Lenten Visits Halifax 9 th of April

Lenten Visits Halifax 9 th of April 2014 Summary: Halifax Deanery valued its shared belonging and commitment to Halifax. It valued strong ecumenical working and work in the community with those in need. It recognised the need for the building of good interfaith relations and looks to the church for practical strategic and imaginative support and planning for its strong desire to preach the Gospel, serve Christ and his kingdom. Things to keep from the old: Lessons learned from a small compact deanery Working Ecumenically in mission Valued light touch support from Diocese Interfaith activity Connection with schools/mara Key Issues the new Diocese should take forward: Structures Interfaith Links outside of C of E and ecumenical working Strategic review of Resources financial and built Social community engagement Mission and Discipleship Youth Resourcing the Parishes to do this: Parishes, lay people encouraged/trained and clergy supported by informed strategic thinking Deanery as above The one thing to take away: a big heart for sharing the Gospel both as message and as deed, a practical view of the church and a willingness to thinking differently. Question 1: Looking back over the last few years, what is there about this Deanery and its Parishes that you would wish to celebrate as being special and would wish to take with you into the life of the new Diocese? Comments from Cards: Broadly grouped under categories The friendship within a small compact Deanery

Halifax 9 th April page 2 of 9 The familiarity and its associated community /Closeness and friendship /The togetherness of a group of churches /There is a real friendliness in the meetings of chapter and Deanery conference / The friendship of all the parishes together / Friendship between parishes / The meeting together with other churches / Fellowship between the churches in Halifax. / Close knit, family feel to Deanery / friendship and love / coming together with other Christians /Fellowship and praying for one another / Fellowship and caring of church and community feeling of belonging Welcoming people / Warmly welcoming of strangers It feels small and compact which encourages the building of good relationships between parishes and clergy / I have always felt part of a not too large a family and would hope very much that the new situation will be able to maintain this. / the family feeling of belonging this West Yorkshire and the dales seems very large / The Halifax deanery always worked well together and hope this will continue. Will smaller Deaneries still be heard within a larger group and local interests and projects continue? Cohesiveness because its very much centred on one town The rugged individuality of the people. Which translates into cooperation together when it matters / we tend to rally around as a deanery and help each other out/support one another / Mutual support / The support of parishes for each other / Working together more and praying together Some large and some smaller parishes with varied housing / Variety and diversity /On the whole people know each other form church to church and there is a sense of unity amidst diversity Friendly attitude of clergy and people / Friendliness of the people in the parishes and the character of its clergy / Clergy generally friendly and helpful Supportive relationship with peer group and local clergy Support at ordination from the Deanery Mission and ecumenical working Ecumenical support for poor & needy through St Augustine s centre, food drop in centre / The Christian projects that happen in the town (not particularly C of E generally crossdenominational) / Churches together action drop in / the valuable community work which have been established eg.street Angels, Food drop in centre, Asylum Seekers/immigrants based at St Augustine s / The projects that have been done ecumenically in the town with great success /Working in the community jointly/ Unity between denominations /Ebenezer project / Linkage of Churches with churches together projects e.g. Ebenezer drop in centre / Churches together services / Churches together (in West Halifax) actually trying to work together / Missionary work outside church e.g. Food drop centre ST Augustine s centre Love Calderdale / LOVE CALDERDALE the annual day when Christian organisations celebrate mission to the community throughout the Calder Valley. This year Calderdale has given us the use of the whole of Halifax town centre to proclaim God s love to Visitors and shoppers alike / Ministry to the elderly, especially in the residential homes, The link with the Mara Diocese, Tanzania / Church links with overseas Diocese / The Wakefield link with the Diocese of Mara, Tanzania Creative initiatives to reach young families with new types of services at new times /

Halifax 9 th April page 3 of 9 Increasing church attendance Opportunities for evangelism The prayerful witness of the churches within their communities /Connections between churches and communities. Structures and support Light touch approach from the centre Strong support for clergy from our Bishops and Archdeacons. To know where to go for help and support /knowing who to contact for problem solving /Where to go for help with youth work resources and supplies of diocesan staff, children s team, communications, finance The helpfulness of Wakefield Finance team in trying to suggest new ways to increase our church revenue The availability of Diocesan staff Being able to make personal links with Diocesan representatives The regular diocesan (weekly) news e-mail to parishes Creative ideas re. clergy deployment The care given by the rural dean Schools Good relations with schools, both church and not / Linking with schools / positive working of churches with schools both C of E and others Support of church schools Interfaith Inclusive relationships with Neighbours There are some attempts at meetings engaging with Muslims Interfaith / interfaith links Will local interfaith projects continue Interfaith work Interfaith women s group Other Education (all age discipleship) Halifax minster A reviving, but still vulnerable tradition of church music Home groups

Halifax 9 th April page 4 of 9 Question 2: What should be the key issues that the new Diocese should make a priority that would enhance the Mission of the Church in the parishes of this deanery? Themes: Structures Interfaith Links outside of C of E and ecumenical working Strategic review of Resources financial and built Social community engagement Mission and Discipleship Youth Social community engagement The environment Pastoral care to the whole community not just parish congregation The pain of the world A parish world which is enhanced by an increased knowledge of the issues in the world around it. Encouraging and facilitating Christians to speak out on issues relating to the people of our neighbourhoods, e.g. food bank use, effects of benefit changes. To give help to immigrants in the community Helping young families Churches involved in education Positive working with schools both Cof E and others Working with church schools Interfaith Interfaith relationships Interfaith co-operation Interfaith relationships close working with other faith communities Ethnic cultural differences education of parishes to build relationships Increase interfaith relations within the diocese The promotion of religious and racial tolerance, followed by an increase in understanding of each other s religion Working towards understanding Asian culture and their understanding of English Culture Resources financial and built Setting parish shares that people feel committed to paying Make the share more realistic A parish share that is affordable to the parish If we had a manageable common fund,it would release finance for mission at a parish level Review local church funding Finance Downsize properties that ate surplus to requirements. Realistic assessment of our building resources strategic plan for their use in mission and other uses e.g Financial Realistic assessment of both our financial and human resources. Closing church buildings Help parishes repair crumbling church buildings. Links outside of C of E Redefine Christianity Ecumenism Church links with Christians overseas Bind us together Strengthening links with other denominations Being encouraged to work closely with other denominations

Halifax 9 th April page 5 of 9 Youth Structures Matching areas of need within the new Diocese Church structures that are enabling Concerned about lone churches with multiparishes strategic review of clergy deployment - less lone rangers, more team players People resources to help us grow our congregations, e.g. parish mission officers etc. Communication points of contact Youth and Children s work Working with young adults greater priority for the young and be ready to adapt accordingly Youth What to do to attract younger people to church Youth work and children The older people of the diocese to remember what growing up is like A diocese that engages meaningfully and not patronisingly with its younger people. Mission and Discipleship The worship of God the chief end of men and women Renewal of worship with both greater engagement in tradition as well as practicalities of our context Preaching the Gospel so that men and women are converted to faith in Christ Preach the Gospel in word and deed Making new disciples of Christ Make Disciples of the world don t forget Christ s command Fresh expressions Involving the whole church and not just a few who perform magnificently Discipleship training Opportunities for everyone to engage in quiet days and retreats Other The repentance of the church how humble is the church

Question 3: Halifax 9 th April page 6 of 9 How can the new Diocese best support this Deanery and its parishes in ways that will enhance the work of the Church locally in growing disciples and being a Christian presence in every community? General Comments/Themes: Parishes, lay people encouraged/trained and clergy supported by informed strategic thinking Deanery as above Parish Rethink what Christian presence actively uses, e.g. building closure Support for family units Resources for children and young people To be encouraged to work outside our churches in the local community Continuation of resourcing for specific needs of individual parishes, e.g. for interfaith work Training to be more localised Bishops and Arch deacons visit parishes more often e.g. just because visits Bishop as pastor to the clergy Encourage people on the ground to continue their discipleship Clergy working in the parishes Shepard (vicar) currently vacant Teacher (Discipline) Evangelist Outreach team A pool of available clergy to help when vicar is away or to assist A mystery visitor to assess the church and report to the PCCC More sector ministers to support the laity Maintenance support Keeping in touch with the rest of the diocese Feeling part of the new diocese Ask what we want Deanery Training more localised Local training as opposed to diocesan training Good local training Simplify structures and procedures, raise awareness of and access to existing resources (including personal) Clarify the role of the deanery especially with respect to staffing issues Reshaping parishes (e.g.out geographically) to suit context and mission Rethink clergy team structures to reduce duplication Role clarity

Release current OLMs or SSms from their fixed position to assist in the deanery Do we need as many churches Having a fund held by the deanery to distribute to churches for particular projects Halifax 9 th April page 7 of 9 A paid full time youth worker Greater deanery approach to supporting areas of need e.g. youth work or social outreach Working, resourcing /parishes together a) youth work, b) music c) children Outreach team Strengthen interfaith links Ecumenical links Social voice - solidarity Listen to us! Encouragement /visitations to encourage the deaneries in the work Don t micromanage

Halifax 9 th April page 8 of 9 What one thing do you want us to take forward from this meeting? Summary; a big heart for sharing the Gospel both as message and as deed, a practical view of the church and a willingness to thinking differently. Being there for all in need I hope and pray there will be provision for traditionalists What provision will there be for those of us who are traditionalists To learn lessons from the past whilst actively using new approaches To look forward to the future and learn from the past I want to better understand and fulfil my ministry in what is still a new context To keep the church witnessing to Christ and to do my part in it Fellowship within the church family and encouraging people to join this family of Christ s More love within the church family and less politics United in love and trust Love each other That children and families are welcomed into our church and they feel part of the family Children and young people, families More children and youth in church Effective communication of the @gospel of Christ acrosst he whole parish community and particularly young people. Strategic honesty: willingness to face difficult decisions for the sake of the future lest a seed die reimagining Christian presence for the 21 st century That the church may grow more Christians and so extend the Kingdom of God Our church to recognise God s calling and vision to be a beacon for the community Communities coming closer to God A vibrant energetic and growing church with a big heart and outwards vision To enable our church to reach out and proclaim the Gospel in our local communities That the Holy Spirit should be at work in our church, that we should be open to it and strengthened to grow ourselves and to reach out to our community Growth and renewal in our churches through the Holy Spirit For people to come to know Jesus. I don t know what I would do without Jesus in my life To see a movement of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of those to whom we minister to see more people coming to a knowledge of Jesus Christ. That the Holy Spirit will empower us as people of God to be unafraid to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our community and Nation For members of the congregation to connect with God daily and really really want to see others come to faith and grow as disciples To make new disciples of Jesus Christ Preach the Gospel and win souls for Christ

Halifax 9 th April page 9 of 9 I long for an open church without walls Our church seems in need of palliative care as our members decline in numbers and increase in age. Perhaps we need help to manage a dignified end rather than attempt heroic resuscitation Help me to achieve a stronger faith To be a better Christian Manage to keep my faith To be a better disciple for Christ That we give God space to fill us with himself so what we offeris of him Continuity of our church in an ever changing area That we show by our actions that we do believe this is God s creation and have a responsibility to care for it. Service and witness to the marginalised- especially those currently outside the organised church I live in Halifax not Calderdale For bishop to understand the problems of struggling churches Closer liason between Diocese and parish to support local churches in their aims.