© Isle LMG
2008

Ashill, Barrington, Broadway,Chillington, Cudworth, Curry Rivel, Donyatt, Dowlish Wake, Fivehead, Horton, Ilminster, Ilton, Isle Abbotts, Isle Brewers, Kingstone, Puckington, Shepton Beauchamp, Stocklinch, Swell, Whitelackington

 

ISLE LOCAL MINISTRY GROUP

MINUTES OF THE PARISH REPRESENTATIVES’ MEETING

MONDAY 27th FEBRUARY 2006

IN FIVEHEAD VILLAGE HALL

 

1.       The Rural Dean welcomed everyone to the meeting especially those local observers from other denominations.  The meeting opened with prayer.

2.       Apologies were received from Susie Parsons, Nigel Lusby, Jan Allen, Jenny Chance and Bob Congdon.

3.       Notes of the meeting held on Monday 12th September 2005, which had been circulated, were approved.

 

REPORT OF DEANERY SYNOD DISCUSSION:

 

There were two main items:

 (a)The Name of the Deanery

(b)Future arrangements for the Deanery.

 

The Name of the Deanery:  After some good discussion, it had been agreed to keep the name of the Deanery as the Crewkerne & Ilminster Deanery.  The new benefices were very happy with this.

 

Future arrangements of the Deanery and how Synod should operate and at what level:  Deanery Synod could be abolished altogether but The Church Representation Act, which legalises Synodical Government, requires there to be a Synod so this would be difficult in practice.

We could put Synod in abeyance – to be called together when something special needs to be discussed.

Leave it as it is or to hold fewer Synods during the year.  At the moment Synod meets 3 times a year – some meet 4 or even 5 times.

 

At the meeting on 13th February, Synod voted for 2 Synods per year which would allow

the LMGs (which are running at very different speeds) to meet as often as they wished.

 

This was thought a good idea as the LMGs would be in a position to discuss things at a more local level, whereas the Deanery Synod would keep us in touch with the wider Church and have the opportunity to present officers’ reports and to receive accounts.

 

4.       PROPOSED CONSTITUTION: - Rev’d Andrew Tatham led the meeting.

   

         (1)  Representation – the Deanery Synod lies wholly within the Church of England structure.  Here, in the LMG, we are working to mission – inclusive of all the denominations in the area – those people representing other churches are not here as parish reps but as observers.

 

(2) Election/Appointment of Representatives –

         (2a) This LMG will, in fact, be a local meeting of Deanery Synod. We do not wish to add another bureaucratic tier – we wish to make it work at both levels.  Reps elected by their PCCs will go to Deanery Synod as well as to their LMG meetings.   It was asked if the Reps at the LMGs were there representing their own views, as Reps, or delegates.  They would be representing their own views and will be expected to report back to their PCCs. And also to bring back opinions from those PCCs.

        (2b) Officers will be elected by the Parish Representatives’ Meeting at the first meeting following the triennial election of Deanery Synod Representatives and serve until the conclusion of the next such meeting.  Officers may be elected for no more than two successive periods of office.

 

(3) Consultation – We must make sure that every parish is represented at the LMG meeting.  If you are unable to attend, then please ask someone else to come in your place.

 

(4) Frequency of meetings – Probably 2 per year to fit between the two Deanery Synods.  As well as meetings, occasionally, there would be special services in the parishes.   

 It was agreed to delete ‘parish’ in the last sentence to include the observers from the other churches.

 

(5) Roles – The Parish Representatives’ Meeting shall ….. add  – ‘ aspire to’.

        (5a)This is fundamental to our purpose.            

There was much discussion over the words …..the ILMG will do apart nothing that they can do together, and will do together what they cannot do apart…..

Jenny Langdown pointed out that her parishes were in the process of joining Langport

Churches Together which might bring difficulties if they were also supposed to be doing everything within the ILMG.  Andrew pointed out that nothing was written in stone, these weren’t restrictions.  The Ilminster Methodist Minister crossed borders all the time from Ilminster, Kingsbury Episcopi and even Stoke sub Hamdon which wasn’t even the same Archdeaconry.  We certainly do not want to say that you can’t do anything with anyone else.    

         (5b)..change …. Be the focal point of the support … to …. Be the focal point FOR …

        (5c) approved     

 

(6)   Responsibilities –

      (6a) Andrew continued … we are all called by God to do something (or some things) but this call does not mean we should go unaided.  As a priest is called, trained and then supported by those around, so those interested lay people  should also receive appropriate training and support.

        (6b) It would be easier in this group than the legalistic Deanery Synod.

        (6c) Our Ministry is going to be completely different from how our parents worshipped and how we were brought up to worship.  Our ministry must become more dynamic and ready for change.

        (6d) Important that we keep an eye on this.  It might be difficult for some of the smaller parishes to get a Rep to every meeting but if it happens too often, then we should make enquiries of that parish.

        (6e) We are here to serve and love our neighbour as ourselves.

        (6f). approved

        (6g) For quite a long time, churches have had a long list of responsibilities (churchwardens, secretary, treasurer etc) and hastily fill these post on the assumption that particular people would be good at these roles.  We should take care and ask people what it is they really would like to do.

        (6h)  ………..above.  (Add)   …, noting that when it so acts, only elected or ex-officio members of Deanery Synod may vote.

        (6i) At the moment, the Deanery sends 5 clergy Reps and 6 lay Reps to Diocesan Synod.  Of these 11 Reps there are 6 that come from this LMG.  As the idea now is that each LMG will elect 1 clergy and 1 lay person for Diocesan Synod, the Reps will be better placed around the Deanery as a whole.

        (6j) In normal circumstances, this shouldn’t be a problem.  We won’t take action on this until we are required to do so by the Diocese.

        (6k) This is purely practical and is the result of the Deanery becoming 60 parishes.  No Rural Dean can be expected to carry out all this work.  We are fortunate that Nigel is non-stipendiary.  Any successor to Nigel, who will undoubtedly be ordained and have parishes of his own, would be quite unable to undertake all the Inspections of churches etc.

        (6l) If those following after us wish to change things, then they can.