Save The Parish - Cornwall

You may be interested to know that Leicester diocese is presently putting forward the first whole-diocese reorganisation scheme. The idea is that each and every parish in the diocese should be gathered into a large grouping, overseen by an ‘Oversight Minister’. Despite past denials from the top, such schemes provide clear evidence that the proven CofE parish system, as we know it, is being ended. Other dioceses may be achieving the same result differently (for example by allowing current appointments to end without appointing new parish priests). A ten-year plan noted by the Truro Diocesan Synod on Saturday plans for 55 Oversight Ministers across the diocese. We believe this to herald a pan-diocese plan for a complete change of style of ministry. Truro's Bishops have already confirmed that two of Cornwall's 12 deaneries will see new patterns of ministry with stipendiary clergy leading teams of ordained and lay people over areas that will include more than ten churches - Ke...

Details here in this Job Description to read about the merger of two benefices to one in the north Cornwall deanery of East Wivelshire - and a move from 'traditional patterns of ministry to an oversight and focal/local model'. The ad is for an Oversight Minister to lead this transition. Click here to read. This comes as Cornwall's Bishops say plans for such giant benefices - or ' mega parishes' - will take place in 'two deaneries' only. Click here to read their statement on the Diocese of Truro website and attack on BBC1's Sunday Politics South West which exposed these plans. Click here to read Save The Parish Cornwall's line-by-line response. We will post up more details of these plans as they emerge. Click here to read East Wivelshire's On The Way Deanery Plan.