synod report & financial review 2013

SYNODD i o c e s e o f T r u r o

R e p o r t & F i n a n c i a l R e v i e w 2 0 1 3

D I S C O V E R I N G G O D ’ S K I N G D O M . G R O W I N G T H E C H U R C H .2 0 1 3

D I S C O V E R I N G G O D ’ S K I N G D O M . G R O W I N G T H E C H U R C H .

Fo rewo rd by

B i s h o p T i m

2

IT haS been particularly pleasing to see such a wide range of people from within our Church (Clergy, Readers, Local Pastoral Ministers and Local Worship Leaders) and from other denominations (especially Methodist colleagues).

Last year there were over 30 scheduled courses and we were fortunate to be able to welcome excellent course leaders – many of whom were from among our own number. Our offerings in

CMED/IME 4-7 training

Pulling the strands together

IN 2013, the diocese – through its Diocesan Synod – approved a strategy to enhance progress towards our vision of Discovering God’s Kingdom and Growing the Church. The strategy has three main ‘Strands’ that are beginning to weave together and strengthen.

I hope most of you are aware of the call for us all to take our own discipleship seriously. The material we have produced under the Way of Life heading can be used – along with many other resources that are out there – to encourage, stimulate and create space for thinking about what it really means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

The programme of accompanied Ministry Development – under the leadership of Bishop Chris and its director, Jonathan Rowe – is designed to enable clergy and parishes to work together to fulfil their own ambitions and put in place new ones.

2013 also generated exciting initiatives, culminating in the Bishop’s Den event, which drew attention to the Doing Church Differently strand. as we go through a difficult period of economic pressures, declining numbers and a lack of confidence in our faith, it

is crucial that we discover new ways to ‘do’ and ‘be’ church.

a further major step forward in 2013 was the signing of the Ecumenical Declaration of Intent, which we did in the presence of – among others – the archbishop of Canterbury. This also ensures we not only work together but, wherever possible, work with our ecumenical partners to proclaim the name of Jesus.

I am enormously grateful to all who have given of their time, efforts and energy during 2013 to enable the diocese not only to continue the vast array of work we do day in, day out, but also to put new energies and new ideas forward.

The wider strategy is beginning to move ahead and, under God’s guidance, I believe it gives us a wonderful opportunity to be obedient to our call and to uncover afresh what it means to proclaim the Gospel in this generation.

Tim

Phot

o: P

aul R

icha

rds

2013 included a number of courses specifically in the area of leadership, whilst other topics were as wide ranging as ‘Cornish for Clergy’ and ‘What Can Preachers Learn from Stand-Up Comedy?’

The Initial Ministerial Education (IME) programme covered a wide range of topics for curates to reflect upon during their first three years of ministry. This has included, among other things, considerations of legal matters, diversity, leadership and the ministry of deliverance. Our residential weekend on ‘Group Facilitation Skills’ was well received.

D I S C O V E R I N G G O D ’ S K I N G D O M . G R O W I N G T H E C H U R C H . 3

ageing congregations, declining traditional church attendance and rising costs of sustaining buildings and providing stipendiary ministry all require a different approach. The traditional model of each parish with its own priest has long gone and there is a clear requirement to ‘do Church differently’.

however, there is only a very small window of opportunity in which to do so – perhaps five to 10 years to implement new, more flexible ways of sharing ministry and encouraging better use of lay skills and talents in the interest of proclaiming the Gospel in the wider community, especially to young families who, after all, are our future.

at its meeting in May, Diocesan Synod approved unanimously a new way of working and the progression of the ‘3 Strands’ that comprise ‘Our Vision’. The three strands focus on Discipleship, accompanied Ministry Development (aMD) and on Doing Church Differently – all designed to encourage clergy and their communities to consider how they might be better equipped to ‘do church differently’ at parish and benefice levels.

May saw the installation of our new Suffragan Bishop, Chris Goldsmith, who immediately became involved in driving forward the positive changes that were afoot and ensuring that the foundations were securely put in place for the new way of working.

Then, to further strengthen this, appointments were made to make sure that the implementation of the three strands is firmly rolled out and implemented in a co-ordinated way – Jonathan Rowe, aMD Director; Eliane Fleming-Gale, aMD Project Co-ordinator; Julian Briscoe, Deputy Diocesan Director (responsible for coordinating ‘Our Vision’); and Pauline Burdett (part time), Discipleship Coordinator.

IF EVER there was a time for the Diocese of Truro to make sure that the foundations were in place for the future, then 2013 was that year.

The 600 people who attended the Diocesan Roadshows were left in no doubt as to the challenges currently faced by the Church of England in Cornwall and the importance of shunning complacency in order to embrace the changes necessary to turn things around.

In March and November, the diocese was blessed with two visits from archbishop Justin. This was certainly a positive boost and helped us realise that the Christian faith is thriving in Cornwall and showing itself in many different ways.

an overview of 2013

Phot

o: P

aul R

icha

rds

Roadshow at Tregadillett

Bishop Chris and his wife, Ellie

D I S C O V E R I N G G O D ’ S K I N G D O M . G R O W I N G T H E C H U R C H . 4

Visiting a variety of projects, archbishop Justin said how important it was to recognise the amount of time and invaluable effort that volunteers put into their communities – supporting the work of the Foodbanks, Street Pastors and many other

initiatives, for instance – and he underpinned the importance of working across the different denominations by witnessing the Signing of a Ecumenical Letter of Intent at a special service at St Petroc’s Church in Bodmin.

In 2013, 9 Licensed Clergy were newly appointed to our diocese, 16 Clergy retired; and we were further encouraged by the Ordination of 4 new Deacons, 6 Priests and 6 Readers.

The aim of the Parsonages Department has consistently been to provide clergy with good accommodation. The team is working closely with the archdeacons to rationalise the property portfolio (currently consisting of parsonages as well as Diocesan Board of Finance properties); and it has embarked on the sale of surplus houses and setting up of cost-effective, strategic deanery plans.

In 2013, 12 properties were sold, and a number of substandard properties were replaced through the acquisition of 3 properties.

Children and young people are vital to the future of thriving Christianity in Cornwall. So the primary focus of the Diocesan Board of Education is to support the 44 Church of England schools. Following the launch of the Saints Way Multi academy Trust (MaT) at the end of 2012, December 2013 saw the opening of three more MaTs – St Barnabas (5 schools), St Piran’s Cross (5 schools) and Pilgrim’s Way – to provide education for a total of 1,700 pupils.

These 11 schools took the number of C of E academies in Cornwall to 18, with more planned for early in 2014, sharing resources and re-establishing the church’s mission and work in a creative way. To enable the Education Department to fulfil this important work, Teresa Copping was appointed as its academies Officer, and James hetherington succeeded adam Lee Sara as our School Buildings Officer.

On the financial front, it was recognised that the current formula for determining the Mission & Ministry Fund (MMF) was no longer “fit for purpose”, so a working group was established to devise a new way of calculating the voluntary


contributions that are the life blood for funding the provision of ministry and training. The MMF Review Group will present a final report and recommendations to the Executive in 2014.

Despite the challenging financial situation in the parishes, contributions towards the MMF in 2013 totalled £3.40M, representing a 93% collection rate on a total call of £3.65M. although this is an improvement on recent years, there is still a long way to go to return to a path of consistent growth. however, it was a good step in the right direction and it will help the diocese to hold its own while the MMF Review Group completes its work on how to put the Diocese onto a sustainable financial footing.

Given all the pressures in 2013, it was even more crucial to continue to target support in the specific

areas in which it was needed, so it was a priority for the Diocesan house team to run a series of training days for PCC Treasurers and for Churchwardens. These were well received and similar training will be

provided for PCC Secretaries in 2014.

We take Safeguarding and Equality & Diversity matters extremely seriously and continued to ensure that training and support was provided in those areas and that the essence of care is embedded in our diocesan DNa.

Other events and workshops in 2013 that are now part of our regular and ongoing support include ‘Meet the Funders’ events & workshops, training for the lay ministries, ‘Messy Church’, ‘Open the Book’ and ‘Sunday Plus’.

Of particular note is the support the diocese gives to Transformation Cornwall – in collaboration with the Church Urban Fund and the Methodist

Church – helping churches of all denominations that are running or setting up community work, assisting with funding applications and establishing a network to meet on a regular basis.

There is much still to be done; and 2014 will be a pivotal year in the development of the Church of England in Cornwall. We have a renewed sense of purpose and drive, not only to maintain our levels of service to parishes and clergy on day-to-day matters, but more importantly to move up a gear as we harness our refreshed skills and innovation through the 3 Strands to Discover God’s Kingdom and Grow the Church.

6 D I S C O V E R I N G G O D ’ S K I N G D O M . G R O W I N G T H E C H U R C H .

Our historyThe Diocese of Truro was formed in 1876 and its purpose is to enable the Church of England to thrive in all the communities it serves right across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Our particular reality now is framed by the facts that:

Contextas God’s creatures, those who are set free to live on God’s earth and respond to the love of God, we believe God is at work in his world. We often either ignore signs of the kingdom or make the mistake of looking in the wrong place.

In Cornwall especially, there are many signs of God at work in his world and there is a gospel imperative on each of us to discover God at work in his world and respond to the signs of the Kingdom.

a New StrategyFor these reasons, there is an urgency to review what we are doing and how we are doing it.

We need to learn from history and make positive decisions to move forward and the ‘3 Strands’ will help us make the essential changes to the shape of our diocese:

Discipleship

Accompanied Ministry Development

Doing Church Differently

since the 1960s the Church of England, as with all traditional denominations, has been suffering from a lack of confidence against a background of a rising tide of secularism and apathy

statistics in the diocese show a clear trend of decline over the last 30 or 40 years

we are also encountering a growing sense of cynicism and questioning of any who claim authority

40% of all the stipendiary clergy in the country are going to retire in the next 10 years.

FIVE YEaRS aGO, we agreed that the overarching vision for the Diocese of Truro was to Discover God’s Kingdom and Grow the Church.

In 2013, to help us achieve this vision, three strategic initiatives (‘3 Strands’) were identified that we need to give priority – alongside the important daily work we continue to undertake – in order to accelerate the necessary changes in the shape of mission and ministry in our diocese.

To ensure we can fulfil these initiatives, we also took the decision to put in place a Transformation Fund to resource the work. This fund is separate from the MMF and is supported indirectly from money realised by the sale of redundant parsonages.

These strands were introduced and agreed at Diocesan Synod in May 2013.

The 3 Strands

DISCIPLEShIPThis strand will help people realise that being part of the Christian church is about being a disciple of Jesus Christ, not simply helping the Vicar. We need to enable and empower the laity to understand:

n themselves as disciples of Jesus Christ

n that each and everyone has a part to play in the Body of Christ. [1 Cor. 12]

Resources are in place – such as Way of Life, Waymark Events and Way Guides – to encourage everyone in the diocese to take their discipleship seriously.

7

aCCOMPaNIED MINISTRY DEVELOPMENTThe clergy play a crucial role in the Church and we need to ensure that we give them enough time and resources to enable them to:

n reflect on what God is calling them to do

n review how their distinctive gifts and contributions can develop

n consider their style of leadership, their self- understanding in ministry and the resources they will need to shape the church of the future.

This leadership development programme will invite clergy to spend time away in groups of 12 to:

n pray together

n learn together

n spend time on personalised learning about their own model of ministry

n be better prepared to work with their congregations and communities to nurture the available talents through delegation and empowerment.

During the aMD cycle, significant time and resources will be invested to support, train and equip lay people. Parishes will also be assisted in their learning and self-development and reflection too.

DOING ChURCh DIFFERENTLYThis is a scheme to encourage groups of parishes and benefices, perhaps deaneries, to consider how they might ‘do church differently’. Bids for funding were received from over 40 projects and some of these were presented at the Bishop’s Den event in February 2014.

Update

n Discipleship: a questionnaire went to all clergy which has provided an excellent baseline on which to work, Way Guides are in place and a major Waymark Event – ‘Way to Go’ – is planned for 31 May 2014 in the Cathedral

n accompanied Ministry Development: autumn 2013 saw a period of communication and preparation, the first College for 12 clergy and their parishes will start after Easter 2014

n Doing Church Differently: The Bishop’s Den event was held and two major projects and six smaller projects were awarded funding to develop them further. The DCD team will provide additional support for some of the other projects, especially those involving young people.

The ‘3 Strands’ are already enabling:n a closer, more personal, walk with Godn stronger leadership of congregationsn greater involvement from laityn more mission-focussed churchesn clear outreach opportunitiesn more funds to support the ministryn closer relationships with our communitiesn growing congregationsn a ‘mission’ rather than ‘maintenance’ focus.

For more information, hit the ‘Our Vision’ tab on the diocesan website, www.trurodiocese.org.uk


FOR the second year running, discipleship has been the top priority for FEaD, especially as it has now become one of the ‘3 Strands’ of our diocesan ‘Vision’.

a key move, made possible through the resources of the Transformation Fund, has been the appointment of a part-time Discipleship Coordinator from November 2013. Pauline Burdett came to us with experience of working with the Scripture Union, and she has already begun to make a significant impact. With the responsibility for Way Guides, Waymark Events, and encouraging and enabling discipleship groups, she is already working across much of the diocese.

2013 also saw the introduction of two resources written specifically to enable people to engage more deeply with the diocesan discipleship framework, ‘Way of Life’. ‘Exploring Way of Life’ takes participants, in six sessions, through the basic framework which ‘Way of Life’ offers, and helps them to see how they can apply it in their own lives.

‘Praying on the Way’ makes use of the four directions of ‘Way of Life’ and helps participants to see how their prayer life can be creative and effective in these areas. Revd Bridget Macaulay

n 197 library members.

n 1,131 books were borrowed in 2013 – an average of 94 books per month.

n 471 books were added to the library, including newly purchased books and donated books for which we are most grateful.

Open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm, with Librarian on duty Wednesday afternoons.

Cornwall’s Theological Library and Resource at Diocesan House

Open for all. Membership £10 per year (Free for clergy, Readers and SWMTC students)

was responsible for the writing of both these resources, with the support of the Discipleship, Learning and Training group.

The formation and education aspects of FEaD’s life include: the training of Local Pastoral Ministers and Local Worship Leaders, creating learning resources (including ‘Windows Into’), as well as the training and on-going development of Readers and clergy.

In 2013, a new team of Vocations advisers was established under the guidance of Revd Nigel Marns, and a Diocesan Liturgical Committee was formed at Bishop Tim’s request under the leadership of Revd Lesley Walker.

Formation, Education & Discipleship Report

It’s Ours – Let’s Use It! BIShOP PhILLPOTTS LIBRaRY

The Bishop Phillpotts and SWMTC full library catalogues can be

viewed online at swmtc.heritage4.com/

For more information, contact Sue Smith at

[email protected] or call 01872 262228 (Weds pm)

IT haS BEEN another year of changes in the world of education, with the Government, the DfE and Ofsted challenging all schools to do better. These changes – and the challenges they present – were recognised by The Church of England and The National Society when they published ‘a Diocesan Board of Education for the Future’ in June 2013.

The report stated that ‘Diocesan Boards of Education fulfil a vital role in education and are expected to be able to play a full and effective role in support of Church of England Schools’. The Truro Diocesan Board of Education completed its self-evaluation and began to consider the developments needed for the Education Team at Diocesan house.

In February, there was another excellent attendance at the Education Sunday service at the Cathedral, where thanks was given for the work of School Governors.

In May, Teresa Copping joined the team as academy Officer and during the year enabled the formation of the St Barnabas, St Piran’s Cross and The Pilgrim’s Way Multi-academy Trusts – that represents 11 schools involved with over 1,700 children!

askel Veur, the Diocese of Truro academies umbrella company, continued its work in supporting the conversion of these schools to academies and began to look at the possibility of providing a wider range of services to all church schools.

In November, at the annual head teachers and governors’ conference,

entitled ‘Grasping the Nettle!’, Derek holloway from the Diocese of Salisbury led a session on developing outstanding leadership and management; and discipleship project officer, Shelley Porter, spoke about the importance of prayer spaces in schools. We were delighted to be joined by Bishop Chris for a Eucharist and to hear his views on the importance of church schools.

Church of England schools continue to be a key part of the Church’s mission to the nation and we look forward to meeting the challenge of ensuring that all our schools and academies across Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, are effective as well as being distinctive and inclusive.

9

Diocesan Board of Education

a prayer space.

head teachers grasping nettles.


SaTURDaY 29 JUNE saw the ordination of six new priests at a special service in Truro Cathedral, following the ordination of four deacons the previous evening.

In an amusing, gently self-deprecating sermon, the archdeacon of Cornwall, the Venerable Bill Stuart-White, emphasised to the new priests their need to pursue a ministry of reconciliation. and referring to the earlier reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians [2 Cor 5.17 6.2], he suggested that they were now ambassadors for Christ. “I like that image that Paul uses,” he said. “The ambassador is the ‘reconciler’ par excellence … it is a high and humble calling.”

“You are [also] called to be ministers of reconciliation. That is a demanding calling. It is one you can only begin to fulfil because you yourselves are in the process of being reconciled – of being brought to peace with God, with humanity, with your environment and with yourself – through Christ. That is the basis on which Paul addresses the Corinthians – and hence ourselves – down the centuries.

“Being reconciled is tough,” said archdeacon Bill. “It’s bruising and you already bear some of the wounds. You’ll collect

more along the way; but don’t be afraid of that. That’s how they (the disciples) know it is the real Jesus; that’s how they recognise him in the Gospel* – by his wounds. That’s how ‘they’ (the people you meet) will know you’re the ‘real thing’ too.” * [John 20.19-23]

Six new priests and four deacons ordained

The six newly ordained priests outside Truro Cathedral with (centre) Bishop Chris and Bishop Tim. From left: Revd Nicholas John Widdows (Fowey), Revd Neil John Potter (Redruth Team Ministry), Revd annie henryholland (Ludgvan, Marazion, St hilary and Perranuthnoe), Revd angela Jean Cooper (St Just in Roseland and St Mawes), Revd Caspar James Barnard Bush (Perranzabuloe and Crantock with Cubert) & Revd Paul John Beynon (Boscastle and Davidstow).

The four newly ordained deacons inside Truro Cathedral with Bishop Tim. From left: Revd John Christopher Jukes (Saltash), Revd heather Jane aston (Meneage Benefice), Revd Jane Bradbury (helston and Wendron) & Revd Peter Graham Butterfield (Gulval and Madron).

11

addressing the new deacons at their ordination service on the evening of Friday 28 June, the preacher, Revd Bridget Macaulay, reminded them of the ‘four stances’ that they had shared during the previous few days of retreat – reaching up, looking in, sharing with others and moving out.

Referring to the first reading [Isaiah 6.1-8], she explained to the deacons that when Isaiah reached up to God, this first stance had ‘reshaped’ him such that he began to look in on

SUPPORTED by a large congregation of family and friends, six new Readers were admitted and licensed by Bishop Chris in Truro Cathedral on Saturday 5 October.

In his sermon, based on Luke 17.10-24, Bishop Chris reflected on the fact that Jesus chose to share his work with others during the second half of his ministry. he pointed out that the same applies to everyone engaged in Christian ministry today. “We are trusted with God’s work,” he said.

he pointed out to the new Readers that their licensing was “a beginning and not the destination”; and that he had been surprised, through his own experience, how God weaves all our past into our present. “In his ‘economy’, nothing is wasted. all that we have and all that we are, God will use,” he added.

“Thank you for responding to God’s call, by giving yourselves to Reader ministry. You are ‘champions’ of collaboration in parish ministry. We as a diocese need you and are delighted you serve us.”

Closing his sermon, Bishop Chris referred back to the returning 70 disciples mentioned in St Luke’s Gospel. he said they were clearly excited and surprised at their achievements − small things but significant victories in Jesus’ eyes.

“Rejoice in the sight of who you are in the eyes of God,” he said. “all Jesus’ ministry grew from the knowledge of who he was. May that characterise all our ministries. We are sons and daughters of the Living God, called to serve as the people of God.”

himself; and that this example should help them to discover new ways of seeing themselves in ministry.

Revd Macaulay suggested that the deacons should learn to share the way to which they had been called and carry the burdens of those with whom they journeyed. “hold others in your journey,” she said, “and Jesus will carry you … The God who is sending you out is moving out with you. and God is faithful.”

Pictured with Bishop Chris (from left) are: Margaret Sylvester-Thorne (St Germans), Roy holmes (St Breoke & Egloshayle in Wadebridge), Denise Turner (Illogan), Margaret DuPlessy (Redruth), Marcus Jones (St Budock) and Steven Brown (Illogan).

New Readers to ‘champion’ collaborative ministry

12

Financial Review

2013 WAS yet another financially tough year. The Truro Diocesan Board of Finance met all its financial obligations to support church life throughout the diocese; but incurred a net operating deficit of £600,153 in doing so. Key points are:

n a surplus of £1,768,000 arose mainly through the sale of surplus parsonage houses and Glebe land sold for housing development (although these profits cannot be used directly to support the Ministry).

n Following three successive years of decline, amidst extremely challenging general economic conditions, Mission & Ministry Fund (MMF) receipts from parishes rose by £96,000 to £3.28M. This reversal is very encouraging; however, the Board is under no illusions as to the enormous effort parishes have made to achieve this result.

n The discretionary grant from the Church Commissioners – which the Diocese of Truro receives by virtue of being one of the poorest dioceses in the country – rose slightly, from £785,000 to £820,000.

n Generating investment income again proved very challenging in an economic environment of near zero interest rates and erratic investment markets. Nevertheless, a portfolio now heavily exposed to equity-based funds, plus a well-managed Glebe property portfolio, yielded an income which rose from £908,000 to £945,000.

n Unfortunately, Diocese of Truro Enterprises Ltd (the Board’s wholly-owned trading subsidiary) was loss-making in 2013 and, therefore, made no donation to the Board.

n The direct costs of providing the Ministry in parishes (stipends, pensions and housing) increased from £4.5M to £5.0M. This increase reflected a stipend cost of living increase of 2% and a continuing commitment to enhance the standard of parsonage housing. although the rate of a general reduction in stipendiary clergy numbers (driven by natural retirements) is unchanged, the drop in numbers in 2013 (from 98 to 96 full-time equivalents) was not as sharp as expected.

n Lay staff appointments were made to ensure that the implementation of the ‘3 Strands’ of ‘Our Vision’ are firmly rolled out and implemented in a co-ordinated way. Consequently, lay staff costs rose from £622,000 to £714,000.

n 29 parishes received Pastoral Resource Fund (PRF) grants and 5 parishes received Mission allowances, at a cost of £120,000 to the Board.

n 27 archbishops Council Mission Fund (aBCMF) applications were approved, totalling £50,000 awarded to parishes and local church groups to support inventive outreach projects.

n General Fund reserves slipped by £29,000 to just under £3.4M. house sales (less purchases) yielded net receipts of £2.5M, helping the Pastoral account balance to improve from £1.2M to £3.3M.

healthy reserves will be vital for sustaining the diocese through a transitional period of investing in our clergy and their parishes to ‘do church differently’ in an effective and financially sustainable way.

For further information, contact the Director of Finance, Michael Kent, at Diocesan House, or refer to the Board’s full statutory accounts, a copy of which can be downloaded via the

diocesan website after the May Synod.

Other Sources

Investment Income

Statutory Fees

Rents from Parsonage Houses

Church Commissioners

Mission & Ministry Fund

635,000

945,000

342,000

254,000

902,000

3,398,000

Income £6,476M

Archbishops Council

Governance Costs

Support for Mission and Ministry

Property Management charges

Clergy Housing

Maintenance of Stipendary Ministry

367,000

52,000

1,012,000

270,000

1,381,000

3,585,000

Expenditure£6,667M

2.7

2.8

2.9

3.0

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

(£) m

illio

ns

MMF Contributions (net of PRF grants) 2003 - 2013

Income £6.476M

Expenditure £6.667M

MMF Contributions (net of PRF grants) 2003-2013

13

Mission & Ministry Fund

Maintenance of Stipendary Ministry Fund

Clergy housing

Property Management Charges

Support for Mission and Ministry

Governance Costs

archbishops Council

ChurchCommissioners

Rents from Parsonage houses

Statutory Fees

Investment Income

Other Sources

3,398,000

342,000

945,000

635,000

1,381,000

270,000

1,012,000

52,000

367,000

3,585,000

902,000

254,000

3.4

3.3

3.2

3.1

3.0

2.9

2.8

2.7

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

(£)

mill

ions


ThE WORK of the Mothers’ Union – praying, campaigning and enabling – continues to flourish through the efforts of its members, not only in our diocese but also as a total worldwide membership, now numbering over four million in 83 countries.

In times of need, where we have a viable organisation on the ground, we use our centrally held Emergency Relief Fund to act directly through our members. Elsewhere, we often cooperate with partnership organisations, although some of our vital work in parts of africa has been disrupted by the recent civil wars. as a consequence the Relief Fund has seen quite significant calls on its balances.

however, looking to the future, the MU hQ Mary Sumner house is already planning its development work to include help in rebuilding communities affected by conflict. This is crucial work that members in our diocese continue to fund and to support through prayer.

Locally, our members have maintained their efforts for our existing wide range of projects. In addition, we have now negotiated a partnership with the charity action for Children. We have pledged to support its work with youngsters in Cornwall through

ThROUGh its ministry, the diocese aims to provide a safe place for many who seek company,

a non-judgemental ear, space to reflect or relief from troubles in their lives. Our doors are open to all and we welcome all. There is no age limit, there are no background checks!

Our role to minister and care for such a diverse range of people and their needs must not be overlooked. however, what comes with this privilege is a huge responsibility to practise as safely as we can. We must notice when things are going well and when they are not. We must know what to do when we are concerned about someone’s way of working or about someone’s well-being.

‘Kernow Young Carers’ and the ‘Family Intervention Project’. To do this, we have underwritten a ‘Self-Esteem Fund’ with action for Children from which small grants may be made. These will extend and underpin its important work with vulnerable children beyond the limitations of its statutory funding.

also in 2013, we welcomed Reg Bailey CBE, the MU’s chief executive, to our autumn Council. he inspired everyone as he updated us on the progress being made with our national campaign against the commercialisation of childhood.

he chaired the independent Government review which produced the Bailey Report – ‘Letting Children be Children’. as a result, important progress is being made with industry codes of conduct and systems of age ratings to help parents guide their children.

also, through the Diocesan Education Department, we donated a copy of the Mothers’ Union booklet, Labelled for Life – which deals with inappropriate advertising and goods aimed at children – to every Church School in Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly.

Truro Diocesan Mothers’ Union

Pictured (from left): Revd Dorothy Noakes, Reg Bailey CBE, chief executive of Mothers’ Union, and Revd John Cotton, chaplain & president, Truro Diocesan Mothers’ Union.

Safeguarding – it’s what we do

15

ThE EQUaLITY & Diversity Committee (incorporating Disability) is now well-established in the diocese.

The group has issued an access audit of which it is rightly proud. This includes a summary of best practice for special needs and the Equality act 2010. It guides parishes in relation to access of buildings as well as worship and other occasions on which Christians meet. It offers specialist advice and resources; and what we don’t know or have, we undertake to find out.

The committee is chaired by archdeacon audrey and comprises anglicans and Methodists and those with and without disabilities. It is committed to support those of faith and those of no faith. The new motto of the group is ‘showing Christian love through inclusiveness’ and we hold firmly to this.

although the committee only meets four times a year, it is busy in between – influencing all the

meetings, literature and settings it can, on a daily basis. audits have been conducted, and senior clergy, PCCs and other groups in training were briefed on matters of equality, diversity and disability.

Committee members aim to promote justice and fairness and bring Christian influence to the lives of everyone in Cornwall. Examples include the promotion of Disability Sunday and Inclusive Church Sunday.

We can be reached via the Diocesan Office and our work is summarised on the diocesan website.

Equality & Diversity

as our safeguarding programme has unfolded, this is exactly what has started to happen. Queries and referrals have increased over the 2013 period which is a good indicator that our workers – both voluntary and paid – have increasingly taken their responsibilities on board, are noticing issues and seeking advice. This really is an encouraging trend.

Referrals are up, safeguarding training participation is up and phone calls/emails about other safeguarding queries have risen too. The suggestion is that we are starting to see the significance of safeguarding as an integral part of our work. The rather confusing new system of criminal record checking (Disclosure & Barring Service – DBS) has, however, taken up a large amount of everyone’s time and energy, and there is still a lot of work to do before we will be able to say we are administering the system comfortably.

Things to look out for in 2014 are our small group of Deanery Safeguarding Level 1 Trainers, the recruitment of authorised Listeners (a service felt necessary for those who have been abused as children, but are now adults) and Disclosure and Barring Service/Safer Recruitment workshops for those involved in the recruitment of church staff.

Environment matters


ECUMENICaL engagement continues – in both the anglican /Methodist Environment Group and the Environment Book Group – with sharing concern, study and agreeing action for God’s world.

In one book, psychoanalysts explored what climate change actually means to people – what lies beneath the current widespread denial of climate change; how do we manage our feelings about climate change; our great difficulty in acknowledging our true dependence on nature? No answers there; but the problem was agreed.

Our CMED training too was ecumenical, with a day at Mylor exploring the subject of ecology.

Collaboration continued across the six South West dioceses where, in conjunction with the Tearfund, the Carbon Fast was championed as continued work on ‘Shrinking the Footprint’. Our Energy Benchmarking scheme is slow in take-up by parishes here, but appreciated by those who use it, bringing them new insights.

at November’s Diocesan Synod, Bishop Tim proposed adoption of the Carbon Fast for Lent 2014 and we heard announced the separation of renewable tariff income from MMF assessment; and a diocesan loan scheme for parish renewable energy projects.

The diocesan Environment Core group, chaired by archdeacon Bill, met four times – once on the ‘early train’ to a conference in Exeter on Church heating that he was chairing. We have started a pilot project, intended to test the need for an Environment adviser, doing energy audits on a small number of churches, to conclude in Spring 2014.

Truro Cathedral showed the film Trashed which covers the global issue of rubbish; and it has also shown strong leadership in support of Cornwall Waste Forum.

Yet overall, raising the profile of care for creation seems to meet reluctant support. Will we pray? Will we act for the sake of the world? For the sake of our neighbour?

More prayer and action is needed in the face of

widespread reluctance to trust both the science and the guidance of our Bishops (as well as the greater church worldwide) to care wholeheartedly, sacrificially, for God’s good creation. It is a spiritual matter – a matter of discipleship.

For more information, contact Revd Andrew Yates 01872 274351, [email protected] or Richard Hopper 01326 376554, [email protected]

When did you last read yours?

Buff-tailed bumble-bee.

Rural

Links

DURING the past year, Revd Canon andrew Wade and Revd Fr Simon Bone have cultivated their links with fellow Rural Officers in the South West and nationally, as well as locally with farmers, farmers’ markets, and with Farm Crisis Network.

In May, they attended the South West Rural Conference at Bicton College with about 80 other delegates. The event was attended by anglicans and Methodists – both lay and ordained – from several neighbouring dioceses, and it was a wonderful opportunity to share and reflect upon the themes which flowed throughout the day, ‘The Earth is the Lord’s’ and ‘The Generosity of God’.

This focus was on how the Church could make God’s generosity ‘real’ in the community and how our churches could be seen as beacons of hope, by understanding the issues facing farmers and the communities in which they work.

Both andrew and Simon ‘did the rounds’ of the local shows, including the Royal Cornwall Show. at the latter, the opening Pre-Show Service and Churches Together in Cornwall Tent were both popular features – helping to maintain the Churches’ profile and to offer hourly prayer, hospitality, and the opportunity of pastoral support and evangelistic outreach.

There were also two days during which Bishop Tim visited several farms with andrew and Simon to hear at first hand from Cornish farmers the challenges that they face on a daily basis and to begin to understand how churches and communities

can help them.

Visits were made to pig, arable, dairy, organic and free-range farms, to name a few. and one message that really did come across was that many of these farmers were compelled to ‘diversify’ in order to survive – enterprises included farm shops, holiday cottages, large country stores and conference centre facilities.

Prominent lessons learnt were that more and more of the ‘business’ of agriculture is being done over the internet; and more and more farmers now work alone such that, at times, loneliness is a problem.

It was evident too that the farmers have a real love for the land and their animals, something that was particularly clear from their constant fear of the consequences of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) infection. We need, therefore, to continue to pray, support and build on our relationships with local farmers because we have so much to learn from them.

17

18

Parsonages Report ThE Parsonages Department’s latest plans are based on the simple intent of providing good houses to keep clergy and their families happy to live and work in them and to encourage effective ministry to the community in which they are located.

2013 saw the sale of 12 houses that could not be regarded as ‘good’ because of their high maintenance and running costs, or they were in the wrong location for fulfilling diocesan strategic plans for more effective ministry, or they were just not ‘nice houses’ in which to live!

however, 2013 also saw the purchase of 3 new houses which will better fulfil our ambitions.

Some of the money from house sales has also been used to improve our existing properties, with over £1M spent on maintenance and major improvement works to 20 of our 150 properties last year. The next decade is likely to see a further reduction in house numbers to match the location of clergy to provide more efficient and effective ministry. The remaining houses will be further improved to bring them closer to the ‘good’ houses we want to provide everywhere.

Donna and Suzanne are the first point of contact in the Parsonages department and do a wonderful job dealing with the day-to-day concerns and challenges with our houses. Over 40 moves – either in or out of houses – were co-ordinated last year, together with the accompanying

works and administration to prepare them for the new occupier.

Over 1,000 work orders were issued; ranging from specified and tendered maintenance or improvement works to term contracts set up for regular property maintenance. The department and our selection of regular contractors continue to receive positive ratings on the services we provide and we are working continuously to improve on this.

Looking after houses is a joint responsibility. The Parsonages Board – on behalf of the Diocesan Board of Finance – is responsible for the exterior, the services, the kitchen and the bathroom. The occupants of houses are responsible for maintaining the interior decoration, gardening, clearing gutters, removing ivy from trees and keeping their homes clean and tidy.

and last, but by no means least, we are very grateful to the many PCCs who take on the

occupier’s responsibilities during vacancies and who to improve properties and help prepare them ready to welcome new incumbents.

Thank you to everyone and the great work you do in maintaining our parsonages for the future.


Matthew, Donna & Suzanne.

a window and a door in need of a little TLC from the Parsonage Team.

19

The Diocesan advisory Committee (DaC) is a statutory committee that provides advice on church buildings, other places of worship, their contents and churchyards, to parishes, the Diocesan Chancellor & the archdeacons.

In 2013, the committee said farewell to Revd Peter horder (trees) and Revd John Savage (fine arts) who retired; and welcomed the new archdeacon of Cornwall, Bill Stuart-White, to the committee along with Mr Paul Trerise (fine arts) and Mr Keith Rushforth (trees).

Revd John Savage (fine arts) also retired as a full member of the DaC but we are lucky to still have him as an adviser.

Collectively, the DaC expertise covers areas such as archaeology, architecture, bells, clocks & furniture, glazing, organs, paintings, memorials, liturgical reordering, heating, lighting, ecology, silver & gold work, needlework, the natural environment and path surfacing.

During 2013, the committee considered 120 applications and members carried out 56 site visits. These visits give church officers an opportunity to meet on site and discuss proposals at an early stage, and to explore various options before an application is submitted.

It is important to remember that the DaC only acts in an advisory capacity – the final decision about a faculty petition (application) is made by the Diocesan Chancellor; although in certain defined areas an archdeacon’s faculty will be granted.

Church Buildings Committee

Diocesan advisory Committee


Window designed by Oriel hicks in St agnes Church, Isles of Scilly.

The Church Buildings Committee uses the income from two trusts – the Sherrard Trust and the Rural Churches Repair Fund – to make small grants (usually no more than £1,000) for work on church buildings, especially rural churches.

The committee meets twice a year – in March and September – to consider applications which should be addressed to the Secretary, Sue Thorold at Diocesan house.


Ecumenical Report

2013 was a truly memorable and wonderful year for church unity across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The Royal Cornwall Show, as ever, provided a wonderful opportunity for a celebration of Cornwall’s finest – from farming to food, from commerce to craft. The show began with the Show Service at which we were delighted to welcome Bishop Chris who gave the address followed by the commissioning of the Ecumenical Team of Chaplains who worked across the show grounds.

The upgraded Churches Together in Cornwall Tent gave hospitality to many and the opportunity to join in the hourly prayers. The theme this year was ‘journeying, in preparation for Walk Cornwall 2, which took place in early autumn.

Following on from the ‘Walk of 1,000 Men’ 20 years ago (how times have changed?!), Walk Cornwall 2 consisted of a three-week programme of mission, led by Through Faith Missions and progressing from West Cornwall to the East involving 150 mission team members and as many churches as possible. It was a very successful ecumenical venture that reached many people ‘outside’ the church and shared the Gospel with them.

We were delighted that David Smith, County Ecumenical Officer, was made a lay canon for his outstanding work; and after another inspiring Ecumenical Church Leaders’ Pilgrimage in april, we were delighted that Frère Jean Michael, abbot of Landévennec, visited Cornwall and lead a quiet day in the Cathedral on the theme of the Rule of St Benedict.

The highlight of the year was the special service in St Petroc’s Church, Bodmin, for the signing of the Ecumenical Letter of Intent in the presence of the archbishop of Canterbury. The wonderful thing was that there were representatives from

the Methodist, United Reform, South West Baptist association, Salvation army, Society of Friends, Roman Catholic, Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches, as well as the Church of England. The challenge for us now is to put the undertakings of this declaration into practice across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The Churches Together Tent.

Walk Cornwall 2 teams singing with great gusto.

David Smith at the special Ecumenical service in St Petroc’s Church, Bodmin.

21D I S C O V E R I N G G O D ’ S K I N G D O M . G R O W I N G T H E C H U R C H .

ThE SOCIaL Responsibility Team – comprising Revd andrew Yates and Revd Jill Edwards, very ably supported by Rosey Sanders – had another busy year.

Working closely with members of the Cornwall Independent Poverty Forum – and with costs covered by a grant from the Rosemullion Trust – we ran an alternative Cornish Giving Christmas Catalogue.

This offered people the chance to support 12 projects across the county by donating to their work, instead of sending presents to family and friends. Despite being a pilot project, a profit of £5,500 was made and we very much hope to repeat this in 2014 with a wider range of organisations being supported.

and working in partnership with the St Petroc’s Society, we were able to provide a more comprehensive service for rough sleepers under the Cold Weather Provision. Church halls at St Michael’s, Newquay, and the Centenary Chapel, Camborne, were made available as night shelters to complement the provision at St Petroc’s base in Truro.

Over 70 people volunteered to help at the shelters and received training from St Petroc’s staff, and over 100 different rough sleepers accessed the provision during the two months that it was in place. The really positive

outcome was that, as a result of this longer engagement with agencies, over 50 per cent of the sleepers were helped into accommodation.

We continued to promote Fairtrade by means of exhibitions, sales and public relations work. The Truro Fairtrade hub, which offers churches and other organisations Fairtrade goods on a sale or return basis, has continued to thrive and has been able to expand its operation.

We have begun to offer networking opportunities to the 22 Foodbanks in Cornwall by meeting together once a quarter in order to exchange information and ideas and to monitor the increase in their use. Several of them are participating in ‘More Than Food’ activities, including cooking skills, debt advice and budget planning.

Work with the Council for Ethnic Minority anglican Concerns (CMEaC) passes on information from the Council to the parishes. We would be grateful to hear of any concerns raised in parishes on this subject.

Donna Birrell from BBC Radio Cornwall (left) at the launch of the Cornish Giving Christmas Catalogue.

Social Responsibility Team


World Church Committee

Retired Clergy, Clergy Widows and their Dependents

ThE YEaR has been a mixed bag for the work of the World Church Committee. as reported in the November 2013 edition of The Coracle, following discussion with the anglican Communion Office and the Bishop of Truro, the World Church Committee decided to close its formal links with Umzimvubu.

a number of factors had made the link difficult to sustain – aggravated by internal strife, non-cooperation from the Bishop of Umzimvubu and huge financial discrepancies. as this report is being compiled we learn that the Bishop has now been suspended and the diocese bankrupt to the sum of nine million South african Rand.

Further to this it became impossible to rely on the diocesan authorities to assist us in maintaining a successful working relationship. having said this we continue to support the Orphan and Vulnerable Children project which is flourishing independently from the diocesan authorities, and accountability is well documented and forwarded on to us on a regular basis. There is much to celebrate in the success of this project which is funded by benefactors of the Truro Diocese.

Naturally we are all concerned with a growing church and we can inform Synod that the number of retired clergy has increased over the past year or so to approximately 208, writes Revd Owen Blatchly.

It is a privilege for those of us who are able to continue a ministry in retirement to be of assistance in and around the parishes where we live. It is also

inevitable there are those in this group who are no longer able to fulfil a ministry and, sadly, some who are no longer with us. We remember them with thankfulness.

My time as Bishop’s adviser for the Retired Clergy and Clergy Widows is ending in mid-May. It has been a privilege and pleasure to have served the diocese in this role since 1999. I am most

grateful for all the support I have been given by you all and offer my best wishes for the future.

I am also thrilled to say that the Revd Brian McQuillen has accepted Bishop Tim’s invitation to take over this role and I know that he will be equally well supported. as this is my last report to Synod I offer my best wishes, to all involved with the Retired Clergy and Clergy Widows now and in the future.

The visitors were here to see how we as a diocese ‘did’ mission; . . .

The Strangnäs link continues to thrive and several things have taken place during 2013. Throughout the year, nine people from the Diocese of Strangnäs spent six days in various chosen parishes within the Diocese of Truro which were thought to reflect our history and diversity.

The visitors were here to see how we as a diocese ‘did’ mission; and, in a reciprocal visit, 16 members of our diocese went to Strangnäs to look at

mission strategies there, spending time in four parishes. Some members also spent time at the cathedral.

Initial feedback has been very positive and much learnt from each other’s approaches to mission and evangelism – with a CME day planned in 2014, at

which the results of the visit will be shared with members of our diocese. More exchanges are planned for 2014.

Some members of the World Church Committee attended the ‘Partnership in World Mission’ conference at Swanick, Derbyshire, and ideas were shared about other possible links for us within the anglican Communion. This process continues.

23D I S C O V E R I N G G O D ’ S K I N G D O M . G R O W I N G T H E C H U R C H .

IN 2013, Truro Cathedral continued to celebrate its 125th anniversary with a number of events and services.

The Cathedral Choir – also celebrating its 125th anniversary – held a concert and recorded a special CD (Truro 125) of music from the last 125 years, including four new compositions. The annual national gathering of the Friends of Cathedral Music was hosted over a spring weekend with the 125 Concert being the highlight.

archbishop Justin Welby made not one, but two visits to the diocese this year – a flying visit to the cathedral for a day of prayer in March and a more extensive visit to the whole diocese in November.

Our busy events programme included concerts by aled Jones, English Touring Opera, The Sixteen, Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival.

Possibly the most colourful spectacle of the year was an event that celebrated the 60th anniversary of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation.

Children from the Roseland and Polwhele School in full ceremonial dress re-enacted the Coronation Service – a masterpiece of planning and performance.

In October, the Cathedral, in collaboration with the diocese, the Methodist District and RSCM hosted a ‘Music Day’ featuring a number of workshops designed to ‘encourage and equip all who want to see music flourish in their church worship.’

In December, a highly successful reconstruction of the first-ever Nine Lessons and Carols in 1880 was staged.

a great deal of detective work took place to identify the music, prayers and liturgy of that era. a ‘full house’ was testament to the interest created and Cornwall’s part in this little bit of Christmas history.

Truro Cathedral 2013

Phot

o: P

aul R

icha

rds

Phot

o: P

aul R

icha

rds

Phot

o: P

aul R

icha

rds


Diocese of Truro Diocesan houseKenwyn Truro Cornwall TR1 1JQ

Telephone 01872 274351 E-mail [email protected]

For regular news and information about the Diocese of Truro, visit www.truro.diocese.org.uk and sign up for the fortnightly e-Bulletin

synod report & financial review 2013

Documents

d i s c o v e r i n

n g d o

g r o w

r e v i e w

b i s h o p t i

e p o r t f i n

o c e s e o f t r u

n g t h e c h u r c