Maidstone
Deanery Synod Welcome The Lay Chairman, Mr. Lionel Marchant, who was in the chair, welcomed the members and the Reverend Roy Howard of the Union Street Methodist Church. He then, on behalf of the members, thanked the Reverend Brian Reed for the hospitality that he and the members of St. Andrew’s had provided. He then offered congratulations to the Reverend Karen Gorham, who has been elected to the General Synod.Unfortunately she was unable to attend this meeting and had sent her apologies. He also advised members that, at the APCMs, of three parishes the following were elected to represent their parishes as Deanery representatives: - Mrs. Maureen Bortolozzo for All Saint’s Loose. She actually resigned during the past year, but no replacement was found, but as she is now able to continue she has been re-elected, so he welcomed her back. He also welcomed back another previous member; Mrs. Irene Rabbatts who has been elected by St. Martin’s to replace Miss Kim Sell who resigned. Mr. Keith Rogers has been elected, as a Deanery Synod representative by St. Luke’s to replace Mrs. Marion Cartwright. He will therefore continue on the Synod following the end of his term of office as a Diocesan Synod representative of this Synod, as he is not standing in the coming Diocesan Synod elections. Opening Prayer and Bible Study The Lay Chairman then invited the Reverend Brian Reed to lead the Bible Study. The Reverend Brian Reed commenced by saying that vines and vineyards were very significant in the life of the people of Israel. In the Bible we find that they carry religious symbolism as well. He then read from Isaiah 5 vv 1 to 7, where the prophet sings of his friend and of his vineyard. In the song the prophet speaks of the way his friend tended the vineyard and how he waited for the harvest. However the harvest proved to be a total disaster and the friend took action and destroyed the vineyard. In verse 7 the prophet makes it clear that God is the friend and owner and that the vines are the men of Judah and they have only produced murder and injustice. So God is prepared to destroy His people. In Mark 12 vv 1 to 9 we read of the vineyard being let out to tenants. When the time is ready for the harvest the owner sends his servants to receive of the fruit of the vineyard. The tenants kill them and finally they kill the owner’s son. The parable is more poignant when we identify the son as Jesus. The result was the destruction of the Jewish leaders, and the Christian Church takes over. In John 15 vv 1 to 10 the symbolism reaches its climax. The true branches are those who faithfully follow Christ. They are the people who are rooted and grafted in Christ. So if we obey the Lord’s commands we will remain in Christ. So we need to read the Gospels and learn from them. From this we need to form a fresh understanding, confess our sins and so be pruned. The picture of the vine encourages us to abide in Christ, to be pruned by His Word and so remain faithful so that we bear fruit for God. The Reverend Brian Reed then led in prayer. Apologies for Absence 10 members of the House of Clergy and 21 members of the House of Laity and 2 visitors were recorded as present. Apologies had been received from 5 members of the House of Clergy and 8 members of the House of Laity. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the meeting of 18th February, 2003, were approved, and signed by the Chairman. Matters Arising from the Meeting on 18th February, 2003 and not on the Agenda of This Meeting The Reverend Robin Williamson proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs. Jean Sweetman for all she had done to provide a very good contribution to the displays that were on view at the Diocesan Links Day. This was passed unanimously. Mrs. Jean Sweetman expressed her thanks to all the Parish Links representatives for their contributions. Appointment of Treasurer There were no nominations. The Chairman drew members’ attention to the fact that the Deanery Synod was now without a Treasurer as the Reverend Jim Perryman had given ample notice of his intention to resign. The Role of the South East England Faith Forum The Lay Chairman then invited the Reverend Canon David Grimwood to speak. Canon Grimwood thanked the Synod for the invitiation to speak, but he added that he felt rather awkward as he was a member of the Maidstone Deanery Synod, but this was the first meeting that he had attended. In 1998 he had heard mention on the radio of regionalisation, before going to work, but was ignorant of what was involved. He made a few enquiries and received a phone call inviting him to the next meeting on the following Tuesday of the South East Regional Assembly as a representative. He then explained that the South East Regional Assembly is one of eight regional assemblies, which cover England, apart from London. Scotland and Wales are accounted for by devolution. The South East England Regional Assembly – SEERA, includes Kent Surrey Sussex, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. It extends from the Isle of Wight in the South to Milton Keynes. It is the wealthiest of the regions, but there are needs in levels of housing and we have more people in poverty than in any other region. The Regional Assembly has 110 members of whom 74 are from Local Authorities, others from business and the voluntary sector and two faith representatives. It is in its early days and is finding its feet. It deals with Economic, Social and Sustainability (environment) matters and relates to the Regional Development Agency for the South East – SEEDA and the existing Government Office for the South East. It was not long before other bodies were formed, notably RAISE – Regional Action and Involvement South East. Its purpose is to link together the voluntary bodies in the South East, so that they can make an effective contribution to the Regional Assembly in order to help the disadvantaged and socially excluded groups within the region. The Regional Assembly’s role in the early days is to monitor the Regional Development Agency. Many of the bodies are working regionally but the Church of England with its dioceses does not fit. The Assembly is responsible for major planning decisions such as Cliffe Airport, Dartford Crossing. It also influences the way resources are collected. Funding in future will be regionally based, so all needs are now being brought together into these Regional Assemblies poverty, new housing, etc. So we need to ensure that the resources are accessed for things that we call important. So we need to engage with these structures. The faith communities are on board as faith groups have something to offer because of their beliefs and values. There are 30,000 voluntary groups in the region. To enable the faith groups to deliver, there are two representatives on the Regional Assembly from the faith groups and there is a faith forum to support them. It is necessary for the representatives to help the regional structures to engage us appropriately and deal with community issues.The aim is to currently employ a researcher to find the areas of greatest need and to find out through churches and faith groups what is needed. Some say that churches are only interested in filling seats, but we need a working party to look at social exclusion and where people cannot get access to services, etc. Churches have something to say and what the issues are. It needs to look at the level of healthcare, education and employment particularly in the pockets of deprivation around the coast. Structures need to be set up to benefit us. Small and local projects need to be valued. What we do depends on getting money from the government. The Regional Assembly can help with planning and is able and skilled at drawing in the resources. Yorkshire gave £1.5 million to the faith forum for religious literacy: a group of women caring for people of different faiths in hospital. So the faith forum needs to work with churches, but the churches need to engage with it. The Lay Chairman then invited questions. The Area Dean asked whether anything happens, as so often when applying for money when it is known that it is a Christian group no money is forthcoming. What is in this for the church? Can you name any Christian project that has benefited? Canon Grimwood replied that there is an evangelical church in a deprived area of Chatham. The Church, despite the fact that it has an overt witness, now runs a five day a week after school club on a site where a hospital was being pulled down. This won the attention of the office of the Deputy Prime Minister. There has been £3.5 million to refurbish housing around the Church. In Rochester recycling paint, etc. has received support. Canon Morgan-Jones stated that the strength of the parish system is that it gives a unique overview of life. There are indices of deprivation in schools. Does the regional government help the joined MBC KCC Local Education Authority? Canon Grimwood replied that the parish system allows people to articulate the needs, etc. With reference to the joining up, he said that partnership is de rigueur. Churches should not think of doing things alone. We need to consider what we want to see come out at the end. The Local Strategic Partnership has a faith representative and that is Jane Winter. The Lay Chairman then thanked Canon David Grimwood for his presentation. Parish Report The Lay Chairman then introduced the Reverend Roy Howard, minister of the Union Street Methodist Church, and Mr. Don Brand, a lay preacher, to give a ‘Parish Report’. The Reverend Roy Howard welcomed the opportunity to put the Methodist Church on the map. He was very interested to find that the first four items on the Deanery Mission Plan corresponded with their four priorities: Worship, Evangelism, Learning and Caring (social concern). He then asked members to draw on the map he had set up their parish boundaries to see how they related to where his congregation had households. He pointed out that as a Deanery we cover part of the local Methodist Circuit, which extends from Larkfield to Kingswood. In the circuit there were a number of Methodist churches involved with Anglican churches, notably at Grove Green and Burham and Wouldham. In the Deanery there were two Methodist churches: Tonbridge Road, and Union Street which was built in 1823. One problem they have is that the frontage is listed.At Union Street they have the following mission statement: “To be a growing, vibrant and friendly Church which seeks to serve Christ in the world today”. The Church is run by the Church Stewards, the Church Council having ultimate responsibility. There is a Leadership team. Among the Church activities there is a very active children’s work. They work closely with Week Street URC for the evening youth work. There are house groups. The Reverend Roy Howard then introduced Mr. Don Brand who spoke about the Anglican Methodist Covenant. He said that it enabled us to begin to explore and to float ideas as to how we work together in the future. He continued by saying that these were his private thoughts. In taking stock he recognised that the Parish is the glory of the Church of England and the Circuit is the same for the Methodists. We both face declining numbers and the age profile is going up. There is a gap at the late teens and twenties. We need to develop a style of worship to bridge that gap. There are also financial difficulties and problems in buildings. Also there is a shortage of lay leaders. This leads to the question as to whether they can sustain the three ordained ministers. The Covenant is a set of challenges, so what are they asking us to address? Should the town churches work more closely together? How should we be looking at our church’s role? We have identified with Churches Together. Our buildings are not greatly used. Many people are going through the town. What is the future of the ordained ministry in the light of the lay ministries. It does not pay to look at this individually, but look at it collectively. This is the context of the Covenant. However it is not easy to see what the solutions are jointly rather than separately. Do the two town centre churches work on a Deanery or Churches Together front or even respond to an individual parish? The Lay Chairman thanked both the speakers for the Parish Report. Anglican Methodist Discussions The Reverend Jim Perryman, as Diocesan Ecumenical Officer, spoke about the Covenant. As a decision was near he felt that it would be appropriate to remind members about the key things in the proposed Covenant. It is not a proposal for the union of the Church of England with the Methodist Church. It does not solve the problem, nor describe every problem; neither does it address internal differences within the denominations, nor reopen old arguments. It does highlight the harmony, tracks our history, states that mission and unity belong together and highlights key areas where agreement will be necessary before “Full Visible Unity”. In conclusion the Covenant will reinforce the day-to-day experience of Anglican and Methodist where they are working together. It does not find solutions but commits us to try. It does not damage relationships with other parts of the Church, as it does not move the official position. However it gives greater confidence. The Reverend Jim Perryman stated that he hoped it will go through and we will take the opportunity to make it work. The Deanery Mission Plan will take note of ecumenism. Deanery Mission Plan The Lay Chairman introduced the Framework for the Deanery Mission Plan that had been made available to members at the beginning of the meeting. He explained that he and the Secretary had had a meeting with the Reverend Karen Gorham who had suggested that she produced the framework. The basis for this was that, as we saw at the Deanery Mission conference, most Parishes were doing things. Some of them lack resources and the Deanery should be an enabler. He encouraged members to go away and read it thoroughly and pass any ideas and suggestions for improvement on to the Secretary. It is essential that you act soon as at the next Synod meeting we need to approve the Deanery Mission Plan, if we are to meet the Bishops’ schedule. The Reverend Lee Townend suggested that target dates will have to be added where appropriate. Canon Chris Morgan-Jones suggested that, finally, it should be linked to the four groups proposed by the Bishops. Treasurer’s Report The Treasurer commenced by holding up the paperwork that represented four years of the workload of the Deanery Treasurer. In view of the little work it involved he was horrified that no one had offered to take the job on. He advised the Synod that the accounts had now been audited and that there is very little to come in and go out. The Diocese are giving the Deaneries a further £2000 this year. Despite requests, there had been no contributions to the Benevolent Fund. The Area Dean proposed that we express our appreciation to the Reverend Jim Perryman for all that he had achieved whilst Treasurer. This was passed unanimously. Diocesan Synod Report The report on the Diocesan Synod Meeting held on 10th May, 2003, had been made available at the beginning of the meeting. Mr. Keith Rogers offered to answer any questions, but there were none. Area Dean’s Notices The Area Dean reminded members that the Diocesan Residential Conference was due to take place from 16th to 18th June. The Deanery Chapter Meeting on ??th July will have an Eucharist service. The following meeting will be at St. Andrew’s Vicarage on 17th September. On Saturday 28th June the Reverends Robin Williamson and Tim Wood will be ordained priests in Canterbury Cathedral and at the same service the Reverend Sara Bimson will be ordained deacon. He also reminded members of the Detling Conference which is being held from 16th to 21st August. The speakers will include Professor Tony Campoli and R T Kendall. The Reverend Ian Crofts then announced that the new Maidstone Night Club Chaplain will be at the Pentecost service in Brenchley Park on Sunday 8th June commencing at 3 pm. Any Other Relevant Business There was none. Closing Prayer The Lay Chairman again thanked the Reverend Brian Reed for the hospitality that he had extended to the Synod and invited him to close the meeting with prayer. |