Summary: Lenten Visits The evening was a positive sharing of ideas with most people engaging in the discussions. The overall key themes to take away from this Deanery are: Celebration of the local the local knowledge, working together and sharing A desire to see growth through effective use of resources and re-imagination of structures A desire to see good quality communication at all levels Things to keep from the old: Local diocesan office Good chapter which promotes cooperation across parishes and includes both readers and clergy Local knowledge and working together intimacy and cooperation Annual Diocesan Day Key Issues the new Diocese should take forward: Genuine ministry to Pensioners/Elderly/Middle Aged/Baby Boomers A desire for Church Growth Focused and resourced mission to Children and Young People Effective use of new media and communications Keeping Resources Local Effective use and reimagining of Structures Key/large Events Attention given to issues of Social Justice Continued development of excellent Interfaith work Effective Serving of localities particularly urban areas Effective resourcing of Ministry Misc Resourcing the Parishes to do this: Good communication to both parish and deanery Access to local support/knowledge/advice The one thing to take away: To be a prayer focussed growing church
Question 1: Page 2 of 10 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? Popular themes: Local diocesan office Good chapter which promotes cooperation across parishes and includes both readers and clergy Local knowledge and working together intimacy and cooperation Annual Diocesan Day Comments from Cards: The earthiness of its people Its focus on evangelism and outreach The breadth of tradition held together by a love for Jesus We are not overlooked and swallowed up in the Diocese with all the new ones and we can still be Bradford and do our own thing Support for parishes in growing Breadth of traditions Make deanery more relevant to parishes A friendly and supportive Deanery Chapter Support for having a go whether successful or not risk taking Encouraging story-sharing of new ventures and good practise A beginning of a feeling of confidence in the gospel and an openness to move forward in a more proactive way i.e. Jesus Shaped People course etc A welcoming of Readers as part of chapter Encouraging sharing of what God is doing in this diverse area Is bigger better? A thirst for growth in the church A diverse diocesan/deanery leaders giving support in parishes when necessary Working together awareness of other parishes. A feeling of family and a bishop to whom we have access The ability to have access to the Bishop Is bigger better? Will the diocesan office become defunct? At the moment it is a great asset A diverse faith Have only lived in this deanery for 18 months and not been attached to any particular parish so difficult to comment Evangelical origin Mission oriented Meetings that are attended by more vicars so that votes can be taken more often Local office Cooperation between parishes when needed
Page 3 of 10 Freedom to develop as individual parishes A good deanery chapter which includes readers as well as clergy Being of a size where it is possible to know everyone who is a colleague e.g. at conferences etc and to have some understanding of each others areas Bradford has a unique identity which is currently recognised and affirmed I want this to continue A generally shared outlook i.e. being missional we sing from the same hymn sheet The sense of unity working together and knowing each other sharing ministry The sense of fellowship and mutual support within the Deanery Chapter Access to the Bishop and Diocesan Office Clergy knowing one another Evangelical nature of the diocese Some great home grown talent both clergy and lay The intimacy and general togetherness of the parishes within the deanery City of Bradford at the heart of mission Diversity The school of theology at Kadugli House Because of the size of the diocese there has been an intimacy that we would not want to lose The same applies to the deanery we have been able to work together and help each other fairly well Role of the church in a multicultural city building up relationships with other faith groups Working together (small area) knowing one another Churches working together Having the Bishop visit our church at least once a year Deanery clergy and laity know each other and the deanery is more extended family than structure Take laity (inc readers) seriously alongside clergy Deanery has enabled parishes to help next door parishes in practical ways during vacancies or difficult times Supporting each others parishes and sharing with each other made possible by the small size Variety of makeup of parishes from inner city to urban and mix of churchmanships Working together within parishes towards a new diocese Sharing mission involvement Keeping our faith, Christian friendship within out Deanery and Parishes Family feel of a small diocese Local diocesan office and staff Heart for City of Bradford Deanery nothing! The Deanery has no relevance in the life of this parish or in my life On a Diocesan level, the Bradford Diocesan Day (annual conference for clergy and laity) was a fantastic way of celebrating together, learning together and meeting together Diocesan training course at Kadugli excellent The annual Diocesan Day in Bradford was particularly special
Page 4 of 10 The excellent work of Steve Allen and the ministry courses he runs in Bradford Openness Friendliness Worship A true sharing of both spiritual and monetary responsibilities Fellowship amongst many Fellow believers recognise each other (like one big family) Folk are approachable Yorkshire friendliness take people as they find then shines through Diversity Unity in faith Ability to surprise!!
Page 5 of 10 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? Key themes: Pensioners/Elderly/Middle Aged/Baby Boomers Church Growth Children and Young People New media and communications Keeping Resources Local Structures Key/large Events Social Justice Interfaith Serving/urban Ministry Misc Pensioners/Elderly/Middle Aged/Baby Boomers Mission to elderly Bradford Diocese has an excellent reputation for looking after retired clergy and clergy widows/widowers Resourcing mission across the whole spectrum of the generations A mission to the baby boomers the growing numbers of pensions who have energy, time (and possibly wealth!) Mission to the middle aged Alleviate pressures on clergy by encouraging people to come forward to use their gifts to assist in parishes more lay participation Church Growth Church Growth Needs to be ongoing on church growth for mission and evangelism Outreach and church growth Grow disciples We ask that church growth is a first priority in and vision and a first claim upon our resources Not to lose this momentum of leading your church into growth initiative (a) numerical, (b) growing in depth and (c)capacity for mission
Page 6 of 10 Children and Young People Diocesan wide youth events Youth we ve not cracked it Young people especially teenagers Priority outreach to teenagers and younger members should be encouraged Outreach to children and young people Retain and nurture young adults (20s/30s) Children and young people and young adults Encourage youth growth Expressing the Christian message in a way that new Christians can understand and through which they can grow Strengthen university links to feed young Christians into local ministries Encouraging primary age children in fresh expressions like messy church Keeping Resources Local We need the same level of support from the diocese as before with resources Increase of resources for parishes to draw on Equipping and inspiring both parishes and individuals for mission Key/large Events Integrating at clergy and diocesan level through events Diocesan Days Christian rock concerts A need to continue and celebrate the diocese and our faith in large well organised events Sports initiatives New media and communications Make it relevant to the 21 st century Media and Communication New media use it to make teaching available and to cross fertilize ideas, build helpful networks with aim of growth Real communication including new media Communication regular YouTube videos about the work being done in the Diocese hearing the stories to encourage and inform Structures Would parishes be teamed together PCC members etc Prepare for reorganisation of parishes in advance of clerical retirements Teams of expertise Permissive and empowering Request that discussion about new deanery structures would be completed as soon as possible Re-imagine role of deaneries A permission giving Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) for the care of churches Social Justice Food banks Poverty and justice issues understanding and representing needs in politics also credit union and food banks Debt issues facing individuals and families Credit unions and food banks Child poverty Food banks in every church CAP money courses available in every parish Social justice issues in the community
Page 7 of 10 Interfaith We need to continue the links with other faiths in the city Being the church of Christ in a context of multi-faith (actually 2/3 faiths) populations which is increasing in size and influence In the light of many Muslim families/communities, the new Diocese develop an expertise in evangelism amongst Muslim and other south Asian communities Building understanding to enhance social cohesions between ethnically and religiously diverse groups How to continue meeting in places where the church is in a multi-faith/multi-ethnic neighbourhood Ministry Not to lose some very good, focussed training for both clergy and laity Good supportive advice during interregnum Encourage ordination of NSMs/OLMs and training of readers More priests Increased clergy staffing One clergy person per church Opportunities for clergy develop Pastoral support of clergy Education of Anglican congregations need to teach the faith and its practise and also its liturgical practise Encourage parishes to join each other in worship on certain occasions Discover new (and shorter) ways of recognising the gifts of leadership and authorising this ministry reader training is too long and too academically biased Serving/urban Provide facilities to communities in which we work which shows a loving community waiting to serve Pulpit sharing between city and country parishes to truly share clergy! Taking seriously the call to be the church for the poor in areas of poverty where there are extreme challenges of resources, personnel, equipping and growth Education of Anglican congregations Wider community involvement what would our identity be? Misc Aim to always give of your best in worship no matter what form it takes Could curates please have a person to look after them in IME? To be positive and all pull together moving forward in mission Keep people talking to each other within parishes to understand there is more than one way of doing things Encourage the cathedrals to invite parish congregations to join their worship on special occasions
Question 3: Page 8 of 10 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: Good communication to both parish and deanery Access to local support/knowledge/advice Support for Parish: Ready response by an official contact who won t just say I ll get back to you Publicity Good communication Encourage participation Fair-trade coffee and tea Resources Training Reduce admin e.g. Diocesan and national returns to release time of clergy and lay church members Serious imaginative re-imagining of ministry in inner-city with appropriate support Imaginative and creative twinning where skills and experiences can be mutually beneficial Wise external facilitation/consultancy available able to signpost and link to relevant resources/others with similar experiences Less paperwork More pastoral support of clergy Introduce a twinning system i.e. one diocesan officer to be twinned with a parish to offer any help that might be needed Ready access to a variety of discipleship material Area bishops need to have a high profile in the parishes A fair share (quota) system Good local resources Good communication Good advice e.g. diocesan registrar By continuing having the resources available as before Having easy access to advice over parochial concerns More priests for mission resource Support for Deanery: Appointed designated official advisor to deanery synod Publicity General communication Encourage participation Regular clergy chapter Support for part-time clergy Events organised across the deanery Pay for shared youth minister across parish groups
Page 9 of 10 Effective training Forums for communication e.g. twitter, blogs, Facebook specialist interest groups e.g. fabric/youth/event management/schools etc Reignite the whole concept of deanery synod The deanery need to be facilitated to be an effective part of diocesan strategy The parishes in the deanery need to support each other more
Page 10 of 10 What one thing do you want us to take forward from this meeting? The power of prayer the ability to surprise, the capacity to be surprised Keep it real and down to earth Think out of the box! Please ensure that all parishes throughout the new diocese receive all the support that they require to advance Christ s work in this area WYADMCC a motorcycle club which 16 bikers in the diocese have started. We had a ride out to the Cathedral s in November and will be out again in May Canon Stephen Kelly organises it Diocesan expertise and resource in events management Release clergy and lay time and money from the drain of administration To keep the Christian faith and fellowship within the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales and move forward together Be as radical as possible to create new opportunities in this new diocese using the same old structure will defeat the whole thing To lead the diocese in prayer and the re-imagination of what it means to be the church for this region. Beware trusting in structures along vital though they are More people to know Jesus Please continue to promote/encourage community relations in Bradford Spend more of Bishops time in the Diocese Do whatever it takes to see a confident, empowered, permissioned, resources laity and local church Let each of the Episcopal areas be and be seen to be of equal standing the new diocese There is an expectation of a bigger harvest with the much bigger field Don t lose the uniqueness and very special nature of Bradford in the size and scale of the new diocese For the new diocese to become a centre of excellence in evangelism amongst Muslims (and other South Asian communities) ( evangelism interfaith work) Don t sit in an ivory tower circulate Please pray for the success of the new Diocese We need to be forward thinking and relevant to the 21 st century society. All the best. Structured use of retired clergy Pray for Bradford Pray for Bradford especially unity amongst other faith groups To be more radical in thoughts of mission of Kingdom growth not to let the structures get in the way Keeping up the initiative on growing churches Remember the small cogs in the big wheel For transparency in church government and honest good debate in diocesan and deanery synod Please keep the focus on outreach and evangelism we need to be intentional in growing the church