Rugby Deanery Minutes 23 November 2011

 

Minutes of the 3^rd  meeting of the seventeenth session of the Rugby Deanery Synod held at St George’s Hillmorton on Wednesday 23 November 2011.

 

17.3.1 Kevin welcomed everyone and thanked St Georges and the Rugby Team for hosting the event.  

 

17.3.2    Worship – Worship was led by Peter den Haan

 

17.3.3.1 The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

17.3.3.2 (from point 2) Malcolm Garrett had agreed to stand on the Deanery Standing and Pastoral Committee to fill the clergy vacancy and Paul Akerman had agreed to fill one of the laity vacancies and we are waiting to hear from a second

 

 

17.4.4.1   There were none

 

17.3.5.1 Mission Team

Martin reported that the programme for the Bishop to visit non church activities in the Deanery, was coming on, culminating in the Bishop’s challenge to the Churches of the Rugby Deanery, for all Deanery members, at St George’s Church on Saturday 17 March 2012.

encouraging progress being made.

 

Martin referred to the spreadsheet which had been issued prior to the meeting and talked through each column to remind people how the system worked but he also mentioned that the Diocese still had to ratify some of the figures although he was confident this would be the final figures. He mentioned there were several significant changes this year partly because of the introduction of the new Diocesan system.

 

At this point he mentioned that Andrew Haines was retiring after 21 years and thanked him for his work over that time. The Deanery expressed their thanks to Andrew. 

Martin said he had mentioned Andrew’s retirement at this stage as his replacement Margaret Simmons is an NSM and this means that the Deanery Share is reduced accordingly. There is also a reduction in the tithe element this year. The result of these changes means that the Benefices who had to pay extra on top of their tithe will no longer have to pay this. 

There were other amounts included in the spreadsheet, the Standing committee had agreed to pay half of the housing allowance for this year for a House of Duty person for the Revel group, we continue to pay for Brownsover’s ecumenical costs, the support agreed last meeting of £73929 to help others in the Diocese but we have a credit for £44309 from the Diocese for occasional office fees.

There was one or two questions before Martin proposed, as Chairman, that the Deanery agree the Deanery share figures for 2012. This was agreed by 34 for, 0 against and 1 abstention.   

Items discussed at the meeting were: ratification of 2012 support fund; the closure if St Matthew’s Church; the House of Duty for the Revel Parishes; the Draycote group is now a Benefice; Coventry South and Kenilworth have now joined together as one Deanery; the changes in St Andrew’s Church; the conflict of interest policy.

The meeting held on 5 November 2011 had a good debate on Women Bishops and passed the motion with 71 in favour, 6 against and 5 abstentions. Martin led a discussion on the lack of provision for those not wanting women Bishops but he was soundly defeated by 58 votes to 17! They also heard of the Bishop’s response to the events around St Paul’s Cathedral in London and passed the Diocesan budget. Full details may be found on the Diocesan website.

 

The meeting broke for refreshments after which the ladies who provided them were thanked.

 

 

17.4.8..1 George Sherman encouraged people to come along to the Bible Exhibition at St Mark’s Church Bilton where over 80 documents had been loaned, there was an exhibition by the Gideons and there were refreshments.

17.4.8.2  Kevin Downham advertised the Advent service at St Edith’s church Monks Kirby on 1 December at 7.30pm

17.4.8.3 There was a plea for Prayer supporters for the Street Pastors

 

Martin told us a little about himself and how he came to be in the position he is now in. He explained that the Bishop’s certificate will be having some changes next year although the changes still had to be approved by the Bishop. He did confirm however that if people were going through the existing modules these will continue. He also mentioned that it was intended to put much of this on line in 2013.

 

He led us through how we perhaps pass the baton to the next person who is encouraged to do things in the same way and his first challenge to us was to discuss how we had been given opportunities and then how we were giving others opportunities now.

 

He did a short Bible study on Elijah and Elisha and how, although Elijah is seen as a better known prophet it was Elisha who took things on and achieved perhaps more by working with others. He surmised this was because Elijah had taught Elisha not only the good things Elijah had done but also where things could be improved.

 

His second challenge to us was to ask what we were doing to promote, encourage and develop someone in our churches to take leadership responsibilities. Again we broke in to groups to discuss this.

 

He finished his talk by stating that – releasing opportunities is not an easy thing to do – people will make mistakes but did you? – releasing needs encouragement – pray for God’s Holy Spirit on the person (people) you release things to.

 

He encouraged people to contact him at the Diocese for any help and training; he is very willing to help on a one off basis, a day away or whatever. He can be contacted at martin.kirkbride@covcofe.org or at 024 7652 1305.         

 

 

17.4.10.1 There was no other business. 

 

17.4.11.1 The next Deanery Synod meeting will be held on 22 March 2012 at St Marks’s, Bilton at 7.30pm

 

 

 

 

 

Roger Evans 

24 November 2011