Professional Documents
Culture Documents
aStoN ceNtRaL BIRmINGham coLeShILL eDGBaStoN haNDSwoRth kINGS NoRtoN moSeLey poLeSwoRth ShIRLey SoLIhULL SUttoN coLDFIeLD waRLey yaRDLey & BoRDeSLey
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BIShop oF BIRmINGham
Reflections on the year and a call to action. Reflections on the year.
tRaNSFoRmING woRk
hIGhLIGhtS FRom oUR chURcheS aND chapLaINS BIRmINGham catheDRaL chURch SchooLS
The Cathedral is a springboard for mission and a House of Prayer in the city. We support Head Teachers, senior staff and governors in 52 schools around the diocese. We train and support those working with children and families and provide safeguarding advise. We train and support many paid workers and volunteers working with young people.
We work with many other faiths and are passionate about tackling issues of poverty and disadvantage.
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Whatever your role, how you communicate the story of faith is really important.
We offer clergy ongoing support in study and space for spiritual renewal. There are many people exploring, or training for, ordinained ministry in the Church of England. Readers play an important part in the ministry of churches all over the diocese.
We consider clergy well-being to be essential to the life and work of the parishes. Support is offered to parishes in balancing the historical value of buildings with their modern use.
BIShop oF BIRmINGham
BIShop oF aStoN
a caLL to actIoN
Amongst prayer and the many other activities I have engaged with all over the Birmingham diocese in 2012, my involvement in the Social Inclusion Process really stands out.
We, as the Church of England, have an opportunity to bring our unique gifts and stand together with other people and organisations who share Gods heart to reach out to people in need. When I was asked to lead the Social Inclusion Process, Giving Hope Changing Lives, I did not hesitate to take up the challenge. In this time of unprecedented global economic and social uncertainty, it is vital that we work together across the city to shape the future wellbeing of the people of Birmingham. As the largest UK city outside London, with one of the most diverse and youthful populations anywhere, Birmingham has the natural talent and global potential to be the very best setting for 21st century urban life. Achieving the best quality of life is important for everyone, but in order to do this, people need to be able to participate fully in society and the economy. The high level of disadvantage that persists across Birmingham is extremely distressing and could become worse in the current climate. Inequality and social exclusion is something that we should not easily accept in a rich country and a city like ours. Our aim is to bridge the gap between the disadvantaged and the powerful, so that more people can participate in the economic and social opportunities at work, home and play. Evidence from the process shows that the challenges in achieving this aim are most demanding. Our key lines of enquiry, whether in households, streets or communities, in institutions, organisations or enterprises, revealed a new expectation that a more cohesive city is the responsibility of all, and is in the interests of all. This task moves beyond what the city council or national government can do, not least when budgets are being reduced drastically. It will require the combined energy, resources and wisdom of everyone to address some of the fundamental economic and social issues we face, and to protect those who are most vulnerable in our communities. I am extremely grateful for everybodys contributions so far. The findings from the process were set out in our Green Paper (which can be found at fairbrum. wordpress.com). Our White Paper (also online) presents the commitments and recommendations that the steering group feels will have an impact on social inclusion in the city. However, this does not cover everything and this is not the end of the process. I am asking for your help and expertise to turn these ideas into action. I invite you to engage immediately with items in this paper that you can influence, and also to point out to us areas you can help deliver. I am aware that I am taking a leap of faith that we want to promote anothers fulfilment at the same time as our own. As we seek the welfare of the whole city, may we know that we are committed to Giving Hope and Changing Lives when, in our relations with our fellow human beings, distant respect moves to deep appreciation and mere tolerance becomes full participation.
I FeeL ImmeNSeLy pRIvILeGeD that my vaRIoUS RoLeS keep me IN toUch wIth woRLD mISSIoN, NatIoNaL mISSIoN, DIoceSaN mISSIoN aND LocaL mISSIoN. 2012 has been a busy year for me personally, not least because of a dual house and oce move, both within the space of a few weeks. I am now a kept man, living in my wifes vicarage, and its been particularly good to get rid of lots of clutter - old furniture, old books, old filing-cabinets and the like.
With my brief to oversee Transforming Church in the Birmingham diocese, theres been a parable there: that its good to travel light, to keep it simple, if we are to be effective in the mission to which God has called us. Rhiannon Jones has written about Transforming Church elsewhere in this report and Ive been especially encouraged by the various conferences for larger, midi and smaller churches held over the past year, all of them very well attended and much appreciated. Some of the Transforming Church systems need some attention but overall its been good to see the vast majority of our churches taking mission seriously something thats beginning to show in the figures. From 2010 to 2011, the number of adult worshippers and electoral roll members stabilised, after several years of decline; while Christmas numbers were up 20% and baptism numbers 8%. Children remain a priority (though the published figures here didnt reflect much of the new activity that is going on with Messy Church and the like). But overall we seem to be stable or even a tiny bit on the up. Ive continued to thoroughly enjoy the bread-andbutter ministry of confirmations, licensings and special events, and its been good to take part in the opening of the amazing Christchurch, Sparkbrook and the reopening of the fabulous St Barnabas, Erdington. Meanwhile my little interviews with baptism and confirmation candidatesand longer interviews with prospective ordinandshave continued to remind me that the missioning God is still at work all over our diocese, despite the economic and spiritual challenges we face. I guess around 80% of my ministry is spent within the diocese but Ive also taken on a number of roles outside of it, mainly related to mission. Im on the board of the Archbishops College of Evangelists, and I chair both CPAS and the grandlynamed Panel for World Mission and the Anglican Communion, which draws together the chief executives of the various Anglican mission agencies. Im on the Council of the Queens Foundation, which has been chosen as the only place in which Methodist ordinands will now be residentially trained a great coup for the college, which should have major (and positive) implications for theological education in the city and region; and am also on the board of the Sutton Coldfield Charity. My involvement with the Lutheran churches in Sweden (and especially the Oasis renewal movement) has continued, with the chance to address a smaller summer conference (with 500 participants or so) in 2012 and a larger summer conference (ten times the size) in 2013. Its a little like the UK New Wine network, except that the conferences culminate with High Mass, at which the Bishop of Aston is called upon to concelebrate! Meanwhile I also paid a short trip to Frankfurt, where the German Lutherans are beginning to show a real interest in church planting and fresh expressions. I feel immensely privileged that my various roles keep me in touch with world mission (through the Panel which I chair), national mission (through CPAS), diocesan mission (through Transforming Church) and local mission (through living in a vicarage!). In amidst the busyness of it all, there is much grace and encouragement. 5
tRaNSFoRmING chURch
otheR heaDLINeS FRom 2012
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The Bishop of Aston and the Transforming Church Co-ordinator (the Revd Rhiannon Jones) gave dozens of presentations, talks and sermons about Transforming Church across the diocese. If youd like one of them to come to your church or group do ask! The Transforming Church Facebook page collected its first 300 friends and we are continuing to develop ways of communicating our core message. Do become a friend Transform magazine was discontinued in 2012 but we took this opportunity to launch a Transforming Church eNews letter once a month to both clergy and Consultants. We hope in time to develop this further. 25 Transforming Church Consultants attended a training programme to help them be the most effective Consultants they can be.
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IN 2012 theRe waS a RaNGe oF coNFeReNceS aND tRaINING eveNtS to heLp eqUIp chURcheS to FLoURISh aND Be moRe FULLy what GoD IS caLLING them to Be. 2012 saw another full year for all those working to implement the ten goals of Transforming Church.
We have continued the work of assigning Consultants to parishes and continue to provide advice and resources for many of our parishes. Some of this work is reactive as we respond to the regular requests from churches and some is proactive as we contact parishes with various resources which we think may be of help. In addition, in 2012 there were a range of conferences and training events to help equip churches to flourish and be more fully what God is calling them to be.
A vacancy project (to help churches grow through a vacancy) was launched in conjunction with CPAS and the Diocese of Lichfield. Research was carried out in 2012 and the resulting publications are now being trialled as a result. A Joined-up-thinking Group was launched for a group of diocesan office staff to increase our collaborative working, chaired for the first year by the TC Co-ordinator. We moved offices to 1 Colmore Row in September - a very positive step forward for the work of Transforming Church enabling us to have closer contact with other departments. In September we enjoyed the opportunity to share the lessons of Transforming Church with the clergy of Swansea and Brecon who came to visit us as part of their annual Clergy School.
The committee who meet to discuss the distribution of the TC Fund (dealing with over 250 000 in 2012) continued to meet four times a year throughout 2012 and were pleased to receive many high calibre applications to encourage and develop mission across the diocese. The Transforming Church signage project, launched in 2012, has now awarded 68 grants. 12 churches have applied for faculties and several signs are now emerging around the diocese. Have you spotted any yet? Half a dozen churches have also received financial support for developing their website. Grants were awarded to 26 churches to aid their celebration of the Olympics and the Queens Diamond Jubilee, both excellent occasions for churches to engage with their parish. (Photo above shows the Big Lunch at the Cathedral.) Many other imaginative projects were supported throughout the year ranging from the funding of Messy Church initiatives to Bible Study materials to parish weekends away.
The first round of the Mission Apprentice scheme is now over half way through and you can read more about this on page 8. Transforming Church in conjunction with the St Albans diocese started work on an initiative called soul[food] which seeks to reach those who come to special services at church (baptisms, weddings, funerals etc) but who are hard to follow up as they usually disappear quickly at the end of services. Through the medium of attractive cards left on each chair or pew, soul[food] aims to link such people up with the church through low key text messages and emails which seek to draw them closer to God. This is now being piloted in twelve churches in the diocese as well as in over 30 churches in St Albans diocese, including its Cathedral. In October 2012 we were thrilled to be able to appoint a part time TC Intern, Charlotte Cook, who will be working with us until June 2013 before she starts her ordination training.
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To implement in every parish an appropriate strategy for making con dent, prayerful disciples in their daily life. worshipping Christians to take tithing seriously, and to give at least 5% of their income to the local church. To increase the range and spiritual fruitfulness of partnerships and community initiatives across the diocese. To increase the number of leaders of all ages, and drawn from every ethnic group, who are trained and deployed in the church and wider community. To encourage every parish community to think through the challenges of relating constructively to those of other faiths.
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Over 500 people participated in our various Conferences in 2012. The two Big Splash [Baptism] conferences were well attended and the Growing Midi sized churches conference was oversubscribed. Half a dozen Welcome Courses were organized in churches and in the Handsworth deanery to help churches improve the welcome they offer. The volunteer team has continued to support our meetings and conferences.
We look forward to what God may do in and through Transforming Church in 2013 and beyond. Do contact us on 0121 426 0420 if youd like to know more about Transforming Church.
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mISSIoN appReNtIceS
Peter - St Peter and St Johns, Ladywood When I heard about the Mission Apprentice scheme, it sounded like a breath of fresh airwith a mandate to pioneer new initiatives in deprived areas in order to bring people to Jesus and to see the community flourish. It sounded both exciting and dynamic. Through the discovery day, I found that St John and St Peters church in Ladywood were looking for a Mission Apprentice with a youth work focus; I knew this was a perfect fit, which I believe God had perfectly orchestrated. This year, my primary investment has been mobilising the church to reach out and serve its community, particularly in the area of working with children, young people and families. I have spent a lot of my time working with primary schools in our parish. One school in particular in the Spring Hill area, had no previous engagement with SJSPs church, and now I do: weekly R.E lessons, monthly assemblies and serve on their governing body. This has enabled the church to reach out and serve further in its community. Another key area of my work has been training volunteers. The first group of 11 volunteers are pioneering the setting up and organisation of SJSPs after school club. The second group is building a youth team to work with teenagers connected to the church, to both plan and lead youth sessions and events. The training and support of volunteers has enabled them; to grow in faith, be released in their gifts and passions, develop in their confidence and skills working with children, young people and families, and develop confidence in being able to communicate and share their faith with others. Personally, it has been an absolute joy to be involved in enabling and equipping a church in mission and seeing people reach new heights in their faith. In addition to this, the MA scheme has drawn me closer in my walk with Jesus and enabled me to be released in my giftstrying out new innovative ideas, trusting God and seeing him moving powerfully in Ladywood.
maLawI paRtNeRShIp
The Partnership has been in operation since 1966 and continues to benefit and enrich Christians in Malawi and Birmingham.
actIvItIeS
The Malawi Task Group, the decision making body, met six times during the year. In February the Malawi Partnership joined with the charity Medic Malawi to organise the Big Breakfast for Malawi. The Big Breakfast brought supporters of Malawi together in many places in Birmingham and all over the UK over the weekend of 24-26 February 2012.
A project combining structured training and mission experience in some of the most deprived parishes in the Birmingham diocese.
The Mission Apprentice Scheme is an imaginative response to the opportunity to bid for Church Commissioners funding to support frontline missional development. The Mission Apprentice scheme is a collaborative vision developed through the input of a number of individuals across the Birmingham diocese. This vision was to support the growth and development of missional leadership within some of the most deprived parishes in Birmingham. One year on and we can reflect back on: the progressive realisation of this vision with the establishment of seven Mission Apprentices working across inner city, outer estate and other faith majority areas; The completion of the first year of a learning program focused on supporting and inspiring individual and missional growth; The collation of stories and outcomes of initiatives pioneered through the MAs energy and vision. Hopefully this short report gives you a flavour of the Mission Apprentice Scheme and excites you with the potential for this kind of investment across the Birmingham diocese. Therefore please read on prayerfully, but also reflectively, considering how you could respond to this impetus within your own parish and/or support the further growth and development of this scheme for individual and Church growth across the diocese. 8
co-oRDINatoR
Sam Miller is co-ordinating the development of the Mission Apprentice Scheme and is also spotted around Birmingham representing Urban Devotion Birmingham (www.urbandevotion.org), and championing the role of prayer at the core of mission and heart of our city.
caSeStUDIeS
Jenny Baker - St Gabriels, Weoley Castle I began working as a Mission Apprentice in April, working for St Gabriels Church, Weoley Castle. Although some of the other MAs were already working or volunteering for their church, for me it involved moving and beginning from scratch. Since beginning I have helped to set up some new projects, including a knitting group and a family event based around prayer, community and food. This is called Soul:food and meets both weekly and monthly. This has enabled me to get to know local families, and to develop relationships with them. I enjoy working with children and as well as Soul:food I have been involved with our After School club project. As well as these activities, I have helped to set up and lead all-age services. This years Easter Sunday all-age service saw an increase of ten times the amount of children from last year! As a part of the local congregation we are also working on adapting to change and recognising and responding to how the church is growing. This is helping me to develop my skills in leadership and to see where my gifts and skills are.
FINaNce oFFIceR:
Canon Paul Wilson
SecRetaRy:
Mrs Hilary Miller
FINaNcIaL SUppoRt
Parishes and individual well-wishers in the diocese have given through the Partnership since it began. Support through the Malawi Fund to the dioceses amounted to 57,000 and designated support for parishes and projects at about 35,000. The country suffers from deep-seated poverty, and during 2012 it was forced to devalue an over-valued currency, making essential imports more expensive and lowering living standards. The Malawian Church is striving towards self-sufficiency but is grateful for the generosity of Birmingham Christians.
memBeRS:
The Rt Revd Andrew Watson (The Bishop of Aston) Fr Henry Burgess Mrs Liz Carr Mr Mike Down ( from Nov 2012) Mr Stephen Drew Mrs Margaret Fulford Mrs Judith Grubb Mrs Claire Laland Mrs Sandy Osborne (to July 2012) www.malawipartnership.co.uk For up-to-date information and contact details please visit our website.
tRaNSFoRmING woRk
The professional service sector has also seen reductions. In 2012 senior financial leaders came together with CIGB and the Bishop of Birmingham to talk over their concerns and desires for the future. Negotiations with Birmingham City Council to set up chaplaincy in two of their main offices had a positive outcome and continues to be a very popular and well used resource for the staff, just at the time when the public sector is facing some of its most challenging cuts. Fire officer chaplains have also stood alongside changes to their service. As well as job clubs and money advice being a growing church response, more people are coming forward for our chaplaincy training programmes, wanting to engage with the issues on the street. The annual licensing service hosted by St Theresas RC church in Coleshill saw some of them being licensed and celebrated ecumenical support of CIGB. After seven years of spearheading the work of CIGB Barbara Hayes retired from this role in 2012. In her time as Team Leader she extended the network of workplace chaplains and succeeded in advocating the Christian view in discussions about economic issues at many senior levels. Through her understanding of the economic scene and its impact on businesses, she promoted reports on issues such as the nature of work, migration and new industry possibilities for the Midlands. Recognising that CIGB was evolving into a considerable network of local teams, Barbaras post was reconfigured as Development Director and we appointed Revd Peter Sellick to this role in November. Peter comes to Birmingham and Solihull after ten years of chaplaincy and church roles in West Bromwich, and experience of networking with Sandwell Churches Link Project.
BIRmINGham aRchDeacoNRy
INDUStRIaL chapLaINS have BeeN key FIGUReS IN the ReGeNeRatIoN pLaNS FoR LoNGBRIDGe. 6th Century St Benedict offers a role model to christian managers today, a senior solicitor recently said of his role in business.
Speaking at God at Work Unanswered Questions (organised by Chaplaincy Plus) a senior solicitor explained that 6th Century St Benedicts famous rule of life tells us that the sacred and secular are not separate realms of life. This is becoming more obvious as we see the choices made those who have power and wealth: the ethical and spiritual consequences of those options are being writ clear in a time of austerity. At the annual commissioning service for new Churches and Industry Group Birmingham (CIGB) chaplains, the HR Director of the NEC Group reflected on the Parable of the Mustard Seed. She heard it as a story of the amazing transformation of people and society that has taken place in her work places. At the national conference of the Industrial Mission Association, in Birmingham, the theologian Ann Morisy told us that she saw chaplains as those who can support peoples own intimations that there is more to life than meets the eye. We can challenge the materialistic paradigm: if something is legal and lucrative, it does not mean it is the right thing to do. Industrial ministry encourages people to do business with God. CIGB Industrial Chaplains have been key figures in the regeneration plans for Longbridge, they have been part of a new community heart coming to life, with housing, retail, and community development. Local church members from the area have started chaplaincy at the brand new Bournville College, recognising the hardships facing young people as they consider their future working lives. Similarly chaplains at Jaguar Land Rover have been able to be in places of growth and good news. On the other hand, at the start of 2012 it was estimated that just 3% of churches nationally were working with unemployed people. In Birmingham and Solihull, a number of churches have started job clubs. The AGM in May promoted peer support, mentoring and enterprise as other ways in which churches could engage with youth unemployment. Some workplaces have needed support in painful economic conditions and staffing changes. Our chaplains in Solihull town centre have used the relatively stable economic conditions there to deepen relations with workers, including handing out mince pies at Christmas. While other local shopping areas have found life very tough: one shopkeeper in Kings Heath doesnt think he has seen such hard times in all his 30 years, and life in Birminghams city centre indoor market has also been a struggle.
St BaRNaBaS, erdington
In December the restored and redeveloped building was rededicated in a service led by Bishop David, and attended by approximately 350 invited guests. The churchs eight bells signified the occasion ringing for the first time since the building was severely damaged by fire in 2007. The rededication service offered thanks to all those involved in the five year programme, including the fire fighters from who initially tackled the blaze. Blessings were offered for various significant parts of the church that were originally destroyed, including the altar, font, and Chancel window. tHe cHurcH of englAnd - BirmingHAm
pHoto: JAmes BAstABle
For all the latest information, training opportunities, stories and dates for your diary visit www.cigb.org.uk.
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St James, handsworth
A highlight of the year was to welcome the ministry of The Revd Rajinder Daniel as an honorary assistant priest. It was also good to have Margaret Daley with us as a ministerial student on placement from Queens. Much appreciation was expressed for our well attended Quiet Day led by Revd Linda Isiorho.
St marys, lapworth
We have continued to develop our monthly Family Service so that it works better for children.Puppets have played an important role in four services.Twice the puppets have had a dialogue with the Rector and children! We have been given two puppets and the money to buy some more, so more developments will follow!
st Johns, Middleton
The church in Middleton has the possibility of growing slowly. We are becoming a welcoming church. The introduction of music school has given some interest among the people and I am happy with the adults. I have been visiting a few families in the villages. People are generally welcoming. I appreciate Pat Geoff, Penny for their contribution to the church.
St peters, maney
We threw ourselves into the celebrations for the Queens Diamond Jubilee last summer with a special all-age service on 3 June followed by The Big Lunch to which we invited members of our local community to join us in a picnic in the church grounds and vicarage garden. Although the rain drove us into the Church Hall (bouncy castle and all) instead, everyone still had a great day and toasted her Majesty with many cups of tea!
st agnEs, moseley
A number of us have been meeting to study Claire Smiths excellent book Gods good design - what the Bible really says about men and women, reminding us that we are equal but have different roles within the church.
St thomas, nuthurst
St Thomass have joined with Hockley Heath Baptists this year in the spirit of Fellowship and Outreach, to produce a monthly lunch of homemade soup and cakes open to anyone in the surrounding area. The Church Sandwich has a filling of a short thought for the day by either the Vicar or the Baptist Minister, the fish paste in the bread! Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
st marys, wythall
Oh help! Oh No! Its... the very special guest at our Christingle service. We were also blessed with a bumper turnout to our service of Nine Lessons and Carols, led by a brand new community choir numbering over fifty!
Colossians 3:14-16
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And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
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2012
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BIRmINGham catheDRaL
tRaNSFoRmING eNGaGemeNt
2012 saw our most active year as a cathedral in terms of events, special services, tours and recitals. In 2012 we held 271 events (in addition to our regular worship) figures for previous years are: 2011 230; 2010 219; 2009 170; 2008 - 153. Our most important relationship is with the Bishop and parishes of diocese. It is a great joy to host events for the diocesan family including Ordination Services, regular 3D course Services, school leavers services, and the MU Festival. During 2012, the Dean has been visiting Deanery Synods to discuss Cathedral plans to celebrate our 300th anniversary in 2015. The Cathedral clergy work ecumenically in partnership with ChaplaincyPlus and on Carols in the City sited in Cathedral Square in 2012. We support Christian Aid throughout the year and enable many fund-raising activities to be carried out on our premises which raise thousands of pounds, particularly over Christmas. We do all sorts of things that might not be expected, for example, we held the Higher Education and Fellowship awards ceremony for Birmingham Metropolitan College for the first time and continued to host Flatpack film events. We host weekly recitals, a summer organ festival and many concerts with the Cathedral choir. The Royal Ballet Sinfonia Orchestra performed a marvellous Autumn concert with us in the Cathedral and the girls of the choir went on to join them for performances of Mendellsohns The Dream at the Hippodrome and Sadlers Wells, London, and in Grenada, Spain. Our Come and Sing events grew in popularity. The Cathedral choir sang Choral Evensong for a live broadcast on BBC Radio 3. During 2012 there was a continuing improvement to the Cathedral profile in the local and national media. Local press coverage has improved and stories have been picked up in the Church Times. The Dean and Canons regularly broadcast on BBCWM. Cathedral news is now published bitHe cHurcH of englAnd - BirmingHAm monthly to improve internal communication. We distributed 10,000 leaflets at Christmas promoting Services and events. We use Twitter and our iPhone app enables our Cathedral sermons to be heard anywhere in the world!
thaNkS
None of our extensive ministry and mission would be possible without the generous support of our congregation and the selfless work of our volunteers, staff, diocesan clergy and retired clergy and our Cathedral clergy team. We are richly blessed in the quality of the commitment that is seen in the Cathedral day in and day out enabling people to come here to be inspired and encouraged in faith. I have enormous confidence as we look ahead to 2013 and beyond to our 300th anniversary celebrations in 2015.
tRaNSFoRmING DIScIpLeShIp
Cathedral visitors are welcomed by a team of Visitors Chaplains. The trained volunteers of the Cathedral Education Team guide school parties and adult groups into deeper knowledge and understanding of Christian faith. In 2012 we teamed up with St Martins in the Bullring to provide a childrens Advent Pilgrimage. We held a Lent Course reflecting on faith in a multi-faith city; a Cathedral Community Learning Day on the theme of The Body of Christ and a Cathedral weekend retreat. Regular groups include the long standing Tuesday Talks; a new young adults group; weekly bible study; wedding and confirmation preparation.
we aRe RIchLy BLeSSeD IN the qUaLIty oF the commItmeNt that IS SeeN IN the catheDRaL... eNaBLING peopLe to come heRe to Be INSpIReD aND eNcoURaGeD IN FaIth. In 2012 there were two stand-out national events gathering us together and lifting our spirits: the celebrations of HM the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympic and Paralympic games. Birmingham Cathedral played a key local role in both of these celebrations.
Bishop David wrote a Thank you letter to the Queen and hundreds of people in Birmingham came in their Cathedral to add signatures and heart-felt thanks. A beautiful Civic Service was held on the Jubilee weekend. We had planned to hold a Big Lunch outside, but, as the rain fell in torrents, we quickly turned the Cathedral around, put up bunting inside and held lunch in the Cathedral! A great time was had by all. We then welcomed the American and Jamaican track and field teams to Birmingham with an ecumenical Olympic Service. The joyful and dignified Service made a deep impression on our visitors with the Americans confirming that it had been the highlight of the pre-Olympic camp in Birmingham. our congregations are growing. As well as our celebration of the liturgical year, we held the largest ever number of special services tailormade for particular occasions. During 2012 the Cathedral Chapter completed the Liturgy Plan, outlining our understanding of worship and setting out challenges for the future. The music at Birmingham Cathedral is one of our greatest treasures. The Cathedral choir nurtures over 30 children and young people in the life of faith. As well as welcoming the parishes of the diocese to worship, the Cathedral musicians support parishes in Services and worship across the diocese. The Cathedral lighting has reached the end of its life and we plan to replace it and decorate the cathedral interior. A working party has consulted with the Cathedral congregations and other stake-holders and 2013 will see fundraising to enable the lighting to be renewed as soon as possible. Cathedral Square is a marvellous resource, the only public green space in the city centre and with very low crime rates. We manage a regular programme of outdoor activities including worship and prayer, arts interventions, charitable events and public information activities. We are hugely blessed in our fine team of bell-ringers making the Cathedrals presence felt (and heard) in the city centre for Sunday worship and, in 2012, a staggering total of 15 special events.
FINaNceS
The financial health of the Cathedral continues to improve with very careful monitoring of expenditure. We have seen our financial situation go from deep deficit in 2010 to a modest surplus in 2012. This is a remarkable achievement. Now the challenge is to fund-raise for repairs and renovations in the Cathedral and in preparation for the 300th anniversary celebrations in 2015.
tRaNSFoRmING pReSeNce
The Cathedral Chapter has a five year Transforming Cathedral plan to improve our facilities and regards the care of our Cathedral building and facilities as a mission imperative. 2012 saw a continued effort to raise standards and gain better order.
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chURch SchooLS
The role of the Diocesan Board of Education has in 2012 undergone a massive shift, taking on direct responsibility for a chain of new sponsored Academies.
These are church schools which have been required to adopt this new status under government policy. Working through the newly created Diocese of Birmingham Educational Trust (DBET), the Board as Sponsor is charged with ensuring rising standards of academic achievement together with robust financial management - responsibilities which previously sat with local authorities. At the same time a number of other high-performing church schools have of their own volition converted to Academy status. The Board has assisted them in this transition, while making sure the strong and valuable relations within the church school family remain intact. Meanwhile, the officers of the Board have worked with all our other schools to ensure they are appropriately supported and challenged to meet national standards and performance requirements. This has been coupled with the clear imperative of the distinctiveness of the Christian ethos. We take seriously the statement of the Church of England at national level: that church schools are at the centre of the churchs mission. We continue to work with colleagues in our five Local Authorities on a range of education issues, and in appointing Heads and Deputies. But with the diminution of Local Authority services, our church schools are increasingly looking to us to signpost them towards quality assured service providers. So in 2012 DBET developed a Diocesan Partnership Framework of approved providers, in line with Department for Education guidelines, enabling schools to choose with confidence from those listed. In addition 2012 saw the development of the Diocesan Partnership Agreement with schools a voluntary subscription service through which schools can access a range of professional development and support services at reduced cost through collective purchasing by the Church of England - Birmingham. Clearly the Education team are now involved in a range of activities not previously part of their remit but now central in the changing educational landscape. Workloads have therefore substantially increased but by judicious commissioning using Partnership Agreement funding and Academy funding, a range of affordable, quality consultants are increasing the teams capacity and expertise. All this is consistent with recommendations in the 2012 national report Church Schools for the Future. As a DBE we are looking closely at the implications of this report for how we develop our work further. yeaR SIX LeaveRS SeRvIce, BirmingHAm cAtHedrAl Each year pupils celebrate their time at Primary School and are commissioned into Year Seven.
DBe oFFIceRS
DIRectoR oF eDUcatIoN: The Revd Jackie Hughes nn SchooLS SUppoRt oFFIceR: The Revd Peter French nnn Re aDvISeR: Mrs Jill Stolberg nn SecRetaRy to DBe: Miss Emma Lardner (to April 2012) Miss Susan Crosthwaite (from July 2012) aDmIN aSSIStaNt: Mrs Melanie McKernan tReaSUReR: Mr Robin Goater n
n n n n
Our senior leaders conference March at the Lakes Conference Centre at Barston, Solihull, with keynote speaker Dr David Woods from the DFE, dealing with the church school ethos, followed by a range of workshops. Over 90% of our schools were represented. Our termly briefing sessions for school leaders, looking at yet more proposed changes to the Ofsted framework, pupil assessment and teachers performance management. Our Governors conference in May, with Ian Carnell as main speaker, held at Bartley Green High School; Our two briefing sessions for Governing Body Chairs and clerks in November, updating on a range of diocesan policies, the new OFSTED framework and the role of the clerk.
A note of discord, however, was sounded by the requirement that, in all church schools, the Collective Worship should be Trinitarian in nature, and that inspectors should judge the extent to which pupils respond to God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. While this may be a laudable aspiration in the church schools of the nation, it is decidedly controversial in some multifaith Birmingham schools. The DBE responded by suggesting that inspectors note how well worship enables learners to develop an understanding of Jesus Christ, and of the Christian understanding of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The published framework is due to be implemented in April 2013, and training will be offered to all our schools and clergy in the summer term.
movING FoRwaRD
It has been a busy and challenging yearbut thanks to our hardworking and highly skilled staff team, and the outstanding leadership of Jackie Hughes as Director, we enter the new year with great confidence. The Board itself has completed its three-year term, and so new members will be welcomed into role at the start of 2013.
co-opteD
Mr Brian Aldridge (Sandwell LA) Mr Mark Gore (Warwickshire LA) The Revd Linda Isiorho n Mr Mark Lanyon n Mr Chris Palmer (Solihull LA) Mrs Jill Saunders (Birmingham LA)
eXecUtIve commIttee BUILDINGS & FINaNce commIttee GoveRNoRS commIttee cURRIcULUm & Re commIttee
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Young People
and communion policy. The aim is to equip leaders, with resource examples, to prepare young people for their continuing journey of faith. Monthly gatherings of up to 21 paid youth workers took place with the aim to encourage and support them in their discipleship and, in turn, empower them to develop confident, prayerful disciples in the young people with whom they work. In 2012, the youth team were able to engage in
n One-to-one mentoring of employed youth
empowering childrens leaders with practical and spiritual ideas was attended by 153 delegates from 48 parishes. Workshops helped to develop skills and experience in using puppets and games, transition, quiet times with children, creative prayer, children with additional needs, and discipleship.
n Advice and support for parishes in: safeguarding,
child protection and safe recruitment: 168 people attended safeguarding training.
workers;
n Training representatives from 63 parishes in
Supporting and equipping the work of churches with children and families is an important part of the work of The Church of England - Birmingham.
Claire Wesley, a Reader, is Bishops Adviser for Childrens Ministry, and alongside others with diocesan-wide roles, is working towards the ten diocesan goals set through Transforming Church (see page 6). Claire also oversees child safeguarding training. Transforming Churchs Diocesan Goal #1 is about being committed to numerical growth across all ages. Advice and support is offered to parishes to reach and keep families through fresh expressions of church like Messy Church. There are now 18 across the diocese. Transforming Churchs Diocesan Goal #2 is about making the most of occasional services. Following successful conferences on marriage in previous years, a day conference called The Big Splash was offered twice during October. It aimed to help churches make the most of opportunities arising before, during and after baptisms. Around 80 peopleincluding Clergy, Readers and lay minsterswere present at each day representing 67 different parishes. The day included discussions around the subject of good practice: how to keep people after baptism; baptism preparation courses;
team working in baptism preparation and follow up; potential lay roles in the liturgy; Godly Play in baptism preparation and in Family and adult baptisms. Attendees appreciated learning from other parishes and said the day had been, very stimulating, one person said it has made me think of all the things we could do. In addition to this, a workshop on Using seasonal celebrations to reach families was included in the Growing with God conference for Childrens leaders.
employing a childrens worker. Six of these consultations led to applications to the Transforming Church Fund.
n Support for paid childrens workers in parishes. n Advice, support or training to 60 different
Transforming youth ministry in churches across the diocese is an important part of the work of The Church of England - Birmingham.
Helen Tomblin is Bishops Adviser for Youth Work and Craig Gilman is Assistant Youth Adviser andDigital Youth Adviser, both work part time See page 36 for contact details. Assistance was given to Helen at the Mission Learning Group of the Bishops Council in identifying priorities of work in the context of a reduction in staff time for youth work to one full-time post in line with other comparable posts. This helped shape the priorities for youth work which were then presented at Diocesan Synod in November 2012. Working towards Transforming Churchs Diocesan Goal #4 (see page 6), Helen and Craig were involved in continued, and new, work across the diocese through
n Catalyst - youth events in the Cathedral that
Walsinghambuilding on an Anglo-Catholic mass held as part of Catalyst and making contact with new young people;
n Re-launching the Youth Pilgrimage to Taiz in
working with young people: Creative Prayer, Bringing Liturgy to Life, Digital Disciples Integrity Online;
n Supporting five Transforming Church Fund
parishes through email consultation. Advice on current developments and resources in childrens ministry and seasonal ideas for families with young children provided via monthly eNews letter.
n Training for four parishes on starting Junior
partnership with the Vocations Team. The 14 Pilgrims also took part in gatherings to prepare for the spiritual journey in advance of the trip;
n Responding to parishes seeking advice and
young people to undertake short-term projects or year-outs drawing on funds provided by the St Martins Trust. Young people report on these experiences as life changing.In 2012 5,500 was awarded to 11 young people from the diocese. Consistent with Transforming Church Diocesan Goal #8 the youth team partnered on other initiatives through
n Hosting regional and national meetings for Youth
Church, resources, admission of baptised children to communion before confirmation, and Godly Play.
n Visits to four parishes to assist with
Open-Handed Approach a CME Day for curates,aiming to help engage with children in ways which build relationships, nurture spirituality and foster Christian discipleship within the childs family.
n Bishops Certificate in Childrens Ministry is
Transforming Church action plans and to one parish for help in auditing work with children and young people.
Convention (alongside Adviser for Minority Anglicans) which gave a showcase for young peoples spirituality and discipleship and encouraged young people to take a lead in planning and running such events;
n Being Safe, an annual First Aid Training Day
Advisers which included planning for Summit a national conference for 2013 in which brings together many major youth work organisations;
n Bishops Youth Council continual involvement in
an an 18-month course equipping those who work with children on Sundays or midweek. 38 students from 22 parishes enrolled this year. This course helps develop participants explore
As encouraged by Transforming Church Diocesan Goal #8, Childrens work training was delivered in partnership with Open the Book, Polesworth Deanery, Praxis, Springdale College and Future Builders. If you want to find out more about working with children in the Birmingham diocese please get in touch with Claire Wesley (see page 36).
seek to encourage and support the range of traditions by offering three different styles of worship across the year: reflective through Catalyst Calm; outreaching through Catalyst Culture (an open stage in Cathedral Square); and celebratory through upbeat worship in Catalyst Celebration. Attendance ranges between 40 and 200 (many of whom have little or no contact with the church otherwise); THE church of england - Birmingham
multicultural resources, training and puppetry ministry for children and young people. Transforming Church Diocesan Goals #5 and #6 relate to providing an annual Christian basics course and making confident, prayerful disciples. Planning for Confirmation training took place to help participants consider the relevance of confirmation in the light of our diocesan children
the annual Sleep Out raising funds for St Basils charity for the homeless for whom they raised over 1,000 in 2012;
n Running workshops in various churches on
holistic health - combining physical challenge with the spiritual challenge to young people to consider their spiritual health. Helen Tomblin published a booklet in the Grove Youth series entitled Holistic Health in 2012. 19
18
Highlights
With the impact of recession growing, we have seen financial support for community activities significantly reduced but despite this we continue to see more churches willing to devote their resources (of people, buildings, and even money) to the benefit of their local community. This asset based approach, which draws on all the skills and resources that are available in neighbourhoods, has paid dividends in enabling us to make a mark on Birminghams Social Inclusion Inquiry Bringing Hope Changing Lives which, under the chairmanship of Bishop David, has been examining issues of poverty and exclusion across the city.. For many years our churches have been meeting the needs of older people through the provision of day centres and lunch clubs funded through local authority grants. This year a new ecumenical partnership of churches working together has been formed and then commissioned jointly to deliver services to vulnerable older people over the next two years. The Community Regeneration team has been able to help in liaising with Birmingham City Council, bringing the partners together, preparing the successful commissioning bid in collaboration with a lead body, the Digbeth Trust, and are now working on a training and development programme in partnership with Thrive.
COMMUNITY REGENERATION
The purpose of the Community Regeneration department is to encourage and support Christians and churches to participate in activities that help to transform the lives of people living in their local neighbourhoods and particularly to support Christian activity that alleviates poverty and disadvantage. We endeavor to achieve this in three ways:
n Offering a support service to churches,
PHOTO: Dee@Outroslide
We were really pleased to have been able to support the development of an ecumenical Practical Action Network in Smethwick which is enabling churches to come together to address issues of poverty through setting up a foodbank and exploring other practical responses. We continue to run the Know Your Church Know Your Neighbourhood programme with church members across the diocese and are encouraged by demand and particularly by the willingness of clergy to work with us to tailor the programme to their context. One of our commitments is to support community workers who are employed by local churches in areas of considerable deprivation to facilitate their churchs involvement with their local neighbourhoods. This year we have been delighted to support the development of the Mission Apprentice Programme and the seven new workers who are employed and also to continue our relationship with the Nehemiah Foundation who employ and train three community regeneration workers through the Near Neighbours programme. We are pleased to have had some involvement in supporting the Strengthening Estate Ministry group of estate based clergy as they come together to share the joys and challenges of their ministry and to explore new approaches. We are excited that this model is now being adopted by clergy in the inner city and hope we can share similar collaboration in supporting that new network.
projects and individuals to enable them to tackle issues of poverty and disadvantage
n Encouraging churches to develop a
vision for how they might have a greater impact on the lives of people in their local communities
n Raising the profile of the work that
Christians and churches do to address the needs of communities across the diocese particularly with local authorities and statutory bodies We intend that the Community Regeneration department should be a valuable resource to support churches and community projects with advice on issues such as employment of staff, funding, organisational policies and governance, to creative use of church-owned buildings, project support, and developing parish strategies to better engage with their local community.
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21
COMMUNICATIONS
The Communications Department exists to serve churches in developing effective ways to communicate the life and purpose of Gods people in the Birmingham diocese.
This operates both internally and externally looking at how we communicate with one another and how we are perceived outside of our church structures. We work closely with the Bishop of Birmingham and the Bishop of Aston in communicating their mission objectives. During 2012, alongside his daily work around the diocese, much of Bishop Davids communication has been focused around the Social Inclusion Process (see page 4). Statements and interviews in newspapers like the Birmingham Mail and Post, as well as extended interviews on both BBC Midlands Today and BBC Inside Out, have been about championing work with some of the poorest people in the Birmingham diocese. A review of internal communication was undertaken and it was decided that Transform Magazine (which had been sharing stories from around the diocese for a number of years) would be rested and reimagined in 2013. Our quartley publication, Praying Together, continues a shared pattern of prayer and is appreciated by many people across the diocese. Special thanks goes to Peter Chapman, who has worked hard on collating this and has now passed the job of collating stories and prayers to Charlotte Gibson. The review also highlighted a real need for updating the diocesan-wide website. The site has served us well but, with an increasingly interactive approach to the web, it was felt it needed to be brought up-to-date in terms of both content and functionality. It is hoped that the new site will go live at some point in the Autumn 2013. The site aims to serve parishes in the business of church life but also to share stories that encourage and envision mission initiatives around the diocese.
NEAR NEIGHBOURS
Near Neighbours made around 70 awards to people wanting to run projects that bring people of different faiths together. The total value of the awards was about 220,000 and we will have brought around 2,000 people together. Grants were awarded to groups from the Christian, Muslim and Hindu traditions and included lots of local events to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. Other fun encounter projects included a Pantomime run by a Hindu Temple and the local Anglican Church, dance projects, an arts festival, events to celebrate St Georges day, a party for Nigerian Independence day and Christmas parties. Other projects encouraged civic engagement in a local neighbourhood and included job clubs, parenting courses, work with asylum seekers, ESOL lessons and environmental projects. Many Anglican churches have been involved with Near Neighbours in many different ways and it is fantastic to see churches building new partnerships and forming friendships with neighbours from different faith traditions. We were delighted the Bishop of Birmingham, working with comedian Barbara Nice, was able to host our celebration of Near Neighbours during Interfaith Week and the launch of our Faithful Friends photography exhibition. The exhibition has been borrowed by churches, faith communities and chaplaincies across the Diocese, raising the profile of the work of Near Neighbours and the importance of friendships that build bridges in a fragmented society.
PHOTO: Dee@Outroslide
PHOTO: Dee@Outroslide
press engagement
n Bishop Andrew was involved in promoting
the Real Easter Egg and fighting to save Birminghams Wholesale Market.
n Bishop David has been activitly involved in
the Social Inclusion Process and a variety of press opportunities arising from that. He was also involved in giving thanks for the Queen during the Jubilee activities and welcoming the Jamaican and Olympic teams to Birmingham.
n It has been good to see Birmingham Cathedral
PHOTO: Dee@Outroslide
like Near Neighbours and the Faithful Neighbourhoods Centre. In addition to printed material we have been exploring communication through film, producing:
n A Christmas message from Bishop David; n An interview with Bishop Andrew explaining
feature in numerous media agencies around the City. The Olympic Service which welcomed the USA and Jamaican teams to Birmingham was a particular highlight.
n Work was completed on the 3.8m restoration
of St Barnabas, Erdington after an arson attack in 2007 and the building was redidicated by Bishop David in December.
Social Media
During 2012 we ventured into the world of Social Media. It has been good to make Praying Together avaiable through Twitter and Facebook and to see Bishop Davids tweets reaching a wider audience. This is something for continued development.
Transforming Church;
n Films exploring the Malawi Partnership and
PHOTO: Dee@Outroslide
Run the Race. Keep the Faith. as part of the Great Birmingham Run.
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23
year an average of 80 participants take one or more modules. These include Readers for further training, those exploring vocation and those seeking a theological grounding for discipleship in daily life.
n Reader training: this programme provides two
Consistent with the Transforming Church Diocesan Goal #8 to increase partnership and community initiatives:
n Clergy and lay training was delivered in part
Asian church in liaison with Bishops Adviser for Minority ethnic Anglicans;
n Ensuring minority ethnic Anglican input to the
facilitate missional approaches to church buildings (public access, noticeboards, visual impact etc).
n Revd Canon Mark Pryce (Bishops Adviser for
sessions focused on Daily Life and Faith and Work to support lay leaders to enable others in their churches to make links between Sunday and the rest of their life and work.
n Reader Ministry: after initial Reader training, and
Clergy Induction programme. Essential to meeting this goal is the work of Joycelyn Lewis-Gregory (Bishops Adviser for Minority Ethnic Anglicans and Vicar of the Cotteridge Church) whose work has included:
n Meeting and supporting individuals exploring
through regional and ecumenical cooperation under the umbrella of the West Midlands Regional Training Partnership through staff liaison sharing good practice, creative ideas and resources;
n Input from the Community Regeneration
The Church of England Birmingham places a high level of importance on training and development of both clergy and lay ministers.
THE MISSION LEARNING GROUP
The Mission Learning Group of the Bishops Council continued to meet during 2012. Items included thorough discussion concerning:
n Improving communications with parishes to
Clergy are supported to take up wider roles such as Transforming Church consultants, contributors to diocesan events and lead training for others.The Transforming Church framework is excellent in identifying mission priorities and training is also in relation to the Ordinal, the Canons and the National Learning Outcomes for curates, for example:
n Many clergy sabbaticals in 2012 were about
Clergy Continuing Ministerial Development) leads quiet days and retreats for local churches and groups, as does the Archdeacon of Aston.
following licensing, continual training is offer through the NEXT programme, encouraging an ethos of life-long learning. Training days for all serving Readers are held three times a year.15 new Readers licensed in January 2013, with a further one to follow and 16 entered training in September 2012. Reader Continuing Education included a New Testament Study Day in 2012 (led by Canon Dr Paula Gooder).
n Pastoral Care and Community Skills: the Bishops
Department and the Diocesan Board of Education was ensured for both curates training and the Clergy induction programme;
n A whole range of local, regional and national
licensed and ordained ministry, and those seeking grants from the Bishops Empowering Discipleship Fund;
n Updating the Health Check for Churches on
colleagues were drawn on in continuing ministerial development for Readers and lay pastoral ministers;
n There was an increase in links with the Faithful
spirituality and mission, that is being built up as a resource so that clergy can give greater impetus in mission in their ministries;
n MA courses and individual studies are similarly
enhance the take-up of the training being offered by the Bishops Advisers.
n Identifying priorities with the Youth Adviser in the
context of a reduction in staff time for youthwork to one full-time post in line with other comparable posts.
n Inclusion of questions on the Archdeacons
a Bible-based study course designed to help transform discipleship and enable participants to grow as confident followers of Jesus. 190 people enrolled in 2012/13 (the average is 150) for this 30-week course, meeting in small groups across the diocese with a range of experienced and knowledgeable tutors, both lay and ordained.
n Growing Gifts:for those who complete 3D and
Scheme has been operating for 12 years and there are 146 commissioned members of teams in 31 parishes across the diocese, with a further 51 people in training for commissioning from another nine parishes. Annual Away Days provided for the teams offer further training, support and affirmation, with high attendances. Ongoing support for teams is provided from volunteer Diocesan Advisers and they are the link with further training for those already commissioned.
n Adult Safeguarding training: Basic training sessions
Race and Ethnicity and advice and support is offered to churches with examples of good practice;
n Leadership training at St Georges Newtown with
those who have taken the 3D course highlighting opportunities for taking up leadership roles in the local and wider Church.
n A Celebration of Minority Ethnic Anglicans a
training of Incumbents of Curates, Readers and Clergy with pastoral care teams.
Articles of Enquiry for the Visitation (May 2012) ascertaining progress in parishes towards their Transforming Church goals. Responses to these were shared with the staff of Advisers.
day conference, supported by the Bishop of Birmingham, to listen, worship and network, with leaders from amongst Minority Ethnic Anglicans. The Day promoted resources for leadership, diocesan courses, and opportunities for pastoral support especially for asylum seekers and refugees.
n The Archdeacons continue to provide annually
Diocesan goal #10 is about encouraging positive relationships with those of other faiths. A variety of activities in 2012 are worked towards this mission criteria:
n Session for curates on practical theology of
ministry through the West Midlands Regional Leadership programme.All curate training has a missional dimension, including a focus on evangelistic strategies;
n Support is given to Clergy in a range of contexts
CLERGY
Clergy Continuing Ministerial Development aims to nourish Clergy to be mission-minded, theologically informed and spiritually resourced in such ways that they areable to lead PCCs and congregations confidently and prayerfully. This leadership is to be offered in ways which are inspiring, encouraging, enabling, challenging and appreciative of others. 24
and traditions to reflect on best practice in mission, evangelism and theology which promotes Christian witness.
n Adviser contributes to identifying Clergy to lead
sense a growing desire to go further in their faith. The annual programme offers opportunities for study, exploration in prayer and developing practical skills. 100 people participated in the different training days in 2012.
n Learning for Discipleship: for those seeking
were offered three times in the year and a total of 75 people attended these sessions. Transforming Church Diocesan Goal #9 is To increase the number of leaders of all ages, and drawn from every ethnic group, who are trained and deployed in the church and wider community. Working towards this in 2012 included:
n Development of Clergy as leaders is key to all
academic theological study. This annual programme offers termly modules taken as stand-alone courses or in combination so that three courses successfully completed with assessed written work leads to a Bishops Certificate in Learning for Discipleship. Each Annual report 2012
in an induction for new Churchwardens, training evenings and also a Quiet Morning each Advent to support them in their spiritual life and discipleship. The Quiet Morning (led by Mark Pryce)was well attended in 2012 with a good representative range of minority ethnic Wardens. Transforming Church Diocesan Goal #7 relates to encouraging worshipping Christians to take tithing seriously and so in 2012 diocesan finances and stewardship were made a part of the new annual Clergy Induction programme.
relations;
n Ensuring input from Faithful Neighbourhood
25
vocatIoNS team:
Paul Bracher Rich Burley Rebecca Clarke Stuart Dimes Jonathan Dowman Lydia Gaston Paul Hinton Adrian Leahy Joycelyn Lewis-Gregory Simon Marshall Tim Meathrel Daniel Ramble Emma Sykes
we See GoD coNtINUING to caLL aND eqUIp womeN aND meN to LeaD GoDS peopLe.
2012 was another busy year with 59 women and men exploring a call to the Ordained Ministry with the Director of Ordinands (see details in Chart 1). A number of clergy supervise candidates on placement. The Ministry in the Church of England selection criterion requires a candidate to have both breadth and depth of experience and so a placement in a church of a different size, tradition, social context or style of ministry from that from which they come is a very important part of the discernment process. I am grateful to those who are willing to reflect openly and honestly in this way with candidates. Others accompany candidates as they engage with some theological reading, maybe for the first time, and tutors on Learning for Discipleship modules which many candidates take at The Queens Foundation write Educational References for those who have not studied for many years. Thank you to them too!
of different ages, genders, ethnicities, church traditions - all of whom are passionate, as well as realistic, about Gods call to be in ministry in their particular context. The Vocations Team has offered a series of follow-up Signposts evenings on different aspects of ministry - being Anglican, prayer, mission and evangelism, leadership, pastoral care. I am grateful to all who have contributed to equipping and encouraging candidates in this way.
n
Duncan Hill-Brown Alison Joyce that a candidate has a strong personal sense of God Charles Lawrence calling them to this particular ministry and also Andrew Lenox-Conyngham 2 4 2 that this vocation is recognised and supported by Edmund Newey Pamela Ogilvie 4 9ORDINANDS IN TRAINING 2012 Apr-12 9 2 others. We are requiring more and more of our ORDINANDS TRAINING 2012 Apr-12 Rowena Pailing6 6 IN Nick Parker 4 ordained ministers and so it is important that we 9 Smitha Prasadam Mark Pryce 18 6 5 18 Paul Rattigan Brian Russell gather evidence of a broad range of gifts, skills and 5 18 Louise Shaw Patrick Taylor aptitudes and also be assured that a candidate has 5 Larry Wright the physical, emotional and spiritual stamina for the 2 2 ORDINANDS ORDINANDS IN INTRAINING TRAINING 2012 2012 Apr-12 Apr-12 4 4 long haul of ministry. 9 9
eXamINING chapLaINS: ORDINANDS IN TRAINING ORDINANDS IN TRAINING Jenny Arnold Paul Cudby
2012 Apr-12 2012 Apr-12 The discernment process is rigorous, and 2012necessarily so. The Church needs to beApr-12 confident
A Pilgrimage to Taiz As part of the Vocations Teams strategy to recruit more young ordinands I led a Pilgrimage to the Taiz Community in France in the summer, together with Helen Tomblin and Craig Gilman, the Bishops Youth Advisers. This was designed to encourage young people to listen to God and consider what God might be calling them to do with their lives. You can watch a video of our trip at youtu.be/9z8AyXFDcds. Seeds were sown and we do not yet know what harvest may be reaped. Another pilgrimage is planned for 2013.
2012 2012 Apr-12 Our work requires attentive listening and I am Apr-12
hugely grateful to those who share the task of discernment:
n
15 15
11
11 11 21 21 11
15 15 12 12 11 20> 11
20> 30> 30> 40> 40> 50> 12 12 50> 60+ 60+
77
52 52
13 13
21 2120>
27 27 27 27
30> 40> 50> 60+ GeNDeR Men Men Women Women 20> 32 32 20> Men 30> 30> Women 40> 40> 50> 50> 32 32 60+ 60+ Men Men Women Women
Black Minority Ethnic Black Minority Ethnic White Majority Ethnic 52 52 White Majority Ethnic Black Minority Ethnic oF cateGoRy White Majority Ethnic
SpoNSoRShIp 18 18
Vocations Advisers meet enquirers early on in the process and help to run the Signposts vocations course each Spring. The Vocations Team meets with the DDO three times a year and their ideas, advice and support are invaluable. Examining Chaplains interview candidates later on in the process and their sharp insight and wise advice is greatly appreciated. Their reports inform Bishop Andrew, the Sponsoring Bishop, and help him decide whether to sponsor a candidate for a national Bishops Advisory Panel.
Each diocese works within the Criteria for Selection which are approved by the House of Bishops. You can find a summary of these by searching for Summary of Criteria at www.churchofengland.org. During the year we have offered a number of events to help inform and equip candidates.
n
I have continued to work fruitfully with Joycelyn Lewis-Gregory, the Bishops Adviser for Minority Ethnic Anglicans, as we encourage minority ethnic members of our congregations to offer their gifts in all areas of the Churchs life. The Church of England also wants more young people to consider Ordained Ministry. Each diocese has been asked to identify a Minority Ethnic Vocations Champion and a Young Vocations Champion and I am delighted that the Bishop has appointed Joycelyn Lewis-Gregory and Lydia Gaston to these roles. Towards the end of the year we began to plan a diocesan event for young people in November 2013. I am delighted that 11 people in their twenties explored Ordained Ministry this year. A national statistic emerged during the year which gives cause for concern that of under-32s (Ministry Divisions definition of a young vocation) attending Bishops Advisory Panels only 1 out of every 5 is a woman. There may be a number of reasons: large evangelical churches tend to produce young men for ministry; there continue to be challenges around the balance
of ministry and family life which affect women more than men; some young women may wonder whether the Church of England is ready to accept their gifts, especially following the General Synods vote in November. This is certainly a matter that we will keep an eye on in Birmingham. We currently have 22 ordinands (see details in Chart 2): 16 are training locally at The Queens Foundation and six are in full-time training at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, St Johns College, Nottingham and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. There is evidence that concern about spouses employment and childrens schooling is meaning that more ordinands are choosing to train locally, usually remaining in their own homes. The Ordination of Deacons and Priests took place in July and June. Retreats were held at Barnes Close near Bromsgrove and were led by Canon Pete Wilcox, now Dean of Liverpool, and the Revd Peter Harrison from the Diocese of York. Our work is relentless, but hugely encouraging when we see God continuing to call and equip women
Men Men Women Women RevD 11 caNoN FaIth cLaRINGBULL 22 11 11 22 22 4 18 4 18 22 22 2 11 62 11 11 11
2 2012
20
11 IN TRAINING 11 ORDINANDS 11 13 18
9 9
aGe 5 5 11
ethNIcIty 18
13 4
13
20
2 9
11 9 11
2 5
6
20> 11 20> 30> 6 30> 40> 40> 50> 50> 60+ 60+
11
18
13 13
11 11
Stipendiary Stipendiary SSM SSM 18 18 41 41 Stipendiary SSM Black Minority Ethnic Black Minority Ethnic White Majority Ethnic White Majority Ethnic
41 41
Black BlackMinority MinorityEthnic Ethnic White WhiteMajority MajorityEthnic Ethnic Black Minority Ethnic Black Minority Ethnic White Majority Ethnic White Majority Ethnic
cHArt 1
The Signposts Course Over five evenings participants had the opportunity to meet with a range of priests who are in ministry in parishes and chaplaincies, as well is in secular employment. These evenings are always hugely encouraging as we hear from women and men
20> 30> 5 40> 50> 60+ GeNDeR Men Men Women 11 Women 20> 20> Men 30> 30> Women 40> 40> 50> 50> 11 60+ 60+ Men Men Women Women
Black Minority Ethnic Black Minority Ethnic White Ethnic 18 Majority White Majority Ethnic Black Minority Ethnic cateGoRy oF White Majority Ethnic Stipendiary Stipendiary SSM SSM 13 Stipendiary 9 SSM Black Minority Ethnic Black Minority Ethnic White Majority Ethnic White Majority Ethnic 13
SpoNSoRShIp
Men Women
26
Minority Ethnic Minority Ethnic White White Minority Ethnic White 20 - 29 20 - 29 Men 30 - 39
4 18 22
SSM 20> SSM 30> cHArt 2 40> Black Minority Ethnic 50> White Majority Ethnic 20> 60+ director30> of ordinAnds 40> Black Minority Ethnic 50> White Majority Ethnic 60+ Men Stipendiary Women SSM 27
Stipendiary Stipendiary
Men Women
Stipendiary
ReaDeRS aSSocIatIoN
March. From the CME committee we also heard of plans for the training day with the Bishop due to take place in the autumn of 2013. During the year the committee made arrangements for the annual licensing service and the Reader selection conference. Other items considered included, Post Licensing Training; Continuing Ministerial Education; the introduction of newly trained Readers into our Association and provision of cover for services. The Assistant Wardens have met together twice during the year, sharing a meal together and discussing how they can support Reader ministry within their own Deaneries. The aim is for there to be one Assistant Warden in every Deanery, as points of contact for Readers and Clergy around the Diocese. We hope to complete the appointing of Assistant Wardens for all 13 deaneries in 2013.
ReaDeRS StatIStIcS
The table below shows the statistics presented to Central Readers Council in the annual capitation return at the end of December 2012.
Status Active Unattached to a Parish Permission to ociate Emeritus TOTAL Men 76 1 19 22 118 Women 88 4 23 18 133 TOTAL 164 5 42 40 251
the aSSocIatIoN IS Set Up to FURtheR the mINIStRy oF ReaDeRS LIceNSeD wIthIN the BIRmINGham DIoceSe.
memBeRShIp
Members of the Readers Association either hold the Bishops licence or those over 70 have the Bishops permission to officiate in the Diocese of Birmingham. Those who have now retired from active ministry and have given faithful service are given the title Reader Emeritus.
wArden Revd Martin Stephenson AssistAnt Paul Raymer wArden secretAry Mike Lynch
2012 1822 1772 1167 507 38 175 85% 74% 45% 40% 55% 50%
2011 2274 1876 1142 505 41 251 87% 78% 43% 42% 59% 52%
2010 2271 1991 1179 403 45 257 90% 79% 30% 39% 58% -
2009 2177 1956 1176 458 48 226 94% 78% 25% 47% 58% -
We also give thanks for their service to the following who have elected to take Emeritus status:
Noel Barrow Norman Hart Gill Salkeld Gloria Lawrence Jim Snowdon Connie Jinks Frank Robinson Janet Haverson St Paul, Balsall Heath St Leonard, Franckley Cotteridge Church St Peter & St Paul, Aston Emmanuel, Wylde Green St Hilda, Warley Woods St Peter, Maney St Leonard, Frankley
aImS
The Association is set up to further the ministry of Readers licensed within the Birmingham diocese; to administer the organisation in accordance with Bishops Regulations; and to offer the Diocesan Bishop advice on matters relating to Readers. In addition the Association is responsible for the selection and admission of new Readers, for the maintenance of records and statistics about Reader ministry, for liaison with the Central Readers Council, and in conjunction with the Warden of Readers, for the pastoral support and care of Readers. The Association is also responsible for Continuing Ministerial Education (CME) and Post Licensing Training via the NEXT course.
treAsurer Chris Dunbar initiAl Juliet Bakker trAining secretAry engAgements Peter Conabeer secretAry cme secy David Harrison elected Ruth Cooper committee Sue Dilworth memBers
% of Readers leading services in the week % of Readers leading services of all age worship % of Readers attending a CME Training event
St Peter, Harborne Aston & Nechells Team Kings Norton Team St Nicholas, Baddesley Ensor
Due to snow on the morning of the service Ian Morrey from Holy Trinity, Lickey with St Catherine, Blackwell was unable to attend and will be licensed later in the year within his own parish. The licence of Amanda Butler was revived from being unattached to serve with the Kings Norton Team ministry.
Readers previously admitted whose licence was transferred by the Bishop of Birmingham:
James Lethbridge Carol Mayes St Philip, Dorridge St Swithin, Barston
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The CME committee did not organise an autumn training event as Readers were invited to participate in the Big Splash which was training for Baptism preparation alongside Clergy and members of pastoral care teams.
thaNkS
The work of the Association is sustained by the voluntary efforts of many Readers, too numerous to mention them all. Our thanks are also due to Rev Liz Howlett, the Bishops Adviser for Adult Lay Education and Training, and Ven. Dr Brian Russell, for their contributions to training days and selection conference and for their support of Reader ministry via the Readers matters group. Andrea Stevens at the Diocesan office who helps in so many ways, particularly with the mailings to all Readers. Our officers and committee for all they do to enable the work of the Association to run smoothly. We thank the Reader training course tutors for their work in preparing our new candidates for their future roles in ministry. Thanks to Revd David Warbrick who has co-ordinated the Next training programme for newly licensed Readers for a number of years and has now passed the baton on to Revd Helen Hingley who we welcome to the role. To Juliet Bakker for organising the selection conference for our clergy and Reader selectors and those who volunteer to help on the day. The many people who have helped to lead our Training Days and the other events supported by the association.. Thanks to Revd Canon Janet Chapman who led the planning for the licensing service and with Revd Kate Stowe made sure everything ran smoothly on the day. Thanks to Pat Joyce at Birmingham Diocesan Registry office for preparing the licences for the new Readers and those with Permission to Officiate. Finally, our thanks to Bishop David, for presiding at the licensing service and hosting the meal at Bishops Croft for the newly licensed Readers.
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the commIttee caN oFFeR aDvIce aND SUppoRt to paRISheS at aLL StaGeS oF a pRoJect FRom INItIaL thoUGhtS... to compLetIoN.
pURpoSe
The Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC) is a statutory body established by Canon that operates in secular legislation as defined by the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991. Its main function is to give advice on the architecture, archaeology, art and history of places of worship to the Diocesan Chancellor and the Archdeacons as part of the judicial Faculty permission process. The Committee also advises clergy and churchwardens who are planning work to their church buildings and grounds. Members and advisers have a detailed experience and knowledge of the use, development and good stewardship of church buildings; the living liturgy and worship of the Church of England; church architecture, archaeology, art and history; and the care of historic fabric and furnishings. The Committee can offer advice and support to parishes at all stages of a project, from initial thoughts through to making a Faculty application, and finally to completion.
St BaRNaBaS, erdington Work was completed on the 3.8m restoration after an arson attack in 2007 and the building was redidicated by Bishop David in December. Thankfully, the amount of thefts of lead and copper from the exterior of church buildings in 2012 had decreased below the figures for 2011 and 2010. These attacks have caused serious hardship for churches in the diocese as at least one in every five has suffered some degree of metal theft since 2007. It is hoped that this problem will now decline, due to the installation of alternative materials at many churches and the deployment of new security systems. In the summer of 2012, following consultation with the Committee, Transforming Church released new guidance to help all parishes set up consistent, effective, affordable and appropriate sign and notice boards to further support their welcome, mission and outreach. To assist in the development of new signage, Transforming Church offered 50,000 in grants to parishes that needed new boards. In total, 68 churches expressed a desire to take advantage of these funds and 10 were in a position to seek Faculty permission during 2012. The Committee was helped most when church building custodians were familiar with its statutory responsibilities and were aware of the support its members and advisers could offer. The Faculty process might appear burdensome and efforts had been made to improve understanding of how to progress through it as quickly and as easily as possible. The Committee had been able to work with the organisers of Continuing Ministerial Education to provide training for new clergy. Its care of buildings webpage was viewable on the Church of England - Birmingham website. The Committee was glad to be involved at diocesan level in a project to review the condition of the fabric of all Anglican churches nationally through an assessment of quinquennial inspection reports, which was organised by the Cathedrals and Church Buildings Division of Church House, Westminster and funded by English Heritage. It was hoped that this would help bring important grant funding to churches with the greatest need. The Committee also hoped that parishes would be able to take full advantage of the new Grants for Places of Worship Scheme, which would now be administered by the Heritage Lottery Fund, rather than by English Heritage.
aDvISoRS
Mr David Bradnock MBE JP DL FBHI (Clocks) Mr Peter Cook (Special Projects) The Very Revd Catherine Ogle (Textiles) Mr Chris Rice (Conservation) Mr Andrew Stubbs (Bells)
Dac StaFF
Mr Adrian Mann (Secretary to the Committee) Mrs Vicki Tildesley (Administrator)
caSewoRk
During 7 meetings in 2012 (DAC282 to DAC288), the Committee considered 284 items of business, including 98 new petitions. The Chancellor granted permission for 89 petitions for Faculty to carry out work to churches in the iocese. Petitions from parishes covered everything from the installation of a memorial plaque to full liturgical reordering, with work to heating systems and maintenance to external building fabric being particularly prevalent.
SUmmaRy
Overall, the Committee hoped that, throughout 2012, it had been able to assist parishes in the good stewardship and the effective and sensitive development of their church buildings, in the furtherance of their mission and the provision of pastoral care. The Committee extend its usual invitation to any clergy and churchwardens to join and observe any of its meetings where they, as attendees, were not petitioning for Faculty.
compoSItIoN
The Committee is chaired by a person appointed by the Bishop. In addition to the Chair, the Committee must constitute: the Archdeacons of the diocese; two elected members of the Diocesan Synod; one nominee from English Heritage; one nominee from the National Amenity Societies; one nominee from the Local Government Association; and at least seven other members appointed by the Bishops Council. The Committee must have a quorum of one third of its members, including one Archdeacon and one architect, and is appointed on a six-yearly basis. The current cycle is 2010 to 2016.
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Contacts
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E martin. stephenson @cantab.net
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E DAC
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CATHERINE OGLE
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RUTH HARVEY
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NIGEL HAND
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Carol Currier
E CarolCurrier
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E Ben.Franks
CHANCELLOR
CANON DR PAULA GOODER REVD CATHERINE GRYLLS REVD CANON NIGEL HAND ROBERT HOLGATE DR RACHEL JEPSON VEN HAYWARD OSBORNE
MARK POWELL QC
REGISTRAR
E enquiries@birminghamcathedral.com www.birminghamcathedral.com
HUGH CARSLAKE
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ASTON CENTRAL BIRMINGHAM COLESHILL EDGBASTON HANDSWORTH KINGS NORTON MOSELEY POLESWORTH SHIRLEY SOLIHULL SUTTON COLDFIELD WARLEY YARDLEY & BORDESLEY
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