Save The Parish - Cornwall

Save The Parish's co-founder Alison Milbank throws a spotlight on the Diocese of Truro's deeply flawed approach to Communion by Extension. Alison is Professor of Theology and Literature at the University of Nottingham and Priest Vicar and Canon Theologian at Southwell Minster Communion By Extension: A Critique 1.       1. In legislation, it was only intended for occasional, ‘exceptional’   use. In 2001 the Archbishops’ Council agreed to allow Extended Communion, in which the consecrated elements would be taken the same day from a central benefice eucharist (as was envisaged) and shared by people in another church in the group. The legislation stressed that this practice should not replace regular eucharists. 2.       2. The diocese of Truro is going against the spirit of the legislation in authorising its widespread use . It is presented as regular liturgical fare, as a way of dealing with the rationing of priestly ministry...

 An article in today's Daily Telegraph by columnist Madeleine Grant. Notably - mention of unsettling changes at Winchester where the former Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen now has his hand on the tiller.  Mounstephen introduced the Diocese of Truro's controversial and divisive restructuring plans known as On The Way.

A message from Save The Parish national steering Committee member Admiral Sir James Burrell-Nugent:  Our Spring Conference on "Campaigning" was a great success, with a record number of attendees.  We have had excellent feedback and many requests for transcripts of the speeches. The keynote address was given by Bishop Andrew Rumsey, Bishop of Ramsbury, entitled " Common Ground? The Past & Future of the English Parish. "  Notes of his address are here . Chris Loder MP then spoke on " How to make best use of your MP ."  The most important point he made was that  we must all write to every general election Parliamentary candidate in our constituency asking for support for Save The Parish .  The more of us that write, the more traction we will get.  Ideally then your winning candidate will have given their support in writing before they are elected and get busier.   Notes of his talk are here . Andrew Orange, an STP General Synod member, then spoke...

 If you thought - perhaps wearily - that 'They will push this through anyway'  please think again.  It is possible to successfully object and stall the Diocese of Truro's controversial pastoral reorganisation schemes, which too often involve creating giant new benefices. The planned large benefices - which sadly envisage fewer stipendiary parish priests and instead a raft of lay workers run by an 'Oversight Minister' - are causing concern across Cornwall.  However, it is possible to have your voice heard. Plans to 'reorganise' the Roseland received a host of objections, resulting in the Church Commissioners sending  the scheme back to the Diocese for more information. Thankfully, this has stalled the process for the time being. Click here to read the papers (which are in the public domain) presented at the Church Commissioners' recent meeting to discuss the matter.    Summary of the planned scheme in this introductory paragraph: The Rev Douglas Wren pr...

A message from Save The Parish national steering committee member Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent We recommend keeping a regular eye on News, especially “ In the Press ". You can search by author (e.g. Emma Thompson or Marcus Walker), by publication name (e.g. Spectator) or by topic (e.g. vacancies, retirement age). In particular, we recommend Revd Campbell Paget’s article in last week's Church Times .  His parish’s sad story is worth reading because it shows that even thriving parishes with lots of families are under attack as a result of the “Vision and Strategy” which is supposedly intended to bring in young people. (You will be asked to register for free articles with the Church Times; registering doesn't seem to have any downsides.) ...

 An excellent letter in the most recent West Briton by Falmouth-based freelance journalist Bobby Angelov. who attends church locally.  Angelov, who is in his early twenties, congratulates the paper for covering the recent debate on falling clergy numbers in Cornwall.

  A powerful Comment piece in today's Church Times arguing against the C of E's centralising policies - in particular moves to creating new, large benefices.  Click here to read. In Cornwall pastoral re-organisation schemes are currently being proposed in the Roseland (Church Commissioners' meeting on 21/3 did not make a decision but returned the scheme to the Diocese for more information, and Maker (consultation closed on 2/4). These schemes are a central plank in Diocesan moves towards Oversight Ministers leading teams of  predominantly lay workers in the new benefices.  A scheme in Kerrier originally proposed one benefice of 23 churches overseen by a Rural Dean: there are signs that this is now being reconsidered.