Diocese of Truro glosses over dissent at Bishops' Carnmarth North visit

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A visit by Cornwall's Bishops to Illogan Church to discuss Carnmarth North deanery's On The Way plans elicited several questions about the proposals that will change the nature of church life in Cornwall forever.  The subsequent report by Communications officer Kelly Rowe however ignores the challenges and fails to report dissension: click here to read 'Positivity and Hospitality in Carnmarth North'.

To hear the questions challenging the Bishops, read on.

A churchgoer from Crowan asks the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen, whether he had consulted adequately on these potentially devastating changes.  Click here to listen and click here to read a transcript.  The Bishop said adequate consultation had taken place and abruptly dismissed suggestions that people unhappy about the proposals should contact him.

"I have no reason to believe that proper consultation has not taken place," he said. "On The Way does not require consultation as it is hard-wired to local deaneries  - local deaneries have been encouraged to speak out."

"No, I would not urge people who are not happy to contact me. You should talk to your rural dean. It's not appropriate to contact me as I believe in a democratic process."

Another questioner queried the cost of these initiatives.  Click here to listen to her question and the Bishops' response.
 
Yet another spoke of the worrying disconnect between young and old congregation members as these changes were rolled out. The Bishop dodged the question.

"I don't want a ghetto-ised church," he said. "We need to build genuinely diverse and intergenerational churches."

The Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen, and the Bishop of St Germans, the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson, are planning to visit deaneries across Cornwall over the next few months to discuss their restructuring On The Way plans. These visits are presented as almost a social occasion - but are anything but.

They are a chance for people to speak out against the sweeping changes that are being proposed - without consultation - for church life in Cornwall.

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