Lay Ministry Matters Summer 2015 It s a very long time since I left school, but there s still something about the end of the school term in July which suggests summer has really arrived! Some of you will have had holidays already, or are looking forward to a break in September when the beaches are quieter, and others will be looking forward to a different pace of life at home over the next few weeks. New Wine began last weekend, Greenbelt is at the end of the month, and in our parishes there will be Holiday Clubs and Summer services, Holidays at Home for elderly people, and all sorts of special events to be involved in, along with covering for colleagues, lay or ordained, who are away. Since the last Lay Ministry Matters newsletter at Easter, we have seen 13 new Lay Ministers licensed at the Cathedral in May a very joyful occasion. These were the Diocesan Office, St. Nicholas Church, Boley Hill, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1SL tel 01634 560000 email enquiries@rochester.anglican.org The Rochester Diocesan Society and Board of Finance is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No. 140656 Registered Office: St. Nicholas Church, Boley Hill, Rochester, Kent ME1 1SL - Registered Charity No. 249339
! first cohort of the new training scheme, and they have been licensed for a variety of different types of ministry. Their licensing marked the completion of one stage of their development, because learning for ministry is a never ending process, and we trust that their initial training will give the foundations for their continued learning and growth in ministry with colleagues in the parish and in the other settings in which they are called to serve. A more recent joyful event that some of you were at was the Diocesan Big Day Out at Leybourne Castle. Canon Hosam Naoum, the Dean of St George s Cathedral in Jerusalem, was our opening speaker and he talked about the Christian minority in the Middle East being in the eye of the storm, surrounded by wars and rumours of wars, but trusting God for their protection. The sun shone, the Castle grounds were a perfect setting, and there were a variety of workshops and activities and displays from the beer and hymns tent with the Archdeacon of Bromley and Bexley, to the Rock UK climbing tower, music from the stage, arts and crafts..far more than I got to look at in the course of the afternoon, but I met lots of people as part of the cream teas team organised by Clive and Jane Mansell providing hundreds and hundreds of cups of tea and cream scones in the sunshine! I know that like so many events, bookings were very slow initially, but in the end bookings had to close, so some were disappointed. Hopefully the event, or something similar, will be repeated.
Lay Ministry Development Reviews. All licensed Readers should have received Lay Ministry Development Review papers by now. Please contact me if you haven t. Thank you to those of you who have met with your vicars and sent back the outcomes paper. (I know some of you are waiting for the letter from me which completes the process it will come.) There has been a near unanimous appreciation of the LMDR process from those licensed Readers who have undertaken it, and Bishop James is keen that in the Autumn we will repeat the process with PAs and Evangelists. The papers will go out after the summer so no need for you to do anything at this stage. Opportunities for Renewal and Refreshment One of the most frequent responses to LMDR has been I must make time for a retreat. A quiet afternoon is just a beginning, but we are offering that opportunity in September and October, on three consecutive Sunday afternoons, one in each Archdeaconry. There is a separate flier with this letter, and there is a limit on numbers for each afternoon, so please book in with Tricia if you would like to come. (Pictured above - St James North Cray, Bromley and Bexley venue on 27 th September) Together with Susanne Carlsson, I am considering the possibility of a Lay Minister s retreat sometime next year. It would be very helpful to know if there would be an interest in this, and if so, whether a weekend or a weekday event would be preferred. Your responses on this (without committing yourself at this stage) would be appreciated. Meanwhile if you are thinking of doing a Quiet Day, Burrswood offers monthly Quiet Days on the second Tuesday of each month, and there is more information about those with this letter too. Weekend Residential Bookings are now open for the Lay Ministers Residential at the Emmaus Centre at West Wickham, 22 nd 24 th January. Our speakers for the weekend are Andy & Margaret Wooding Jones, who will be known to some of you, from Hildenborough, Welling, or from staying at Ashburnham Place! There is a separate flier and booking form with this mailing. We are limited to filling the space available but we may be able to take a few additional day visitors for the Saturday.
CMD There is a day on Leadership at Christ Church Chislehurst on Saturday 10 th October. Speakers include Nigel Daly Tonbridge Archdeaconry Deputy Warden of Lay Ministry, and Bishop James. I know that timing of CMD days is always difficult. For those who are not in paid employment, weekdays are often preferable, but this one should work for those who are not free to attend Monday to Friday. Why not persuade other members of your ministry team to book with you? Safeguarding You might have heard that this July s General Synod once again emphasised the importance of Safeguarding. As active Lay Ministers we are all required to attend regular safeguarding training. Until recently this was good practice but now it is mandatory, and we are currently compiling databases of who has attended what training event, and when. The next CCPAS morning Facing the Unthinkable is booked at St Justus, Rochester, on 3 rd October from 9am-1.30pm. This course has to be repeated every 3 years, and bookings are now open for October on the form with this letter. The next Introduction into the Five Diocesan Safeguarding Policies, Procedures and Guidance is on the morning of Saturday 21 st November at St John s Tunbridge Wells, from 9.30am 12.30pm. This training must be repeated every 5 years. #FOLLOW2016 2016 is the 150 th anniversary of the re-inauguration of Reader ministry and Central Readers Council are planning a big national event on 16 th July 2016. THIS EVENT WILL NOT JUST BE FOR READERS! - it is being described as A gift from the CRC to the Church to mark 150 years of Reader Ministry.
! #FOLLOW2016 will be a national celebration of Christian discipleship on Saturday 16 th July at the De Montfort Halls in Leicester. The theme is discipleship, and there will be a focus on both making disciples and sustaining disciples, plus the chance for a bit of fun, and the chance to try something new. Speakers booked so far include Dr Paula Gooder, theologian; Reader, Mark Russell, Chief Executive of the Church Army; Lucy Moore from the national Messy Church team; and Debbie Thrower from Anna Chaplaincies. Roger Jones will be presenting his new musical about Barnabas, and Pete James will be leading worship. In addition, there will be representatives from 24/7 Prayer, Street Angels, The Community of the Resurrection, Mobile Monastery and much, much more. Other major speakers are to be confirmed. Tickets will be on sale from 1st September from DeMontfort Hall, by phone or via their website www.demontforthall.co.uk and cost 5 per person (under 5's are free), sold on a first come first served basis, and CRC are urging us to book tickets then to avoid disappointment. Launde Abbey, the retreat house for Leicester Diocese are offering accommodation a few miles away, checkout www.laundeabbey.org.uk (There are plenty of other hotels to suit all budgets in the city centre.) Meanwhile, back in the Summer of 2015, whether you are reading this on return from a holiday, or getting ready to go away, or you are planning a staycation, do try and take the time to slow down and recharge your batteries physically, mentally and spiritually. May God bless you in all that you do in ministry, Karen Senior, Warden of Lay Ministry karen.senior@rochester.anglican.org Rochester Diocesan Office 01634 56000