Parish re-organisation? Certainly not, says Bishop Hugh ahead of East Wivelshire synod

For people following events in East Wivelshire and the debate over plans for parish re-organisation the Bishop of St Germans, the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson, has sent out an email this week 'to clarify the reality of the situation'.

The East Wivelshire Deanery Synod is tonight (Thursday 30 June 2022) when its On The Way plan for clergy cuts - and inevitable church closures - will be debated. The issue of the extent of diocesan plans in East Wivelshire - and the heated debate over church closures - has been covered by this blog. This week's Private Eye also reports on it.

Here Save The Parish Cornwall's analysts take a forensic look at key points in the Bishop's email:

THE BISHOP SAID:

There is no Diocesan policy in favour of any particular form of local church governance. In case that is not clear enough let me repeat it; there is no Diocesan policy in favour of any particular form of local church governance.

WE SAY: 

“... no diocesan policy”. 

The dismal diocesan track record on being “open honest and transparent “ about its intentions are coming back to haunt it. The diocese has made a watchword of sophistry, there are too many examples that have created very good reasons to doubt their word.

The fact is that the diocese has recently increasingly raised this issue of parish mergers e.g. in the current Carnmarth North deanery proposal, without previous debate.

THE BISHOP SAID:

What we are absolutely committed to is finding patterns of ministry, both ordained and lay, that are life-giving for those who carry responsibility for their church communities. Clergy and church officers are often doing extremely demanding roles, with multiple responsibilities and near impossible expectations. On the Way therefore invites Deaneries to consider what models and patterns of church life are needed to make sure that leaders are carrying manageable roles – we call this ‘life-giving leadership’.

WE SAY:

“Clergy ….doing extremely demanding roles…multiple responsibilities and near impossible expectations."

All absolutely correct, and all issues largely at the diocesan door! The constant reduction in clergy, the threat of ever more stipends being axed, vicars facing being chopped and replaced by priests-in- charge or not at all, constant pressures on congregations for more MMF (Mission and Ministry Fund), the merciless pressure of On The Way plans right across the county, while at the same time the obsession with hurling vast sums at Transforming Mission projects…. The bishops' “life-giving leadership” is anything but!

THE BISHOP SAID:

There are also a growing number of churches where it has become extremely difficult, and in some places impossible, to find Church Officers.

WE SAY

“... it has become extremely difficult, and in some places impossible, to find church officers”

Again, a direct result of the pressure and threats placed on lay people by the bishops failing to replace priests, removing local priests by creating clusters or huge benefices, top-down demands and bureaucracy from Truro, and basic loss of heart among these volunteers that they’re not appreciated and not listened too. More than one deanery has been told by On The Way leadership teams that - in reality - nothing was open to debate because it was the word of God!

THE BISHOP SAID:
In some places, where this is locally discerned, sharing the responsibility for leadership and oversight through shared PCCs is a good way to move towards the life giving leadership that we want to see. In others, it isn’t – and the decision is for local churches to make, with support and advice from their Deanery and Archdeacon.

WE SAY

“... sharing the responsibility for leadership and oversight through shared PCCs” 

Yes, but the diocese glosses over all the many downsides (loss of democracy? Reduced involvement? Financial impacts? Less local accountability?) with a clear potential subtext that fewer Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) and ever bigger units makes control and administration for central office in Truro ever easier. The planned church sale in Merrymeet is the perfect case in point for total disregard by the hierarchy for local needs and wishes.

HE SAYS

On that basis, the paper written by Archdeacon Paul that was attached to Rev Bellenes’ email, and which I attach again here, offers options for PCCs and Deaneries to consider as they discern a way to be fruitful and sustainable in the future. You will see that the introductory sentence very clearly says – “This paper outlines three ways in which parish governance could work: parishes are asked to consider which is most appropriate.” I do not think that could be much clearer.

WE SAY

“....parishes are asked to consider which is most appropriate “. 

The diocese is hoist by its own petard here - the entire railroading progress of OTW across Cornwall has proved time and again that when the bishops say “bottom up” they are really dictating “top down”

THE BISHOP SAID:
It is easy to write emails that suggest there are secret plans held in Diocesan offices. No such plans exist. My concern, and that of Episcopal College colleagues, is to support church communities of every size, tradition and context to engage in the serious challenges and opportunities that lie before us in a rapidly changing world, including by inviting careful thought about the most suitable patterns of ministry and governance in each place.

WE SAY

“it is easy to write emails…”. 

It certainly is, Bishop!  And this one is a classic of what we have come to expect. Saying one thing and then doing the opposite is not a good look. Surely we’re entitled to better from our bishops?! They should remember that the Church of England in Cornwall belongs to the people of Cornwall, it’s not the plaything of a handful of people in Truro.

THE BISHOP'S EMAIL IN FULL

From: Hugh Nelson <hugh.nelson@truro.anglican.org>
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2022 at 21:25
Subject: East Wivelshire Deanery Synod

It has come to my attention that members of Deanery Synod have received an email from Rev Peter Bellenes which suggests that I have been ‘disingenuous’ in the information I have previously shared with people in East Wivelshire. On that basis, I ask that you forward this email to all members of Synod to clarify the reality of the sitaution.

 There is no Diocesan policy in favour of any particular form of local church governance. In case that is not clear enough let me repeat it; there is no Diocesan policy in favour of any particular form of local church governance.

 What we are absolutely committed to is finding patterns of ministry, both ordained and lay, that are life-giving for those who carry responsibility for their church communities. Clergy and church officers are often doing extremely demanding roles, with multiple responsibilities and near impossible expectations. On the Way therefore invites Deaneries to consider what models and patterns of church life are needed to make sure that leaders are carrying manageable roles – we call this ‘life-giving leadership’. 

 There are also a growing number of churches where it has become extremely difficult, and in some places impossible, to find Church Officers.

 In some places, where this is locally discerned, sharing the responsibility for leadership and oversight through shared PCCs is a good way to move towards the life giving leadership that we want to see. In others, it isn’t – and the decision is for local churches to make, with support and advice from their Deanery and Archdeacon. 

 On that basis, the paper written by Archdeacon Paul that was attached to Rev Bellenes’ email, and which I attach again here, offers options for PCCs and Deaneries to consider as they discern a way to be fruitful and sustainable in the future. You will see that the introductory sentence very clearly says – “This paper outlines three ways in which parish governance could work: parishes are asked to consider which is most appropriate.” I do not think that could be much clearer.

 It is easy to write emails that suggest there are secret plans held in Diocesan offices. No such plans exist. My concern, and that of Episcopal College colleagues, is to support church communities of every size, tradition and context to engage in the serious challenges and opportunities that lie before us in a rapidly changing world, including by inviting careful thought about the most suitable patterns of ministry and governance in each place. 

 I hope that this clarifies the issue.

 You will all be in my prayers as you meet together for your Synod meeting.

 God Bless

+Hugh

 

________________

Rt Revd Hugh Nelson

Bishop of St Germans &

Bishop to the Armed Forces
01872 862657