Launching Pastoral Communities
Chelmsford South Deanery: An Integrated Deanery Vision and Plan for Deployment of Ministry, July 2011
A Deanery Vision Group met from mid-2009 to mid-2010, looking at the context of decreased numbers of stipendiary clergy, the tasks delegated to the deanery, the biblical basis for collaborative ministry, and the way various other deaneries and dioceses are facing the present moment[1]. The deanery standing committee affirmed the convictions of the Vision Group, and sent them out to all PCCs for discussion; at the deanery synod held on 7 October 2010 they were affirmed by an overwhelming majority. Each PCC produced a “mini-profile” about their churches, and on the basis of this decided in early 2011 which other parishes to ally with[2]; we “launched” our pastoral communities at a further synod in June 2011. Finally, the deanery standing/pastoral committee unanimously accepted this vision on July 18 2011.
In order to become a reality, this document
- needs the agreement of Widford PCC, Great Baddow PCC, and the Chelmer Crouch Group and all its constituent PCCs
- needs the cooperation of patrons and bishops wherever decisions need to be taken with regard to appointments – we are very aware that they will act with a wider perspective, and we have no desire to tie their hands
- needs the approval, at each point where pastoral reorganisation is suggested, of area and diocesan mission and pastoral committees
- needs the free cooperation of the clergy. We are very clear that, even if it is embraced by the bodies listed above, no clergyperson can be compelled to follow this proposed scheme – nor would we wish it to be entered into reluctantly.
It should therefore not be seen as “the final plan”, but as our contribution to the process of planning deployment.
1. A Vision for Every Member
It is clear to us that Chelmsford South deanery is going to lose 1.5 stipendiary (paid) priests in the next 5 years, (in addition to the 1.5 stipendiaries lost since mid-2009), leaving a total of 10.5 stipendiaries in 2016, and a further 2.5 stipendiaries by 2020, leaving 8. We believe this “loss” is actually a great opportunity to help us to develop the leaders (lay and ordained) that God desires for us: leaders working together and looking to God for power to equip every member to serve South Chelmsford and to tell of God’s love.
We believe that God gives his people the gifts they need. Our eyes and hearts have particularly been drawn to Ephesians 4; we believe that God will provide the ministry gifts of
- Visionary Leaders,
- Prophets to speak truth to power,
- Evangelists to spread the good news,
- Pastors to care and include all, and
- Teachers to make sure young and old alike develop into the likeness of Christ.
Our synod in spring 2010 showed what a range of gifted individuals we already value within the deanery, including readers, pastoral assistants and evangelists, but also those recognised by our local churches and commissioned to minister under supervision. Our “deanery roadshow” is rolling out across the deanery with the aim of encouraging vocation in the broadest sense possible.
Every member needs to be empowered to live in his or her community, family, social groups and workplace as a full-time Christian, serving his or her community and telling of God’s love.
Every member also needs to be part of an intimate Christian group, whether a formal group or a set of friends. Smaller parish churches already constitute this intimate group.
2. A Vision for Pastoral Communities
From now on, every member will also be part of a larger group in which the fullness of the ministry gifts listed above are put into practice. We call this larger group a pastoral community.
A pastoral community is a dynamic grouping of smaller communities; it is served by a collaborative team of ministers, paid and voluntary, clergy and lay, licensed and unlicensed, whose focus is to equip every member to serve South Chelmsford and tell of God’s love. Its legal status is not the overriding factor, but its fitness for purpose. It is the effective unit for mission and ministry[3]. We are very supportive of pastoral communities working closely with ecumenical partners. Between now and 2020, several of the pastoral communities may have more stipendiaries than this section envisages; but the aim is to reduce to this level gradually by 2020. In a pastoral community consisting of more than one parish, no one church and no one incumbent, be they stipendiary or self-supporting, is preeminent (though presumably a chairperson for pastoral community meetings will be appointed); all incumbents – paid or unpaid –have the same status and rights.
A) The Chelmer Crouch Group presently comprises the following seven parishes: Bicknacre with Woodham Ferrers, Boreham, Danbury, East Hanningfield, Little Baddow, Sandon, and South Woodham Ferrers. It was established as a Group Ministry in the 1990s and has a constitution (“the green book”); clergy licensed to the parishes in the group have a specified role in all the other parishes of the group, and appointments are made with reference to the whole group. The mini-profiles make it clear that all the features of a viable pastoral community identified in this document are present.
The group covers 34,201 people; the active membership is 570 approx[4].
At present, there are 3.5 stipendiary clergy, 1 house-for-duty clergyperson (an incumbent), 2 SSM clergy (of whom one is an incumbent and one an associate), 2 readers, a team of authorised preachers and a part-time professional children’s worker in the pastoral community. (Note that Curates and retired ministers are not included in these figures).
In 2016, this pastoral community would be served by 3 stipendiary clergy. Of these, two would have a pastoral and eucharistic role, one to cover the north and one, working more closely than at present with ecumenical partners, to cover the south (South Woodham Ferrers, Woodham Ferrers and Bicknacre). It is important that the southern stipendiary be a suitable training incumbent. East Hanningfield would have a self-supporting minister as at present. There would be a house-for-duty post in the north and, in time, we envisage a title curate living at Bicknacre.
The third stipendiary would be a group missioner, paid by the whole group, based in South Woodham Ferrers and with the task of building a team that will plant a new congregation there, but also with group-wide missional responsibilities. This person would also be ordained. This would be a medium-term post, ceasing before 2020, by which time one or more new congregations would be embedded. The terms of reference of the missioner are of great importance, and we would seek the guidance of experts in this field.
B) The Reservoir Pastoral Community comprises the following five parishes: Downham, Ramsden Bellhouse, South Hanningfield, Stock, and West Hanningfield. It was established as a “pastoral unit” in the late 1980s, with Ramsden Bellhouse a late entry for complicated legal reasons, and the parishes have not wished to change groupings in the present process. There is some joint activity in schools work, but the two incumbents and five PCCs will need to find their own way of making this pastoral community work. The mini-profiles make it clear that all the features of a viable pastoral community identified in this document are present.
The pastoral community covers 7,362 people; the active membership is 290 approx.
At present, there are 1.5 stipendiary clergy, 1 SSM clergy and 1 reader in this pastoral community. (Note that Curates and retired ministers are not included in these figures).
We recommend that the diocese “budgets” for 1.5 stipendiaries in this pastoral community in 2016; this number would reduce to 1 by 2020.
C) We would love a Moulsham, Galleywood and Widford Pastoral Community to be formed. This would be a new creation, and would definitely need a catchier name! It would comprise the following four parishes: Galleywood, Moulsham St Luke, Moulsham St John, Widford.
At the moment, Widford PCC is exploring several options; this is one of them. The other three parishes are already committed to this project.
This enlarged pastoral community would cover 33,200 people; the active membership would be 550 approx.
At present, there are four stipendiary clergy, 2 readers, 1 pastoral assistant, 1 evangelist, 1 part-time professional youthworker and 1 professional administrator serving this potential pastoral community. (Note that Curates and retired ministers are not included in these figures).
We would recommend that the diocese “budgets” for 3 stipendiaries in this pastoral community in 2016; this number could stay at 3 or be reduced to 2 by 2020.
D) The Great Baddow Team comprises St Mary’s, St Paul’s and Meadgate churches. It is a full team ministry, with a formal constitution which is due for review by the next Area Bishop. All the features of a viable pastoral community identified in this document are already present.
The pastoral community covers 18,000 people; the active membership is 520 approx.[5]
At present there are three stipendiary clergy, one SSM priest, two readers, 1 professional youthworker, 2 professional administrators and a team of authorized preachers; two priests on diocesan staff are licensed to the team nominally for 5% of their time but are not part of the stipendiary establishment.
We would recommend that the diocese “budgets” for 3 stipendiaries in this pastoral community in 2016; this number could reamin, or be reduced to 2 by 2020. In addition, it is crucial that this pastoral community takes an active role (including but not confined to substantial stipendiary person hours) in working with and supporting other nearby parish(es) – conversations are ongoing about the exact way this should be done.
The following table shows the number of stipendiaries at a glance:
pastoral community summer 2009 summer 2011 2016 2020
A): Chelmer-Crouch 3.5 + 1 house for duty 3.5 + 1 hfd 3 + 1 hfd 2 + 1 hfd
34,201 people; active membership 570
B): Reservoir 2 1.5 1.5 1
7,362 people; active membership 290
C): Moulsham/W’ford/G’wood 5 4 3 3 or 2
33,200 people; active membership 550
D): Great Baddow 3 3 3 supporting others 3 or 2
18,000 people; active membership 520
Total 13.5 + 1 house for duty 12+ 1 house for duty 10.5+ 1 hfd 8 + 1 hfd
However, we feel strongly that this table does not summarise the most important parts of this vision, which concern such matters as gifts, collaboration, purpose and the need for a “parson” in each church.
3. A Vision for Sovereign Parishes
When it comes to determining the borders of the pastoral communities, we did not believe that the standing committee should be leaning over a map with a ruler, in the manner of the Great Powers partitioning Africa. Pastoral communities are not a replacement for parishes, they are simply a tool to help parishes help each other. So we have ensured that every parish (PCC) has made its own decision about which parishes to be grouped with. It is for PCCs to decide what councils and mechanisms are formed to coordinate decision making within each pastoral community.
In pastoral communities, parishes are retained as at present, and agree to cooperate and share ministry as appropriate. In many cases, no formal reorganisation or change in parish share is necessary. Some congregations/parishes will not have “their own priest”; they will each need their own “parson”. This person need not necessarily be paid, or even ordained, but will be the public “face” of the church to the locality and the focus of ministry, under the supervision of their incumbent(s).
We would ask that deanery clergy freely choose to include responsibilities to the pastoral community in their role descriptions. Where possible, we would hope that Readers and other accredited ministers would work in a flexible way to meet needs.
4. A Vision for the Deanery Itself
In the context of God’s desire to shower us with blessing; in the context of full-time Christians, pastoral communities and sovereign parishes; and in the context of God’s love for a world that he calls us to serve and tell of his love, we are clear about the function of the deanery itself. We express it in twenty words:
“We look to God for power
to equip every member
to serve South Chelmsford
and to tell of God’s love.”
We are only too glad for our synods, roadshows and subgroups to be scrutinised with this vision in mind to see if we are living up to God’s call.
Andy Griffiths, Rural Dean
Christine Horton, Lay Chair
[1] The work done by the diocese of Exeter particularly informed our theological thinking on pastoral communities (called mission communities in Exeter) – see the multiple reports, leaflets and documents about “moving on in mission and ministry” (MOIMM) at www.exeter.anglican.org.
[2] Widford is in an exceptional position in this respect, and is the only parish not to have committed itself to a pastoral community as yet.
[3] Exeter diocese identifies the following features of a viable pastoral community:
· regular public worship
· leadership and envisioning
· collaborative ministry
· teaching, preaching, training, nurture, growth, and lifelong learning for Jesus’ adult disciples
· teaching, training, nurture and growth for children and young people who are disciples of Jesus
· evangelism in the community as a clear priority
· involvement in and service to the local community, with a particular care expressed for the poor, after the example of Jesus Christ
· effective pastoral care available to all in the community who need it
· being partners in mission with other groups / churches inside & outside the Diocese
· the provision of appropriate and realistically sustainable buildings
· the necessary administration to support this work
Along with the list of ministry gifts mentioned in section 1 above, these form a useful “check-list” to see if a parish or group of parishes is already working as a viable pastoral community, or whether it needs additional support from other parishes.
[4] This includes a midweek fresh expression of church
[5] (with a larger proportion of under-16s than the other pastoral communities in the deanery).
Chelmsford South Deanery: An Integrated Deanery Vision and Plan for Deployment of Ministry, July 2011
A Deanery Vision Group met from mid-2009 to mid-2010, looking at the context of decreased numbers of stipendiary clergy, the tasks delegated to the deanery, the biblical basis for collaborative ministry, and the way various other deaneries and dioceses are facing the present moment[1]. The deanery standing committee affirmed the convictions of the Vision Group, and sent them out to all PCCs for discussion; at the deanery synod held on 7 October 2010 they were affirmed by an overwhelming majority. Each PCC produced a “mini-profile” about their churches, and on the basis of this decided in early 2011 which other parishes to ally with[2]; we “launched” our pastoral communities at a further synod in June 2011. Finally, the deanery standing/pastoral committee unanimously accepted this vision on July 18 2011.
In order to become a reality, this document
- needs the agreement of Widford PCC, Great Baddow PCC, and the Chelmer Crouch Group and all its constituent PCCs
- needs the cooperation of patrons and bishops wherever decisions need to be taken with regard to appointments – we are very aware that they will act with a wider perspective, and we have no desire to tie their hands
- needs the approval, at each point where pastoral reorganisation is suggested, of area and diocesan mission and pastoral committees
- needs the free cooperation of the clergy. We are very clear that, even if it is embraced by the bodies listed above, no clergyperson can be compelled to follow this proposed scheme – nor would we wish it to be entered into reluctantly.
It should therefore not be seen as “the final plan”, but as our contribution to the process of planning deployment.
1. A Vision for Every Member
It is clear to us that Chelmsford South deanery is going to lose 1.5 stipendiary (paid) priests in the next 5 years, (in addition to the 1.5 stipendiaries lost since mid-2009), leaving a total of 10.5 stipendiaries in 2016, and a further 2.5 stipendiaries by 2020, leaving 8. We believe this “loss” is actually a great opportunity to help us to develop the leaders (lay and ordained) that God desires for us: leaders working together and looking to God for power to equip every member to serve South Chelmsford and to tell of God’s love.
We believe that God gives his people the gifts they need. Our eyes and hearts have particularly been drawn to Ephesians 4; we believe that God will provide the ministry gifts of
- Visionary Leaders,
- Prophets to speak truth to power,
- Evangelists to spread the good news,
- Pastors to care and include all, and
- Teachers to make sure young and old alike develop into the likeness of Christ.
Our synod in spring 2010 showed what a range of gifted individuals we already value within the deanery, including readers, pastoral assistants and evangelists, but also those recognised by our local churches and commissioned to minister under supervision. Our “deanery roadshow” is rolling out across the deanery with the aim of encouraging vocation in the broadest sense possible.
Every member needs to be empowered to live in his or her community, family, social groups and workplace as a full-time Christian, serving his or her community and telling of God’s love.
Every member also needs to be part of an intimate Christian group, whether a formal group or a set of friends. Smaller parish churches already constitute this intimate group.
2. A Vision for Pastoral Communities
From now on, every member will also be part of a larger group in which the fullness of the ministry gifts listed above are put into practice. We call this larger group a pastoral community.
A pastoral community is a dynamic grouping of smaller communities; it is served by a collaborative team of ministers, paid and voluntary, clergy and lay, licensed and unlicensed, whose focus is to equip every member to serve South Chelmsford and tell of God’s love. Its legal status is not the overriding factor, but its fitness for purpose. It is the effective unit for mission and ministry[3]. We are very supportive of pastoral communities working closely with ecumenical partners. Between now and 2020, several of the pastoral communities may have more stipendiaries than this section envisages; but the aim is to reduce to this level gradually by 2020. In a pastoral community consisting of more than one parish, no one church and no one incumbent, be they stipendiary or self-supporting, is preeminent (though presumably a chairperson for pastoral community meetings will be appointed); all incumbents – paid or unpaid –have the same status and rights.
A) The Chelmer Crouch Group presently comprises the following seven parishes: Bicknacre with Woodham Ferrers, Boreham, Danbury, East Hanningfield, Little Baddow, Sandon, and South Woodham Ferrers. It was established as a Group Ministry in the 1990s and has a constitution (“the green book”); clergy licensed to the parishes in the group have a specified role in all the other parishes of the group, and appointments are made with reference to the whole group. The mini-profiles make it clear that all the features of a viable pastoral community identified in this document are present.
The group covers 34,201 people; the active membership is 570 approx[4].
At present, there are 3.5 stipendiary clergy, 1 house-for-duty clergyperson (an incumbent), 2 SSM clergy (of whom one is an incumbent and one an associate), 2 readers, a team of authorised preachers and a part-time professional children’s worker in the pastoral community. (Note that Curates and retired ministers are not included in these figures).
In 2016, this pastoral community would be served by 3 stipendiary clergy. Of these, two would have a pastoral and eucharistic role, one to cover the north and one, working more closely than at present with ecumenical partners, to cover the south (South Woodham Ferrers, Woodham Ferrers and Bicknacre). It is important that the southern stipendiary be a suitable training incumbent. East Hanningfield would have a self-supporting minister as at present. There would be a house-for-duty post in the north and, in time, we envisage a title curate living at Bicknacre.
The third stipendiary would be a group missioner, paid by the whole group, based in South Woodham Ferrers and with the task of building a team that will plant a new congregation there, but also with group-wide missional responsibilities. This person would also be ordained. This would be a medium-term post, ceasing before 2020, by which time one or more new congregations would be embedded. The terms of reference of the missioner are of great importance, and we would seek the guidance of experts in this field.
B) The Reservoir Pastoral Community comprises the following five parishes: Downham, Ramsden Bellhouse, South Hanningfield, Stock, and West Hanningfield. It was established as a “pastoral unit” in the late 1980s, with Ramsden Bellhouse a late entry for complicated legal reasons, and the parishes have not wished to change groupings in the present process. There is some joint activity in schools work, but the two incumbents and five PCCs will need to find their own way of making this pastoral community work. The mini-profiles make it clear that all the features of a viable pastoral community identified in this document are present.
The pastoral community covers 7,362 people; the active membership is 290 approx.
At present, there are 1.5 stipendiary clergy, 1 SSM clergy and 1 reader in this pastoral community. (Note that Curates and retired ministers are not included in these figures).
We recommend that the diocese “budgets” for 1.5 stipendiaries in this pastoral community in 2016; this number would reduce to 1 by 2020.
C) We would love a Moulsham, Galleywood and Widford Pastoral Community to be formed. This would be a new creation, and would definitely need a catchier name! It would comprise the following four parishes: Galleywood, Moulsham St Luke, Moulsham St John, Widford.
At the moment, Widford PCC is exploring several options; this is one of them. The other three parishes are already committed to this project.
This enlarged pastoral community would cover 33,200 people; the active membership would be 550 approx.
At present, there are four stipendiary clergy, 2 readers, 1 pastoral assistant, 1 evangelist, 1 part-time professional youthworker and 1 professional administrator serving this potential pastoral community. (Note that Curates and retired ministers are not included in these figures).
We would recommend that the diocese “budgets” for 3 stipendiaries in this pastoral community in 2016; this number could stay at 3 or be reduced to 2 by 2020.
D) The Great Baddow Team comprises St Mary’s, St Paul’s and Meadgate churches. It is a full team ministry, with a formal constitution which is due for review by the next Area Bishop. All the features of a viable pastoral community identified in this document are already present.
The pastoral community covers 18,000 people; the active membership is 520 approx.[5]
At present there are three stipendiary clergy, one SSM priest, two readers, 1 professional youthworker, 2 professional administrators and a team of authorized preachers; two priests on diocesan staff are licensed to the team nominally for 5% of their time but are not part of the stipendiary establishment.
We would recommend that the diocese “budgets” for 3 stipendiaries in this pastoral community in 2016; this number could reamin, or be reduced to 2 by 2020. In addition, it is crucial that this pastoral community takes an active role (including but not confined to substantial stipendiary person hours) in working with and supporting other nearby parish(es) – conversations are ongoing about the exact way this should be done.
The following table shows the number of stipendiaries at a glance:
pastoral community summer 2009 summer 2011 2016 2020
A): Chelmer-Crouch 3.5 + 1 house for duty 3.5 + 1 hfd 3 + 1 hfd 2 + 1 hfd
34,201 people; active membership 570
B): Reservoir 2 1.5 1.5 1
7,362 people; active membership 290
C): Moulsham/W’ford/G’wood 5 4 3 3 or 2
33,200 people; active membership 550
D): Great Baddow 3 3 3 supporting others 3 or 2
18,000 people; active membership 520
Total 13.5 + 1 house for duty 12+ 1 house for duty 10.5+ 1 hfd 8 + 1 hfd
However, we feel strongly that this table does not summarise the most important parts of this vision, which concern such matters as gifts, collaboration, purpose and the need for a “parson” in each church.
3. A Vision for Sovereign Parishes
When it comes to determining the borders of the pastoral communities, we did not believe that the standing committee should be leaning over a map with a ruler, in the manner of the Great Powers partitioning Africa. Pastoral communities are not a replacement for parishes, they are simply a tool to help parishes help each other. So we have ensured that every parish (PCC) has made its own decision about which parishes to be grouped with. It is for PCCs to decide what councils and mechanisms are formed to coordinate decision making within each pastoral community.
In pastoral communities, parishes are retained as at present, and agree to cooperate and share ministry as appropriate. In many cases, no formal reorganisation or change in parish share is necessary. Some congregations/parishes will not have “their own priest”; they will each need their own “parson”. This person need not necessarily be paid, or even ordained, but will be the public “face” of the church to the locality and the focus of ministry, under the supervision of their incumbent(s).
We would ask that deanery clergy freely choose to include responsibilities to the pastoral community in their role descriptions. Where possible, we would hope that Readers and other accredited ministers would work in a flexible way to meet needs.
4. A Vision for the Deanery Itself
In the context of God’s desire to shower us with blessing; in the context of full-time Christians, pastoral communities and sovereign parishes; and in the context of God’s love for a world that he calls us to serve and tell of his love, we are clear about the function of the deanery itself. We express it in twenty words:
“We look to God for power
to equip every member
to serve South Chelmsford
and to tell of God’s love.”
We are only too glad for our synods, roadshows and subgroups to be scrutinised with this vision in mind to see if we are living up to God’s call.
Andy Griffiths, Rural Dean
Christine Horton, Lay Chair
[1] The work done by the diocese of Exeter particularly informed our theological thinking on pastoral communities (called mission communities in Exeter) – see the multiple reports, leaflets and documents about “moving on in mission and ministry” (MOIMM) at www.exeter.anglican.org.
[2] Widford is in an exceptional position in this respect, and is the only parish not to have committed itself to a pastoral community as yet.
[3] Exeter diocese identifies the following features of a viable pastoral community:
· regular public worship
· leadership and envisioning
· collaborative ministry
· teaching, preaching, training, nurture, growth, and lifelong learning for Jesus’ adult disciples
· teaching, training, nurture and growth for children and young people who are disciples of Jesus
· evangelism in the community as a clear priority
· involvement in and service to the local community, with a particular care expressed for the poor, after the example of Jesus Christ
· effective pastoral care available to all in the community who need it
· being partners in mission with other groups / churches inside & outside the Diocese
· the provision of appropriate and realistically sustainable buildings
· the necessary administration to support this work
Along with the list of ministry gifts mentioned in section 1 above, these form a useful “check-list” to see if a parish or group of parishes is already working as a viable pastoral community, or whether it needs additional support from other parishes.
[4] This includes a midweek fresh expression of church
[5] (with a larger proportion of under-16s than the other pastoral communities in the deanery).
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