Save The Parish Cornwall hand delivers report to Lambeth Palace

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We hand delivered our report 'Don't Turn Off The Lights, Bishops' to Lambeth Palace yesterday and recorded a video message for Archbishop Justin Welby. Click here for the message. Text of the letter is below - or click here to read. 

20 December 2023

Dear Archbishop Welby

Today we are hand delivering a report from Save The Parish Cornwall, calling for a moratorium on damaging and unpopular ‘On The Way’ plans. The report speaks for itself: it presents the testimonies of dozens of people across Cornwall who fear the changes are damaging and have little chance of success.

Please listen to these people: people who want priests in parishes – not ‘oversight ministers’ and bureaucrats. Please consider the possibility that the Church Commissioners’ millions might be spent more usefully on vicars, not elaborate schemes for lay workers and mega benefices.

The plans, micro-managed at every stage by the Bishop of St Germans, are being pushed through after minimal consultation. The Charity Commissioners’ recent consultation on a pastoral re-organisation scheme in Powder Deanery (closed on 18/12) has provoked a host of objections from people who had not realised what would be involved – a loss of the local, of agency and community.

We have been told by the former Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen, that the impetus for On The Way came from Lambeth Palace: that you, and your colleagues, felt that the church in Cornwall was elderly, out of touch and needed revitalising.  Is this in fact the case?

If so, and you do believe that change is needed –we are all open to discussion and prepared to debate how this might be done. Please listen to people on the ground, people who really know the situation. 

Bishop Hugh Nelson (who has been in Cornwall for only three years) has clearly been tasked with pushing through On The Way, no matter what the consequences. Would it not make sense to put these plans on hold until after a new Bishop of Truro is appointed? A Bishop who truly understands, and has experience, of the church in Cornwall.

With kind regards

Save The Parish Cornwall

Supporters:  Please sign this petition to help us to try to suspend the deanery plans while alternatives are investigated.  https://chng.it/L8KfGmrs6p

 

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