BOSMERE DEANERY PLAN

BOSMERE DEANERY PLAN 19 th October 2011 Rural Dean Reverend Diane Williams Lay Chair Alick Mulhall

BOSMERE DEANERY PLAN Introduction Bosmere Deanery ( BD ) consists of 24 mainly rural parishes which mainly serve the area of the Diocese known as Mid Suffolk. The 24 parishes of the Deanery are all different and independently minded. Some congregation members do not understand the structure of the Church of England and have little idea of what a deanery does let alone a diocese. It is against this background that the plan will be seeking to change deanery s culture and where necessary its structure. In general terms the Bosmere Deanery Plan will be a living document i.e. one that will change over the plan period (see below). Current Situation Bosmere Deanery is rural in character. Appendix 1 details the current situation within the deanery in terms of geography, priest groupings, parish share allocation, stipendiary and lay ministry. Appendix 2 illustrates the good work that is already being done by the parishes within the deanery. Many of the 24 churches have very small congregations but a great amount of good work is done to keep them flourishing. Across the deanery generally members of congregations work very hard at extending the discipleship and mission of the church and any plan must not overlook this fact. However, there are a few churches which are not flourishing and much of the congregations efforts have to be spent on maintaining the physical building rather than the ministry of the church. It is also recognised that cross border collaboration between churches could be developed further. At the moment it is best seen in providing priest cover for services when colleagues are absent through holiday, sickness or other emergencies. Bosmere Deanery Plan Plan Period The period covered by this plan is 5 years Timescales While focusing on Aims as a means to develop priorities is thought to be the best strategy and the timescales delineated within the plan are now defined as: Short-term 1 to 2 years Medium-term 3 years Long-term 4 to 5 years Short-term Aims The Bosmere Deanery plan aims to address the key areas suggested by the diocese. They are: 1. Discipleship 2. Vocation 3. Mission 4. Resources There are other specific areas that the Deanery wants to improve: a) To share best practice throughout the deanery b) To work across the parish boundaries of the deanery c) To create a culture of help and support for the parishes d) To make the deanery the dynamic link between parish, deanery and diocese by improving communication. Identifiable and quantifiable goals will be built into the plan so that progress and achievements can be measured. There seems little point in having a plan if achievement is not properly recognised. Where it is appropriate individuals will be identified to take 2

responsibility for developing the key areas and other aims. The plan must aim to build upon the good work that is already going on within the deanery and to this end it may well be that some improvement will be marginal. Discipleship Discipleship is about creating an environment in which people can explore their Christian faith at all levels, basic, intermediate or advanced. There are a number of ways in which this can be done and much of the work is already carried out at parish level e.g. Baptism preparation, the Open the Book collective worship scripts for primary schools, Alpha, confirmation preparation, marriage preparation, Lent groups and other courses. At a deanery level the following areas have been identified for development: 1. An annual Deanery Day An annual deanery day has the purpose of building relationships throughout the Deanery. Such a day should be focussed on relevant topics e.g. different ways of worshiping, expressing generosity of spirit and in so doing should try to define what works best in rural parishes. 2. Deanery Retreats There is interest in the deanery organising an annual retreat. This would be especially attractive to parishes who do not currently organise their own parish weekends. A retreat provides an opportunity to share one another s faith and experiences across parish boundaries. To ensure that this option is available to all who would like to attend it should be possible for the deanery to offer some financial support to parish members who need assistance. 3. Deanery Quiet Days It is hoped to provide quiet days a contemplative environment in which people may explore their faith and relationship with God. 4. Deanery Website & Directory The creation of a deanery website is seen to be essential. If one is to be created then it will have to sit between already existing parish and Diocesan websites. It will be a priority task to find someone with the necessary skills to design, build and maintain such a website which would also contain a deanery directory. 5. Course Dissemination & Recommended Reading The deanery should be the central vehicle to bring to the attention of parishes the various church courses and conferences which are on offer throughout the year. Allied to this aim is the creation of a recommended reading list providing information and help to parishioners who want to grow in their faith. This might be made available through the medium of a deanery website (please see above). Vocation Developing ministry within the Deanery is a top priority. Likely candidates will be encouraged and strongly supported with the object of helping them test their vocation. Short-term Aim Collaboration with Stowmarket Deanery in providing an Exploring Vocation course has already taken place. It is desired that this collaboration continues and develops. The deanery recognises it takes about 5 to 6 years from calling to appointment as an ordained local minister with sufficient experience to work in a rural parish. Therefore in the medium term the Deanery hopes to: 1. Create opportunities to reflect on and develop Elder ministry 2. Wherever possible clergy are to identify and foster vocations 3. Establish cross-parish communication between those who think they might have a vocation and those who are already trying and practising a vocation 3

4. Ensure no one parish is overloaded with trainee priests 5. Make possible vocation candidates aware of available courses and providing the encouragement to attend. The emphasis though will be on practical experience Mission Bosmere Deanery s priority is to encourage making relationships with God active, vibrant and exciting. Mission by which we mean outreach into the community is a top priority for the deanery. The deanery is looking for spiritual revival and renewal. Short-term Aims To achieve these aims the deanery will endeavour to: 1. Provide introductory courses to the Christian faith such as Alpha (see Discipleship ) and to ensure they are properly advertised, run and available to all 2. Ensure each school within the deanery boundary has some Christian input 3. Use the deanery website to advertise a breadth of church services e.g. messy church and cafe church across the deanery 4. Develop community involvement both in terms of sharing e.g. in coffee mornings and in terms of Fresh Expressions worship 5. Continue to develop existing and new links with those of other denominations and faiths (including Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims) and work with them as appropriate. The Deanery s newly formed Mission and Pastoral Committee will: 1. Review annually the deanery s own structure to ensure that it can (if necessary) operate with 5 full time equivalent stipendiary posts (see Resources: Stipendiary Posts and Structure) 2. Identify the means by which we carry out the mission Worship Prayer Serving the community through outreach Teaching and study Pastoral care 3. Review the deanery plan annually Wherever possible the deanery will: Clearly set the tasks to be achieved Identify the persons responsible for achieving those tasks Set down the timescales Long-term Aims Bosmere Deanery: 1. will, in conjunction with the diocese, continue to take a role in the appointment of ministers of all categories and 2. take a greater role in the continuous professional training of all ministers Parish Mission Action Plans The deanery should provide general guidance to parishes to help in the construction of good mission action plans which must encompass all the 5 marks of mission namely: Proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God Teaching by nurturing and baptising new believers Responding to human need with loving service Seeking to transform unjust structures within society Striving to safeguard the integrity of creation and renew the life of the earth The deanery has responsibility for guiding Parish mission action plans which should: 1. Set tasks and goals 2. Identify the individuals responsible for carrying out the tasks 3. Set down the timescales. 4

In addition the deanery should 1. Provide any necessary help and support to parishes in their task of creating meaningful and achievable action plans 2. Listen and respond to the parishes mission action plans 3. Ensure that parish mission action plans are regularly reviewed so they too become living documents 4. Provide a forum on which to share best practice or the experiences of the parishes 5. Co-ordinate and encourage the parishes mission efforts across boundaries where possible Resources Stipendiary Posts and Structure The plan recognises the lack of vocation and the financial restraints which means the diocese requires Bosmere Deanery to consider the appropriate deployment of stipendiary clergy with the real probability of a reduction from 6 to 5 posts. This may require the reconfiguring of priest groupings with a radical response and not just a reshuffling. It must also be recognised that there will be resistance within the parishes to radical changes. It is anticipated that this will driven by how well the parishes perform with their mission action plans thus the process will be driven to some extent from the bottom up not just the top down. Short-term Aim Resourcing Bosmere Deanery Synod Representatives 1. Bosmere Deanery needs to improve the morale of its synod representatives. Too often people are only members of the deanery synod because no one else is prepared to do the job or it is seen as being Muggins turn. Being a deanery representative must say something positive about that individual s commitment to faith in God. The Deanery therefore has to raise its representatives morale so that they understand that they are highly valued members of the Church with a vital role to play in ensuring that the Church remains active and visible in our local area 2. Allied to improving morale is training representatives to objectively communicate the discussions of the deanery synod with their respective parishes 3. Review the structure of the Deanery Synod and what it actually does 4. Ensure that all deanery synods are focussed and relevant to parish needs 5. Enable and encourage stronger parishes to help the weaker ones. The deanery will endeavour: 1. To become a resource centre encouraging cohesiveness throughout its parishes and communities 2. To supply the resources for the identifiable needs of the parishes 3. To become a platform for the sharing of best practice throughout the deanery 4. Initiate a deanery marketing plan and improve upon its communication strategy. Conclusion In summarising this document is by no means a complete plan. It is though a skeleton outline on which more flesh can be put upon its bones. There is a lot of work to be done and the deanery is going to have to ask people to give more of their valuable time for the worthwhile cause of God s work here on earth. The work must be done cheerfully and above all prayerfully so that we try to define what God wants us to do in carrying out his Will. Overall the aim in Bosmere Deanery must be to create a living and vibrant church that is fit for purpose. With our own efforts and the help of God we will! 5

APPENDIX 1 6 2 6

APPENDIX 2 Church activity in the benefices Bramford Group Claydon Group Collective worship in Primary schools Assistance with classroom projects Christmas, Easter, Harvest and Remembrance events with schools in the church After school club (planning stage) Monthly gathering for elderly in benefice at Bramford, affiliated with Age UK Ecumenical service at sheltered housing facility Ecumenical Lent course Ecumenical links to the Methodists for services and special events Midweek communion services with coffee and chat Chaplaincy to Baylham Care Centre (lay and ordained) Age UK project Bible Buddies (young mums) study group Lent Group Claydon Primary School: governor; collective worship; Open the Book team High School: governor; collective worship Sunshine service for young families Alastair Court monthly Holy Communion St Peter s Court monthly Holy Communion Village Hall & Community Centre Henley Primary School: collective worship Choir Seekers children s group Senior Citizens Community Centre Prayer Group monthly Mothers Union Barham 3-10 workshops monthly Ixthus post-confirmation group Nursing Home monthly Holy Communion Great Blakenham Luncheon group monthly Over-50 s Coddenham Group Collective worship Stonham Aspal Primary School Little Explorers weekly in term-time St Mary s Youth Club, Gosbeck fortnightly Holiday Clubs; Pancake Party; Colour Party Good Friday Children s Activities Haysel House weekly Holy Communion Coffee Mornings: Stonham Aspal & Crowfield weekly; Coddenham monthly Occasional short Bible Study courses 7

Creetings Group Needham Market Creeting St Mary School: collective worship; Open the Book; RE I Wonder CStM Youth Club (working with New Life Church) monthly Bible Crunchers 10-13 year olds monthly Good Friday children s activities Earl Stonham Mobile Library Lunch (working with Good Neighbours & WI) Mobile Library Coffee Morning monthly Creeting St Peter monthly community Coffee Morning Benefice magazine Church representatives in each parish on Parish Council 2 Bible Study groups 3 Lent Groups (including one for children and parents) Prayer Group Creeting St Mary Friends of Creeting St Peter Monthly village pub in the church hall All age worship Home worship group Tuesday tots Prayer time in church Christians together in the Ark Sunday club Cottage communion Mothers Union Communion Uvedale (retirement home) House Special services for schools, Harvest, local authority etc Produce stall Lent courses Soup lunches in Lent South Bosmere Eight Across the Whole Benefice Advent groups Lent groups Benefice choir Link magazine distributed to every house in the benefice Barking Barking Chapel and Battisford Free Church Barking Lodge Nursing Home monthly Holy Communion Flowton 3 Children s workshops per year Well attended monthly all-age family worship Monthly coffee drop-in Harvest supper Very well attended Christmas midnight communion service Offton Animal blessing service Children s workshops at Easter and Christmas Bell ringers Ringshall Fortnightly Ringshall collective worship Somersham Weekly Open the Book with Somersham Primary School Somersham church children s group Regular breakfast, prayer and worship with Somersham Baptist Church 8