Deanery Planning
last updated on: 14th Nov 2011
Welcome to the page resourcing deaneries as they look to develop 2020 pastoral plans.
This web-page is very much a work in progress and will be updated regularly. If you come across resources that you think are helpful to flag up then please let us know. Also, please feel free to ask for other resources and the Mission and Ministry Department will do what it can to provide them.
Mike Harrison
Director of Mission and Ministry
A Prayer for Deanery Planning
God of new beginnings
we pray that you will
transform your church
as you renew us by your love.
Give us vision for the journey
that we may travel light
and live increasingly by faith.
Inspire, enliven and empower us,
so that along the Way
we may be sustained by the life of Christ
in ourselves,
in one another
and in the world. Amen.
(Adapted from MAP prayer from Blackburn Diocese)
RESOURCES:
The introductory article on 2020 Vision for Mission and Ministry, including
Why this task now?
What are we asking Deaneries to do?
Principles and Key questions
2020 Vision for Mission and Ministry 5
2020 Vision timetable Updated
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Future of Ministry – Presentation to Clergy Chairs of Synod May 2010
This ppt begins with a helpful few slides you might use to give recent statistics underlining the challenge faced in terms of declining numbers of clergy across the Church of England. It goes on to cite the response of one Diocese in the Anglican Communion to a similar challenge, that of Toronto. Their work is particularly of interest to those who might want to look at distinguishing between strategic, sustainable, static and unsustainable parishes.
PPT Future of Ministry & Diocese of Toronto word document
Here is a template to follow when drawing up the Deanery Plan, with an example
Template with notes and example
Update: October 2011
Paper on the relationships and distinct foci of Deaneries and Mission Partnerships
Some web resources
A review in 2009 undertaken by Coventry Diocese of the Alcester group of churches which is consciously modeled on the Minster model – see http://www.coventry.anglican.org/ministry/learning/resources/
‘Models of Parochial Ministry Study Day pdf’ - A report from Coventry Diocese in February 2010 exploring existing models of parish ministry including teams, groups and multi-church teams and their strengths and weaknesses. Found by scrolling half-way down list on http://www.coventry.anglican.org/ministry/learning/resources/
A ppt available from the National Church relating to scenarios of actual pastoral reorganization, including diverse examples of Church plants, plurality/union of non-adjoining parishes, teams, groups, deanery team etc. The ppt is spare on explanation so takes some understanding, but is worth the thinking!
Guidance to help deaneries plan the deployment of staff in the context of Carlisle Diocese’s strategy for growing the church, from 2008.
Some Books:
Parochial Vision by Nick Spencer - a glowing recommendation of the Minster model for parishes and benefices clustering
Re-Shaping Rural Ministry -eds James Bell et al - useful for enabling lay leadership and vocational pathways (NB important to connect this with resource of the 'Called Team' and Stuart's work in Adult Ed.)
The Vicar's Guide ed D.Ison - see esp. pp.146-155, article by Roger Morris on models of multi-parish benefices
Resourcing Mission – Helen Cameron – suggests five cultural forms of church and case studies, and the different ways churches, small and large, can find their place in God’s mission.
Examples of Deanery Plans:
Deanery of Canterbury Deanery Mission Plan 2010 An example of what a plan ‘looks like’ albeit one that is not planning as far ahead as 2020 or with the same parameters around stipendiary numbers. Available as a pdf athttp://www.martinpaul.org/Deaneryplan2010.pdf
For a remarkably short(!) draft deanery plan but one which elucidates clearly the guiding principles behind the plan see the Deanery Plan on pp.12-13 of the job advert for the Priest in Charge of United Wye benefice, 2009 , in Canterbury Diocese at
http://www.canterburydiocese.org/vacancies/wyepriestinchargeprofileaugust2009.pdf
‘The Deaneries Plan for Brighton and Hove from Chichester Diocese’ Written in 2005 and by no means a model, it shows a massive and detailed, not to say ruthless approach to a plan which could be worth a flick in considering what bases one's plan might cover. Available from M&M Department.
Some Relevant Themes:
Cultivating Vocations
See the section of the Diocesan website devoted to calling and response at http://www.leicester.anglican.org/vocations especially the subsections concerned with resources for small groups, individuals etc.
Presence
Country Way article Spring/Summer 2010 by John Inge - two page overview of nature of "presence" - good introductory article to the issue of what connection there is between place and presence. A Christian Theology of Place by John Inge provides a wider overview.
Nurture Courses
On the Diocesan website see the booklet summarizing different possible courses and resources at 549-Stepping%20Stones%20updated.pdf
