Deanery Plan 2009
First Draft
This draft Deanery Plan has been produced after a long period of review, conversation, consultation, listening and discussion which began in January 2009.
This is intended to be a draft document which will act as a starting point for discussion. It is not being offered for a yes/no vote, but is an invitation for further reflection. Everything in this document should be regarded as “up for discussion”.
Please feed all your thoughts, ideas and comments in to me by Monday 7th September when the Deanery Strategy Group will meet again. [Deadline now October 31st]
We will then aim to present a final proposal at Deanery Synod on Wednesday 23rd September. [Now discussion at Synod on 23rd September followed by decision in January 2010]
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Showing posts with label deanery strategy group. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deanery strategy group. Show all posts
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Living Faith in Milton Keynes
Strategy for Mission and MinistryIn Milton Keynes Deanery: 2009
Download the Document as a pdfNotes: What is this document?
Introduction: Living Faith in Milton Keynes
Sustaining the Sacred Centre
Making Disciples
Shaping Confident, Collaborative Leadership
Creating Vibrant Christian Communities
Making a Difference in the World
Appendix A: Our Understanding of Ecumenism
Appendix B: Our Transition Plan
Appendix C: The Dream of the LSM Project Group
Appendix D: Meetings, Teams, Groups and Committees
Introduction: Living Faith in Milton Keynes
Living Faith in Milton Keynes
In a time of global economic and ecological problems it is important that local churches dig deep to discover rich spiritual and theological resources that will help them to respond in a meaningful way.
In Milton Keynes, the concept of “sustainability” is crucially important. We need to find ways of sustaining ourselves by re-focusing on the Risen Christ who should always be at the centre of our life and work. We need to find sustainable patterns of discipleship in a society which encourages long working hours and produces over-burdened and over-stressed people. We need sustainable and vibrant Christian communities which will continue to make a difference in society. We need a sustainable approach to ministry which will in turn sustain, encourage and develop individual believers and communities across the city.
“Sustainability” is a response to the call of Christ to be good stewards of all that he has entrusted to us.
“Sustainability” is also essential if we are to keep on serving the communities in which we are set. Sustainable Christian communities are often able to stay active when all else fails. They are God’s generous gift to human society.
Finally, “sustainability” is a witness to a world obsessed with the consumption and accumulation of more and more - money, wealth, popularity and power. A church which truly understands sustainability has a great deal to share with the people around it.
This strategic plan for mission and ministry uses the framework of the diocesan vision statement, Living Faith, but it has been developed in relation to our specific local context. It is an Anglican strategy for the Anglican Deanery, but it has been thought through with an awareness of our local ecumenical situation (see Appendix A for more about our approach to ecumenism).
It is only intended to inform decisions at deanery level, but we hope it will also prove helpful for the churches and parishes of Milton Keynes.
Home - Back - Forward
In a time of global economic and ecological problems it is important that local churches dig deep to discover rich spiritual and theological resources that will help them to respond in a meaningful way.
In Milton Keynes, the concept of “sustainability” is crucially important. We need to find ways of sustaining ourselves by re-focusing on the Risen Christ who should always be at the centre of our life and work. We need to find sustainable patterns of discipleship in a society which encourages long working hours and produces over-burdened and over-stressed people. We need sustainable and vibrant Christian communities which will continue to make a difference in society. We need a sustainable approach to ministry which will in turn sustain, encourage and develop individual believers and communities across the city.
“Sustainability” is a response to the call of Christ to be good stewards of all that he has entrusted to us.“Sustainability” is also essential if we are to keep on serving the communities in which we are set. Sustainable Christian communities are often able to stay active when all else fails. They are God’s generous gift to human society.
Finally, “sustainability” is a witness to a world obsessed with the consumption and accumulation of more and more - money, wealth, popularity and power. A church which truly understands sustainability has a great deal to share with the people around it.
This strategic plan for mission and ministry uses the framework of the diocesan vision statement, Living Faith, but it has been developed in relation to our specific local context. It is an Anglican strategy for the Anglican Deanery, but it has been thought through with an awareness of our local ecumenical situation (see Appendix A for more about our approach to ecumenism).
It is only intended to inform decisions at deanery level, but we hope it will also prove helpful for the churches and parishes of Milton Keynes.
Home - Back - Forward
Sustaining the Sacred Centre
Sustaining the Sacred Centre
There is a “sacred centre” to our life as disciples and communities and that centre is God. When we loose our focus on him or allow something else to steal our attention, it is inevitable that we become weary, tired and purposeless - and begin to loose hope.
In Milton Keynes we are conscious that church life can often be dominated by meetings and responsibilities. There is so much that we can do or feel we should engage with. At the same time we often unintentionally give the impression that the maintenance of our church institutions is the only way that God’s people can serve him - or that God is only concerned with things that happen in church.
It is important that we give each other permission and time to encounter God. Our life with God is like a fresh spring or a deep well that will sustains us and helps us to live.
The Deanery of Milton Keynes will:
“This is about encouraging and enabling clergy and lay people to deepen their enjoyment of God, and to recognise God’s presence in everyday life.”Christian discipleship can be a hard path to follow and there are often real challenges for us to face. We all need to realise that it is impossible to serve Christ without the resources that come from our relationship with him.
There is a “sacred centre” to our life as disciples and communities and that centre is God. When we loose our focus on him or allow something else to steal our attention, it is inevitable that we become weary, tired and purposeless - and begin to loose hope.
In Milton Keynes we are conscious that church life can often be dominated by meetings and responsibilities. There is so much that we can do or feel we should engage with. At the same time we often unintentionally give the impression that the maintenance of our church institutions is the only way that God’s people can serve him - or that God is only concerned with things that happen in church.
It is important that we give each other permission and time to encounter God. Our life with God is like a fresh spring or a deep well that will sustains us and helps us to live.
The Deanery of Milton Keynes will:
- Seek to provide more space for prayer in deanery meetings. This will
- require more discipline and careful planning. There is no reason why
- meetings should not finish before 9:30pm and include serious time for
- corporate worship and prayer.
- Encourage deanery chapter to take the lead. Chapter should give more
- priority to their own enjoyment of God and should make time for away
- days, times of prayer and other opportunities for refreshment.
- Continue to look for ways to develop prayer and spirituality. This should be
- a priority for the work of the synod. There will therefore need to be regular
- space to share and discuss ideas and good practice.
Making Disciples
Making Disciples
Jesus called people to follow him and learn from him. These disciples were then given the task of calling more people to join them as they continued to extend the circle of Christ’s community. We are disciples who make disciples.
Discipleship is a life-long journey and one which we are all called to make. As churches we should therefore seek to provide opportunities for all ages to grow as people of God. We should seek to nurture those within the church and those who are not yet members.
In Milton Keynes many of our churches are very good at discipleship; others
could do with more help, support resources and encouragement.
Courses and Programmes
One possible way of assisting people in their development as disciples is to make courses available on a regular basis. It is also helpful to have people who are consciously nurturing, mentoring or encouraging others.
Alpha MK has been promoting the Alpha course for some time and it would be good for us to encourage local churches to put on more regular courses for discipleship and nurture, including Alpha, Emmaus, Essence and so on...
While it is good to have courses focused on new disciples, we also need opportunities for existing
church members to grow and develop. There are a number of possibilities available, including the CPAS course, Growing Leaders, which has already been used by two of our parishes.
Putting on high quality courses and programmes can require a huge amount of effort, time and resources, so it may be good to look for opportunities to work together in wider partnerships.
Fresh Expressions
Many people are able to grow and flourish as Christians within existing and inherited forms of church. The Church of England believes that we also need fresh expressions of church which are primarily for the benefit of those who are not yet members of any church. There are various ideas in circulation including CaféChurch, alternative worship, Messy Church, new monasticism and so on... These options are not for everyone, but they should become part of our tool kit as churches. Some of them will be developed by local churches, but others may be cross-parochial and require us to think and work together as a deanery.
We have a fresh expressions project group in Milton Keynes which is in the process of becoming a FEAST (a Fresh Expressions Area Strategy Team). This group is working to inspire and inform, provide training, build networks and support our entrepreneurs. It would be good for the deanery to support this work.
Discipleship must be a priority area for us but we should also encourage a healthy, balanced and sustainable approach. We need to promote an understanding of Christian life and service which encompasses the whole of our lives, not just the things we do in church. We also need to ensure that we are all giving time to “sustain the sacred centre” of our own lives and that no-one is overstretched or exhausted by their commitment to the church.
The Deanery of Milton Keynes will:
“This is about the core task left to us by Jesus. It usually takes theDisciples who make Disciples
form of accompanying people on a journey to faith by the inten-
tional use of nurture courses, mentoring, the catechumenate, or
simple friendship.”
Jesus called people to follow him and learn from him. These disciples were then given the task of calling more people to join them as they continued to extend the circle of Christ’s community. We are disciples who make disciples.
Discipleship is a life-long journey and one which we are all called to make. As churches we should therefore seek to provide opportunities for all ages to grow as people of God. We should seek to nurture those within the church and those who are not yet members.
In Milton Keynes many of our churches are very good at discipleship; others
could do with more help, support resources and encouragement.
Courses and Programmes
One possible way of assisting people in their development as disciples is to make courses available on a regular basis. It is also helpful to have people who are consciously nurturing, mentoring or encouraging others.
Alpha MK has been promoting the Alpha course for some time and it would be good for us to encourage local churches to put on more regular courses for discipleship and nurture, including Alpha, Emmaus, Essence and so on...
While it is good to have courses focused on new disciples, we also need opportunities for existing
church members to grow and develop. There are a number of possibilities available, including the CPAS course, Growing Leaders, which has already been used by two of our parishes.
Putting on high quality courses and programmes can require a huge amount of effort, time and resources, so it may be good to look for opportunities to work together in wider partnerships.
Fresh Expressions
Many people are able to grow and flourish as Christians within existing and inherited forms of church. The Church of England believes that we also need fresh expressions of church which are primarily for the benefit of those who are not yet members of any church. There are various ideas in circulation including CaféChurch, alternative worship, Messy Church, new monasticism and so on... These options are not for everyone, but they should become part of our tool kit as churches. Some of them will be developed by local churches, but others may be cross-parochial and require us to think and work together as a deanery.
We have a fresh expressions project group in Milton Keynes which is in the process of becoming a FEAST (a Fresh Expressions Area Strategy Team). This group is working to inspire and inform, provide training, build networks and support our entrepreneurs. It would be good for the deanery to support this work.
Discipleship must be a priority area for us but we should also encourage a healthy, balanced and sustainable approach. We need to promote an understanding of Christian life and service which encompasses the whole of our lives, not just the things we do in church. We also need to ensure that we are all giving time to “sustain the sacred centre” of our own lives and that no-one is overstretched or exhausted by their commitment to the church.
The Deanery of Milton Keynes will:
- Encourage and support Alpha MK.
- Support the development of fresh expressions in Milton Keynes.
- Provide opportunities for churches and individuals to learn more about the tools and programmes which could be used to nurture disciples.
- Provide some financial support for parishes who want to launch new initiatives aimed at “making disciples”. We would like to make £500 available to each parish from our reserves.
- Hold each other accountable for the way we spend our time. We must keep on reminding each other of the need for a balanced and healthy approach to life and work.
- Continue to look for ways to equip and support discipleship in local churches. This should be a priority for the work of the synod. There will therefore need to be regular space to share and discuss ideas and good practice.
Shaping Confident, Collaborative Leadership
Shaping Confident, Collaborative Leadership
The Anglican Church understands ministry in three dimensions:
Many of our lay people are willing to play active roles within the church community. We believe that it is important that we continue to develop ways of training, authorising and supporting lay people who are called to service in the Church. We observe an increasing tendency for lay people to be involved in leading worship, preaching, administration and pastoral care. This should be regarded as a good thing and the deanery must continue to look for ways to encourage the positive development of lay ministry.
All baptised members of the Church in Milton Keynes are called to serve Christ within the church family and also in the communities where they live and work. This calling is crucially important and we should always remember that the deanery exists to enable a local ministry of loving service and Christian witness to happen.
Ordained, Licensed and Authorised Ministry
We believe that ordained, licensed and authorised ministry is important for the task of nurturing and sustaining the Christian community in Milton Keynes. Our “professional” ministers are trained and authorised by the Church and have a particular role to play.
One key role that they have is the nurture of disciples and they are specifically called to do this through ministries of word and sacrament. We need high quality preaching and meaningful sacramental services.
Our ordained, licensed and authorised ministers are also called to be a visible presence in the world. We recognise that it is impossible for them to be in all places at all times, but there is value in identifying the right occasions for there to be an “official” presence.
The Changing Role of Incumbents
Incumbent clergy have a particular role to play and this role will become increasingly important during the time of transition in which we find ourselves. We recognise that the population of Milton Keynes is rising while we can no-longer sustain the high ratio of stipends to members that we have enjoyed in the past. At the same time the numbers of non-stipendiary ministers are rising and we are encouraging a more collaborative approach to ministry.
Incumbents are called to a priestly ministry within their community but will need to share this calling with others. We expect to see more local teams inour parishes and these teams will include an increasingly diverse collection of people; ranging from associate clergy to youth workers and administrators.
Incumbents will inevitably need to exercise a more episcopal role, acting as those who oversee the work of their churches, speaking to them and for them, empowering others in ministry and tending their churches’ development as authentic expressions of Christ’s body. This role is expressed theologically in the concept of the “cure of souls” which they share with the bishop.
This more episcopal role will be particularly important as the numbers of stipendiary clergy decline while the numbers of Christian communities rise as a result of God’s mission. It is important that we release incumbents from some of their existing duties so that they can fulfil this evolving call. It is also important that we enable them to continue to express their priestly and diaconal calling in appropriate and sustainable ways.
The challenge for us in Milton Keynes is to work towards a sustainable model of Christian ministry. We need to be financially sustainable, but we also need a sustainable approach to ministry in which each individual has a clear and achievable role. Working towards this new model will begin with a re-think of the duties and responsibilities that incumbents take on.
Filling Gaps or Responding to Call
In the past there has been a tendency to see non-stipendiary and associate ministers as people who can fill in the gaps left when “proper vicars” are unavailable. The same issues have also shaped the development of volunteers and authorised lay people.
It is increasingly important that we see ministry as the call of the whole people of God, recognise the distinct role of incumbents and also help those who are called to ministry to respond as full members of their local team.
Local Shared and Supported Ministry
In the next section we will look at the need to create vibrant Christian communities. The Local Shared Ministry project group is looking for ways to support this through mentoring. They would also like to encourage and approach to ministry which is:
Local: Ministry is primarily derived from the local community
Shared: Lay and ordained Christians share leadership and ministry
Supported: Local Christian communities are supported by the wider church
While the Local Shared Ministry approach may not be suitable for every
parish, this concept of local shared and supported ministry may be helpful in
our thinking.
The Deanery of Milton Keynes will:
“This is about developing leadership using all the resources available to the local church. It would involve consolidation in some parishes and new work in others to build up shared ministry in teams, with appropriate training and support.”Anglican Ministry in Milton Keynes
The Anglican Church understands ministry in three dimensions:
Diaconal: A call to loving service, with particular emphasis on practical care, administration and witness to the vulnerable or marginalised.Although these dimensions of ministry are visibly expressed through the ordained offices of deacons, priests and bishops, they are often exercised through different individuals in particular contexts. These official roles should be seen as the visible expression of the ministry that the whole people of God is called to fulfil.
Priestly: A call to nurture the believing community through service of the Word, intercessory prayer, reconciliation and sacramental action.
Episcopal: A call to “oversee” the church, speaking to it and for it, empowering others in ministry and tending its development as an authentic expression of Christ’s body.
Many of our lay people are willing to play active roles within the church community. We believe that it is important that we continue to develop ways of training, authorising and supporting lay people who are called to service in the Church. We observe an increasing tendency for lay people to be involved in leading worship, preaching, administration and pastoral care. This should be regarded as a good thing and the deanery must continue to look for ways to encourage the positive development of lay ministry.
All baptised members of the Church in Milton Keynes are called to serve Christ within the church family and also in the communities where they live and work. This calling is crucially important and we should always remember that the deanery exists to enable a local ministry of loving service and Christian witness to happen.
Ordained, Licensed and Authorised Ministry
We believe that ordained, licensed and authorised ministry is important for the task of nurturing and sustaining the Christian community in Milton Keynes. Our “professional” ministers are trained and authorised by the Church and have a particular role to play.
One key role that they have is the nurture of disciples and they are specifically called to do this through ministries of word and sacrament. We need high quality preaching and meaningful sacramental services.
Our ordained, licensed and authorised ministers are also called to be a visible presence in the world. We recognise that it is impossible for them to be in all places at all times, but there is value in identifying the right occasions for there to be an “official” presence.
The Changing Role of Incumbents
Incumbent clergy have a particular role to play and this role will become increasingly important during the time of transition in which we find ourselves. We recognise that the population of Milton Keynes is rising while we can no-longer sustain the high ratio of stipends to members that we have enjoyed in the past. At the same time the numbers of non-stipendiary ministers are rising and we are encouraging a more collaborative approach to ministry.
Incumbents are called to a priestly ministry within their community but will need to share this calling with others. We expect to see more local teams inour parishes and these teams will include an increasingly diverse collection of people; ranging from associate clergy to youth workers and administrators.
Incumbents will inevitably need to exercise a more episcopal role, acting as those who oversee the work of their churches, speaking to them and for them, empowering others in ministry and tending their churches’ development as authentic expressions of Christ’s body. This role is expressed theologically in the concept of the “cure of souls” which they share with the bishop.
This more episcopal role will be particularly important as the numbers of stipendiary clergy decline while the numbers of Christian communities rise as a result of God’s mission. It is important that we release incumbents from some of their existing duties so that they can fulfil this evolving call. It is also important that we enable them to continue to express their priestly and diaconal calling in appropriate and sustainable ways.
The challenge for us in Milton Keynes is to work towards a sustainable model of Christian ministry. We need to be financially sustainable, but we also need a sustainable approach to ministry in which each individual has a clear and achievable role. Working towards this new model will begin with a re-think of the duties and responsibilities that incumbents take on.
Filling Gaps or Responding to Call
In the past there has been a tendency to see non-stipendiary and associate ministers as people who can fill in the gaps left when “proper vicars” are unavailable. The same issues have also shaped the development of volunteers and authorised lay people.
It is increasingly important that we see ministry as the call of the whole people of God, recognise the distinct role of incumbents and also help those who are called to ministry to respond as full members of their local team.
Local Shared and Supported Ministry
In the next section we will look at the need to create vibrant Christian communities. The Local Shared Ministry project group is looking for ways to support this through mentoring. They would also like to encourage and approach to ministry which is:
Local: Ministry is primarily derived from the local community
Shared: Lay and ordained Christians share leadership and ministry
Supported: Local Christian communities are supported by the wider church
While the Local Shared Ministry approach may not be suitable for every
parish, this concept of local shared and supported ministry may be helpful in
our thinking.
The Deanery of Milton Keynes will:
- Continue to provide a Training Officer who will help train and nurture local church members and authorised ministers.
- Continue to follow our ten year transition plan which aims to establish a sustainable level of ministry in Milton Keynes Deanery by 2018. (See Appendix B)
- Map the deployment of ministers in Milton Keynes with respect to incumbents who have an oversight role and the local teams who work with them. This information will be increasingly important as we think about future deployment of stipendiary and non-stipendiary ministers.
- Continue to reflect on the changing role of incumbents.
- Explore approaches to vocation which start with gift and call rather than our needs.
- Continue to look for ways to develop Christian ministry. This should be a priority for the work of the synod. There will therefore need to be regular space to share and discuss ideas and good practice.
Creating Vibrant Christian Communities
Creating Vibrant Christian Communities
It has often been suggested that we should look at growing churches if we want to learn how to grow churches. A great deal of work has been done in this area and there is a some valuable research that we can draw on.
The first key lesson is that values, principles and processes are more significant than projects and programmes. In other words, it is more important to understand the inner workings of a growing church than it is to attempt to copy their activities.
The second point worth noting is that healthy churches often become growing churches. Developing the vibrant life of a Christian community is more likely to produce numerical growth than an evangelistic campaign.
Research carried out in a number of British churches suggests that the following seven characteristics are the most common marks of a healthy church:
Mentoring for Local Shared Ministry
As part of the previous deanery plan we helped set up an ecumenical project group to look at the Local Shared Ministry model which was being developed in New Zealand. This group has been very busy and has learnt a great deal about local and shared ministry both in the UK and elsewhere. This group has also begun to develop their own model which is less top-down and more organic. (See Appendix C for their “Dream”) The Diocese of Oxford has authorised this project through STEM, the board for Stewardship, Training, Evangelism and Mission.
The congregation of St Frideswide in Water Eaton has become a pilot project for Local Shared Ministry. So far this project seems to be going well and valuable lessons are being learnt.
The project group believe that the next stage of this project would be to identify churches and parishes who are “working towards” local, shared and supported ministry and develop a mentoring relationship with them. They believe that mentoring will be key to the future development of vibrant Christian communities.
Mentoring is a tool we could use to :
“This is about shaping ‘communities of grace’ which exhibit the character of Jesus. Such attractive communities are genuinely hospitable, deeply engaged with their communities, and passionate about God.”Building Healthy Churches
It has often been suggested that we should look at growing churches if we want to learn how to grow churches. A great deal of work has been done in this area and there is a some valuable research that we can draw on.
The first key lesson is that values, principles and processes are more significant than projects and programmes. In other words, it is more important to understand the inner workings of a growing church than it is to attempt to copy their activities.
The second point worth noting is that healthy churches often become growing churches. Developing the vibrant life of a Christian community is more likely to produce numerical growth than an evangelistic campaign.
Research carried out in a number of British churches suggests that the following seven characteristics are the most common marks of a healthy church:
- Energised by faith
- Outward-looking
- Seeks to find what God wants
- Faces the cost of change and growth
- Operates as a community
- Makes room for all
- Does a few things and does them well
Mentoring for Local Shared Ministry
As part of the previous deanery plan we helped set up an ecumenical project group to look at the Local Shared Ministry model which was being developed in New Zealand. This group has been very busy and has learnt a great deal about local and shared ministry both in the UK and elsewhere. This group has also begun to develop their own model which is less top-down and more organic. (See Appendix C for their “Dream”) The Diocese of Oxford has authorised this project through STEM, the board for Stewardship, Training, Evangelism and Mission.
The congregation of St Frideswide in Water Eaton has become a pilot project for Local Shared Ministry. So far this project seems to be going well and valuable lessons are being learnt.
The project group believe that the next stage of this project would be to identify churches and parishes who are “working towards” local, shared and supported ministry and develop a mentoring relationship with them. They believe that mentoring will be key to the future development of vibrant Christian communities.
Mentoring is a tool we could use to :
- Support local churches in their development
- Challenge assumptions about what can or cannot be done
- Create a mutual learning network in which we will all benefit
- Investigate the possibility of using a “Healthy Churches” process
- Support the Local Shared Ministry project group and encourage the establishment of a mentoring network.
- Consciously use the annual visitations as an opportunity to explore the vitality of our churches and share good practice
- Continue to look for ways to develop our Christian communities. This should be a priority for the work of the synod. There will therefore need to be regular space to share and discuss ideas and good practice.
Making a Difference in the World
Making a Difference in the World
The Diocese of Oxford states that our vision should be “the transformation of all human life under God”. We believe that the ultimate focus of all our efforts is not the Church but God’s world.
The Five Marks of Mission should continue to guide our thinking about the holistic nature of God’s call and it is worth reminding ourselves of them again and again. We are called to:
We have a number of chaplains and chaplaincies in Milton Keynes and many of these are staffed by Anglican clergy. Chaplaincy is a very important tool through which the Church is able to engage with the World and offer loving service. We should aim to do more to invlove and include chaplains and actively support their work.
We also provide one post for the Christian Foundation which has been set up to “create opportunities that release potential in individuals and communities, particularly those experiencing disadvantage, enabling them to learn and grow and live full and healthy lives.” We believe that it is important to continue that commitment.
We have also been using another post to provide a Development Chaplain. We feel that this work has been helpful to the whole Church in Milton Keynes and we value to links that the Development Chaplain has made. We would like to provide more help in connecting churches with their local communities and guidance as to how effective local mission may be developed.
Every Believer and Every Parish
Although chaplains and organisations are extremely valuable, it is important that we don’t regard mission as the province of experts and specialists. Mission is the calling of every believer and the purpose of every parish. The Anglican parish system is primarily a mechanism for ensuring that the Church is active in mission in every corner of this country. We need to keep reminding ourselves that we have a purpose and a call to fulfil.
Each church and parish must respond to their own local community in an appropriate way but there is real value in sharing good practice, ideas and stories between parishes. We need more opportunity for networking and sharing. This may affect the way we handle meetings, visitations and other forms of communication.
[This deanery plan may also wish to cover some other issues which were raised during the period of consultation:
“This is about recognising that in a holistic understanding of God’s action in the world, there is no mission without social justice; that social justice and prophetic witness cannot be put in a box as a specialism or an extra, but is at the heart of the calling of every Christian community in its own context.”Making a Difference in Milton Keynes
The Diocese of Oxford states that our vision should be “the transformation of all human life under God”. We believe that the ultimate focus of all our efforts is not the Church but God’s world.
The Five Marks of Mission should continue to guide our thinking about the holistic nature of God’s call and it is worth reminding ourselves of them again and again. We are called to:
- Proclaim the good news of the kingdom
- Teach baptise and nurture new believers
- Respond to human need by loving service
- Seek to transform the unjust structures of society
- Strive to safeguard and renew the life of the Earth
We have a number of chaplains and chaplaincies in Milton Keynes and many of these are staffed by Anglican clergy. Chaplaincy is a very important tool through which the Church is able to engage with the World and offer loving service. We should aim to do more to invlove and include chaplains and actively support their work.
We also provide one post for the Christian Foundation which has been set up to “create opportunities that release potential in individuals and communities, particularly those experiencing disadvantage, enabling them to learn and grow and live full and healthy lives.” We believe that it is important to continue that commitment.
We have also been using another post to provide a Development Chaplain. We feel that this work has been helpful to the whole Church in Milton Keynes and we value to links that the Development Chaplain has made. We would like to provide more help in connecting churches with their local communities and guidance as to how effective local mission may be developed.
Every Believer and Every Parish
Although chaplains and organisations are extremely valuable, it is important that we don’t regard mission as the province of experts and specialists. Mission is the calling of every believer and the purpose of every parish. The Anglican parish system is primarily a mechanism for ensuring that the Church is active in mission in every corner of this country. We need to keep reminding ourselves that we have a purpose and a call to fulfil.
Each church and parish must respond to their own local community in an appropriate way but there is real value in sharing good practice, ideas and stories between parishes. We need more opportunity for networking and sharing. This may affect the way we handle meetings, visitations and other forms of communication.
[This deanery plan may also wish to cover some other issues which were raised during the period of consultation:
- The practice of tithing church income for mission
- The concerns raised locally and nationally about “community centre” style churches and their effectiveness in mission. Should we investigate the work of Anne Morisey who suggests the training of volunteer “community chaplains” to work with users?]
- Look for more ways to involve and support our chaplains and chaplaincies.
- Continue to provide a Development Chaplain as a resource for helping churches engage with their local community.
- Support the work of the Christian Foundation through one of our deanery posts.
- Look for more ways of sharing news and information about mission in Milton Keynes and beyond.
- Continue to look for ways to develop our mission as churches. This should be a priority for the work of the synod. There will therefore need to be regular space to share and discuss ideas and good practice.
Appendix A: Our Understanding of Ecumenism
Appendix A: Our Understanding of Ecumenism
We want to be very clear about the model of ecumenism with which we are working. It is really important that our partners in other denominations and streams of church understand how we see our relationship with them and on what basis we expect to work and make decisions with them.
Principle One: Partnership rather than Absorption
Some models of ecumenism assume that we should all come together and form one single organisation. Those who support this approach believe that it is a worthy goal and will produce great benefits in terms of coherence in vision, communications, decision-making, training and so on...
Unfortunately there can be a tendency for some churches, denominations and communities to
find themselves on the outside, either by choice or conviction. In Milton Keynes Deanery, six of our twelve parishes are uncomfortable with the structural unity that has been a prominent goal for Milton Keynes in the past. There are also a number of newer churches who are unlikely to become formal members of the Mission Partnership - but with whom we are beginning to work more closely...
We would prefer to work with a partnership model in which we understand that we are all one in Christ - whether we like it or not!
As pilgrim communities traveling in the same direction we are able to help and support one another, listen to each other and make decisions together. Our members will increasingly feel free to move between different strands of church life which will continue to affect and influence each other in a myriad of significant ways.
We feel that it is particularly important that all churches are thought of as being “in” and that no
churches or communities should be placed in a position in which they feel that ecumenism is something that would deny their identity or undermine their integrity.
In keeping with the Mission Partnership’s recent review, we would like our ecumenical structures to become the space or mechanism within which these conversations and relationships continue to take place.
Principle Two: Network rather than Hierarchy
One way of simplifying the life of the churches in Milton Keynes would be for the Mission Partnership to act as a layer in a hierarchy - standing between the denominations and the local congregations and parishes.
This has been seen as an attractive goal in Milton Keynes in the past and was one of the motivations behind the setting up of the Mission Partnership as a converged body.
On the other hand, there has been a lack of clarity about authority and the place where decisions can be made. There have also been tensions about “denominationalism”.
The hierarchical model is actually a very “modernist” approach to ecumenism and is less helpful in the more fluid environment in which we find ourselves.
We would therefore prefer to work with a network model. Each church, parish and LEP has relationships with a variety of bodies. In many cases a parish may relate to both the Deanery and other denominational bodies like the Methodist Circuit - and this should be regarded as a good thing!
Decisions should be made by those who are most closely involved or affected but there needs to be an understanding of how resources are controlled or coordinated by different bodies. For instance, the Deanery has responsibility for the deployment of Anglican clergy and the allocation of Anglican parish share.
We feel that an understanding of church life in Milton Keynes as a complex network will be more productive for us at this time than thinking of it as a hierarchy of organisations.
Home - Back - Forward
We want to be very clear about the model of ecumenism with which we are working. It is really important that our partners in other denominations and streams of church understand how we see our relationship with them and on what basis we expect to work and make decisions with them.
Principle One: Partnership rather than Absorption
Some models of ecumenism assume that we should all come together and form one single organisation. Those who support this approach believe that it is a worthy goal and will produce great benefits in terms of coherence in vision, communications, decision-making, training and so on...Unfortunately there can be a tendency for some churches, denominations and communities to
find themselves on the outside, either by choice or conviction. In Milton Keynes Deanery, six of our twelve parishes are uncomfortable with the structural unity that has been a prominent goal for Milton Keynes in the past. There are also a number of newer churches who are unlikely to become formal members of the Mission Partnership - but with whom we are beginning to work more closely...
We would prefer to work with a partnership model in which we understand that we are all one in Christ - whether we like it or not!As pilgrim communities traveling in the same direction we are able to help and support one another, listen to each other and make decisions together. Our members will increasingly feel free to move between different strands of church life which will continue to affect and influence each other in a myriad of significant ways.
We feel that it is particularly important that all churches are thought of as being “in” and that no
churches or communities should be placed in a position in which they feel that ecumenism is something that would deny their identity or undermine their integrity.
In keeping with the Mission Partnership’s recent review, we would like our ecumenical structures to become the space or mechanism within which these conversations and relationships continue to take place.
Principle Two: Network rather than Hierarchy
One way of simplifying the life of the churches in Milton Keynes would be for the Mission Partnership to act as a layer in a hierarchy - standing between the denominations and the local congregations and parishes.This has been seen as an attractive goal in Milton Keynes in the past and was one of the motivations behind the setting up of the Mission Partnership as a converged body.
On the other hand, there has been a lack of clarity about authority and the place where decisions can be made. There have also been tensions about “denominationalism”.
The hierarchical model is actually a very “modernist” approach to ecumenism and is less helpful in the more fluid environment in which we find ourselves.
We would therefore prefer to work with a network model. Each church, parish and LEP has relationships with a variety of bodies. In many cases a parish may relate to both the Deanery and other denominational bodies like the Methodist Circuit - and this should be regarded as a good thing!
Decisions should be made by those who are most closely involved or affected but there needs to be an understanding of how resources are controlled or coordinated by different bodies. For instance, the Deanery has responsibility for the deployment of Anglican clergy and the allocation of Anglican parish share.
We feel that an understanding of church life in Milton Keynes as a complex network will be more productive for us at this time than thinking of it as a hierarchy of organisations.
Home - Back - Forward
Appendix B: Our Transition Plan
Appendix B: Our Transition Plan
1. The aims of this transition plan are:
a. for as many parishes as possible to pay 80% of their ministry costs as de-
fined by the Diocese of Oxford by 2013
b. for the whole deanery collectively to pay 100% of their ministry costs by
2018.
2. We recognise that the diocese will increase deanery share payments by up to
7.5% each year. We also recognise that we will not pay this figure in full during
the course of this transition plan. We will however commit to:
a. pay up to £5000 from our reserves each year
b. keep the diocese informed about significant issues and changes. This will
include the production of a detailed annual statement.
3. We will increase parish share payments each year according to the following
formula:
a. parishes who pay less than 70% of their ministry costs will increase share
payments by 7.5%
b. parishes who pay between 70% and 79% of their ministry costs will in-
crease share payments by 6.5%
c. parishes who pay between 80% and 89% of their ministry costs will in-
crease share payments by 5.5%
d. parishes who pay between 90% and 99% of their ministry costs will in-
crease share payments by 4.5%
e. parishes who pay between 100% and 120% of their ministry costs will in-
crease share payments by 3.5% - the rate of projected overall share in-
crease
f. parishes who pay more than 120% of their ministry costs will have their
share payments reduced to 120% of their ministry costs
g. in order to reach targets set for 2013 and 2018, parishes may have their
shares set at a higher level than this formula suggests, but any increase
above 7.5% will be made by negotiation.
4. Exceptions to this rule will be:
a. Whaddon Way: This is an ecumenical congregation without Anglican minis-
try. They are asked to pay a sum equivalent to the contributions made by
Baptist members to the Baptist Home Missions Fund.
b. Water Eaton: St Frideswide is a Local Shared Ministry congregation without
any local stipendiary ministry. They are asked to pay a sum equivalent to
20% of the cost of ministry associated with an Anglican stipendiary minister;
in other words, the proportion which pays for non-parochial rather than local
ministry.
c. It is our expectation that similar formulas would be used if similar situations
occur in future.
5. Our deanery plan requires that all parishes must pay 80% of their ministry costs
as defined by the Diocese of Oxford by 2013, but that no church should be ex-
pected to pay more than 120% of their ministry costs. Those parishes who can-
not commit to this target will have their deployment numbers reduced.
6. It is possible for parishes to ask for a larger number of clergy, but they must
commit to pay the equivalent cost of ministry in full.
7. We are given the equivalent of four free posts by the Diocese of Oxford. This
subsidy will be used for the following purposes:
a. to pay for deanery level posts
b. to help reduce the parish share payments of churches in areas of depriva-
tion
8. At the moment we deploy three and a half deanery level posts. It is our intention
that we will only require two and a half deanery level posts by 2013. This will be
equivalent to:
a. one post in the Christian Foundation
b. one half post for strategy/coordination (Area Dean)
c. one half post for mission/enabling (Successor to Development Chaplain)
d. one half post for training/nurture (Training Officer?)
9. Before 2013 it will not be possible to include the subsidy in any calculation of
parish share since we will be falling short of our targets by a considerable
amount. After 2013 it may be possible for us to consider a reduction in share
targets for parishes with areas of significant deprivation.
10. In order to help communications, the Deanery Finance Committee will offer a
rolling programme of PCC visits.
Home - Back - Forward
1. The aims of this transition plan are:
a. for as many parishes as possible to pay 80% of their ministry costs as de-
fined by the Diocese of Oxford by 2013
b. for the whole deanery collectively to pay 100% of their ministry costs by
2018.
2. We recognise that the diocese will increase deanery share payments by up to
7.5% each year. We also recognise that we will not pay this figure in full during
the course of this transition plan. We will however commit to:
a. pay up to £5000 from our reserves each year
b. keep the diocese informed about significant issues and changes. This will
include the production of a detailed annual statement.
3. We will increase parish share payments each year according to the following
formula:
a. parishes who pay less than 70% of their ministry costs will increase share
payments by 7.5%
b. parishes who pay between 70% and 79% of their ministry costs will in-
crease share payments by 6.5%
c. parishes who pay between 80% and 89% of their ministry costs will in-
crease share payments by 5.5%
d. parishes who pay between 90% and 99% of their ministry costs will in-
crease share payments by 4.5%
e. parishes who pay between 100% and 120% of their ministry costs will in-
crease share payments by 3.5% - the rate of projected overall share in-
crease
f. parishes who pay more than 120% of their ministry costs will have their
share payments reduced to 120% of their ministry costs
g. in order to reach targets set for 2013 and 2018, parishes may have their
shares set at a higher level than this formula suggests, but any increase
above 7.5% will be made by negotiation.
4. Exceptions to this rule will be:
a. Whaddon Way: This is an ecumenical congregation without Anglican minis-
try. They are asked to pay a sum equivalent to the contributions made by
Baptist members to the Baptist Home Missions Fund.
b. Water Eaton: St Frideswide is a Local Shared Ministry congregation without
any local stipendiary ministry. They are asked to pay a sum equivalent to
20% of the cost of ministry associated with an Anglican stipendiary minister;
in other words, the proportion which pays for non-parochial rather than local
ministry.
c. It is our expectation that similar formulas would be used if similar situations
occur in future.
5. Our deanery plan requires that all parishes must pay 80% of their ministry costs
as defined by the Diocese of Oxford by 2013, but that no church should be ex-
pected to pay more than 120% of their ministry costs. Those parishes who can-
not commit to this target will have their deployment numbers reduced.
6. It is possible for parishes to ask for a larger number of clergy, but they must
commit to pay the equivalent cost of ministry in full.
7. We are given the equivalent of four free posts by the Diocese of Oxford. This
subsidy will be used for the following purposes:
a. to pay for deanery level posts
b. to help reduce the parish share payments of churches in areas of depriva-
tion
8. At the moment we deploy three and a half deanery level posts. It is our intention
that we will only require two and a half deanery level posts by 2013. This will be
equivalent to:
a. one post in the Christian Foundation
b. one half post for strategy/coordination (Area Dean)
c. one half post for mission/enabling (Successor to Development Chaplain)
d. one half post for training/nurture (Training Officer?)
9. Before 2013 it will not be possible to include the subsidy in any calculation of
parish share since we will be falling short of our targets by a considerable
amount. After 2013 it may be possible for us to consider a reduction in share
targets for parishes with areas of significant deprivation.
10. In order to help communications, the Deanery Finance Committee will offer a
rolling programme of PCC visits.
Home - Back - Forward
Appendix C: The Dream of the LSM Project Group
Appendix C: The Dream of the LSM Project Group
We dream of a church in which…
we are all followers of
the Way of Jesus who are -
living in the presence of God;
serving Christ with one another;
taking part in the Mission of God in the World…
we are all active in the
ministry of Christ –
being his body in a broken creation;
building one another up for works of service;
fulfilling his call in the midst of daily life…
we are empowered and
driven by the Spirit –
who fills us with gifts and guidance;
who leads us out into new territory;
helping us to develop new expressions of faith and community…
we serve together in
collaborative and mutual ministry –
each member an active participant,
according to their gifts and calling;
leadership exercised by the whole body acting as one…
all forms of ministry are recognised
and given space to grow –
ministries of loving service;
ministries which walk with others in the territory of the Holy;
ministries of connection, oversight and vision…
Servant Leadership is exercised so that
those in positions of authority
encourage and support the ministry of others,
coordination, facilitation and empowerment
are more important than power and control,
and each member is nurtured, trained and supported
as a valuable member of the team…
the local church is valued
because God meets us
in relationship, community
and a need for “home”
and blesses each community
with the resources it needs
to be Christ’s body;
creating space where human beings
can encounter God…
the wider church is valued
because it exists
to make local ministry possible,
and unites us in fellowship
with people of God
in every time and place…
hope will always overcome fear,
because we are not obsessed
with failure,
competition or even survival,
but continually draw onwards
as faithful pilgrims,
who experience growth,
transformation and new life…
We will work towards this vision…
with fresh and inherited
expressions of church;
as listeners, partners,
mentors and companions;
by reflecting on the voice of God
in the stories we tell…
We dream of a church…
Home - Back - Next
We dream of a church in which…
we are all followers of
the Way of Jesus who are -
living in the presence of God;
serving Christ with one another;
taking part in the Mission of God in the World…
we are all active in the
ministry of Christ –
being his body in a broken creation;
building one another up for works of service;
fulfilling his call in the midst of daily life…
we are empowered and
driven by the Spirit –
who fills us with gifts and guidance;
who leads us out into new territory;
helping us to develop new expressions of faith and community…
we serve together in
collaborative and mutual ministry –
each member an active participant,
according to their gifts and calling;
leadership exercised by the whole body acting as one…
all forms of ministry are recognised
and given space to grow –
ministries of loving service;
ministries which walk with others in the territory of the Holy;
ministries of connection, oversight and vision…
Servant Leadership is exercised so that
those in positions of authority
encourage and support the ministry of others,
coordination, facilitation and empowerment
are more important than power and control,
and each member is nurtured, trained and supported
as a valuable member of the team…
the local church is valued
because God meets us
in relationship, community
and a need for “home”
and blesses each community
with the resources it needs
to be Christ’s body;
creating space where human beings
can encounter God…
the wider church is valued
because it exists
to make local ministry possible,
and unites us in fellowship
with people of God
in every time and place…
hope will always overcome fear,
because we are not obsessed
with failure,
competition or even survival,
but continually draw onwards
as faithful pilgrims,
who experience growth,
transformation and new life…
We will work towards this vision…
with fresh and inherited
expressions of church;
as listeners, partners,
mentors and companions;
by reflecting on the voice of God
in the stories we tell…
We dream of a church…
Home - Back - Next
Appendix D: Meetings, Teams, Groups and Committees
Appendix D: Meetings, Teams, Groups and Committees
These are the meetings, teams, groups and committees scheduled for 2010:
Deanery Synod: Representatives of all parishes, churches and clergy in the deanery meet three times a year to pray, share information, dis-cuss ideas and make decisions about strategy and policy.
Deanery Mission and Pastoral Committee: Representatives of the parishes and clergy in the deanery meet three times a year to make decisions about deployment and other operational issues.
Deanery Chapter: Regular meeting of clergy for mutual support, sharing and prayer. Some meetings take place in the evening and are open to non-stipendiary, authorised and licensed ministers.
Deanery Leadership Team: Office holders meet six times a year to plan agendas and implement the policies and actions required by the diocese and the deanery.
Deanery Finance Committee: This group meets as required to discuss the allocation of parish share and other financial issues.
Deanery Strategy Group: This will be an open group which will meet three times a year to review the progress of our deanery plan and suggest further action.
In addition the deanery has an active involvement in:
Mission Partnership Assembly: The assembly acts as the deanery synod when it meets and is empowered to act as such.
Ecumenical Pastoral and Sponsoring Committee: This acts as the “sponsoring body” and has formal responsibility for the oversight and review of LEPs in north bucks.
Ecumenical Oversight Group: This is a meeting of local denominational leaders which meets to share news and discuss joint activity.
There are many other meetings, teams, groups and committees on which the deanery is represented directly or indirectly but these are the ones through which deanery business takes place.
Home - Back
These are the meetings, teams, groups and committees scheduled for 2010:
Deanery Synod: Representatives of all parishes, churches and clergy in the deanery meet three times a year to pray, share information, dis-cuss ideas and make decisions about strategy and policy.
Deanery Mission and Pastoral Committee: Representatives of the parishes and clergy in the deanery meet three times a year to make decisions about deployment and other operational issues.
Deanery Chapter: Regular meeting of clergy for mutual support, sharing and prayer. Some meetings take place in the evening and are open to non-stipendiary, authorised and licensed ministers.
Deanery Leadership Team: Office holders meet six times a year to plan agendas and implement the policies and actions required by the diocese and the deanery.
Deanery Finance Committee: This group meets as required to discuss the allocation of parish share and other financial issues.
Deanery Strategy Group: This will be an open group which will meet three times a year to review the progress of our deanery plan and suggest further action.
In addition the deanery has an active involvement in:
Mission Partnership Assembly: The assembly acts as the deanery synod when it meets and is empowered to act as such.
Ecumenical Pastoral and Sponsoring Committee: This acts as the “sponsoring body” and has formal responsibility for the oversight and review of LEPs in north bucks.
Ecumenical Oversight Group: This is a meeting of local denominational leaders which meets to share news and discuss joint activity.
There are many other meetings, teams, groups and committees on which the deanery is represented directly or indirectly but these are the ones through which deanery business takes place.
Home - Back
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Deanery Plan 2009
I've had a long day today, focussed mainly on writing up this weeks meeting of the Deanery Strategy Group. It was a good meeting, rich with theology and ideas - but not easy to capture in text. I've therefore spent the past two days (or large chunks of them) working through it. With any luck, I'll have a draft ready by some time next week... Just one last section to write...
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Living Faith in Milton Keynse
Had a really good meeting last night looking at our Deanery Plan. It's going to be more theological than I had anticipated...
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Living Faith in Milton Keynes
Deanery Strategy Group: Living Faith?
On the 23rd April the Deanery Strategy Group met to discuss the Diocesan Vision statement, Living Faith for the future. The group wanted to see how our work compared with the priorities set out in the diocesan document and whether it might provide some structure for our thinking.
According to Living Faith:
The vision of the diocese is “the transformation of all life under God.”
The values of the diocese are that we should be:
The purpose of the diocese is “to join with God in creating a caring, sustainable and growing Christian presence in every part of the diocese of Oxford, enabling every Christian and every Christian community to live and share the love of God, seen in the life of Jesus Christ.”
The priorities of the diocese are:
The Strategy Group discussed the priorities and came to the following conclusions:
Sustaining the Sacred Centre:
Spirituality and prayer must be at the front and centre of the new Deanery Plan. In Milton Keynes we have tended to give a great deal of energy to meetings, structures and general busyness. It is really important that we give more priority to things that lead to rejuvenation, refreshment and self-protection. We can only serve others if we are rooted and sustained in Christ. We need to find deep resources that empower us to be God’s people in this city.
We tend to prioritise activity or meetings, but we need to give some time to God so that the rest of our time is filled with his life.
In practice the deanery needs to lead by example and create opportunities for refreshment. We need to think about how we do this. Could we have more time for prayer when we meet? Should we hold more quiet days or retreats? Should we help churches to keep their buildings open or hold a continuous prayer vigil in one building during Lent? Does Cornerstone have a key role in our prayer life as a deanery?
Making Disciples:
Christ’s command to the Church was that we should be disciples who call other people to join us as fellow disciples. Making disciples is what we do. It is right, however, that we prioritise spirituality and prayer since it is only as we are refreshed by God that we are able to bring refreshment to others. It is only through the work of the Spirit that people are drawn closer to God.
Many of our more vibrant, healthy or growing churches already prioritise discipleship and evangelism, but is there more we can do as a deanery to fulfil Christ’s call? Is there anything we can do to help local churches in this area?
Should we give more energy and support to Alpha? Should we encourage the development of fresh expressions? How do we support pioneers, entrepreneurs, missionaries and evangelists?
Making a Difference in the World:
Many church members are already making a difference in a wide variety of ways. We are involved in the local community through schools, care homes, and a wide variety of work places. As individuals and congregations we’ve supported some significant campaigns on a wide variety of issues ranging from debt relief to the environment. As a deanery, we invest in our mission to the wider community through the Christian Foundation and the Development Chaplain. There are also a number of chaplains in this deanery who do valuable work on our behalf.
On the other hand, there is limited interaction between this work and our congregations and members. There is also a tendency to separate our church life on a Sunday from our weekday life and work. Do we need to spend some time mapping what is already going on and make some connections? What can we do to support our members as Christian disciples in their everyday life?
We also have a number of community-centre style churches that were built to serve local people. Many of these churches have financial difficulties or are struggling in some way. Most of them seem to be declining in membership. This is a pattern that is repeated elsewhere in the country. Is it time to do some serious work looking at the history of community-centre style churches, the challenges they face and the possible solutions that could be considered? Is it worth pulling in some expert support to help us turn these challenges into opportunities?
Creating Vibrant Christian Communities:
The evidence of research gathered by Natural Church Development and Healthy Churches is that when Christian communities function in a healthy way as part of the Body of Christ, they tend to grow in depth and numbers. That is not to say that a “healthy” church is always comfortable and cosy. They aren’t always wealthy or well resourced. Neither do they necessarily embrace any particular style of worship or programme. On the other hand, a healthy Church will be able to embrace challenge and change - and be willing to follow Christ wherever he leads…
We have a number of churches in Milton Keynes which are thriving because they are “healthy” or are striving to become more “fit for purpose”. We need to support these churches and find ways to encourage more Christian communities to adopt a “healthy lifestyle”.
As a deanery, do we need to make more use of the “Building Healthy Churches” process or something similar? What else could we do to make some of our communities more vibrant?
Shaping Confident, Collaborative Leadership:
As disciples we need to be confident in our faith and in our relationship with God in order to fulfil Christ’s call to make disciples and to make a difference in the world. Although many of our churches have made huge progress in developing shared ministry and leadership there is still a great need for development.
What can we do to encourage the development of confident, collaborative leadership in all areas of the churches’ life? Will the Local Shared Ministry project play a role in this? Do we need more local training? Should we offer a “Growing Leaders” course across the deanery? What else could we do to encourage lay people? How will stipendiary ministry need to change?
Supporting the Priorities:
In the first paper produced by the Strategy Group we observed that the 2005 Deanery Plan, A Framework for the Future, was driven by a range of practical issues, including finance, deployment, ecumenism and decision-making. We noted that this felt the wrong way round and that the 2009 Deanery Plan should start with vision and finish with practicalities. We think that the priorities of Living Faith could provide the core of the plan but that they should be supported by a range of policies and statements covering a range of issues including: finance, deployment, ecumenical relationships, decision-making and administration.
What next?
The Deanery Strategy Group will be making a presentation at the Deanery Synod on Wednesday 13th May. This presentation will focus on the work done so far in reviewing the existing plan and the Diocesan Vision.
Members of Deanery Synod, and the wider church, will then be asked for feedback about the issues that the Plan will need to address. What questions should it attempt to answer? What priorities should it deal with?
The wider church community and our ecumenical partners will also be asked for feedback.
The Deanery Strategy Group will attempt to produce a very rough draft of a new deanery plan for the next Deanery Pastoral Committee meeting on 1st July. This document will then be circulated widely for discussion.
The Strategy Group will receive feedback and will present an amended document at the Deanery Synod on 23rd September.
This document will be a work in progress and will provide the starting point for further discussions as we work through together our ongoing and ever evolving strategy.
On the 23rd April the Deanery Strategy Group met to discuss the Diocesan Vision statement, Living Faith for the future. The group wanted to see how our work compared with the priorities set out in the diocesan document and whether it might provide some structure for our thinking.
According to Living Faith:
The vision of the diocese is “the transformation of all life under God.”
The values of the diocese are that we should be:
- Contemplative: attentive to God
- Creative: imaginatively releasing and harnessing all the gifts of all God’s people
- Continuous: rooted in scripture, faithful to the traditions we have received and seeking to give them fresh expression
- Accountable: to God and to each other as we build for tomorrow as well as today
The purpose of the diocese is “to join with God in creating a caring, sustainable and growing Christian presence in every part of the diocese of Oxford, enabling every Christian and every Christian community to live and share the love of God, seen in the life of Jesus Christ.”
The priorities of the diocese are:
- Sustaining the sacred centre
- Making disciples
- Making a difference in the world
- Shaping confident, collaborative leadership
- Creating vibrant Christian communities
The Strategy Group discussed the priorities and came to the following conclusions:
Sustaining the Sacred Centre:
Spirituality and prayer must be at the front and centre of the new Deanery Plan. In Milton Keynes we have tended to give a great deal of energy to meetings, structures and general busyness. It is really important that we give more priority to things that lead to rejuvenation, refreshment and self-protection. We can only serve others if we are rooted and sustained in Christ. We need to find deep resources that empower us to be God’s people in this city.
We tend to prioritise activity or meetings, but we need to give some time to God so that the rest of our time is filled with his life.
In practice the deanery needs to lead by example and create opportunities for refreshment. We need to think about how we do this. Could we have more time for prayer when we meet? Should we hold more quiet days or retreats? Should we help churches to keep their buildings open or hold a continuous prayer vigil in one building during Lent? Does Cornerstone have a key role in our prayer life as a deanery?
Making Disciples:
Christ’s command to the Church was that we should be disciples who call other people to join us as fellow disciples. Making disciples is what we do. It is right, however, that we prioritise spirituality and prayer since it is only as we are refreshed by God that we are able to bring refreshment to others. It is only through the work of the Spirit that people are drawn closer to God.
Many of our more vibrant, healthy or growing churches already prioritise discipleship and evangelism, but is there more we can do as a deanery to fulfil Christ’s call? Is there anything we can do to help local churches in this area?
Should we give more energy and support to Alpha? Should we encourage the development of fresh expressions? How do we support pioneers, entrepreneurs, missionaries and evangelists?
Making a Difference in the World:
Many church members are already making a difference in a wide variety of ways. We are involved in the local community through schools, care homes, and a wide variety of work places. As individuals and congregations we’ve supported some significant campaigns on a wide variety of issues ranging from debt relief to the environment. As a deanery, we invest in our mission to the wider community through the Christian Foundation and the Development Chaplain. There are also a number of chaplains in this deanery who do valuable work on our behalf.
On the other hand, there is limited interaction between this work and our congregations and members. There is also a tendency to separate our church life on a Sunday from our weekday life and work. Do we need to spend some time mapping what is already going on and make some connections? What can we do to support our members as Christian disciples in their everyday life?
We also have a number of community-centre style churches that were built to serve local people. Many of these churches have financial difficulties or are struggling in some way. Most of them seem to be declining in membership. This is a pattern that is repeated elsewhere in the country. Is it time to do some serious work looking at the history of community-centre style churches, the challenges they face and the possible solutions that could be considered? Is it worth pulling in some expert support to help us turn these challenges into opportunities?
Creating Vibrant Christian Communities:
The evidence of research gathered by Natural Church Development and Healthy Churches is that when Christian communities function in a healthy way as part of the Body of Christ, they tend to grow in depth and numbers. That is not to say that a “healthy” church is always comfortable and cosy. They aren’t always wealthy or well resourced. Neither do they necessarily embrace any particular style of worship or programme. On the other hand, a healthy Church will be able to embrace challenge and change - and be willing to follow Christ wherever he leads…
We have a number of churches in Milton Keynes which are thriving because they are “healthy” or are striving to become more “fit for purpose”. We need to support these churches and find ways to encourage more Christian communities to adopt a “healthy lifestyle”.
As a deanery, do we need to make more use of the “Building Healthy Churches” process or something similar? What else could we do to make some of our communities more vibrant?
Shaping Confident, Collaborative Leadership:
As disciples we need to be confident in our faith and in our relationship with God in order to fulfil Christ’s call to make disciples and to make a difference in the world. Although many of our churches have made huge progress in developing shared ministry and leadership there is still a great need for development.
What can we do to encourage the development of confident, collaborative leadership in all areas of the churches’ life? Will the Local Shared Ministry project play a role in this? Do we need more local training? Should we offer a “Growing Leaders” course across the deanery? What else could we do to encourage lay people? How will stipendiary ministry need to change?
Supporting the Priorities:
In the first paper produced by the Strategy Group we observed that the 2005 Deanery Plan, A Framework for the Future, was driven by a range of practical issues, including finance, deployment, ecumenism and decision-making. We noted that this felt the wrong way round and that the 2009 Deanery Plan should start with vision and finish with practicalities. We think that the priorities of Living Faith could provide the core of the plan but that they should be supported by a range of policies and statements covering a range of issues including: finance, deployment, ecumenical relationships, decision-making and administration.
What next?
The Deanery Strategy Group will be making a presentation at the Deanery Synod on Wednesday 13th May. This presentation will focus on the work done so far in reviewing the existing plan and the Diocesan Vision.
Members of Deanery Synod, and the wider church, will then be asked for feedback about the issues that the Plan will need to address. What questions should it attempt to answer? What priorities should it deal with?
The wider church community and our ecumenical partners will also be asked for feedback.
The Deanery Strategy Group will attempt to produce a very rough draft of a new deanery plan for the next Deanery Pastoral Committee meeting on 1st July. This document will then be circulated widely for discussion.
The Strategy Group will receive feedback and will present an amended document at the Deanery Synod on 23rd September.
This document will be a work in progress and will provide the starting point for further discussions as we work through together our ongoing and ever evolving strategy.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Happy Easter
Dear Friends,
I hope you had a very positive Holy Week and Easter and enjoyed some time off in the midst of your life and work. I'm just writing to you with some news and updates from the Anglican Deanery as the summer term begins.
Names, addresses and the year book
As you probably know, we did some work last term with the diocese to tidy up the arrangement and details of our entries in the diocesan year book. There will be more work to do on this as the new book is produced and the diocese will want to double check our entry. We also need to discuss with them how we include the details of chaplains and religious orders. I'll probably be sending out a draft at some point for you to check.
At the same time, of course, there will also be changes of officers after the annual meetings. Could you please make sure that any changes are sent to the diocese and to Jenni our administrator (admin@mkdeanery.org or 01908 568586).
The Archdeacon's Visitation
Speaking of officers, the annual swearing in of church wardens will be taking place at St Mary and St Giles in Stony Stratford on Wednesday May 6th at 7:30pm. Everyone is welcome, so please feel free to come and support your church wardens. If you can't come, please remember to pray for them, since they do so much for the ongoing life and work of our churches.
Deanery Strategy Group
The Strategy Group will be meeting on Thursday 23rd April to talk about the diocesan vision, "Living Faith". This meeting will now be at 8:00pm at St George's Wolverton so that it can follow the St George's Day Patronal festival service. If you would like to join us for this meeting, please drop me a line.
Fresh Expressions
Unfortunately, the Mission Shaped Intro course planned for the summer term has had to be cancelled due to lack of bookings. I suspect this was partly because the main advertising came out rather late in the day... The Fresh Expressions Project Group is still keen to expand this work and is happy to talk to local churches or groups if that would be helpful.
Preparations are still under way for the year long Mission Shaped Ministry course that we will be hosting in Milton Keynes next year. This will involve people from a much wider area and should be really positive. I attach the posters for this again, and there should be hard copies available soon.
At the same time there is a group coming together to think about working with Costa Coffee to explore the possibility of cafe church in Milton Keynes. This involves some training through the CafeChurch Network. If you want to know more, please get in touch.
We're hoping to put on some more networking events to bring together our entrepreneurs and creative thinkers to share ideas and support each other. I'll circulate more details when I have them...
Music and Message
Speaking of Fresh Expressions, I will be talking about this area of mission at the next Music and Message event at Shenley Brook End Community Centre on the 9th May at 7pm. I've attached the details of this event.
Local Shared Ministry
The Local Shared Ministry Project Group was set up following our last Deanery Plan and has been looking at ways to encourage and develop local and shared forms of ministry. This work started with an exploration of how people have developed "collaborative" or "mutual" ministry elsewhere, but has increasingly focussed on local ideas which have been developing in our own city. This group is now getting to the stage where it really wants to start a conversation with other parishes and churches about where this is all going... If you'd like us to come out and share our discoveries and ideas with you or you'ld just like to tell us what you think, please get in touch.
Jeremy's Sabbatical
Jeremy Trigg from Wolverton will be on sabbatical from the 29th April and will be doing some focussed reading. During the next three months if you need to contact anyone about business involving either of the two Wolverton parishes, please get in touch with the church wardens.
Funeral Collections
As you may know, the Chancellor John Rees came to Deanery Chapter recently to talk about a range of legal issues. One question that was raised concerned collections at funerals. After the meeting, Jeremy pursued this further on our behalf and has been given the following advice by Karen and John:
The Starting Point is that all collections taken within Church Funerals are for Church Funds and a collection plate should have beside it a notice clearly pointing this out.
Where donations have been asked for a Charity people should be asked to send their donations direct to the Charity (via the Funeral Director if this is what the Family have requested), this should be clearly stated on Service Sheets and in a note at the side of the retiring collection for Church Funds.
Collections should be counted by two people at the end of the service, entered in the Service Register and banked in the normal way.
However a PCC may pass a resolution to allow collections for nominated charities to be made in Church, but are advised not to. This is important. It cannot be done by the Ministers Discretion.
Where a PCC has passed such a resolution, the collection should be counted in the same way after the service and entered in the service Register with a note that this collection is to be given to the charity of Choice. If there is a representative of the Charity present at the time that representative may be given the collection provided that they count it in the presence of a Church Officer and sign a receipt for it, this receipt to be held in the PCC's records. Otherwise the money should be banked in the normal manner and the amount sent by cheque to the nominated charity. Under no circumstances should the funeral director be allowed to take the money away nor place their own collecting box in church nor collect on church land.
If we follow this procedure the Chancellor will defend us if any accusations are made. If we don't we are on our own.
As I say, this is the official advice.
Strangers into Citizens
Hopefully you've had the following notice from Tim Clapton:
Bank Holiday: It's a time for gardening and chilling out. But there are two Bank Holidays in May. I would like to invite you to join me and a coach load of others from MK to speak up for 700,000 people who are too afraid to speak up for themselves.
The campaign is "Strangers Into Citizens" – calling for a pathway to citizenship for those who have been waiting too long to hear about their asylum application, an earned amnesty or regularization for those who have settled into the UK community, made a contribution to our society but who do not have papers to be here. A couple of weeks ago a child was dragged out of school by armed police in Camberwell so our government could throw the whole family out of UK. They had been here for years paying taxes ! This sort of thing is happening every day. See http://www.strangersintocitizens.org.uk/
We are going to London on the 4th May – £10 for your place on the coach. It will be a family fun day and an opportunity to do other things in London. Do please pass on this message to others you know on Facebook and who live in MK. More details ring 07958182077. cheers Tim C.
Deanery Communications
Comminications in a deanery are always tricky and there are added complications here because we do so much on an ecumenical basis. On the other hand there are many items of anglican news and information which do need to be shared - and certain notices which need to be shared through the anglican network.
We have no plans to set up a news letter at the moment, but I will continue to circulate news and notices to a wide group of anglicans and to our partners in other denominations. If you know of anyone who I should include on my circulation list, please let me know. If you are no longer an office holder and don't want to get messages about the deanery, please let me know as well and I will stop sending you information.
We do have a web site which was set up when the last deanery plan was produced. This largely consists of links to parish web sites, meeting dates and local rss feeds. It has also been used as a place to access files and information. It can be found at www.mkdeanery.org
Please let me know of any thoughts or ideas you may have about communications in the deanery.
Happy Easter
Anyway, I hope you have a very happy Easter and that you enjoy all 50 days!
All the best - -
Tim N
I hope you had a very positive Holy Week and Easter and enjoyed some time off in the midst of your life and work. I'm just writing to you with some news and updates from the Anglican Deanery as the summer term begins.
Names, addresses and the year book
As you probably know, we did some work last term with the diocese to tidy up the arrangement and details of our entries in the diocesan year book. There will be more work to do on this as the new book is produced and the diocese will want to double check our entry. We also need to discuss with them how we include the details of chaplains and religious orders. I'll probably be sending out a draft at some point for you to check.
At the same time, of course, there will also be changes of officers after the annual meetings. Could you please make sure that any changes are sent to the diocese and to Jenni our administrator (admin@mkdeanery.org or 01908 568586).
The Archdeacon's Visitation
Speaking of officers, the annual swearing in of church wardens will be taking place at St Mary and St Giles in Stony Stratford on Wednesday May 6th at 7:30pm. Everyone is welcome, so please feel free to come and support your church wardens. If you can't come, please remember to pray for them, since they do so much for the ongoing life and work of our churches.
Deanery Strategy Group
The Strategy Group will be meeting on Thursday 23rd April to talk about the diocesan vision, "Living Faith". This meeting will now be at 8:00pm at St George's Wolverton so that it can follow the St George's Day Patronal festival service. If you would like to join us for this meeting, please drop me a line.
Fresh Expressions
Unfortunately, the Mission Shaped Intro course planned for the summer term has had to be cancelled due to lack of bookings. I suspect this was partly because the main advertising came out rather late in the day... The Fresh Expressions Project Group is still keen to expand this work and is happy to talk to local churches or groups if that would be helpful.
Preparations are still under way for the year long Mission Shaped Ministry course that we will be hosting in Milton Keynes next year. This will involve people from a much wider area and should be really positive. I attach the posters for this again, and there should be hard copies available soon.
At the same time there is a group coming together to think about working with Costa Coffee to explore the possibility of cafe church in Milton Keynes. This involves some training through the CafeChurch Network. If you want to know more, please get in touch.
We're hoping to put on some more networking events to bring together our entrepreneurs and creative thinkers to share ideas and support each other. I'll circulate more details when I have them...
Music and Message
Speaking of Fresh Expressions, I will be talking about this area of mission at the next Music and Message event at Shenley Brook End Community Centre on the 9th May at 7pm. I've attached the details of this event.
Local Shared Ministry
The Local Shared Ministry Project Group was set up following our last Deanery Plan and has been looking at ways to encourage and develop local and shared forms of ministry. This work started with an exploration of how people have developed "collaborative" or "mutual" ministry elsewhere, but has increasingly focussed on local ideas which have been developing in our own city. This group is now getting to the stage where it really wants to start a conversation with other parishes and churches about where this is all going... If you'd like us to come out and share our discoveries and ideas with you or you'ld just like to tell us what you think, please get in touch.
Jeremy's Sabbatical
Jeremy Trigg from Wolverton will be on sabbatical from the 29th April and will be doing some focussed reading. During the next three months if you need to contact anyone about business involving either of the two Wolverton parishes, please get in touch with the church wardens.
Funeral Collections
As you may know, the Chancellor John Rees came to Deanery Chapter recently to talk about a range of legal issues. One question that was raised concerned collections at funerals. After the meeting, Jeremy pursued this further on our behalf and has been given the following advice by Karen and John:
The Starting Point is that all collections taken within Church Funerals are for Church Funds and a collection plate should have beside it a notice clearly pointing this out.
Where donations have been asked for a Charity people should be asked to send their donations direct to the Charity (via the Funeral Director if this is what the Family have requested), this should be clearly stated on Service Sheets and in a note at the side of the retiring collection for Church Funds.
Collections should be counted by two people at the end of the service, entered in the Service Register and banked in the normal way.
However a PCC may pass a resolution to allow collections for nominated charities to be made in Church, but are advised not to. This is important. It cannot be done by the Ministers Discretion.
Where a PCC has passed such a resolution, the collection should be counted in the same way after the service and entered in the service Register with a note that this collection is to be given to the charity of Choice. If there is a representative of the Charity present at the time that representative may be given the collection provided that they count it in the presence of a Church Officer and sign a receipt for it, this receipt to be held in the PCC's records. Otherwise the money should be banked in the normal manner and the amount sent by cheque to the nominated charity. Under no circumstances should the funeral director be allowed to take the money away nor place their own collecting box in church nor collect on church land.
If we follow this procedure the Chancellor will defend us if any accusations are made. If we don't we are on our own.
As I say, this is the official advice.
Strangers into Citizens
Hopefully you've had the following notice from Tim Clapton:
Bank Holiday: It's a time for gardening and chilling out. But there are two Bank Holidays in May. I would like to invite you to join me and a coach load of others from MK to speak up for 700,000 people who are too afraid to speak up for themselves.
The campaign is "Strangers Into Citizens" – calling for a pathway to citizenship for those who have been waiting too long to hear about their asylum application, an earned amnesty or regularization for those who have settled into the UK community, made a contribution to our society but who do not have papers to be here. A couple of weeks ago a child was dragged out of school by armed police in Camberwell so our government could throw the whole family out of UK. They had been here for years paying taxes ! This sort of thing is happening every day. See http://www.strangersintocitize
We are going to London on the 4th May – £10 for your place on the coach. It will be a family fun day and an opportunity to do other things in London. Do please pass on this message to others you know on Facebook and who live in MK. More details ring 07958182077. cheers Tim C.
Deanery Communications
Comminications in a deanery are always tricky and there are added complications here because we do so much on an ecumenical basis. On the other hand there are many items of anglican news and information which do need to be shared - and certain notices which need to be shared through the anglican network.
We have no plans to set up a news letter at the moment, but I will continue to circulate news and notices to a wide group of anglicans and to our partners in other denominations. If you know of anyone who I should include on my circulation list, please let me know. If you are no longer an office holder and don't want to get messages about the deanery, please let me know as well and I will stop sending you information.
We do have a web site which was set up when the last deanery plan was produced. This largely consists of links to parish web sites, meeting dates and local rss feeds. It has also been used as a place to access files and information. It can be found at www.mkdeanery.org
Please let me know of any thoughts or ideas you may have about communications in the deanery.
Happy Easter
Anyway, I hope you have a very happy Easter and that you enjoy all 50 days!
All the best - -
Tim N
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Reviewing the Deanery Plan
Deanery Strategy Group
At the January 2009 meeting of the Milton Keynes Deanery Synod, a small working group was set up to review our deanery plan and co-ordinate the production of a new one. (See Deanery Strategy Group.) We agreed that the small group would meet four times during the coming year and would ensure that a wider circle of groups and individuals would be included in the process.
Meeting One: 26 February 2009
At this meeting the Strategy Group reviewed the existing documents and discussed the progress of the current deanery plan.
Looking Back: Review of the Previous Deanery Plan
In May 2005 the Deanery of Milton Keynes began a process of consultation and reflection which led to the production of a new Deanery Plan. The process included detailed research, visits to PCCs and an away day. A fairly substantial discussion document was produced which was slowly refined into a twelve page booklet entitled: A Framework for the Future. This was approved by Deanery Synod in June 2006.
The Framework had four key strands which were intended to direct the work of the deanery over the coming years. These were set out as a set of "rules" which would help guide decision-making. There was a general recognition that we were entering a period of transition and change.
The key strands of the Framework were:
1. Sustainability: We decided that every church should pay between 80% and 120% of its ministry costs and that the ability to pay would be used to determine the number of stipendiary clergy in each parish.
2. Ongoing Deanery Development: We decided that it was too early to discuss the possibility of splitting the deanery but that it would be worth looking at "anomalous adjoining areas". We also recommended that final decisions relating to Anglican funded posts should rest with the Deanery Pastoral Committee.
3. Non-Parochial and New Posts: We set out a policy which would define how decisions about non-parochial and new posts should be made and how they should be funded. We were keen that costs should be shared ecumenically and that new posts would only be considered if we managed to reduce our total level of deployment below the maximum set by the Archdeaconry – 18.
4. Encouraging Local Development: We came up with three key ideas which we hoped would help local churches:
a. Supporting Church Development: We offered £500 to each church from our reserves to help pay for external resources, e.g. Natural Church Development or Building Healthy Churches.
b. New Forms of Church and Ministry: We suggested that an ecumenical project group be set up to look at how we support the development of local church ministry.
c. Changing the way buildings are used: We also suggested that an ecumenical project group be set up to look at ways of assessing, developing, mothballing or redeveloping church buildings.
The process of producing the Framework was extremely valuable since it brought people together and helped develop more healthy links and relationships. This seemed to re-energise the deanery and resulted in an increase in creativity and vision.
The impact of the Framework can only be judged by reviewing events over the following three years:
Groupings: The initial discussion document explored a range of potential groupings which were fairly radical and linked churches on the basis of style rather than geography. Although this idea was dropped in the Framework we have seen a growth in creative partnerships over the following few years as Anglican and LEP churches have begun to work more closely with new partners – particularly amongst the independent churches.
Church Development: The offer of £500 per church was not taken up. This may be because those churches that were already pursuing a "healthy churches" agenda didn't need the money. We didn't have the capacity to make this offer in a more proactive way.
Use of Buildings: No ecumenical project group was set up to look at buildings or the way they are used. Since there was no-one available to drive this issue it was forgotten.
Financial Sustainability: Although we set ourselves a clear target in 2006 it was not obvious how this would be achieved. The existence of an LEP Funding Schemes seemed to make it difficult for us to set the direction of future share payments. A great deal of work was done by the Deanery Finance Committee in 2007 to understand, model and predict share payments. We then produced a ten year transition plan with the intention that every church would pay 80% of its cost of ministry by 2013 and that we would collectively pay 100% of our cost of ministry by 2018. A new share policy was agreed in November 2007.
Deployment: We recognised that sustainability would only be achieved if we were willing to face a reduction in our deployment of stipendiary clergy. We followed our own "rules" and applied them to a number of parishes including Bletchley, Woughton, Water Eaton and Watling Valley. In 2005 we had 21.2 stipendiary posts. By 2008 that figure had fallen to 16.2.
Parish Boundaries: Although we were not able to address the issues relating to our boundaries with other deaneries, we did tidy up one of our internal boundaries – between Watling Valley and Calverton. This change was made to give clarity to our work in the new area, usually known as Area 10 and 11.
Lay Ministry: The need for greater empowerment, support and training for lay ministry was recognised as a key issue in the discussions of 2005/6. There has been an explosion of lay ministry over the following three years, particularly in parishes where the number of stipendiary ministers has been reduced. Peter Ballantine has started to change the way training is provided, so that he can respond to local needs. Before 2008 there were no authorised preachers in Milton Keynes Deanery. By the end of 2008 there were over a dozen!
Local Shared Ministry: An ecumenical project group was set up in January 2007 to look at the model of ministry known as Local Shared Ministry, Mutual Ministry or Total Ministry. This group reported at the end of 2007 with the conclusion that the "New Zealand Model" was not appropriate for our context but that a more bottom-up approach could be developed. During 2008 the group refined its ideas and began to expand the conversation in early 2009.
In the meantime the congregation of St Frideswide in Water Eaton have become our first LSM pilot and seem to be growing in depth and numbers. This project was reviewed in October 2008 and there will be "a celebration of a new ministry" at some point in 2009.
Fresh Expressions: A fresh expressions project group was set up in June 2008 to look at the development, support and training of those involved in fresh expressions and pioneer ministry. An away day was held in October 2008 and courses were planned for 2009. Although this was not a direct proposal from the deanery plan this development does reflect the Framework's emphasis on the training and support of lay ministry and the need to engage with the wider community.
Deanery Posts: We started to review our deanery level posts in November 2007. A small group produced the proposal that we should aim for three half-time posts linked to strategy/coordination, mission/enabling and training/nurture. We met with the Bishop, Archdeacon and Parish Development Officer and discovered that we lacked clarity about the vision and values of the deanery. We did, however, decide to use one of our mothballed posts to kick-start further development by setting aside the area dean for ¾ time. This was debated throughout 2008 and finally agreed in January 2009.
These few brief paragraphs are only a summary of the work that has been done by the deanery during the past three years and they represent an incredible amount of work by a number of people. We recognise that similar journeys and processes have taken place in local parishes and we would hope to take note of some of these in our final report.
We are also interested in the way that this process began with issues about deployment and money – and ended with questions about vision and values. This almost seems the wrong way around, although we do note that authors often write the introduction after they have written their book. The next deanery plan must, however, work from vision and values to strategies and tasks – rather than the other way around.
Key Issues
Looking back at the previous deanery plan, and observing the work that has taken place since then, we could say that the next deanery plan must address the following eight issues:
Engagement with the World:
• We must be able to respond to real needs with loving action.
• We must be able to meet people where they are.
Local Churches:
• Each church should be growing in health and depth of discipleship.
• The boundaries between parishes should be appropriate for our mission.
Local Ministry:
• Responsibilities should be shared between lay and ordained people.
• Each church must have a sufficient number of local members who are trained and supported in ministry.
Enabling Leadership:
• We need a sufficient number of professional ministers to support our people and communities.
• Our ministers must have the skills and abilities needed for enabling and supporting lay people.
Effective Use of Buildings:
• Our buildings must be accessible to non-church members.
• We must be able to engage with those who use our buildings.
Relationships
• There should be high quality relationships between Anglicans in Milton Keynes.
• There should be warm and productive relationships with other churches.
Functional Structures:
• Anglican structures and decisions should be clear, transparent and accountable.
• Ecumenical relationships should have positive benefits for Christian witness, discipleship and mission.
Finance:
• Each Church should be paying between 80% and 100% of its cost of ministry.
• Local giving across the deanery must be sufficient to pay our costs.
Questions asked by the Planning Group
The Deanery Strategy Group would like each church, parish or partnership to answer the following four questions. It would be really great if you could send us a response before the next meeting on the 23rd April.
1. How does your church community relate to its local area?
2. How are church members engaged in Christian service in the church and the world?
3. What relationships does your church community have with other churches/Christians?
4. What are your hopes for your church/parish over the next five years?
It would be particularly useful to know if there have been any changes or developments over the past two or three years. Please let us know what has been going on, because your response will help shape our collective journey over the next few years.
Optional Questions for Local Churches
If you have a bit more time available, you could have a go at answering these questions for your church or parish. There are quite a few but they might help you in your thinking – and we would be really interested to know what you discover:
1. How have you been responding to real needs in your local area?
2. How have you been meeting people where they are?
3. How has your church been growing in health and depth of discipleship?
4. Are the boundaries between your parish and those around you appropriate for your mission? If not, what are the issues?
5. How are responsibilities shared between lay and ordained people in your church?
6. What forms of lay ministry do you find helpful in your church?
7. What training and support do the members of your church need for Christian service?
8. What skills and abilities do you think an ordained minister needs to have if a church is to grow?
9. How is your building accessible to non-church members?
10. How do you engage with those who use your building?
11. How do you relate to other Anglicans in Milton Keynes?
12. How do you work with other churches?
13. How have Anglican decisions affected your church?
14. What effect do the ecumenical structures have on your ministry and mission?
15. Do you know how much of your ministry costs are paid through your share contributions? If so, how much?
16. What challenges are you facing in the payment of your parish share?
We hope you have found this document useful and we look forward to the discussions that will take place over the coming year.
The Deanery Strategy Group: Tim Norwood, Paul Bright, Jeremy Trigg, Alison Baird and Toks Dosumu.
3/3/09
At the January 2009 meeting of the Milton Keynes Deanery Synod, a small working group was set up to review our deanery plan and co-ordinate the production of a new one. (See Deanery Strategy Group.) We agreed that the small group would meet four times during the coming year and would ensure that a wider circle of groups and individuals would be included in the process.
Meeting One: 26 February 2009
At this meeting the Strategy Group reviewed the existing documents and discussed the progress of the current deanery plan.
Looking Back: Review of the Previous Deanery Plan
In May 2005 the Deanery of Milton Keynes began a process of consultation and reflection which led to the production of a new Deanery Plan. The process included detailed research, visits to PCCs and an away day. A fairly substantial discussion document was produced which was slowly refined into a twelve page booklet entitled: A Framework for the Future. This was approved by Deanery Synod in June 2006.
The Framework had four key strands which were intended to direct the work of the deanery over the coming years. These were set out as a set of "rules" which would help guide decision-making. There was a general recognition that we were entering a period of transition and change.
The key strands of the Framework were:
1. Sustainability: We decided that every church should pay between 80% and 120% of its ministry costs and that the ability to pay would be used to determine the number of stipendiary clergy in each parish.
2. Ongoing Deanery Development: We decided that it was too early to discuss the possibility of splitting the deanery but that it would be worth looking at "anomalous adjoining areas". We also recommended that final decisions relating to Anglican funded posts should rest with the Deanery Pastoral Committee.
3. Non-Parochial and New Posts: We set out a policy which would define how decisions about non-parochial and new posts should be made and how they should be funded. We were keen that costs should be shared ecumenically and that new posts would only be considered if we managed to reduce our total level of deployment below the maximum set by the Archdeaconry – 18.
4. Encouraging Local Development: We came up with three key ideas which we hoped would help local churches:
a. Supporting Church Development: We offered £500 to each church from our reserves to help pay for external resources, e.g. Natural Church Development or Building Healthy Churches.
b. New Forms of Church and Ministry: We suggested that an ecumenical project group be set up to look at how we support the development of local church ministry.
c. Changing the way buildings are used: We also suggested that an ecumenical project group be set up to look at ways of assessing, developing, mothballing or redeveloping church buildings.
The process of producing the Framework was extremely valuable since it brought people together and helped develop more healthy links and relationships. This seemed to re-energise the deanery and resulted in an increase in creativity and vision.
The impact of the Framework can only be judged by reviewing events over the following three years:
Groupings: The initial discussion document explored a range of potential groupings which were fairly radical and linked churches on the basis of style rather than geography. Although this idea was dropped in the Framework we have seen a growth in creative partnerships over the following few years as Anglican and LEP churches have begun to work more closely with new partners – particularly amongst the independent churches.
Church Development: The offer of £500 per church was not taken up. This may be because those churches that were already pursuing a "healthy churches" agenda didn't need the money. We didn't have the capacity to make this offer in a more proactive way.
Use of Buildings: No ecumenical project group was set up to look at buildings or the way they are used. Since there was no-one available to drive this issue it was forgotten.
Financial Sustainability: Although we set ourselves a clear target in 2006 it was not obvious how this would be achieved. The existence of an LEP Funding Schemes seemed to make it difficult for us to set the direction of future share payments. A great deal of work was done by the Deanery Finance Committee in 2007 to understand, model and predict share payments. We then produced a ten year transition plan with the intention that every church would pay 80% of its cost of ministry by 2013 and that we would collectively pay 100% of our cost of ministry by 2018. A new share policy was agreed in November 2007.
Deployment: We recognised that sustainability would only be achieved if we were willing to face a reduction in our deployment of stipendiary clergy. We followed our own "rules" and applied them to a number of parishes including Bletchley, Woughton, Water Eaton and Watling Valley. In 2005 we had 21.2 stipendiary posts. By 2008 that figure had fallen to 16.2.
Parish Boundaries: Although we were not able to address the issues relating to our boundaries with other deaneries, we did tidy up one of our internal boundaries – between Watling Valley and Calverton. This change was made to give clarity to our work in the new area, usually known as Area 10 and 11.
Lay Ministry: The need for greater empowerment, support and training for lay ministry was recognised as a key issue in the discussions of 2005/6. There has been an explosion of lay ministry over the following three years, particularly in parishes where the number of stipendiary ministers has been reduced. Peter Ballantine has started to change the way training is provided, so that he can respond to local needs. Before 2008 there were no authorised preachers in Milton Keynes Deanery. By the end of 2008 there were over a dozen!
Local Shared Ministry: An ecumenical project group was set up in January 2007 to look at the model of ministry known as Local Shared Ministry, Mutual Ministry or Total Ministry. This group reported at the end of 2007 with the conclusion that the "New Zealand Model" was not appropriate for our context but that a more bottom-up approach could be developed. During 2008 the group refined its ideas and began to expand the conversation in early 2009.
In the meantime the congregation of St Frideswide in Water Eaton have become our first LSM pilot and seem to be growing in depth and numbers. This project was reviewed in October 2008 and there will be "a celebration of a new ministry" at some point in 2009.
Fresh Expressions: A fresh expressions project group was set up in June 2008 to look at the development, support and training of those involved in fresh expressions and pioneer ministry. An away day was held in October 2008 and courses were planned for 2009. Although this was not a direct proposal from the deanery plan this development does reflect the Framework's emphasis on the training and support of lay ministry and the need to engage with the wider community.
Deanery Posts: We started to review our deanery level posts in November 2007. A small group produced the proposal that we should aim for three half-time posts linked to strategy/coordination, mission/enabling and training/nurture. We met with the Bishop, Archdeacon and Parish Development Officer and discovered that we lacked clarity about the vision and values of the deanery. We did, however, decide to use one of our mothballed posts to kick-start further development by setting aside the area dean for ¾ time. This was debated throughout 2008 and finally agreed in January 2009.
These few brief paragraphs are only a summary of the work that has been done by the deanery during the past three years and they represent an incredible amount of work by a number of people. We recognise that similar journeys and processes have taken place in local parishes and we would hope to take note of some of these in our final report.
We are also interested in the way that this process began with issues about deployment and money – and ended with questions about vision and values. This almost seems the wrong way around, although we do note that authors often write the introduction after they have written their book. The next deanery plan must, however, work from vision and values to strategies and tasks – rather than the other way around.
Key Issues
Looking back at the previous deanery plan, and observing the work that has taken place since then, we could say that the next deanery plan must address the following eight issues:
Engagement with the World:
• We must be able to respond to real needs with loving action.
• We must be able to meet people where they are.
Local Churches:
• Each church should be growing in health and depth of discipleship.
• The boundaries between parishes should be appropriate for our mission.
Local Ministry:
• Responsibilities should be shared between lay and ordained people.
• Each church must have a sufficient number of local members who are trained and supported in ministry.
Enabling Leadership:
• We need a sufficient number of professional ministers to support our people and communities.
• Our ministers must have the skills and abilities needed for enabling and supporting lay people.
Effective Use of Buildings:
• Our buildings must be accessible to non-church members.
• We must be able to engage with those who use our buildings.
Relationships
• There should be high quality relationships between Anglicans in Milton Keynes.
• There should be warm and productive relationships with other churches.
Functional Structures:
• Anglican structures and decisions should be clear, transparent and accountable.
• Ecumenical relationships should have positive benefits for Christian witness, discipleship and mission.
Finance:
• Each Church should be paying between 80% and 100% of its cost of ministry.
• Local giving across the deanery must be sufficient to pay our costs.
Questions asked by the Planning Group
The Deanery Strategy Group would like each church, parish or partnership to answer the following four questions. It would be really great if you could send us a response before the next meeting on the 23rd April.
1. How does your church community relate to its local area?
2. How are church members engaged in Christian service in the church and the world?
3. What relationships does your church community have with other churches/Christians?
4. What are your hopes for your church/parish over the next five years?
It would be particularly useful to know if there have been any changes or developments over the past two or three years. Please let us know what has been going on, because your response will help shape our collective journey over the next few years.
Optional Questions for Local Churches
If you have a bit more time available, you could have a go at answering these questions for your church or parish. There are quite a few but they might help you in your thinking – and we would be really interested to know what you discover:
1. How have you been responding to real needs in your local area?
2. How have you been meeting people where they are?
3. How has your church been growing in health and depth of discipleship?
4. Are the boundaries between your parish and those around you appropriate for your mission? If not, what are the issues?
5. How are responsibilities shared between lay and ordained people in your church?
6. What forms of lay ministry do you find helpful in your church?
7. What training and support do the members of your church need for Christian service?
8. What skills and abilities do you think an ordained minister needs to have if a church is to grow?
9. How is your building accessible to non-church members?
10. How do you engage with those who use your building?
11. How do you relate to other Anglicans in Milton Keynes?
12. How do you work with other churches?
13. How have Anglican decisions affected your church?
14. What effect do the ecumenical structures have on your ministry and mission?
15. Do you know how much of your ministry costs are paid through your share contributions? If so, how much?
16. What challenges are you facing in the payment of your parish share?
We hope you have found this document useful and we look forward to the discussions that will take place over the coming year.
The Deanery Strategy Group: Tim Norwood, Paul Bright, Jeremy Trigg, Alison Baird and Toks Dosumu.
3/3/09
Deanery Strategy Group
Deanery Strategy Group
The Work of the Group
At the January 2009 meeting of the Milton Keynes Deanery Synod, a small working group was set up to review our deanery plan and co-ordinate the production of a new one. We agreed that the small group would meet four times during the coming year and would ensure that a wider circle of groups and individuals would be included in the process.
The following dates have been set for meetings:
Meeting One: 26 February 2009- At this meeting the Strategy Group reviewed the existing documents and discussed the progress of the current deanery plan. (See notes of the meeting.)
Deanery Pastoral and Standing Committee: 18 March 2009 – The group will report to DPC and there will be a discussion.
Meeting Two: 23 April 2009 – The group looked at the Diocesan Strategy paper, Living Faith. It concluded that this document could provide the structure for our own...
Deanery Synod: 18 May 2009 – The Strategy Group reported to Deanery Synod and there was a discussion. Further comments are being sought from the wider deanery and our ecumenical partners.
Meeting Three: June 2009 - In the light of feedback from the deanery and our ecumenical partners the Deanery Strategy Group produced a rough draft of a deanery plan. This draft will be circulated to the DPC, DLT and DS members...
Deanery Pastoral and Standing Committee: 1 July 2009 – A rough draft plan will be presented to the DPC and there will be a discussion.
Meeting Four: 7 September 2009- In the light of any responses to our initial document, the group will attempt to finalise the draft and make it ready for Deanery Synod?
Presentation to Deanery Synod: 23 September 2009 – It is hoped that the plan will be approved at this meeting...
It is hoped that the Deanery Plan will become a living document which will be reviewed and rewritten on a regular basis. It would be sensible to form a new Deanery Strategy Group in 2010 to review our progress through the year and consider further development. Deanery planning should become a rolling programme…
The Work of the Group
At the January 2009 meeting of the Milton Keynes Deanery Synod, a small working group was set up to review our deanery plan and co-ordinate the production of a new one. We agreed that the small group would meet four times during the coming year and would ensure that a wider circle of groups and individuals would be included in the process.
The following dates have been set for meetings:
Meeting One: 26 February 2009- At this meeting the Strategy Group reviewed the existing documents and discussed the progress of the current deanery plan. (See notes of the meeting.)
Deanery Pastoral and Standing Committee: 18 March 2009 – The group will report to DPC and there will be a discussion.
Meeting Two: 23 April 2009 – The group looked at the Diocesan Strategy paper, Living Faith. It concluded that this document could provide the structure for our own...
Deanery Synod: 18 May 2009 – The Strategy Group reported to Deanery Synod and there was a discussion. Further comments are being sought from the wider deanery and our ecumenical partners.
Meeting Three: June 2009 - In the light of feedback from the deanery and our ecumenical partners the Deanery Strategy Group produced a rough draft of a deanery plan. This draft will be circulated to the DPC, DLT and DS members...
Deanery Pastoral and Standing Committee: 1 July 2009 – A rough draft plan will be presented to the DPC and there will be a discussion.
Meeting Four: 7 September 2009- In the light of any responses to our initial document, the group will attempt to finalise the draft and make it ready for Deanery Synod?
Presentation to Deanery Synod: 23 September 2009 – It is hoped that the plan will be approved at this meeting...
It is hoped that the Deanery Plan will become a living document which will be reviewed and rewritten on a regular basis. It would be sensible to form a new Deanery Strategy Group in 2010 to review our progress through the year and consider further development. Deanery planning should become a rolling programme…
Monday, 9 February 2009
Deanery Strategy Group
Meeting Dates Set for 2009:
Meeting One: 26 February - Review documents and discuss the progress of the current plan. Moving forward, is there any data which may help us in our discussions? How will we include other people in this discussion?
Deanery Pastoral and Standing Committee: 18 March 2009 - Report to DPC. Discussion.
Meeting Two: 23 April - Look at the Diocesan Strategy paper, Living Faith. Can this help us?
Report to Deanery Synod: 18 May 2009 - We should also ask for comments from the wider deanery and from our ecumenical partners
Meeting Three: 9 June - In the light of feedback from the deanery and our ecumenical partners can we produce the rough draft of a deanery plan? What issues will it deal with? What data should it include? This draft could be circulated to the DPC, DLT and DS members...
Deanery Pastoral and Standing Committee: 1 July 2009 - Rough draft plan presented to the DPC at which there is a discussion.
Meeting Four: 7 September 7 - In the light of any responses to our initial document, can we finalise our draft and make it ready for Deanery Synod?
Presentation to Deanery Synod: 23 September 2009 - Plan approved...
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