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Synod Reports

DEANERY PASTORAL COMMITTEE Back to Index Display as PDF file

Minutes of meeting held on 3rd July 2007

Present: Rev Jonathan Cruickshank, Rural Dean (chairman), Barbara Griffiths (Lay Chairman) Rev David Keighley, Rev Graham Hendy, Rev Tana Riviere, Eileen Collins (Wield), Tony Gaster (Itchen Valley)

  1. Prayers
  2. Apologies for absence were received from Rev Phil Collins; Rev Royston Such, Rev Clive Parnell-Hopkinson; Alan Joly (Bishops Sutton)
  3. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved. Proposed by David Keighley and seconded by Barbara Griffiths.
  4. Matters Arising
    • Regarding the Candover Valley it was confirmed that the advice noted by Synod had been sent to Church House but there had been no feed back. No information form the Diocesan Pastoral Committee was available, nor was Simon Baker. It was expected that +Michael would make a decision soon. David Keigley confirmed that the Candovers do not want another pastoral scheme and hoped progress could be made now by consent.
    • It was noted that Rev Norman Boakes was moving to New Alresford for a full time diocesan post
  5. The main agenda item was a discussion of the document "The Deanery - fit for purpose?". It was noted that this document called for feed back by 16th October but Synod and PCCs would probably not have an opportunity to review this in the time given. The meeting felt that a distinction should be made between the Deanery Synod and the Deanery itself. It was agreed that the Deanery Synod seemed to provide little value and generally was not well attended, therefore perhaps not a good reflection of Deanery opinions. The proposal was therefore that Deanery Synod could be disbanded. The Deanery itself needed to continue act as a chapter with clergy, Readers and other lay ministers being involved as needed.

    It was noted there was a suggestion to reduce the number of Deaneries. This was considered a bad idea as it would reduce the local element. It was clear there were obvious differences in rural deaneries covering a wide geographic area but with few clergy when compared with city deaneries. Further the meeting felt that issues such as finance and parish share were better handled by PCC treasurers and churchwardens. Such discussions could be done directly with those responsible at Church House.

    It was agreed that Jonathan Cruickshank and Barbara Griffiths should represent these views to the diocese.
  6. No date was set for the next meeting