“Their power is such that deanery synod or parish views might just not exist”
Yes, shades of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four here. (Click this link to read more thoughts about the Church of England's current 'manager-speak' .)
'Deanery Implementation Team' (DIT) is the name that the Diocese has given to the groups of people in each deanery who will be taking the next steps – unless challenged – in the On The Way plans under the leadership of the Rural Dean and the Diocesan Director for Change and Renewal, Ruth Marriott.
In Kerrier in west Cornwall, churchgoers report that the Deanery Implementation Team (DIT) seems to be acting without due consultation. In Penwith - a deanery stretching from Hayle all the way to Land's End - a cleric said of the DIT, led by the forceful vicar of St Ives, Rev Nick Widdows: “Their power is such that deanery synod or parish views might just not exist.”
Martin Saunders, from Pydar Deanery, emailed Diocesan Secretary Simon Cade with a key question. Just who does oversee these Deanery Implementation Teams? Read on to find out more.
MS: Deanery Synod standing order 4.1 says in full: "The Deanery Synod may appoint other committees, working groups or individuals to undertake certain business on behalf of Deanery Synod as it may delegate from time to time. The Deanery Synod shall provide terms of reference for any such committees, working groups or individual as it considers fit." Could you please explain in detail how and why DITS are not covered by this standing order?
SC: I will speak with colleagues regarding the DITs, but do you think that they are committees of the Deanery Synod? I don’t credit them with that much significance, but you may well be right in which case their terms of reference would need to be reviewed and owned by deanery synod, how do you think that this would help them to function? I think that I would beware the law of unintended consequences, it may risk putting too much gravity at deanery level when it needs to be at parish level as far as possible, with the PCC (Parochial Church Council) being the core unit of leadership and governance for mission and ministry. When we set the DITs up part of the intention was for them to have just enough leverage to allow them to help things to happen, but not so much as to allow them to usurp PCCs and local leadership.
MS: I only wish that your view on DITS was the proper, correct one, recognised by and agreed by all your colleagues at Church House, the Archdeacons and Rural Deans. As I have said countless times at synod, it is the parish which is the most important unit of our complete church activity, whatever is needed, and that is why we need many more parish priests. But I fear that this is not the case. If the DITS are as you state that they are, to whom are they accountable; and if they are not accountable to anyone, should they not be abandoned, and the parishes and PCCs be left to action the DP as it relates to them and as they see fit?
Why does synod employ a Director of Change and Renewal and two further staff, with one of them spending half a day a week in each deanery, monitoring the progress on implementing the deanery plans if the DITS have the role that you suggest? Three or four more priests would be more beneficial. In a recent e-mail to me, Ruth Marriott has stated " ... my team, who will work in partnership with the DIT who have been tasked to implement the Deanery Plans by Deanery Synod to gather this information. DITs report quarterly to the programme Board for Change and Renewal ... "
This same team is involved with the reporting to the Church Commissioners on the use of LICF (Lowest Income Communities Funding) monies and, to quote Ruth Marriott again, "as LICF must be spent specifically for those in most economic and social deprivation areas in a deanery and the DIT will therefore need to agree how this will be used against the deanery plan aspirations."
Our own rural dean, having had a recent deanery DIT meeting (not properly constituted but with diocesan personnel present) says that the DIT suggested "... let the deanery know what is being done to date to move the plan forward. "
Anecdotally, I have heard that other deanery DITS have been formed, not necessarily in accordance with standing orders, and " ...totally ruled the roost and were merrily and assertively laying down the law to all."
I wish that your view was correct, but in summary it appears that Church House has put, to quote you, " ... too much gravity at deanery level when it needs to be at parish level as far as possible, with the core unit of leadership and governance for mission and ministry."
In conclusion, if as it appears, the DITs have the powers that they appear to be using, do you agree with me the procedures that are required to form them? Namely, that deanery synod must agree to set up its DIT, that it needs to determine the terms of reference of its DIT and it must approve the membership of its DIT. Thereafter, its DIT must report back to deanery synod which then decides what is or is not to be done with its DIT reports.
Additionally, why are diocesan staff attending purported DIT meetings when the DIT has not yet been set up by the relevant Deanery Synod?
As ever, Save The Parish Cornwall blogspot will update you with developments.
The Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen, and his colleague the Bishop of St Germans, the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson, have been tasked with tackling what is perceived in Lambeth Palace as the Cornish 'issue' - aka an aging demographic keen on traditional forms of worship, and low engagement with young people. 'On The Way' has emerged from this. Sources close to Church House said that both Bishops - with their background in charity management - were thought likely to have had the necessary skills to push through plans for change. Unfortunately, the opposite has proved to be the case. Clergy - and laity - report that the Bishops failed to listen to to senior clergy before embarking on these controversial moves - and failed to take the time to understand the unique nature of the Church of England in Cornwall.
Comments