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Synod Reports

ALRESFORD DEANERY SYNOD Back to Index Display as PDF file

Minutes of a meeting held on Wednesday 23rd May 2007 at Bramdean Village Hall

Present: Revd. Jonathan Cruickshank (Chair), Barbara Griffiths (Lay Chair), 3 members of the clergy, general synod rep and 21 members of the laity.

  1. The meeting opened with prayer led by Bruce Newson.
  2. Welcome
  3. Apologies: Revd Canon Graham Hendy, Revd Clive Parnell-Hopkinson, Revd Phil Collins, Michael Booth, Bernard Cazenove, Eileen Collins, Erica Cooke, Oliver Davies, Shirley Landell, Shirley Maunder, Theo Mezger, Lord Portsmouth, Lord Temple.
  4. Minutes of the meeting held on 13th February 2007.
    These had been circulated prior to the meeting. It was noted that Harry Verney and Richard Milligan had not received a copy. It was proposed by Bruce Newson and seconded by Chris Cheong that they be approved and signed. All voted in favour.
  5. Matters Arising:
    Joyce Huggett will now be coming to speak on Tuesday, 25th September 2007 at St. John's New Alresford at 7.30pm.
  6. General Synod.

    • John Davies reported that Synod had met twice in the last year, once in London and in York in July, when 650 had attended two debates on human sexuality with the fear that the Anglican Communion could split on this issue between Africa, USA and Europe.
    • In the debate on the upgrading of Trident, the Bishop of Rochester wished it had not happened as Synod seemed ill informed and ineffectual. He quoted Romans 13 ie let the Government do what they do best and the Church do what they do best.
    • Church Schools - exciting action in schools. A school under special measures and under notice of closure was taken on by a new Head Teacher. Under his exciting and inspiring vision the special measures may soon be removed.
    • New regulations on weddings - to increase the range of people who can get married in parishes those who were born in the parish or have some other connection may be included, but when tested this does not ring true.
    • Pastoral Measure concerning how Dioceses are organised. In the future Dioceses may be amalgamated as some were only created as late as 1930. Winchester and Portsmouth are working together and over finances are collaborating with Guildford.
    • Clergy Pensions - has been index-linked but the Church of England is treated as being in the private sector so money has to be raised for clergy pensions. At present this has been funded by the Church Commissioners from its capital but in future this will have to be from the Parish Share. The House of Clergy is meeting in June to discuss this issue.
  7. OUR CALLING UNDER GOD - MISSION AUDIT.

    Revd Phil Collins was unwell so his paper was presented by Barbara Griffiths.
    There are 6 new consultation dates, 4 on the mainland which will update from last years 1 April Conference. These consultations will cover: Mission Audit and the Diocesan Budget for 2008.
    Phil suggested that on Pentecost Sunday 2008 we hold a Deanery Eucharist to celebrate where we have reached as well as sharing good and bad experiences.
    Revd Royston Such pointed out that the invitation on Saturday 11 October stated licensed clergy and did not include beneficed clergy. The Rural Dean believed that the invitation was to all beneficed and licensed clergy and that this was a clerical error.

    Short verbal reports from around the Benefices:

    Bishops Sutton. Dipping into audit designed for church plants, in 3 sections: asking a group to describe differences and whether they are going well or badly. This has started with a preliminary part with community audit.
    Candover Valley people attended taster days concentrating on Growing Healthy Churches. 1 PCC meeting in Autumn just for this. Peter Irwin-Clarke will be talking to the Benefice next month.
    Farleigh Benefice moving to 1 complete benefice - fellowship committee, meeting after services to bring people together starting with a mass picnic. Aiming to bring 4 churches together, subdividing PCCs so 1 Churchwarden and one treasurer for each one and 1 churchwarden on the central PCC.
    Itchen Valley Mission committee formed before mission audit - reflecting on what they are already doing. Itchen Abbas & Easton with larger congregations are contemplating significant structural changes internally. 4 parishes but working towards One parish One PCC. There is money in reserves in some churches and a vociferous minority. Hoping to make resources to be used by the wider community. Running a free Minibus service for 6 months to take people to services. Half the spaces have been taken up.
    Arle Benefice 2 years ago almost did an audit- changed structures - homing in on particular area. Community team reaching out into Alresford itself - meeting Town Council and Alresford as a whole. After two years now reviewing teams. By joining Old Alresford and Bighton etc., they will be bigger from 1 June. Bighton paddling to keep up during interregnum and feeling the loss of Old Alresford Place. Several set backs, no replies to house for duty priest. Working together in mission has yet to be started.
    Dummer has a younger congregation, Cliddesden is bigger but not as active. House for Duty but a disincentive to clergy. 2 readers in training.
    Upper Itchen Benefice Council started 4 years ago and working together - 2 sub committees, One looking at mission audit starting very soon. Alongside another is looking at single parish benefice. Recently acquired a new reader (3 readers) - a positive way forward.

    The Rural Dean emphasised the need to grown our own resources in the absence of other denominations outside Alresford. The Standing Committee will investigate the suggestions of a benefice gathering, either an open air Deanery Eucharist or a Saturday morning event to raise money.
  8. Reports

    1. Chairmans
      1. We are a very small deanery and from the Archdeacons Visitation there may be only 3 deaneries in the Northern Area over the next 2 years. The Northern Area Pastoral Committee encouraged Alresford Deanery Synod to have a joint meeting with Alton Deanery Synod in 2008. Northern Area Pastoral Committee encouraged to make available to all Deanery Synod members a copy of the discussion document: The Deanery - Fit for Purpose? prepared by the Bishops staff. Barbara Griffiths would copy it and also send it out by email.
      2. New Synod Secretary for 2008. Erica is not standing again. Any suggestions for volunteers to the Standing Committee. It was suggested that the secretary be paid £10 per hour.
      3. Lambeth Conference of Bishops occurs every 10 years at Canterbury. Bishops from all parts of the Anglican Communion and each Deanery is expected to host a Bishop and it is hoped that this will be Bishop Charles from Lango Diocese. Further details to follow.
    2. Deanery Pastoral Committee
      The Report of the meeting on 17 April 2007 was agreed.
    3. Lango
      The money coming in from parishes was approx £1800 to send this year. Some parishes might still send to Barbara.
    4. Deanery Finance.
      The Rural Dean presented a cheque for £6243 from Itchen Abbas PCC. Harry Verney, the new Deanery Finance reported on the current situation regarding Parish Share payments.
      8 parishes up to date or in advance. 6 parishes between 2- 4 months late and 4 parishes 2-3 months behind. Please encourage treasurers. This represents over the Diocese a bank loan of £60,000 in lost interest equivalent to 1½ clergy or a ¾% rise in quota.
      At Diocesan Synod we were told as a diocese we are not good at the amount given by average person - £8 per year. Winchester is 15th in list at £8.53 per person. Guildford £12.21. People in pew do not give enough money. Church commissioners pay nothing to diocesan administration.
      What sort of church do we want and what are we prepared to pay for? The church will have to change in the next 10 years.
      David Keighley resented the presentation as some Parishes have difficulty and why shouldn't the Diocese trim their need to the amount of funds available.
  9. A.O.B.

    • Gerry Stacey advertised River Aid on 5.30 1st July behind Easton Church, part of the proceeds to Christian Aid.
    • At St. Mary's Old Alresford at 7.00pm Jazz at Vespers tickets £10
    • Church Fete Dummer Sunday 10 June at 2.30.
  10. Date of Next Meeting:
    NB New Date Thursday 11 October 2007 Dummer Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.30pm with the Grace

Judy Bishop
1 June 2007