Truro's relentless march towards 'Oversight Ministry' continues

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No fewer than four ads in this week's Church Times for Oversight Ministers in four Cornish deaneries - the highly controversial move by Cornwall's Bishops towards a different style of 'church' in Cornwall with vicars' main concern being administration, rather than the traditional cure of souls. These Oversight Ministers will oversee teams of lay workers. People across Cornwall have spoken out about this: churchgoers across the county want priests in parishes, not managers and administrators. Click here to read more.

Below is the list of current job ads, representing moves towards radical change from the Tamar to Land's End.  Click here to read specific concerns from churchgoers in each deanery where an 'Oversight Minister' job is advertised: Trigg Major, Trigg Minor, West Wivelshire and Penwith.

Save The Parish Cornwall is calling for a moratorium on these radical change of direction - until proper consultation has taken place.  These plans were drawn up by carefully selected 'Leadership Teams' in deaneries, and forced through at thinly attended Synods.  The notion of 'Oversight Ministry' has been long planned - click here to read a notorious paper dating from 2017 on the Diocese of Truro website, suggesting among other things that priests might become 'farm managers' rather than shepherds.

1. Priest in Charge (Full Time)  TRIGG MAJOR DEANERY
The Benefices of Boyton and Launceston in the Deanery of Trigg Major, Cornwall

"We are seeking to appoint a priest who will become the oversight minister for five rural parishes and part of the team within Launceston parish. We are in the process of pastoral reorganisation that will lead to each of the incumbents holding a group of parishes and one town parish (Launceston) in a united benefice."

2.  Vicar / Oversight Minister (Full Time)  WEST WIVELSHIRE DEANERY
Liskeard and St Keyne

"We seek a priest from the open evangelical tradition able to engage with the distinctive styles of worship and traditions across the three churches. The person will need to be able to exercise oversight ministry, think strategically, connect with the communities, develop our pastoral teams and build upon the firm foundations in each of the churches."

 3.  Rector & Pioneer Priest (Full-time)  TRIGG MINOR DEANERY
The Benefice of Camel-Allen, Cornwall
"The appointment is to a full-time position and we seek a priest with a pioneering spirit, a willingness to embrace a variety of church traditions and a team player with the gifts and graces to exercise oversight ministry by investing in local leaders (lay and ordained) to ensure the flourishing of each parish."

4. Pioneer Oversight Minister  PENWITH DEANERY
The Hayle Estuary Cornwall - Godrevy Benefice

"We are looking for an oversight minister who is pioneering, prayerful, has a love for God’s Word and is led by the Holy Spirit. "




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