Draft Statement for Deanery Synod meeting in November in response to the question from the Rural dean:
‘The Deanery has agreed the paper on the development of mission and ministry within the Deanery. What will it mean for us as a PCC and what part can our church play within the whole Deanery’?
The PCC of All Saints’ Church, Stretton-on-Dunsmore discussed this question and felt that, because rural congregations are generally much smaller than those in town churches, there are fewer people to carry out the day-to-day duties, pastoral care and mission.
However, Stretton and the Benefice group of churches are very committed to the Homeless at Risk Project and Hope 4U where we provide teams for a forthnightly commitment. This has become a tool for ministry and mission amongst ourselves and those less fortunate in Rugby.
Keeping the church alive in Stretton is a major commitment for a small number of people although numerous folk will clean the church, arrange flowers on a regular basis, act as sidespeople, make coffee, etc but they have to be organised and encouraged by the few. Most of this small committed group are retired and have reached the stage in life when they need to be free to help out with families and to spend time together after families have left home.
So, apart from the involvement with HARP & Hope 4U the PCC could not see how much more we could get involved with Deanery missions and activities and, from past experience, town church congregations do not move out into the rural parishes. The rural parishes require help from the Deanery/Town churches.
The PCC also asked that the Deanery Service be reinstated as it gives small congregations to worship with a greater number of Christians. My personal suggestion is that this take place in the summer to enable people to travel in better conditions, especially if visiting rural parishes.
Thelma Cain
Douglas Hutchinson
8th November 2006
nt
