110316 toolkit formatted - home - diocese of chichester and mission action planning for 2011-2020...

Diocese of Chichester of 45

TOOLKIT CONTENTS

From the Bishops and Senior staff ............................................................................................3 Section A: Values to uphold during the MAP process ...............................................................5 Section B: Prayer materials for use at MAP discussions............................................................7 Section C: Process and best practice......................................................................................11 Section D: Guidelines for ministerial deployment .................................................................13 Section E: Some example plans .............................................................................................17 Section F: Resources and who to contact for help ..................................................................23 Appendix 1. Criteria for Parish self assessment.......................................................................27 Appendix 2. Ideas for collaboration.......................................................................................31 Appendix 3: Blank tables.......................................................................................................35 Appendix 4: Diocesan Statistics.............................................................................................39 Appendix 5: Deanery Attendance Statistics ............................................................................41 Appendix 6: Preliminary Parish Categorisations .....................................................................43 Appendix 7: Youth consultation ............................................................................................45


From the Bishops and Senior Staff

Dear Brothers and Sisters

We want to commend this Toolkit for use by clusters and deaneries as you think about pastoral provision and mission action planning for 2011-2020

Our hope is that parish, cluster and deanery MAPS together with the diocesan strategic plan that will emerge from it will form an integrated whole, with each level of church life supporting and enabling the other for the sake of effective mission.

The backdrop as you will know is the national reduction of stipendiary clergy numbers due to a bulge in retirements. This has significant implications for us on the number of stipendiary clergy available. It would be grossly unfair were we to hog a disproportionate number in the south east just because we can afford them. Similarly, we do need to look at the deployment in our own Diocese as even amongst us there are huge variations in the number of people served by each stipendiary.

We are asking you to take a radical approach as you think about clergy deployment and the releasing of lay ministry. For example, you are asked what stipendiary posts your deanery needs, to sustain the total ministry it plans (for 2011-2020); the number of those stipendiary posts that need to be held by ordained clergy; whether that amounts to more than your Deanery can afford; whether there is an alternative pattern of ministry you can propose; and whether you wish to make a case to the Diocesan Board of Finance for subsidy as a “mission deanery” The toolkit gives some resources to enable you to make firm, creative proposals for the deployment of stipendiary posts and church buildings in your deanery.

We also encourage you to propose changes you may consider appropriate to current benefice or deanery boundaries. The initial work done by the Pastoral Review, Decision Making and Buildings group is designed to help and resource you in this process. In some cases Deanery boundaries are historic artefacts that provide little or no coherence in shared mission projects. These may be energised more effectively by groups of parishes forming clusters as indeed some deaneries have begun to do already. In some cases these clusters may cross existing deanery or even diocesan boundaries. We would not wish you to be restricted in your thinking by lines on maps if they do not currently serve a purpose. Be driven by the mission imperative and over time the legal realities can catch up if they need to!

As Bishop John has said for many years, the days when we can expect each parish to have its own resident priest have long gone. We need to escape from a narrow parochialism that resists collaboration and refuses to give permission for new experimental ministry. A reduction in stipendiary posts does not mean a reduction in ministry or our commitment to all the people of Sussex. What it does mean is that we have to do that ministry differently, tapping into some of the unused gifts amongst our congregations and providing training and equipping for ministry at every level within the church.

A number of Deaneries are some way along in their thinking about deployment and all we are asking you to do is keep these proposals under review in the light of changing circumstances. We are not asking you to engage in a completely new process. We as a senior staff are also giving you the commitment to give due attention to your proposals when it comes to filling vacancies.

We are asking you to take a longer term view of deployment so that these things are done strategically rather than driven by the expediency of available vacancies. As a Diocesan family we will need to accept that historic resources may be needed to fund this process as we make the transition to sustainability.


Our overall goal through the grace of God is to work with His Spirit in building a growing church with sustainable ministry and a proper sense of mutual accountability and responsibility.

To summarise then, this is what we are asking you to do:

1. For each Deanery (and/ or cluster) to produce a MAP that engages amongst other things with the issue of human resources, lay and ordained, stipendiary and non-stipendiary, for each Deanery.

2. We will also be asking individual parishes to revisit their MAPs and that these be integrated with the wider cluster or deanery MAP

The central services of the Diocese will provide:

1. Facilitators for parish, cluster and deanery MAPs if requested 2. This Deanery toolkit and a revised advice note for individual parish MAPs early in

2011.

Please do not hesitate to contact Rev. Richard Jackson at any time if you have particular comments or queries to make about the MAP process. We have asked Richard to manage the process on behalf of the senior staff team,

We continue to thank God for our partnership in ministry and to pray God’s rich blessing upon your parish, cluster and deanery in its mission.

With every blessing

Bishop John, Mark and Wallace

Archdeacon Roger, Douglas and Philip


Section A: Values to uphold during the MAP process

1. Prayer

The church is not a business or secular organisation. Mission to our culture is hard and cannot be done without God’s resources. Without prayerful discernment and dependent faith this exercise will prove to be time consuming but ultimately unfruitful. Mere organisational sophistication will not encourage church growth and effective mission.

Please surround the process in prayer in your Deanery and watch out for various prayer events throughout the Diocese. You may find the simple office provided a help when you gather together for discussions.

2. Joint ownership

All ages, traditions and parishes should contribute and have a voice. Since young people are seriously underrepresented in a lot of our parishes, and certainly in the Diocesan decision making processes, we thought it would be good to let young people have their say. Unfortunately, the intended meeting in early December was cancelled because of the snow. We will let you have the results of the re-scheduled meeting as soon as we have it.

3. Creative thinking and imagination

For example, if a particular group is seriously underrepresented in the worshipping communities of a cluster or deanery consider a ‘fresh expression’ of church in a social network. A genuine fresh expression is something that grows out of these sorts of networks of relationships. Don’t be fixated on Sunday worship as the only focus of belonging and certainly don’t be fixated on meeting on a Sunday morning. If that is all you can do you will automatically be excluding many people whose lifestyle rules out Sunday attendance.

4. Outward looking and acting in mission

Don’t start with the question, ”How can we get more people to come to church?” but with the more primary questions:

“How can we encourage more people to become followers of Jesus?”

“How can we show the love of Christ more effectively in our community?”

“How is our corporate life facilitating the formation of Christ’s likeness in our worshipping communities?”

5. Focus on meeting a few key challenges

With specific agreed actions. The summary form allows the setting of S.M.A.R.T. goals

S pecific What exactly are we going to do? M easurable How will we know whether we’ve been successful? A achievable Is it realistic given our resources of time, money and people? R esourced What help might we need to realise the goal and who is going to lead it? T imely When will we have done it?

Whilst this is realistic don’t let what you think might be possible in human terms override the possibility that God may be calling you to dream dreams and think big. He has a habit of providing the resources to do the things he calls us to even if they seem impossible to us.

6. Subsidiarity

Be clear where the best place or network is to address the issues you want to address. Bear in mind that people only have a certain reserve of relational energy and time. If you create


structures that require people to be meaningfully present at a number of different levels of belonging you will find that one or more levels will suffer. It is increasingly difficult as you circle out from parish based activities to generate enthusiasm. Belonging is much more likely to be fostered by meaningful and useful shared activity that worthy exhortations to play a part in a wider network. Focus on issues best addressed at Deanery, cluster or cross benefice level, leaving others to be tackled appropriately at diocesan, benefice or parish levels.

7. Partnership

a. With Diocesan resources

b. With ecumenical partners

c. With church and secular agencies

The task of mission is huge and it would be foolish to re-invent the wheel or start new initiatives that are currently undertaken by others. Our church has a mission to the whole nation but sometimes we may need to ask the question whether we should minister in a particular area if one of our ecumenical partners is already active and effective there before us.


Section B: Prayer materials for use at MAP discussions

PRAYERS FOR THE CHURCH’S MISSION

GATHERING:

Leader: As we follow the way of Christ, we affirm the presence of God among us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God calls us to share in worship. Jesus said, where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.

All: Jesus, you are the Way: guide us on our journey.

Leader: God calls us to share in prayer. Jesus said, remain in me, and I remain in you.


Leader: God calls us to share the scriptures. Jesus met his disciples on the road and opened the scriptures to them.


Leader: God calls us to share in communion. Jesus said, do this in remembrance of me.


Leader: God calls us to share in service. Jesus said, as you do it for the least of these, you do it for me.


Leader: God calls us to share the good news. Jesus said, go and make disciples of all nations.

All: Jesus, you are the Way: guide us on our journey. Faithful one, whose word is life: come with saving power to free our praise, inspire our prayer and shape the life of your Church for the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


SUGGESTED READINGS

Ecclesiastes 3: 1- 15

John 15: 1-5, 8-9

There is a short reflection on the scripture which has been read.

Silence is kept.

Leader: Lord Jesus, for the times that we have failed to hear your truth, Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy. Lord Jesus, for the times when we have turned away from you and have wasted our time and energy, Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Lord Jesus for the times when we have chosen our own path and not yours, Lord, have mercy.

Lord. Have mercy.

Leader: May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This short verse is sung through three times:

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Break me, melt me, mould me, fill me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Leader: In the power of the Spirit, and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.

Intercessory prayer is offered. This form may be used.

That the Lord will be with us as we open ourselves anew to his inspiration and guidance. (silence)

Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

That the Lord will increase our faith and trust. (silence) Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

That the Lord will keep us strong and imaginative in our discipleship. (silence) Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

That we may use to the Lord’s glory the talents that he has given to us. (silence) Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

That the Lord will be the strength of those who are sick or distressed or in trouble [mention any who need our prayers] (silence) Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.


That we may learn from the faith and example of the saints, and especially Saint Richard of Chichester we pray:

Thanks be to thee, O Lord Jesus Christ for all the benefits which thou hast given us, For all the pains and insults which thou hast borne for us: O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, may we know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly and follow thee more nearly. Amen.

All join in saying The Lord’s Prayer.

This hymn may be sung or said:

O Jesus, I have promised To serve Thee to the end; Be Thou forever near me, My Master and my Friend; I shall not fear the battle If Thou art by my side, Nor wander from the pathway If Thou wilt be my Guide.

Oh, let me hear Thee speaking, In accents clear and still, Above the storms of passion, The murmurs of self-will; Oh. speak to reassure me, To hasten, or control; Oh, speak, and make me listen, Thou Guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, Thou hast promised To all who follow Thee That where Thou art in glory There shall Thy servant be; And Jesus, I have promised To serve Thee to the end; Oh, give me grace to follow, My Master and my Friend.

Oh, let me see Thy footmarks, And in them plant mine own; My hope to follow duly Is in Thy strength alone. Oh, guide me, call me, draw me, Uphold me to the end; And then to rest receive me, My Saviour and my Friend.

CONCLUSION

Glory to God Whose power at work among us, can do infinitely more than all we can ask or conceive: To him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever.

Amen.


Section C: Process and best practice

Given the sensitive nature of some of the proposals you may wish to make there will be a delicate balance to be drawn between transparency of process and the confidentiality that allows thinking outside the box. Suggestions communicated in the public arena as simple discussion points have a nasty habit of evolving in peoples’ minds into concrete proposals. You will then spend time mopping fevered brows and mollifying resistance to things that were never seriously suggested in the first place.

Proposals for sharing mission projects across a Deanery, Group Ministry or cluster are likely to be less controversial than suggestions about reducing numbers of stipendiary clergy.

It is up to each Deanery to decide the best process for agreeing their MAP and pastoral deployment proposals. For example, one of the following may suit your deanery:

1. Form a Steering Group drawn from laity and clergy to propose pastoral deployment and MAP objectives to Deanery Synod for their approval.

2. Steering Group proposes MAP objectives to PCCs, who submit comments/ edits, thence to Deanery Synod.

3. PCCs invited to make proposals to Steering Group, thence to Deanery Synod.

4. Open Synod (or Synod + churchwardens): MAP vision day.

To make the process as transparent as possible please circulate the guidelines for ministerial deployment and criteria for parish categorisation so at least folk can be familiar with the criteria. It might also be helpful to circulate wider statistics for the Diocese: growth and decline and ratio of stipendiary to population. The latter statistic may be helpful for low population parishes currently served by stipendiaries so they can see the current inequity of distribution.

It will be helpful if the final report and recommendations can be produced in the standard table enclosed with the toolkit.

Once agreed by Deanery Synod there will be opportunity to discuss the proposals with area Bishops and Archdeacons. Please keep the Archdeacons appraised of where you are in the process and feel free to informally discuss any proposals with them.


Section D: Guidelines for ministerial deployment

1. Health and viability review classification

Parishes were put in categories for a number of different reasons, e.g. category 4 because the area served was very deprived and %PMC contribution is <65%. Significant social need and a high population might expect the maintenance of a stipendiary and receipt of a subsidy from other parishes or Diocesan investment income.

Alternatively a category 4 may have no coherent mission strategy, very limited community involvement and little activity beyond Sunday worship. However the potential with effective leadership and training may be substantial. Measures like the % of the population in church against averages for a similar demographic will be helpful to determine this. GIS and M&R statistics* are also available to help. These will give some indication of potential yet to be realised in terms of growth.

The goal of these categories was not to energise a vigorous attempt by parishes to be re-classified but to challenge folk to look seriously at their strengths and weaknesses. Being honest about weaknesses is a first step to identifying what help is needed from others, not an invitation to criticism.

2. Ratio of population to stipendiary

This is clearly important but becoming less so as the number of occasional office opportunities declines and society grows more secular. The local church is the community from which effective mission flows. So, for example, a church or fresh expression that has a substantial gathered congregation from a wide area would need to maintain a stipendiary, especially if engaged in effective mission. If a congregation is greater than 120, and paying 100%PMC it should probably have a full time stipendiary irrespective of population served.

At the end of 2009 the Diocesan ratio of stipendiary equivalents to population was about 1:4825 (314 stipendiary equivalents if all vacant posts were filled). Realistically, with the reductions in stipendiary availability that are coming and following national guidelines that will have to go up to about 1:5500 by 2014 and to 1:6200 by 2020. That represents total stipendiary equivalent posts of 275 in 2014 (assuming 25 vacancies) and 245 (again assuming 25 vacancies) by 2020. These figures are the average across the whole Diocese.

Rural areas will inevitably have ratios substantially less than this. If one was to make the decision purely on the basis of population you would end up with ludicrous multi-parish benefices. Our three smallest Deaneries, Westbourne, Petworth and Midhurst each have total Deanery populations not that much larger than some of our single urban benefices! However, it is possible to envisage a stipendiary with a greater oversight role in a multi parish benefice with NSMs, House For Duty and Readers taking more responsibility for individual congregations.

The key decisions will need to be made in urban settings where a ratio of 1:9000 is a more realistic diocesan target. This has implications for areas where there are substantial numbers of buildings. Currently some urban areas need more clergy on that basis and others still have some way to go in reducing provision.

* GIS – Geographical Information System is available through the Diocesan website and gives a wealth of demographic information on population, economic statistics etc.

M & R statistics. These are a comprehensive database of growth and decline in all the parishes and benefices in the Diocese from 2000-2009 based on the mission return forms. Copies have been given to all Rural Deans.


Consideration should also be given to the placing of the church building relative to population. It may be that a parish has a significant population within its boundary. However, these folk may find their logical focus of belonging is not centred on the area served by the church. They may shop in one direction, work in another and have schools elsewhere. This population may have grown up many centuries after the church was built.

3. Genuine ecumenical collaboration

For example an area is served by an Anglican congregation <40 in attendance, who are mainly elderly but 100yds down the road is a thriving Baptist Church with significant community impact. The question is whether to maintain that congregation or encourage them to join another local one and close the building or offer it to another denomination or fresh expression.

4. Unreached groups

In thinking about deployment please don’t restrict yourself to traditional parish + priest models. If there are significant unreached areas either geographic or demographic consider spending some of the total budget for ministerial deployment here in addition to (or instead of) more conventional models of ministry.

5. Financial questions

If a parish is not able (now and very unlikely in the future) to support a full time stipendiary then consider whether a full time stipendiary should be replaced at the next vacancy.

Exceptions

a. Area of deprivation and mission need where it would be entirely legitimate for the rest of the Diocese to subsidise.

b. It may be that a wealthy area with a low population can afford a stipendiary, either because of significant giving by a few individuals or more generally. Careful consideration needs to be given to the replacement of a full time stipendiary at next vacancy if the parish population is less than 2500 (single parish benefice), taking account of remarks above about congregation size >120

c. Is there a likely strategic need? For example the current congregation may be at a low ebb but significant building work is planned in the vicinity in the near or medium term.

6. Buildings questions

Careful thought needs to be given to the implications of the loss of a stipendiary priest.

a. The congregation could be encouraged to mark the closure of a particular phase of ministry and to join other local congregations. The building could then be disposed of appropriately or made available to the wider deanery as a resource for specific ministry projects. This may be an option in an urban area where there is a surplus of church buildings.

b. Ministry could be maintained in that congregation by the deployment of a part time or house for duty priest, or even a Reader overseen by a stipendiary. Careful thought needs to be given to the training needs of the congregation and its leadership and oversight to ensure that ministry continues or is enhanced.

c. What is the state of the building and plant? A building that has been neglected for several years and requires significant expenditure to render it fit for purpose may be decisive to consider closure. Conversely a site with a good church hall, rooms and parking may be worth investment.


Summary Action Points

To re-iterate, this is not an invitation to repeat work already done in many deaneries on the review process. We know that a number are considerably well along the road in their thinking and already have concrete proposals that have been accepted by their Synod and approved by Bishops and Archdeacons. It may be that this toolkit suggests areas for further work. However, bearing in mind the reductions in available stipendiary clergy it is likely that all Deaneries will need to do some more work on their stipendiary clergy provision, albeit a tinkering in some cases.

Here is the summary of the actions requested.

1. Decide on the best process to conduct the review (Section C)

2. Consider how you will surround the process with prayer as a Deanery.

3. Contact the Archdeacon to appraise him of process and progress.

4. Use the suggested criteria to work out the affordable stipendiary equivalents you feel you need for your Deanery. If that is less than you can afford prepare the case for subsidy by other Deaneries or Diocesan reserves/ investment income.

5. Work out the mission action plan that will allow you to do the same ministry but with alternative resources drawn from laity or other lay ministers

6. Decide (if appropriate or realistic) on shared mission or training projects within the Deanery or with other clusters in neighbouring deaneries.

7. In the medium to long term consider whether any changes are needed to existing boundaries (parish, deanery or even diocese) that will facilitate those mission objectives


Diocese of Chichester Page 17 of 45

Section E: Some example plans

Westborough and Lewington Deanery (example) Mission action Plan 2011 – 2020 SECTION A: Mission Projects By end of 2011 By end 2014 By end 2020 Project 1: Pastoral visitors training Project 1 Specific Project Aim To train lay teams of

pastoral visitors to work alongside parish clergy

Initial training as an annual event with further training in specific areas e.g. bereavement

ongoing

Project 1 Measurement Criteria Up to 4 people per parish Annual event Project 1 Lead Responsibility Rev. P.Care To pass on to Reader Y Project 1 Cost to Deanery Budget Minimal –(photocopying) minimal minimal Project 2 Lay Leader training Project 2 Specific Project Aim To run CPAS growing leaders course in

Deanery clusters

Project 2 Measurement Criteria One course per year Project 2 Lead Responsibility Rev. L.Eader Project 2 Cost to Deanery Budget £100, materials and photocopying Project 3 Youth Ministry Project 3 Specific Project Aim To have a placement student for national

youth and theology degree in three parishes in the Deanery

Project 3 Measurement Criteria Placement students Project 3 Lead Responsibility Youth worker of Parish Z to act as

supervisor and a mentor Project 3Cost to Deanery Budget Accommodation costs plus expenses Project 4 Deanery Retreat and Training Centre Project 4 Specific Project Aim Use redundant church and convert Project 4 Measurement Criteria Centre up and running Project 4 Lead Responsibility Working group appointed by Synod Project 4 Cost to Deanery Budget £250,000 conversion costs net of grants

plus ongoing maintenance offset by rentals



Westborough and Lewington Deanery (example) Mission Action Plan 2011 – 2020

SECTION B: Church Buildings By end 2011 By end 2014 By 2020 Please list A: Church B: Proposal C: Purpose/ reason -to be submitted for DAC approval

A. Westwater church B. Closure and sale of land C. Substantial expenditure

required and now far from population

1. Re-order for a complimentary additional use (e.g. meeting space for the wider community etc.)

2. Re-deploy for an alternative replacement use (e.g. by a youth congregation/Fresh Expression etc.)

St. Leopolds. Elderly congregation <20 USA. At next vacancy offer to adjacent parish for their F/X

St. Swithuns, It Smaller church of Benefice To become Deanery training centre

3. Recommend for closure Westwater Church (Victorian, in

need of substantial expenditure) Sale for development

4. New Build For Westwater parish new

development of 5000 homes. Multiple use buildling.

5. Estimated Cost to Deanery (& % Parish/ Deanery expense)

£0 £250,000 Sale of old church and £100k from Deanery



Westborough and Lewington Deanery (Example) Mission Action Plan 2011 – 2020

SECTION C: Boundary Changes By end 2011 By end 2014 By end 2020 Please list:

a. Parishes concerned b. Proposal c. Purpose/ reason

-to be submitted for DAC approval

1. To Diocesan Boundary Parish of Underwood only parish in

Sussex in Rochester Diocese to come back into Diocese. Same school catchment as existing Deanery

2. To Deanery Boundary Deanery Boundary to move to

incorporate Parish Etcham Green (Horfield Deanery) and Plattfield (Mudhum Deanery) to move into Westfield – same school catchment area

3. To Benefice Boundary Underwood currently in a joint

benefice. Other parish to remain in Rochester and form join benefice there

4. To Parish Boundary Closure of St. Leopold’s. Parish to be

split in 3 with each to adjacent parishes



Westborough and Lewington Deanery (Example) Mission Action Plan 2011-2020

SECTION D: Pastoral provision Dates are advisory and could proceed earlier depending on vacancies Current Ministerial Posts (population) By end 2011 -1 stipendiary By end 2014 -2 stipendiaries By end 2020

-3 stipendiaries Stipendiary Clergy at end of 2010 1. Team Rector of H (36.000) 2. Team Vicar of H 3. Team Vicar of H 4. Team Vicar of H 5. Team Vicar of H Post to HFD 6. Vicar of LB (1/2) and Rural Officer (1/2) (1000) ½ Rural Officer to become

Deanery trainer 7. Vicar of W (1800) 8. Vicar of R & C (2600) C to be made redundant or NSM to

serve from H. R to go with W (3800)

9. Vicar of Sl & It (3600) It. to close and be made redundant. Sl to HFD

10. Vicar of B (7500) 11. Vicar of WG and PG (3200) To combine with S (currently

HFD) (4000)

10. Vicar of R (3200) Combine with U from Diocese of Rochester (5600)

12. Vicar of Ro (16,000) 13. Vicar of So (11,000) Stipendiary assistant clergy at end 2010 1. Curate of H Stipendiary Posts 14.5 13.5 12.5 11.5 Cost to Parish share (current costs) 947,000 885,000 823,000 792,000 (cost of Rural

officer now borne by Deanery



Westborough and Lewington Deanery (Example) Mission Action Plan 2011-2020

Other licenced Posts at end 2010 By end 2011 By end 2014 By end 2020 1. Youth worker of H To manage placement

students in parishes U, Sl and W. build team to serve The Glebe comprehensive

2. Youth worker of R 3. Youth worker of B Non-Stipendiary Clergy 1. HFD vicar of S (800) To HFD Team Vicar of H 2. HFD vicar of N (2000) 3. NSM Parish of H 4. NSM Deacon of Ro 5. NSM priest to So 6. NSM priest to Ro Total active retired Clergy: 4 4 5 6 Total Active Readers: 11 9 (retirements) 11 (new licencees) 12 (new licencees –retirees) Total Ecumenical Clergy: 12 (8 in H, 4 elsewhere) 10 8 6 Deanery needs to be looking to encourage vocations to allow ministry to expand Deanery needs 6 new Readers to build over and above retirements and 2 new NSM priests.


Section F: Resources and who to contact for help

Process facilitators, Parish or Deanery Quiet days, Parish MAP’s

Rev Richard Jackson, [email protected]

07540 330 409, 01273 425686

Training, Ministry Development, Parish visiting, Ministry in the Parish, Growth in discipleship

Joy Gilliver, [email protected]

01273 425693

Training in providing All Age Worship, Sunday school, making worship more child friendly

Advice on employing youth and children’s workers, running after school clubs and open youth provision, Access to funding specifically for youth projects

Ali Campbell, [email protected]

01273 425684

Fund raising for specific projects, disability access, environmental issues, community projects

Barry North, [email protected]

01273 425692

General Parish fund raising

John Sherlock, [email protected]

01273 425685

Diocesan Mission Fund

Captain Gordon Banks, [email protected]

01273 425686

Work with schools

Mike Wilson, [email protected]

01273 425687

Buildings and Informal buildings advice

Beth Hale, [email protected]

01273 425690

mailto:[email protected]









Appendices

Appendix 1. Criteria for Parish self assessment.......................................................................27 Appendix 2. Ideas for collaboration.......................................................................................31 Appendix 3: Blank tables.......................................................................................................35 Appendix 4: Diocesan Statistics.............................................................................................39 Appendix 5: Deanery Attendance Statistics ............................................................................41 Appendix 6: Preliminary Parish Categorisations .....................................................................43 Appendix 7: Youth consultation ............................................................................................45


Appendix 1. Criteria for Parish self assessment

The Pastoral Provision working group has done the best they can with the data available and consultation with Rural Deans to come up with a fair categorisation of parishes. Inevitably it is an inexact science!

To avoid a lengthy appeals procedure the criteria have been systematised below to allow parishes to look at their categorisation if they wish to query it. You can score yourself according to the criteria and ascertain your category.

The following four criteria were used:

1. Growth and decline in membership

This is of course a difficult number to measure. We know that over the last few years the regularity of church going has declined even amongst the most committed.

The most accurate figure as a snapshot is the October count which all parishes record (or should) every year. This measures not just attendance on the four or five Sundays in October but also involvement in worship activities throughout the week. The larger the sample the more accurate this is. However, it may not be the best measure of trends in parish attendance. A big baptism or a holiday at either end of the counting period may give a distorted figure of what is going on in a parish. A better figure for analysing trends (assuming it was collected accurately) would be the usual Sunday or weekly attendance. This is the average of every Sunday/ week in the year not including major festivals like Christmas and Easter. This figure should also include children and young people since much of our work with them happens outside Sunday services. However to be included it would have to be an activity with a spiritual purpose where attendance was voluntary. A school assembly would not count; a voluntary after school club with worship, craft and teaching activities would.

Unfortunately, these figures are very unreliable when drawn from the mission return forms and are in many cases unusable. For that reason the working group used the October count figures, whilst recognising their limitations, and thus some of the categorisations will have been swung by inaccurate statistics. We do hope that parishes can be encouraged to collect figures more consistently in the future.

Electoral Roll is a very poor measure of committed membership and was not therefore taken into account.

Score (5 year rolling average figures )

Adult USA* + midweek attendance growing 30

Adult USA + midweek attendance stable 15

Adult USA + midweek attendance declining 0

Correction for children and young people (irrespective of adult changes)

<16 USA + midweek growing 30

<16 USA + midweek stable 15

<16 USA + midweek declining 0

no children or young people regularly reached -15


2. MAPs

Does the Parish have a MAP with S.M.A.R.T* goals? Is the MAP an integral part of the life of the Parish and regularly reviewed in the PCC? Parishes should remember that if registered as a charity some sort of goal setting and review is legal requirement and should be reported at the AGM. Is the Parish specifically addressing areas of weakness and seeking to deploy resources, both people and finance, on mission over and above maintenance?

Score

SMART MAP* 30

Non SMART MAP (or MAP only partially used) 15

No MAP (or MAP not used) 0

The Mission Action Plan need not use the (A.B.C.) criteria suggested for Caritas in 2008 but it does need to have some sort of clear objectives and criteria by which these can be measured.

3. Progress towards paying its own ministry costs?

Different Deaneries assess the required contribution differently. For the purposes of this exercise use the figures for 100% of PMC assessed by the Deanery Treasurer.

However, the ‘cost’ to a Parish of 100% PMC varies hugely. In a larger, wealthy church a contribution that pays total ministry costs may be a much smaller proportion of their total income than a smaller congregation who will be making significant sacrifices to achieve it.

It is also important to give credit to churches that are making significant increases in their contributions year on year.

Score % of PMC*

100% or greater 30

85 -100% 15

65-85 5

<65% 0

Correction factors

%increase promised

Increase by 10%+ 10

Increase between 5-10% 5

No Change (but real increase!) 0

Corrections for churches making 100% or more of their PMC

PMC >60% of income 10

PMC 40-60% of income 0

PMC <40% of income -20

*USA: Usual Sunday attendance; MAP: Mission Action Plan, S.M.A.R.T. goals: specific, measurable, achievable, resourced, timed; PMC: Parish ministry cost i.e. the cost of a full time stipendiary to the Parish (approx £60,000 in 2011)


4. Contribution to wider church and community and evangelistic effectiveness (as marked by your Rural Dean)

Missionary support, ecumenical collaboration: sharing resources with other Churches e.g. Readers, music teams, healing ministry

Evangelistic endeavour – are we reaching people with the gospel? When people come to our church, (for a family service / all age special event) is Jesus mentioned? Once we have made contact with people, are there additional activities / outreach initiatives to plug them into?

Are we involved in local schools?” (Assemblies / lunch time clubs / governorship) regardless of whether that school is a C of E school. If children and young people are not involved and not coming, the church has to go to where they are.

Score (points to be added to scores in sections 1-3)

10 points for particular non financial contributions by the parish to the wider Diocese.

10 points for effective schools work, deduct 15 points for no engagement with local schools

10 points for buildings well used by the community

20 points if the parish is running a regular programme of Christian enquirers’ courses e.g. Credo, Alpha, Christianity Explored, Saints Alive or equivalent.

CRITERIA SCORE

1. Growth or decline

2. MAP

3. Finance and %PMC

4. Non financial Diocesan contribution

TOTAL

CATEGORY

Parish Categorisation

CATEGORY 1† Cumulative score 160+

CATEGORY 2 Cumulative score 100-160

CATEGORY 3 Cumulative score 50-100

CATEGORY 4 Cumulative score <50

† Parishes would not normally be put into category one unless they were paying 100% of ministry costs, growing numerically and had a good mission action plan. The omission of any one of these would usually push a parish into category 2.


WORKED EXAMPLES

Parish A

Has seen congregations and involvement grow over the last five years, both adults (30) and children (30), has an excellent MAP which guides it planning (30) and contributes over 100% of its total costs (30), a 11% increase on last year (10), over 60% of income (10). It also shares its music team with local parishes and has Readers who regularly preach in the wider Deanery (20). They also have excellent involvement in local schools (10)

Score 170 Category 1

Parish B

Has a growing adult congregation (30) but static children (15) with a good MAP (30) but currently only gives 85% of its PMC (15) but are promising a 5% increase next year (5). Excellent relationships with local schools with a team conducting assemblies and RE lessons regularly (10). They share a reader with another parish (10)

Score 115 Category 2

Parish C

Adult congregation has declined significantly (0) although child numbers are stable (15) it has a good MAP (30). It gives 70% of PMC although this has remained the same for the last few years (5). It makes a good contribution to the Deanery (10) and runs a regular programme of Christian enquirers courses integrated with confirmation and the churches year (20)

Score 80 Category 3

Parish D

Congregation is stable over the last few years (15) although children have declined (0) but a new incumbent has just arrived and the PCC have put together a modest MAP (15). There are financial struggles so the PCC only contributes 60% of PMC (0). However, the parish has good buildings which are extremely well used by the local community (10). They have very good schools work in both their C of E primary and state secondary school (10)

Score 50 Category 3

Parish E

Both adult and child congregation has declined in the last few years (0) They grudgingly put together a non smart MAP for Caritas (15) There are financial struggles so the PCC only contributes <65% of PMC (0) but they are promising a 7% increase this year (5). However, the parish has good buildings which are extremely well used by the local community (10).

Score 35 Category 4


Appendix 2. Ideas for collaboration

These are some examples of collaboration that have flowed from Life Together, our original Diocesan Vision Document.

1. A vision for evangelism and apologetics

“We have a vision for the whole people of God to be engaged in the enterprise of mission of which evangelism is a key part, a community confident in the truth of the Gospel and ready and able to give a reason for the hope we have.”

A group of churches in a town decided to pool resources to put on an Alpha course. By so doing they were able to attract an outside speaker for the first meeting. With a much larger number of participants than any one church could provide they could put on a variety of different venues and times for the subsequent course. As leaders were drawn from across the Churches, links to specific congregations could be maintained and all participating Churches were able to benefit.

2. A vision for worship and spirituality

“We have a vision of a community giving the worship of God the priority He deserves; a community energised by faith and being transformed into the likeness of Jesus.”

In one Deanery a number of poorly attended services of evensong were on the brink of closure. A group of Churches combined their services, travelling around the Deanery from month to month. The combined choir and congregation gave a significant sense of being part of something greater to congregations that hitherto felt beleaguered. People felt better able to invite their friends to a service that provided high quality music and liturgy.

3. A vision for lay and ordained ministry

“We have a vision for truly collaborative working and an end to the expectation that the priest in his or her parish will have all the gifts necessary for building the church. Yet we know that no amount of training can enforce a collaborative spirit which can only be authentic and flourish if all involved have had a personal encounter with Jesus.”

In one Parish a regular meeting (christened the ‘creative pow wow’) drew together Clergy, Readers and those with musical and artistic gifts to plan and pray about worship. The team that formed as a result was able to deploy significantly more energy than the licensed ministers alone. Initially special services and increasingly regular all age worship gained a new energy and participation. Corporate worship developed a greater depth and engaged a wider group of people. The Parish was able to share some of these resources and experiences with the wider Deanery and other parishes also benefitted.

4. A vision for ministry with children and young people

“We hope that our diocese will face up to the sad truth that our pews contain comparatively few children and even fewer teenagers, and will therefore be willing to experiment with, and resource ways to reach out to young people who have not yet been introduced to Christ and who have a negative image of the church.”

In one town several Churches combined their youth ministry once per month to put on a youth service. The combined congregation was often nearly 100, mostly under 18. The youngsters who often felt isolated, both in their churches and at school were greatly encouraged in their faith. Worship and teaching was able to be tailored to their cultural needs. The faith of a number was deepened and they also felt better able to invite their friends to the service.


Other Deaneries have combined resources to employ a youth worker to reach out to the young people in their communities and help equip lay people for youth leadership.

Other examples of work with young people and families

Lasers (Sunday morning discipleship for 8-11s) Breakout (Tuesday evening outreach / mid week club for 8-11s)

• Once a term, special events bringing the same age group together

• Once a year, a weekend away bringing the groups together

Exodus (Sunday morning discipleship for 11-14s)

Flava (Friday night outreach / open youth club for 11-14s)

• Once a term, special events bringing the same age group together

• Once a year, a weekend away bringing the groups together

Upper Room (Sunday night open youth club for 14+) Focus (Mid week discipleship cell groups for 14+)

Life (Twice a term worship event for 11- 18s, led with the older young people)

+ Sports activities (football on a Sunday afternoon) + Occasional courses (Alpha / Romance Academy / Growing Leaders – youth edition) + Good Volunteer Management + Young People from 11+ involved in ministry (children’s work / worship / serving in church / social action) + Events that bring the whole family together + Courses on Family life (Marriage Course / Parenting Kids / Parenting Teenagers)

5. A vision for working with schools, particularly our church schools.

“ We have a vision for our church schools to demonstrate Christian distinctiveness and for the many opportunities to work with schools to communicate the Gospel to be fully exploited.”

In one village the three local Churches of different denominations got together a team of Church leaders, retired teachers and students for an assembly team. The assemblies they were able to offer the local Junior school were far more creative, involving not just a talk but drama, testimony and story. The Christian faith was far more effectively communicated as a result.

6. A vision for the Church impacting society

“We hope to be a prophetic church ready to speak a ‘word from the Lord’ and act in the face of bad practice and ungodly practices.”

A number of towns in our Diocese now have a Street Pastor schemes. These are largely ecumenical and involve being a Christian presence around these towns at pub and club closing times on a Friday night. Local police know that where such schemes operate they can operate a reduced presence, such is the impact on the general atmosphere. Many people who have been touched by this ministry are asking, “Why are you doing this?”

Significant opportunities are there to bless the community and give a reason for the hope that we have.

The environmental crisis is perhaps one of the most serious we face today. Local Churches have become places that energise local initiatives like recycling and efficient energy use. In modelling good practice to their communities they have encouraged change without being judgemental.


7. A vision for Christian giving and stewardship

“We have a vision of a Diocese able to sustain the provision of ministry through current giving, allowing income from investments and the generosity of the past to be used in areas of designated need and for new mission projects.”

One Parish in severe financial difficulties proposed a gift day to address their immediate financial needs rather than another round of fundraising. They prepared by starting a weekly prayer meeting and a focussed day of prayer for their gift day. They set themselves a target of £8000 which a number of parishioners thought was far too optimistic. On the day with gift aid added they raised £17,000! A number of churches have found that their giving goes up more after a mission than it does after a stewardship campaign.

We need to communicate the unspeakable privilege of being called by God to be part of a community that models a different way of living and share his transforming love with a broken world in need. Who wouldn’t want to give money to that?



Appendix 3: Blank tables

Westfield and Lewington Deanery (example) Mission action Plan 2011 – 2020

SECTION A: Mission Projects By end of 2011 By end 2014 By end 2020 Project 1 Title Project 1 Specific Project Aim Project 1 Measurement Criteria Project 1 Lead Responsibility Project 1 Cost to Deanery Budget Project 2 Title Project 2 Specific Project Aim Project 2 Measurement Criteria Project 2 Lead Responsibility Project 2 Cost to Deanery Budget Project 3 Title Project 3 Specific Project Aim Project 3 Measurement Criteria Project 3 Lead Responsibility Project 3Cost to Deanery Budget Project 4 Title Project 4 Specific Project Aim Project 4 Measurement Criteria Project 4 Lead Responsibility Project 4 Cost to Deanery Budget Project 5 Title Project 5 Specific Project Aim Project 5 Measurement Criteria Project 5 Lead Responsibility Project 5 Cost to Deanery Budget



Westfield and Lewington Deanery (example)

Mission Action Plan 2011 – 2020 Section b: Church Buildings By end 2011 By end 2014 By 2020 Please list A: Church B: Proposal C: Purpose/ reason -to be submitted for DAC approval

1. Re-order for a complimentary additional use (e.g. meeting space for the wider community etc.)

2. Re-deploy for an alternative replacement use (e.g. by a youth congregation/Fresh Expression etc.)

3. Recommend for closure 4. New Build 5. Estimated Cost to Deanery (& % Parish/ Deanery expense)



Westfield and Lewington Deanery (Example) Mission Action Plan 2011 – 2020

Section C: Boundary Changes By end 2011 By end 2014 By end 2020 Please list:

d. Parishes concerned e. Proposal f. Purpose/ reason

-to be submitted for DAC approval

1. To Diocesan Boundary 2. To Deanery Boundary 3. To Benefice Boundary 4. To Parish Boundary



Westfield and Lewington Deanery (Example) Mission Action Plan 2011-2020

Current Ministerial Posts By end 2011 -1 stipendiary

By end 2014 -2 stipendiaries

By end 2020 -3 stipendiaries

-4 stipendiaries

Stipendiary Clergy at end of 2010 1. Vicar of A 2. Vicar of B 3. Vicar of C (vacant) 4. Vicar of D 4. Vicar of E (1/2) and Rural Officer (1/2)

6. Team Rector of F 8. Team Vicar of F Stipendiary assistant clergy at end 2010 1. Curate of B 2. Curate of F Other Stipendiary Posts at end 2010 1. Deanery Evangelist Non-Stipendiary Clergy 1. HFD vicar of G 2. NSM Priest at C 3. NSM Deacon at F Total Stipendiary Posts Total Cost to Parish share Total active retired Clergy:

Total Active Readers: New Readers needed New lay ministers needed Total Ecumenical Clergy:

Appendix 4: Diocesan Statistics

RANK BY RATIO OF STIPENDIARY EQUIVALENT: POPULATION

Adult Child Total Stipend'y RatioDEANERY 2000 2009 change %change 2009 <16 2009 total Deanery pop attend'ce attend'ce attend'ce equivalent pop/stipArundel and Bognor 2,156 2,180 24 1.1% 472 2,652 138,100 1.6% 0.3% 1.9% 18.4 7505Hove 1,890 1,810 -80 -4.2% 420 2,230 121,000 1.5% 0.3% 1.8% 17.0 7118Brighton 2,551 1,948 -603 -23.6% 296 2,244 164,500 1.2% 0.2% 1.4% 23.6 6970Worthing 2,687 2,294 -393 -14.6% 408 2,702 131,825 1.7% 0.3% 2.0% 19.1 6902East Grinstead 1,914 1,694 -220 -11.5% 301 1,995 142,000 1.2% 0.2% 1.4% 21.1 6730Eastbourne 3,077 2,804 -273 -8.9% 428 3,232 133,000 2.1% 0.3% 2.4% 21.1 6303Hastings 1,256 1,115 -141 -11.2% 155 1,270 86,500 1.3% 0.2% 1.5% 15.4 5617Horsham 1,975 1,719 -256 -13.0% 405 2,124 85,000 2.0% 0.5% 2.5% 15.5 5484Hurst 1,201 1,302 101 8.4% 332 1,634 55,500 2.3% 0.6% 2.9% 11.1 5000Battle and Bexhill 1,577 1,247 -330 -20.9% 190 1,437 54,000 2.3% 0.4% 2.7% 11.0 4909Lewes and Seaford 2,256 2,018 -238 -10.5% 305 2,323 86,600 2.3% 0.4% 2.7% 19.2 4510Chichester 1,890 1,690 -200 -10.6% 389 2,079 58,000 2.9% 0.7% 3.6% 13.5 4296Rotherfield 1,811 1,693 -118 -6.5% 267 1,960 37,000 4.6% 0.7% 5.3% 9.3 3978Storrington 946 820 -126 -13.3% 85 905 33,500 2.4% 0.3% 2.7% 8.5 3941Uckfield 1,179 1,059 -120 -10.2% 160 1,219 36,800 2.9% 0.4% 3.3% 10.0 3680Cuckfield 1,770 1,616 -154 -8.7% 311 1,927 48,330 3.3% 0.6% 4.0% 13.5 3580Rye 817 648 -169 -20.7% 49 697 24,750 2.6% 0.2% 2.8% 8.9 2781Westbourne 780 888 108 13.8% 231 1,119 18,000 4.9% 1.3% 6.2% 6.5 2769Dallington 1,340 1,104 -236 -17.6% 140 1,244 35,000 3.2% 0.4% 3.6% 13.5 2593Midhurst 816 836 20 2.5% 108 944 19,000 4.4% 0.6% 5.0% 8.0 2375Petworth 611 523 -88 -14.4% 89 612 12,250 4.3% 0.7% 5.0% 6.3 1935TOTALS 34,500 31,008 -3492 -10.1% 5,541 36,549 1,520,655 2.0% 0.4% 2.4% 290.53 5234

current all posts filled 315 4827by 2014 275 5529by 2020 245 6206

2009ASA adult

Appendix 4: Diocesan Statistics - continued

RANK BY GROWTH DATA

Adult Child Total Stipend'y RatioDEANERY 2000 2009 change %change 2009 <16 2009 total Deanery pop attend'ce attend'ce attend'ce equivalent pop/stipWestbourne 780 888 108 13.8% 231 1,119 18,000 4.9% 1.3% 6.2% 6.5 2769Hurst 1,201 1,302 101 8.4% 332 1,634 55,500 2.3% 0.6% 2.9% 11.1 5000Midhurst 816 836 20 2.5% 108 944 19,000 4.4% 0.6% 5.0% 8.0 2375Arundel and Bognor 2,156 2,180 24 1.1% 472 2,652 138,100 1.6% 0.3% 1.9% 18.4 7505Hove 1,890 1,810 -80 -4.2% 420 2,230 121,000 1.5% 0.3% 1.8% 17.0 7118Rotherfield 1,811 1,693 -118 -6.5% 267 1,960 37,000 4.6% 0.7% 5.3% 9.3 3978Horsham 1,975 1,719 -256 -13.0% 405 2,124 85,000 2.0% 0.5% 2.5% 15.5 5484Cuckfield 1,770 1,616 -154 -8.7% 311 1,927 48,330 3.3% 0.6% 4.0% 13.5 3580Eastbourne 3,077 2,804 -273 -8.9% 428 3,232 133,000 2.1% 0.3% 2.4% 21.1 6303Uckfield 1,179 1,059 -120 -10.2% 160 1,219 36,800 2.9% 0.4% 3.3% 10.0 3680Chichester 1,890 1,690 -200 -10.6% 389 2,079 58,000 2.9% 0.7% 3.6% 13.5 4296Lewes and Seaford 2,256 2,018 -238 -10.5% 305 2,323 86,600 2.3% 0.4% 2.7% 19.2 4510Hastings 1,256 1,115 -141 -11.2% 155 1,270 86,500 1.3% 0.2% 1.5% 15.4 5617Storrington 946 820 -126 -13.3% 85 905 33,500 2.4% 0.3% 2.7% 8.5 3941Petworth 611 523 -88 -14.4% 89 612 12,250 4.3% 0.7% 5.0% 6.3 1935Worthing 2,687 2,294 -393 -14.6% 408 2,702 131,825 1.7% 0.3% 2.0% 19.1 6902East Grinstead 1,914 1,694 -220 -11.5% 301 1,995 142,000 1.2% 0.2% 1.4% 21.1 6730Dallington 1,340 1,104 -236 -17.6% 140 1,244 35,000 3.2% 0.4% 3.6% 13.5 2593Rye 817 648 -169 -20.7% 49 697 24,750 2.6% 0.2% 2.8% 8.9 2781Battle and Bexhill 1,577 1,247 -330 -20.9% 190 1,437 54,000 2.3% 0.4% 2.7% 11.0 4909Brighton 2,551 1,948 -603 -23.6% 296 2,244 164,500 1.2% 0.2% 1.4% 23.6 6970TOTALS 34,500 31,008 -3492 -10.1% 5,541 36,549 1,520,655 2.0% 0.4% 2.4% 290.53 5234

2009ASA adult

110316 toolkit formatted - home - diocese of chichester and mission action planning for 2011-2020...

Documents