recent Church break -ins and urged
vigilance. Following discussion, 2 contacts were given: The Field
Intelligence Officer – PC Templar (amended) on 01935 402117 and the
Church Watch Office – Nick Tolson 01749 344992 (amended).
RURAL AFFAIRS
: Catherine Cavender &
Ross Coad spoke about:
i) the church walks which are now to be launched in
May 2004. Passports are being prepared and 21 local schools are assisting
in the design of the ‘passport stamps’ which will be used by walkers to
stamp their passport at each church they visit. The project will provide
a good opportunity to build better links between the church and the parish
community. It is hoped that the passport stamps will be displayed in the
Somerset Arts Centre later in the year. It was noted that Rotary Clubs in
this area are about to do the same thing.
ii) Tapes and CD’s of the late Bishop Jim’s ‘Go for
God’ are available at this Synod for a small donation which will be given
to the Children’s Society.
iii) Deanery Digest – After discussion, it was agreed to
persevere with production 3 or 4 times a year. . Parishes are invited to
send contributions and feedback to Catherine Cavender. The Deanery Digest
will be updated on the deanery web-site after which the web-master (Rob
Allen) will advise the deanery secretary to notify all parishes and Synod
members by e-mail to look up and down load the updated version.
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SECRETARY’S REPORT:
1.
Sr. Phyllis advised:
i)
that should there be any changes of Parish Representatives they
should inform her of the parish name and their own name, address,
telephone number and e-mail and the name of the person being replaced as
soon as possible after the appointment.
ii)
Anyone changing address, telephone number, e-mail address should
also notify her ASAP.
iii)
Her new e-mail address is
phylliscsf@franciscans.org.uk
TREASURER’S REPORT:
1.
Graham Tout advised that expenses last year were approx £325 of
which 60% was in administration. Last Synod agreed that for 2004 each
parish would contribute £10 to the Deanery for Synod and related expenses.
It
was noted that most parishes paid their Common Fund for 2003 and that the
booklets sent to the treasurers had been helpful in understanding some of
the issues around this. Any parish having difficulty in paying its CF
should consult the Archdeacon and Diocesan Board of Finance.
OPEN FORUM
ARCHDEACON JOHN REED:
Deanery
Plan, Clergy Deployment,
new ways of being
church:
In response to a question about
the proposed reduction of stipendiary clergy in the Diocese Archdeacon
John explained that our Diocese currently exceeds the suggested Sheffield
Report recommendations and needs to reduce the number of stipendiary
clergy to 176 by 2011. This has prompted a lot of deliberation resulting
in the Deanery Plan which takes a serious look at providing pastoral care
for smaller parishes and with fewer clergy. The Bishop’s target is to
have “lost” 30 clergy by 2011. It is recognised that is it rarely
satisfactory either for parishes or priests to have half-time priests. It
is envisaged that any apparent savings from the reduction of clergy
numbers might be reinvested or transferred to Lay posts such as a Youth
Worker, Rural Affairs person, etc.
With reference to being a
“mission-shaped church” it was noted that the Church of England has always
been missionary, that mission and evangelism have always been integral to
the church, and that in exploring new ways of being church we are
challenged to consider new ways of being the Church of England in the 21st
Century.
A question arose about using
churches for concerts and halls for services – there can be various
reasons for either category, yet clarification/advertisement is necessary
to enable the unsuspecting to be at the right place for the right event;
it was acknowledged that many halls are less foreboding than some
churches; that church language can be a hurdle for many; we are
responsible for the church building as a parish amenity as we are the
Established Church with its accompanying responsibilities.
PARISH VISITING: To
encourage more lay people to be involved in parish
visiting there are some good resources to help in training, including
“Something For You”. There is also a “Listening Skills” course which
could be undertaken in parishes or where the parishes are small for
neighbouring parishes to join forces. It is practical and assists people
in talking about Christ –something many of us find difficult. There is a
six week Listening and Visitors course beginning in Ilminster the week
beginning 12th February. |
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OPEN FORUM (cont.)
ARCHDEACON JOHN REED:
READERS:
There have been some positive changes in the training and ministry of
Readers in recent years. Subject to the selection process, it is now
possible for someone up to the age of 70 to embark on the training
course. Readers may have the full licence up to age 70, and Permission
to Officiate up to age 75. This encourages a person’s earlier life’s
experience and current level of energy and availability to be better used.
EXPLORING
CHRISTIANITY: This course has superseded the
Christian Foundations course and has been accredited by Trinity
College Bristol and so would count towards other ministry training.
HOMOSEXUALITY and THE CHURCH: Archdeacon John
was asked by the Bishop last autumn to attend a Conference of Gay and
Lesbian Christians in Manchester. He was daunted by the prospect yet came
away from it having travelled a steep learning curve in tolerance,
understanding, human sexuality and that homosexuals are genuinely loved
and made by God. Genuine homosexuals are such by nature rather than by
nurture and many have tried to deny this by marrying and having families
only to live in a constant tension between “conformity” and nature, which
was destructive.
LACK OF
CLERGY and MINISTRY TEAMS:
With the trend over recent years
for the Eucharist to be the focal act of parish worship, the lack of
clergy makes this difficult to maintain. However, worship does not have to
always be the Eucharist. Readers and other lay people may lead non-eucharistic
liturgy, though anyone preaching regularly must be properly trained and
licensed. Anyone may give an address ONCE and if there is no one to give
the word, someone might read a meditation or an extract from a spiritual
book. It is also important for clergy to draw more on the experience of
the laity.
CHURCHWARDENS: A question was raised re the
difficulty of finding Churchwardens. It was noted that CRB(Criminal
Records Bureau), Data Protection and Health & Safety issues all
contributed to this difficulty which seems to be part of today’s culture
and additional responsibilities. It was pointed out that sometimes tasks
were asked of Churchwardens which were not rightly theirs to do.
WORSHIP:
It was noted that many people only attend non-eucharistic worship because
they have not been confirmed. It is important to reflect on what pattern
of worship we offer –to God, and for the people. Is our worship
appropriate, what other provisions might also be made?
The Rural Dean thanked Archdeacon
John Reed for his openness of heart, and honesty, over a variety of
sensitive and complicated issues.
The
meeting closed at 9.20 pm with the Rural Dean using the “Changing Lives”
prayer
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