Community Interest Companies: the facts and pressing questions
Deanery Synod members in Kerrier, west Cornwall, have been given a deadline of 3 August 2023 to approve a controversial Community Interest Company (CIC) to employ new workers in the proposed On The Way plan – which will result in one huge benefice uniting 23 scattered churches.
The Kerrier On The Way plan, approved by Kerrier Deanery Synod by just one vote in 2021, has ever since caused widespread division and anxiety. This confusion continues. Deanery synod members say the need for a CIC was not mentioned when the plan was drawn up and some consider they are being pressured by the Diocese into forming a CIC so that the plan can go forward.
Save The Parish Cornwall has drawn up a Fact Sheet outlining the significant legal and administrative responsibilities involved. It questions why the Diocese is unwilling to access the funds directly. Click here to read.
The Diocese insists, however, that a Community Interest Company (CIC) is the only way of accessing funds from the Church Commissioners for the new staff proposed by the plan.
The Kerrier On The Way plan, approved by Kerrier Deanery Synod by just one vote in 2021, has ever since caused widespread division and anxiety. This confusion continues. Deanery synod members say the need for a CIC was not mentioned when the plan was drawn up and some consider they are being pressured by the Diocese into forming a CIC so that the plan can go forward.
Save The Parish Cornwall has drawn up a Fact Sheet outlining the significant legal and administrative responsibilities involved. It questions why the Diocese is unwilling to access the funds directly. Click here to read.
The Diocese insists, however, that a Community Interest Company (CIC) is the only way of accessing funds from the Church Commissioners for the new staff proposed by the plan.
The new Diocesan 'Director of Change and Renewal' Ruth Marriott has given Kerrier Deanery Synod a deadline of 3 August to approve this; ''This way gives much more local control to supervising the personnel required for the plan and the Diocese will not look at alternatives, it's too late for changes." (Kerrier Deanery synod draft minutes 6 July 2023).
"I've heard it's come as a bit of a shock to some of you to hear that Susie won't be working regularly on Sunday mornings," she wrote. "I apologise because coming into this plan more recently, I presumed you understood how a Pioneer Priest's role would function. Susie will work primarily in the community, looking for exciting opportunities to grow churches for people who have either never been to church or had a break away."
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Acknowledging that there is still widespread confusion about the situation, Kerrier’s recently appointed rural dean Rev Heidi Huntley wrote in the July 2023 issue of The Link (West Kerrier Deanery’s newsletter):
“It’s come to my attention that some folk in the Deanery aren’t quite sure what’s going on with the On The Way Plan, so I thought it might be helpful to explain some aspects,” she said.
She went on: “You will probably have heard lots about CICS lately: this stands for a Community Interest Company. Some may say, “Why can't the diocese just pay for everyone?” Well they are paying for Susie (new pioneer priest, based in St Keverne) and I but the other roles are being paid by three grants, and we will oversee that money. For the first time and through the Plan, we are being allowed to choose how we want our money to be spent in the Deanery, and to decide what type of roles will best suit our needs.
“For those grants to be given us, we need a CIC, and what a CIC does is essentially financially protect those of us who will be responsible for recruiting our new ministers against any legal action or employment tribunals. The Deanery Implementation Team are in the process of working through some finer details, but we hope that the Deanery Synod will soon vote in favour of this. Without a CIC, our Deanery will be left with only Susie and I as permanent employed Priests and anyone can see that won’t bring growth and progress anywhere.”
Asked for clarification, Rev Huntley has said she, or the Diocese, will reply in due course.
In a further indication that there is a widespread lack of knowledge about the On The Way plan, she acknowledged in her article in The Link that she had heard that the role of the new Pioneer Priest, Rev Susie Templeton, had come as a surprise to some.
“It’s come to my attention that some folk in the Deanery aren’t quite sure what’s going on with the On The Way Plan, so I thought it might be helpful to explain some aspects,” she said.
She went on: “You will probably have heard lots about CICS lately: this stands for a Community Interest Company. Some may say, “Why can't the diocese just pay for everyone?” Well they are paying for Susie (new pioneer priest, based in St Keverne) and I but the other roles are being paid by three grants, and we will oversee that money. For the first time and through the Plan, we are being allowed to choose how we want our money to be spent in the Deanery, and to decide what type of roles will best suit our needs.
“For those grants to be given us, we need a CIC, and what a CIC does is essentially financially protect those of us who will be responsible for recruiting our new ministers against any legal action or employment tribunals. The Deanery Implementation Team are in the process of working through some finer details, but we hope that the Deanery Synod will soon vote in favour of this. Without a CIC, our Deanery will be left with only Susie and I as permanent employed Priests and anyone can see that won’t bring growth and progress anywhere.”
Asked for clarification, Rev Huntley has said she, or the Diocese, will reply in due course.
In a further indication that there is a widespread lack of knowledge about the On The Way plan, she acknowledged in her article in The Link that she had heard that the role of the new Pioneer Priest, Rev Susie Templeton, had come as a surprise to some.
"I've heard it's come as a bit of a shock to some of you to hear that Susie won't be working regularly on Sunday mornings," she wrote. "I apologise because coming into this plan more recently, I presumed you understood how a Pioneer Priest's role would function. Susie will work primarily in the community, looking for exciting opportunities to grow churches for people who have either never been to church or had a break away."
ends
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