Welcome to Colchester Deanery Chapter

DEANERY VISION PLANNING PROCESS

Why? What? How?

We will always have a deanery. The Why – legal bit! We will always have a deanery. The Synodical Government Measure 1969 casts the deanery in an administrative role: Gathering and Governance - A two-way route for communications between the diocese and parishes; Planning and pastoral reorganisation and the electoral college for Diocesan Synod and General Synod elections.   Thinking about deaneries and MMU’s, in all parts of the diocese, deaneries still play an essential legal administrative role. The Synodical Government Measure 1969 doesn’t state a clear over-arching purpose for the deanery itself (that is beyond its scope), but quite naturally concentrates on the functions of the deanery synod, as if that is where it all begins and ends. Essentially it casts the deanery as: a talking shop; a two-way route for communications between the diocese and parishes; and the electoral college for Diocesan Synod and General Synod elections.

Diocese Benefice Deanery Traditional Structure, Strategy and ‘Legal’ Accountability Benefice Deanery Diocese Archdeaconry

The Why? Looking beyond the administrative function, Synods role is to: “generally to promote in the deanery the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical” To do that it must have a plan which sets out how the deanery and its parishes will organise and resource its primary task – ‘promote the whole mission of the church’ The current plan is 13 years old and does not reflect where we are now or adequately envision the future Some work done by Newcastle Diocese puts a positive and healthy view of deaneries and for us MMU structures: “There is a greater need for ‘joined up thinking’ about how to address the future. Parish units can be too small to make viable plans that impact beyond their boundaries. The Diocese is too remote a unit to respond effectively to the variety of local contexts and needs. Deaneries need to be seen as an important part of the church and more than an administrative unit of convenience. The Deanery is a key unit of support, encouragement and collaboration.”

The Why? We are doing this through: The diocesan Transforming Presence and Ministry vision and agenda which challenges the prevailing culture of the church and seeks to focus on missional development as opposed to managing decline. The 2025 problem – Clergy retirements Falling church roles – More out than in Declining revenues - Costs v Revenue Running to stand still – exhausted people

The Why? – Warning! More than just turning the church around!

The Why To encourage us: We are seeing more people coming forward into lay and ordained ministry We are seeing new and innovative ways of being church Through the Strategic Development Fund (SDF) initiative from the central church, the diocese is investing and partnering in the resourcing of ministry into new housing areas in Colchester We have two MMU’s already active We have many new lay and clergy bringing gifts into the deanery

The What?

The What? A Deanery Vision Plan that gives guidance to Parishes and MMU’s in the formation of their mission and ministry vision, plans and priorities. It will seek to set down guidance and expectations: Embracing cultural change A move from entitlement to accountability Provide direction Mutual flourishing – respect for ‘Tradition’ and ‘Churchmanship’ Promotes existing and proposed MMU structures AND MORE…

MMU Diocese Benefice Deanery Future Structure, Strategy and ‘Legal’ Accountability MMU Archdeaconry Benefice Diocese Deanery

Deanery of Colchester MMU Structure MMU North Family This is where we are at present. The North Family ihas been commissioned and the East MMP is to be commissioned on 4th November. Deanery South discussions are ongoing and will develop around the Deanery vision plan process. MMP East Colchester MMU West Colchester MMU Central South

The What - Vision - Where do we want to be in 2020+? To have developed a positive plan and active approach to resourcing mission - people, places, money To have clear mission priorities To have established more local church - pioneering and planting communities with new and settled housing areas – (recall Joel Gowen’s Challenge 101 new communities etc). To have enabled a more approachable and diverse church and established greater honour in community and between churches To be more confident in Evangelism, Mission and Outreach AND MORE…

The How?

The How? The DSPC have appointed a small working group to develop the DVP. We have already made significant progress and look to have a draft text by March 2019. We imagine that there will be an A5 summary document supported by a fully detailed document.

Vision Plan Pathway Deanery Vision Plan Diocesan MMU Vision Vision Parish Vision MMU Vision

DIOCESAN TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY DEANERY VISION PLAN NORTH FAMILY MMU VISION PLAN PARISH MISSION PRIORITES SOUTH WEST MMU VISION PLAN PARISH MISSION PRIORITIES SOUTH CENTRAL MMU VISION PLAN EAST MMP VISION PLAN STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDING STRATEGY PIONEER HUB STRATEGY

The How? Each MMU is required to agree and submit to the Deanery Standing & Pastoral Committee an imaginative MMU Vision Plan for 2020-30. The Vision plan will show how the Parishes will respond to the EXPECTATIONS of the Deanery Vision Plan of building up the Church, reaching out in evangelism, meeting the challenges of change and more! It is expected that the MMU Vision Plan will be active from 1st January 2020. The DVP will set out proposals for 2 MMU’s to South Colchester. These will be formed as part of the Vision Plan process.

What is expected of Parishes and MMU’s?   In essence, the MMU Vision Plan states: The context within which the Church’s mission is set Mission priorities which relate to that context Mission activity and plans for greater collaboration Resources required to fulfil the Vision

What is expected of Parishes and MMU’s? The plan must:   The plan must: be clear on MMU and Parish Mission Priorities, be specific, with targets, timescales and figures Include Strategic Development Funding ideas be a plan to establish new worshipping communities Honour and strengthen existing ministries; Have a strong schools ministry and youth strategy; discipleship and every-member ministry in an inclusive and intergenerational Church The plan must: be clear on MMU and Parish Mission Priorities Include Strategic Development Funding ideas be a plan to establish new worshipping communities include (for instance) the primacy of worship and prayer; the honouring and strengthening of existing ministries; a strong schools ministry and youth strategy; discipleship and every-member ministry in an inclusive and intergenerational Church be specific, with targets, timescales and figures

What is expected of Parishes and MMUs? The plan must:   The plan must: be realistic in the light of likely resource constraints; state the number of Stipendiary ministers required, and how they will be deployed as part of an integrated leadership team, ordained and lay; include a statement of the extent of other Diocesan support required (Mutual Support Funding); include a financial plan for 2020-30, have a strong ethic of accountability with appropriate review processes in place. be realistic in the light of likely resource constraints; state the number of Stipendiary ministers required, and how they will be deployed as part of an integrated leadership team, ordained and lay; include a statement of the extent of other Diocesan support required (Mutual Support Funding); include a financial plan for 2020-30, have a strong ethic of accountability with appropriate review processes in place.

What is expected of Parishes and MMU’s?   Points and people of reference: Deanery Vision Plan MMU’s a Simple Guide; Deanery Youth Strategy Pioneer ministry guidance – Revd Dave Beales SDF funding guidance – Carol Richards Statistical and Financial support – Chris Copus and Mark Spraggins Diocesan advice and support – Nathan Whitehead Area Dean and DSPC be realistic in the light of likely resource constraints; state the number of Stipendiary ministers required, and how they will be deployed as part of an integrated leadership team, ordained and lay; include a statement of the extent of other Diocesan support required (Mutual Support Funding); include a financial plan for 2020-30, have a strong ethic of accountability with appropriate review processes in place.

What is expected of the Deanery The Deanery Standing & Pastoral Committee will:   Assist in setting the vision of each MMU, sharing statistics and projections for the constituent Parishes to aid the setting of budgets. Discuss requirements for Stipendiary ministers, support and promote requests for funding and other resources for mission Co-ordinate plans across MMUs, especially for larger mission initiatives, shared resourcing and Mutual Financial Support guiding where initiatives cross Deanery boundaries Assist in setting the vision of each MMU, sharing statistics and projections for the constituent Parishes to aid the setting of budgets. Discuss requirements for Stipendiary ministers, support and promote requests for funding and other resources for mission Co-ordinate plans across MMUs, especially for larger mission initiatives, shared resourcing and Mutual Financial Support guiding where initiatives cross Deanery boundaries

What is expected of the Area and Diocese?   The Plan will be shared with the Area Mission & Pastoral Committee, guide the Area Team as to how best they can serve the Parishes and MMUs, enabling them to support the Deanery at Diocesan level, ensuring that our voice is heard and our needs understood. Our reviews with MMUs, will enable us to present a picture of the wealth and worth of our missional activity. That picture is required as the basis of future Diocesan support, especially in terms of Stipendiary Clergy and general finances.

DEANERY SYNOD APPROVAL DEANERY VISION PLAN DRAFT PLAN 1/5/10 Review DSPC APPROVAL DEANERY CONSULT DSPC AMEND’T CYCLE DEANERY SYNOD APPROVAL AMPC APPROVAL CYCLE IMPLEMENTATION THE DVP PROCESS The Deanery Vision Plan will be considered complete when it contains the four MMU Vision Plans. Those plans will voice an understanding of God’s call to mission in the local context, and set out planned actions and implications in practical terms, to achieve enthusiastic support at Deanery and higher levels. They will also identify the mutual support which the MMU require and can offer, in terms of people, expertise, money and other resources, enabling help to be offered across the Deanery and beyond.

MMU VISION PLAN THE MMU VISION PROCESS DRAFT PLAN PARISH CONSULT CYCLE DSPC CONSULT DSPC AMEND’T CYCLE DSPC APPROVAL IMPLEMENTATION THE MMU VISION PROCESS The Deanery Vision Plan will be considered complete when it contains the four MMU Vision Plans. Those plans will voice an understanding of God’s call to mission in the local context, and set out planned actions and implications in practical terms, to achieve enthusiastic support at Deanery and higher levels. They will also identify the mutual support which the MMU require and can offer, in terms of people, expertise, money and other resources, enabling help to be offered across the Deanery and beyond.

Implementation   The Deanery Vision Plan will be considered complete when it contains the four MMU Vision Plans. Those plans will voice an understanding of God’s call to mission in the local context, and set out planned actions and implications in practical terms, to achieve enthusiastic support at Deanery and higher levels. They will also identify the mutual support which the MMU require and can offer, in terms of people, expertise, money and other resources, enabling help to be offered across the Deanery and beyond.

DVP drafting Timetable 2019 29th November DSPC reviews DVP text March DSPC finalises text ready for Deanery Synod Consultation March – May MMU consultation and drafting of Vision plans May – September DSPC reviews MMU plans and further consultation September 2019 DVP ready for Deanery Synod approval November 2019 DVP adopted by Area Mission P Cttee