THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND THE DIOCESE OF HEREFORD Diocesan Synod The Palace, Hereford, HR4 9BL Tel: 01432 373300 Fax: 01432 352952 Email: diooffice@hereford.anglican.org HEREFORD DIOCESAN SYNOD Minutes of the Diocesan Synod Meeting Saturday 7 March 2015 Quinquennial Goals: Going for Growth Reimagining Ministry Contributing to the Common Good Constituency Total Vacant Attended Apologies No % Indication Attendance* House of Bishops 2 1 2 0 0 100% House of Clergy 66 28 17 11 10 45% House of Laity 75 20 32 9 14 58% Lay Co-Chairs 13 0 4 7 2 31% Rural Deans 13 0 5 7 1 38% Clergy Co-opted 5 5 0 0 0 All Vacant Lay Co-opted 5 3 0 0 2 All Vacant Clergy Ex Offico 6 0 5 0 1 83% Lay Ex Officio 6 0 4 0 2 67% Bishop's Nominees 10 9 0 0 1 0% Totals 201 65 69 34 33 51% Total Places Filled 136 Quorum = 45 * = of filled places Opening Worship Led by Pontesbury Deanery. ITEM 1 Apologies and Welcome 1.1 Apologies as indicated above. ITEM 2 Minutes of the Previous Meetings (10 Jul 14 & 16 Oct 14) 2.1 Approved ITEM 3 Matters Arising 3.1 The following questions were submitted to Synod in accordance with paragraphs 43 & 65 of Synod Standing Orders:- 3.2 Question 1 - on behalf of Hereford Deanery Standing Committee to the chair of the Mission and Pastoral Committee: In 2011 the MAPping process was entitled "...towards 2015 onwards...". Is a review planned to evaluate progress to date and ways in which the process might be improved or modified to ensure best outcomes? 1
3.3 In response Bishop Alistair commented as follows:- a. 2015 Onward was not specifically about MAPping but raised a number of issues and challenges that the next few years would bring and MAPPing would be part of our response to those matters. b. Much had changed since the 2015 Onward report not least the Anecdote the Evidence study the key details of which were reported to Synod last year. c. Bishop s Staff and Bishop s Council have been working to understand the detail of the challenges faced by the diocese in the short, medium and long term and to formulate potential policies and actions to address such challenges. d. Any effective action can only be taken with the agreement and support of the parishes and so there will need to be a period of engagement with the diocese to garner such agreement and support. e. Part of that engagement will be the discussion on diocesan strategy and mission action planning programmed later in the agenda and part will be a series of events to be held in September with the aim of meeting with a broad spectrum of people from across the Diocese to examine how we can spiritually and practically achieve the 3 Quinquennial Goals: 3.4 Question 2 - Mr Charles Hunter, Abbeydore Deanery, posed a question to the Chair of the Board of Education. Details of the question and response are at Annex A. ITEM 4 Presidential Address 4.1 Bishop Richard addressed Synod. The text of his address is at Annex B. ITEM 5 Promulgation of Act and Canons 5.1 Synod was advised that notification had been received from the Legal Office of the Church of England requiring all dioceses to promulgate four pieces of Church of England legislation. Consequently the following matters were promulged in the terms shown:- 5.2 Amending Canon No. 31 I give notice that, at its July 2014 group of sessions, held in York, the General Synod resolved that Amending Canon No. 31 be promulged and executed Amending Canon No. 31 makes a number of miscellaneous amendments to the Canons. 5.3 Act of Synod The Act of Synod rescinding the Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod 1993 is hereby proclaimed 5.4 Amending Canon No 33 I give notice that, at its November 2014 group of sessions, held in London, the General Synod resolved that Amending Canon No. 33 be promulged and executed Amending Canon No. 33 amends Canon C2 so as to allow women to be consecrated to the episcopate. It also amends Canon C4, and repeals Canons C4A and 4B, so that there is now a single canon relating to ordination to the diaconate and the priesthood, which applies equally to both men and women alike. Lastly, it inserts a new Canon C28, which requires the House of Bishops to make Regulations prescribing a procedure for resolving disputes arising from the arrangements for which the House of Bishops Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests makes provision.. 5.5 Amending Canon No 32 I give notice that, at its February 2015 group of sessions, held in London, the General Synod resolved that Amending Canon No. 32 be promulged and executed 2
Amending Canon No. 32 makes a number of amendments to Canons H2 and H3 (which deal with membership of the Lower and Upper Houses of the Convocations of Canterbury and York respectively), in order to make some modest changes to the composition of the Houses of Clergy and Bishops of the General Synod in advance of the elections to the new Synod later this year. 5.6 Copies of the full text of each piece of legislation can be provided on request to the Diocesan Secretary. ITEM 6 Diocesan Strategy/Mission Action Plan 6.1 Synod received a presentation the key points of which were as follows:- a. Church attendance/relevance is declining both nationally and within the diocese. b. Fewer individuals in each generation are minded to engage with the CofE. c. To arrest (and reverse) the decline we must reach the younger generations. d. We have a lot of parishes and a lot of buildings. e. We have a lot of small congregations 6.2 Key Questions are:- a. What help is needed by parishes and benefices? b. What can be done to improve morale in parishes? c. What can be done to develop, within congregations, a greater understanding of the meaning and responsibilities of discipleship? d. A series of roadshows are planned for later this year. What are the most appropriate groups with which to engage (e.g. Deanery Synods or specifically invited groups etc.) and what most needs to be communicated to such groups? 6.3 Following the presentation Synod engaged in group discussion followed by a plenary session to debate and share the issues covered. The key issues arising from the group and plenary sessions are detailed at Annex C. ITEM 7 - Any Other Business 7.1 The Diocesan Secretary gave a short speech and Bishop Richard made a presentation on behalf of the Diocese to mark the retirement of Gordon Powell after 32 years service as Financial Secretary. 7.2 The Diocesan Secretary introduced to Synod Mr Stephen Herbert the incoming Director of Finance and successor to Gordon Powell. 7.3 Bishop Alistair introduced to Synod Mrs Christine Pepler the newly appointed Community Link Development Officer (CDLO) appointed in succession to the former Social Responsibility Officer. ITEM 8 Dates of Future Meetings 8.1 Meeting Date of Meeting Time Location Notes Synod/DBF Thurs 2 Jul 15 1900 Ludlow School DBF AGM/Draft Budget/Accounts to Synod DBFX Tues 21 Jul 15 1400 Hereford Consider final budget draft DBFX Tues 8 Sep 15 1400 EcoPark B Council Oct (date tbc) 0900 Hereford Synod/DBF Thurs 15 Oct 15 1900 Ludlow School Budget approved by Synod DBFX Tues 3 Nov15 1400 Hereford B Council Thurs 12 Nov 15 1900 LMC 3 Chairman...... Date
Diocesan Synod 7 Mar 15 Annex A Question to Diocesan Officer Under SO 65(ii) a question from Mr Charles Hunter, Abbeydore Deanery, to the Chair of the Board of Education: a. Further to the Education Update given to the October 2013 Diocesan Synod and the decision taken at the October 2014 Diocesan Synod That the Hereford Diocesan Board of Education become incorporated. can Synod be informed of what progress has been made in determining appropriate strategies, structures, staffing and funding requirements to meet the needs of our Church of England schools and academies in the present education environment? b. What has been the impact on the work load of Diocesan officers in responding to the increased education responsibilities now devolved to dioceses and in preparing for incorporation of the DBE? c. Is this work load sustainable in the envisaged time scale of incorporation? d. Can an indication of the financial costs be made? Response to a The DBE has appointed members to form a Diocesan Board of Education Executive Committee (DBEX) to explore these matters. This group has met in February to establish terms of reference and plan its scope of work. The intention is that members consider the future development of the education team in providing high quality support to its families of schools. This discussion is also taking place with National Society Head of School Policy, Rowan Ferguson and Andy Wood, Academies Advisor, at Bishop Richard s invitation. The original DHET plan to recruit staff and move to new premises has been partly fulfilled. In terms of direct school support for standards and inspections, the Assistant Director delivers most of this in conjunction with the DDE. At this time of change in the education landscape locally and nationally, it is widely felt that the future staffing and capacity to support our schools needs review with the requirement to increase both. In 2014-15, the first education Partnership Agreement has been well-received with 64% of the 80 schools signing up. Feedback has been very positive with schools telling officers how invaluable the support has been for school improvement, recruitment, governance, buildings, inspections and Christian distinctiveness. At this time the second partnership agreement is to be issued to schools. With the current staffing level within the education team there remains an issue in terms of capacity to deliver the full range of services. Funding new posts is key to meeting the needs of our schools and academies. It should be noted that the original plan from 2013 to recruit two full time officers to work with the Assistant Director was not fulfilled. Response to b There is a significant increase in workload for existing staff. Excessive hours and workload is impacting on staff well-being. Response to c No. The timescale of incorporation is unrealistic if it is to be undertaken by existing staff. We now aim towards completing work for incorporation by September 1 st. Response to d within the education team there is an urgent requirement for two additional officers to support the partnership with schools and the work towards incorporation. An education officer FTE post would be in the region of Upper Pay Scale for school staff c 36,000. Tenders for legal work costs relating to incorporation are in the region of 10,000 Allyson Taylor/ Philip Sell 5 Mar 15 4
Bishop Richard Frith Presidential Address to Diocesan Synod 7 March 2015 5 Diocesan Synod 7 Mar 15 Annex B The first thing I want to say is thank you: a personal thank you to people across the diocese for the welcome that Kay and I have received; and a thank you to the Bishop s Staff as a whole for all that they have carried during the vacancy. I particularly want to put on record my thanks and also I believe the thanks of the whole diocese to Bishop Alistair for his leadership during this time, which has been energetic, imaginative and timely. I am enormously encouraged by much that I have heard and seen in my first few weeks here, not least the way in which this Synod, and the Bishop s Council, parishes with their Mission Action Plans, and many other people and individuals have been going about their work. There is a remarkable consistency between what people have been saying in meetings and reports, what the statistics are telling us, and what I ve been hearing in many different conversations. Individual conversations can be just that: individual conversations, but sometimes people say things which seem to speak for others and I ve been keeping a note of some actual words which have been said to me: We look at this generation and wonder where is the next one. We call it all age worship, but there are no young people. Last Sunday there were four of us including my husband. We are going to run out of people to do all the jobs. We plod on. At harvest and Christmas they come And written to the Finance Secretary: I have regularly said that the Parish Share remit is too great. You will not be surprised when I say that I do not have a solution to the problem, that is something for our Bishops to resolve. The Statement of Needs of the diocese, which formed part of the briefing I was given, said this, We have not turned the churches prominent position in the village community into a platform for spiritual outreach to the uncommitted None of this contradicts either the rich inheritance we have or the faithful ministry which is exercised. It does not belittle in any way the imagination, the hard work and the vision that there is around. None of it is about blaming anyone or telling anyone off: the pressures are enormous, the challenges are great. But neither do these positive things contradict the negative ones. The Epistle of James in a rather different context talks of those who look in the mirror and then go away and forget what they looked like. Surely we dare not do that, and yet that s what so easily happens. Maybe it s, All will be well; something will turn up. It will see us out. I haven t got the energy to do anything about it and in any case I m fearful of what it might require of me to do anything. Let s be honest where such feelings well up in us, they are all understandable, and we can be honest with ourselves and with each other. The saying goes that the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. I don t think I m saying anything you don t know already, but there is a time bomb ticking.
Thankfully, that s not all there is to it. Later on our agenda we have consideration of our diocesan strategy. William Hague, and I wonder how often he has been mentioned at a Diocesan Synod, is retiring from Parliament at the General Election. He commented last week how he s been campaigning against jargon and in particular he has tried to ban the words ongoing and strategic. Ongoing, he said, his code for nowhere finished, while a strategic plan is a piece of work taking longer than normal. It doesn t worry me what we call it I rather favour a diocesan mission action plan to complement and join together parish and benefice mission action plans but that s secondary. What matters is that we look in the mirror and respond accordingly; that we decide what to do and get on with it. I have often said that I believe the Church of England gets to the right place for the wrong reasons. It was a shortage of clergy rather than a sudden acceptance of biblical teaching which was a major spur to lay-ministry; it was a shortage of money rather than an acceptance of biblical teaching that lead to an emphasis on realistic giving; and it s a shortage of people which is causing us to wake up and see that evangelism is not a word to be avoided but an integral part of our faith. OK, if that s woken us up, that s good but only as long as we believe in evangelism not because of a crisis, but because we have the good news of Jesus Christ to share. The report From Anecdote to Evidence which has done so much to focus minds right across the country on the challenges we face, repeatedly quotes St Paul writing to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3: 6) God gives the increase ; do all the planting and watering you like, it is God that gives the increase. But that doesn t let us off the hook, don t underestimate the planting and watering there is to do. In that same passage St Paul refers to us as God s fellow workers, God s field, God s building. Each one, he says, should be careful how they build. For no one can lay any foundations other than the one already laid which is Jesus Christ. There is no short cut; above all our task is to seek to open ourselves to God s holy spirit, to discern his will and then to do it. When we talk of spiritual and numerical growth, spiritual growth is not just a phrase to make numerical growth more of an acceptable aim. It s a fundamental pre-condition of numerical growth. Without our worship, our prayer, our reliance on God, we become what the Archbishop of Canterbury has described as Rotary with a pointy roof and that s an insult to Rotary. I believe our own strategic, planned call them what you will priorities can be very much consistent with those of the General Synod and the House of Bishops, namely spiritual and numerical growth, the re-imagining of ministry and contributing to the common good. We shall be hearing more about these from a national point of view in the month to come. Contributing to the common good yes, there s a lot to be celebrated, rejoiced in and built upon: There are many signs of the Kingdom of God. And if I don t focus on them today, it doesn t in anyway imply that they don t matter: Far from it. But the Kingdom needs acknowledgement of the King. There are 101 ways in which this can happen, but I believe we need as a diocese an explicit commitment to intentional evangelism. I wish was there was a different phrase; I know it s so much more easily said that done; I know how easy it is to think it s not really my thing; I know there are all sorts of practical things to be done not least about buildings and finance, as if we don t get them right we inhibit evangelism; I know there are all sorts of major issues about an unbelieving generation and it s not just a question of finding a magic formula, but the imperative is there to go and make disciples. The evangelist Charles Spurgeon in the 19 th Century was once taken to task by someone who said to him, I don t much like your way of evangelism, Mr Spurgeon. I don t much care for it myself, replied Spurgeon, but I prefer the way I m doing it to the way you re not doing it. 6
I was reminded recently of the encouragement given to those who find it hard to pray as being to start not with wanting to pray, but with wanting to want to pray. The same is true of evangelism: not starting with wanting evangelism to happen, but wanting to want it. I long for a culture where it s desirable and possible for people to come to faith, where things can be different, where we can talk about God and not just about the church or the vicar. And it s as we want to want to share the Christian Gospel that our re-imagining of ministry comes in. Commitment to the ministry of the whole people of God is a vital part of the life of the church in this diocese. LMDG have been and continue to be crucial ways in which ministry is exercised. There are many other places too where there may be nothing formal, but a real commitment to the principle of shared ministry nonetheless. But in a significant proportion of conversations I ve had, people have been telling me of ministry groups that have lost something of their first love, or are not really fit for purpose for today s needs, or have lost people who cannot be replaced, or are simply not quite sure what they are there for. And so part of the charge I was given by the Archbishop of Canterbury was to review and develop the Hereford model of shared ministry to ensure that it supports the nature of mission required. There is much else to distract us, and indeed much that we really have to do, but my first few weeks in this diocese have convinced me that if we commit ourselves 1. to seek the spiritual and numerical growth of the church 2. to the reimagining of ministry to enable that to happen, We shall be doing the planting and watering that will lead to God giving the increase. 7
Diocesan Synod 7 Mar 15 Annex C Diocesan Strategy: Plenary Feedback The following feedback comment from the plenary session at the March 2015 Diocesan Synod, and subsequent individual contributions, is grouped comments under various headings but in no particular order of priority. What is the Diocese? There is a fundamental issue to be dealt with here. The Church is often identified with the local parish building, and there is a reluctance to look more widely. In this thinking, the diocese is a remote and unwanted tier of church government, rather than all of us. It was suggested that we would do well to focus upon the diocese as a whole rather than individual parishes so that we may we need to see our place in the church as a whole, not simply in our parishes. This might be achieved by a reduced emphasis on each parish and more on the church universal. Leadership Need, at all levels of the church, for leadership rather than management. Need to identify and develop potential lay leaders Buildings It is clear that many find their buildings a burden, and that issues of maintenance can sap energy and demand attention. Although the Heritage Lottery Fund has helped, the paperwork needed to apply - and also to obtain a faculty - takes time and energy to complete and can dominate a PCC s agenda. There is a potential in places for a creative reordering to engage with the community, but this in itself can prove divisive. Clergy and Administration There is a sense that clergy are bound up in administration, and as a result operate as manager and not leaders. There was also a small counter-balance: some were not sure what the clergy are doing and feel that attention needs to be paid to parishioners too. Can the clergy be better used and deployed? Do we need to look at where the current needs are, rather than simply replicate the parish structures of a previous generation? The issue of clergy care was also raised: are they being properly cared for? We need younger clergy! The issue of training clergy was also raised, and the question of where curates can be best placed so that they gain a good grounding in local ministry, Fresh Expression and the rural/urban balance of the Diocese. The administrative burden is felt to be too high. Could there be some co-ordinated, funded central support offered (at the deanery or diocesan level)? Might united PCCs be a way forward, and would the diocese be willing to give a steer in this? Sometimes permission needs to be given to think in more flexible patterns. Perhaps more training could be offered for churchwardens. Need to recognise the hard facts about reducing availability of stipendiary clergy. 8
Morale Morale is dragged down by talking about money and small Sunday numbers. Might need to lower the morale of some to bring home the need for change. Need to communicate good news stories to show it is not all doom and gloom. A clear vision of the way forward will improve morale immensely. Some lack aspiration needs to be developed. Local Ministry There is a need for clarity as to the purpose of local ministry: is it simply a means of filling the service rota? Do we need to regularise the current practice of lay people leading worship and introduce licensed lay leaders of worship? Are we overlooking gifted lay evangelists, and might they too be licensed? There is a desire for greater training and more resources for lay people. Parish Share We are dragged down by always talking about money. Are we clear as to how the share is allocated? Do we feel it is fair? Are we confident that resources are best used? Might Parish Councils be encouraged to contribute to the costs of the parish church? Perhaps a levy? Mission and Evangelism There as some misunderstanding: does evangelism imply evangelicalism? There needs to be clarity as to the point of the church, and who we are. Language needs to be simplified so that people can be equipped to share their faith and have a knowledge and grasp of the gospel. Perhaps some training? Is what we do explicitly Christian? Are we intentional in what we are doing? Is our youth work explicitly Christian or a youth club which could be put on by any organisation? Are we making the most of our links with schools? Mission takes place with the community, not simply in a church building. As we have small parishes, sometimes we need to be proactive as a diocese in helping. What about Fresh Expressions? Need for focus on effective evangelism what does this mean and how should we engage with the wider community. Discipleship Discipleship is best undertaken in small groups, with occasional one off events. People need to be encouraged to get involved and learn about their Christian witness. There is a need to both develop leaders, and food always attracts people! Communication Perceived lack of effective communication of what it means to be Church to be members of that church and our roles and responsibilities within it. Roadshows Should be geographically spread throughout the diocese but not based on deaneries. Invite participation from the wider community 9