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LAFFORD DEANERY SYNOD
Minutes of the meeting held in SleafordMethodistChurch
at 7.30 pm Monday 28th January 2008
Mr Robert Watts and Rev Canon Peter Mander co-chaired the meeting.
1 The meeting opened with prayer led by Mr Jeff Hemsley.
Rev Canon Ian Silk - Mission
Mission is so much wider than church growth”
Our attention was drawn to the parable of the Weeds and of the Mustard Seed. Some illustrations of the latter in human terms were given - Rave in the Nave - Sunday afternoon cafe-style family gatherings. This last meeting involved clergy and lay people contributing to imaginative and innovative gatherings; both on Sundays and week days. Meditation on the parables was suggested.
Next was consideration of the question “Who are we trying to reach with the Gospel?” by looking at Jesus’ words in Acts chapter 1 verse 8 just before His Ascension.
A book was recommended - Mission Shaped Parish by Paul Bayes and Tim Sledge - published by Church House Publishing; www.chpublishing.co.uk ISBN 0 - 7151 – 40833 Price £7.99
Finding Third Places An article by Steven Croft (the Archbishops’ Missioner and Team Leader of Fresh Expressions) was issued.
For people in the developed world the First Place is the Home; the Second Place is the Workplace and the Third Places are places which are friendship based, where we pursue our leisure activities - like pubs, cafes, coffee shops etc. The article suggests that the
“creation of Third Places as part of serving our communities and building the kingdom of God may surprise us by how fruitful this becomes.”
Finally, a sheet from the Bishop was issued – advertising a course called “Fresh Expressions/Mission-Shaped”
(See blue sheet)
Rev Mander thanked Rev Silk, for starting us thinking more deeply about the subject.
3 Apologies
A list of those present and apologies for absence is filed with these minutes. 27 members attended.
4 Minutes of the Last Meeting - agreed
5 Matters arising - none
6 Finance Committee Report
In the absence of the chair (Mr S Wright), Mr T Bush gave a report on the difficulties the Finance Group had experienced over the last two years in searching for a new method of allocation of Parish Share in the Deanery. Some progress had been made and this would be reported to the Deanery Treasurers’ Meeting on Monday 4th February - for their comments.
7 Mission And Ministry Report
Rev Nicholas (chair) reported that the PCCs of Ewerby and Kirkby Laythorpe had voted to be formally attached to the Leasingham Group.
Dr B Stagg had begun his audit of the Digby Group and the Northern Area.
The Deanery Website had been set up by Rev Mander and all parishes are encouraged to use it and link it with their own website. Sponsors would be welcomed. The Council recommended that the annual cost should be shared equally between all parishes in the deanery.
Following this synod on “Mission”, there was planned an Open Deanery Meeting on Monday 11th February in the Church Room at Quarrington at 10 am to progress the ideas further.
A Community Cafe had been started at Billinghay; and a café - Simply Social - at Silk Willoughby.
At the request of the parishes concerned, the following motion was proposed - The parishes of Ewerby and Kirkby La Thorpe would like Rev Alan Littlewood (Leasingham) to be their priest-in-charge and ask that an appropriate pastoral scheme be drawn up.
Proposer: Rev P Mander Seconder: Mr T Bush
Voting: For 26 Abstention 1 Against 0
This resolution would now go to the Local Stategic Council.It was noted that the parishes concerned had asked for this and that it formalised what was the existing practice. Rev J Blanchard reported the Digby Group had been assured that it would not be split up on her retirement.
8 Deanery Council Report
Rev P Mander added the following to the two reports outlined above.
Rev D Askew (retired) had moved from Sleaford to Surrey.
Bishop John was speaking at an Open Meeting on
His Vision for the Lincoln Diocese
on Tuesday 4th March in Welbourn Village Hall.
This was one of several such meetings.
Mr R Watts reported briefly on the recent Local Strategic Council meeting. All deanery responses to the Post 2008 Documents are due to Rev J Patrick by the end of February. An extra Deanery Synod has been arranged for 10th March to review reactions from the Deanery.
Several motions relating to Finance from the Deaneries (to Diocesan Synod) were being reformulated into one composite motion. Discussion on the Synod’s reaction to a single motion followed. It was pointed out that a Deanery Proposal could not be ignored by Diocesan Synod; if it was not withdrawn by the deanery it would stand. Accordingly the following motion was proposed -
This Synod delegates to the Deanery Council the authority to make a judgement on a composite motion,
and to act appropriately on the Lafford Deanery Resolution of 30th April 2007
Proposer: Rev A Littlewood Seconder: Rev J Blanchard Voting: For 23 Abstentions 4 Against 0
9 Diocesan Synod Report
Rev D Boutle tabled his report. (A copy is filed with the minutes.)
10 Methodist Circuit Report
In the absence of Mr. P Thornton, Mr J Hemsley gave the report including the news that Rev Gill Riley is leaving Sleaford in August and being replaced by a Lincolnshire-born man. (A copy is filed with the minutes.)
11 Rural Dean’s Report
Rev Canon P Mander gave the report and began by reporting that Rev Canon J Patrick has been appointed Rural Dean from 1st January 2008. Rev P Mander was standing down, feeling that he had taken the deanery through many changes in recent years, and that the time was right for him to retire from the role.
Mr R Watts thanked him for his competent leadership - the whole synod showed their appreciation of his work.
Rev A Higginson has been appointed to the Freiston Group in the deanery of Holland East. He was thanked for his work here (particularly our deanery database); and given our best wishes and prayers for his new position.
12 AOB – none
13 The meeting closed with prayer at 9.15 pm
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