A Profile & Statement of Needs of the
December 2010
‘I have seen the Church in Lincolnshire, and it works.’ The Most Revd and Rt Hon Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury March 2010
Introduction The Diocese of Lincoln offers this document to assist those who will be meeting to seek God’s will and guidance in the appointment of our next Bishop. We pray for those who will serve on the Crown Nominations Committee for this appointment and for those who will support and advise them.
The Diocese of Lincoln today may be a shadow of the great mediaeval Diocese of Lincoln, over which Remigius, St Hugh and Robert Grosseteste presided. But although it no longer reaches to the River Thames at Oxford, the Diocese of Lincoln still serves an area of considerable size and remarkable diversity. It may not be known well by those who do not have the privilege of living and working here, but it is a fascinating area which we want to share. Members elected to Crown Nominations Commission Miss R G Beck rgbeck@btinternet.com
The Revd Canon C H Lilley c.lilley@btinternet.com
Canon N A Fisher nafisher@mail-central.com
The Ven J Sinclair archdeacon.stowlindsey@lincoln.anglican.org
The Revd Canon G J Kirk precentor@lincolncathedral.com
Mr J C Watt cameronwat@aol.com
Prepared by the Vacancy in See Committee of the Diocese of Lincoln December 2010 Š The Diocese of Lincoln 2010
Contents 1.
Setting the scene
4
2.
The area in which we minister
5
3.
A history of the Diocese of Lincoln
9
4.
The Life of the Diocese of Lincoln
9
5.
Our ecumenical partners
18
6.
Beyond the Diocese of Lincoln
18
7.
Other responsibilities of the Bishop of Lincoln
19
8.
Further Information
19
9.
Statement of Need
20
Appendices 1.
The deaneries of the Diocese of Lincoln
22
2.
Instrument of Delegation
27
3.
Financial information - Final Budget 2011
30
4.
Diocesan Council within governance structures
31
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Setting the Scene From the big skies of the fen overlooked by the majestic Boston Stump, through rolling countryside to Lincoln and then on to the market towns of Grantham and Spalding and the medieval splendour of Stamford, the Church in south Lincolnshire is privileged to serve a vast variety of communities and people and to be part of a rich social scene in a County of great antiquity but with contemporary concerns and modern expressions of life. Tim Ellis, Bishop of Grantham The north of the Diocese is a rich mix of rural and urban, offering a constant diversity of contexts for mission and ministry. There is much to celebrate in the positive way in which many congregations are responding to cultural and organisational changes which are reshaping the nature of being church. This positive response underpins a move from dependence on priestly ministry, to interdependence between priest and people, with laity increasingly taking responsibility for ministry and worship in their parish. This sense of responsibility is the bedrock for mission and for growing the Church. David Rossdale, Bishop of Grimsby A sleepy backwater with more cabbages than people? Or a remarkable part of England, already grasping the challenges that the rest of the Church of England will be facing before too long? The latter is a more accurate statement of what it feels like to be the Church in the Diocese of Lincoln. South Lincolnshire is one of the food production and distribution hubs for the UK, increasingly a dormitory for London, and an area with an amazing legacy of churches and remarkable people who are committed to mission and ministry - and growing in confidence in their calling. Tim Barker, Archdeacon of Lincoln Multi-cultural estates by the Humber, steel works, a major container port, the national fish-processing industry, caravans and holidaymakers on the coast, busy market towns, tiny villages set in rolling arable farmland - all contribute to the fascinating and rich mix in the northern half of the Diocese. Beautiful church buildings abound, as do faithful congregations of varying sizes, often led by committed lay ministers. Churches are exploring new ways of serving local communities with imagination, prayer and generosity of spirit. There are major challenges ahead - and the north of the Diocese is up for them. Jane Sinclair, Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey Lincoln Cathedral is acknowledged as one of the finest of the medieval Gothic cathedrals, and continues to fulfil its role as a place of prayer and pilgrimage. It is the focus for both church and society throughout the diocese. As the iconic building of the East Midlands it plays a significant part in the economy of the region (as demonstrated in the report by Globe Consultants, The Economic and Social Impact of Lincoln Cathedral, December 2008). It is also an international centre for training in building craft skills. Its musical outreach programme celebrates its standing as having one of the finest provincial cathedral choirs in the country. Its international links have grown in recent years - not least through its ownership of one of only four original Magna Carta. The Cathedral provides a setting for lectures, concerts, graduations and many other activities in addition to its central and primary task of daily worship and the proclamation of the Gospel. Philip Buckler, Dean of Lincoln
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The area in which we minister The Diocese of Lincoln is more or less coterminous with the historic County of Lincolnshire – which still exists as the ‘ceremonial’ county with a Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff who serve the whole area. North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire became part of the short-lived County of Humberside in the 1974 local government reorganisation, and became unitary authorities in 1996. The Diocese is a complex series of communities which can appear culturally and economically monochrome. The reality is very different. Whilst there are significant pockets of affluence (especially in the south of the Diocese, which has become popular with people commuting to London), the issues of both rural and urban poverty are significant. The diversity can be observed though health inequalities. For example, a recent NHS report observed that in East Lindsey, men from the least deprived areas can expect to live over 7 years longer than those in the most deprived areas. A similar report in South Holland reported that women from the least deprived areas of the District can expect to live more than 6 years longer than those in the most deprived areas. In the two northern unitary authorities, there are significant numbers of Super Output Areas with high levels of deprivation, again evidenced through health inequalities. In North East Lincolnshire, for instance, hospital stays for alcohol related harm, drug misuse and diabetes related illnesses, are all worse than the averages for England.
The County of Lincolnshire Councillor Martin Hill OBE, the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, describes the area Lincolnshire traditionally stretched along England’s east coast from the Humber to the Wash. Today this area is controlled by three upper tier local authorities, with North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire as unitary authorities centred on Scunthorpe and Grimsby respectively, and the remainder by Lincolnshire County Council. The County Council area includes seven districts, Lincoln City, East Lindsey, West Lindsey, Boston Borough, South Holland,
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The area in which we minister North Kesteven and South Kesteven. The population of Lincolnshire is around 700,000. Lincolnshire is essentially a rural county, with a few large settlements at Lincoln, Grantham, Boston, Gainsborough, Skegness, Spalding and Sleaford (said to be the fastest growing town in England). The remainder of the population lives in market towns such as Horncastle or Louth or in the network of small villages which spread across the county, linked by over 5000 miles of roads. The main industries in the county are food production, agriculture and tourism, with an important contribution to the economy from the four RAF bases at Waddington, Coningsby, Scampton and Cranwell. Engineering, with a long tradition in Lincolnshire, has declined in recent years, but remains a significant employer.
mainly from Ireland. With the closure of the coal mines in the early 1990s, many former miners from Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire replaced the Irish workers. Lincolnshire now has a large number of migrant workers from Eastern Europe and Portugal, many of whom have settled in the county with their families. The early friction between Lincolnshire native residents and the newcomers has largely dissipated, despite the efforts of a few right wing extremists. The County Council’s ‘Ethnic Minority Achievement Support Service’ (EMAS) works in schools with children whose native language is not English. There are also voluntary supplementary schools for children with Polish, Portuguese, Tamil, Arabic and Chinese backgrounds, which are geared to keep alive these cultures. Recently the Arabic School for All became only the 6th such school Until the late 1990s Lincolnshire had few ethnic among the 4000 similar schools in England to be minority residents. Migrant workers worked on a presented with the national Gold Award. seasonal basis in the fields and were originally In Lincoln itself, the most striking development in recent years has been the establishment of the new university, now home to some 10,000 students, and year by year climbing the league table of UK universities. The renovation of the Brayford Pool has added markedly to the visitor appeal of the city. With its roots in Roman times, Brayford serves as a counterpoint to the Norman cathedral and castle and the medieval Steep Hill. The other impact of the university, less welcome to some older residents of the city, has been the major impact of its students in developing a vibrant night economy and a much younger feel to the downtown shopping area. Although crime itself in Lincolnshire remains low by national standards, there is still a significant fear of crime among residents. This is in part due to the large number of vulnerable elderly people living in the county. Working with Lincolnshire Police, the County Council’s trading standards officers have developed a number of ‘no cold calling’ zones and run awareness programmes on how to reduce the risk of distraction burglary and employing rogue
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The area in which we minister traders both of which tend to prey on the elderly. Lincolnshire is rich in culture and history, not only in Lincoln itself. Boston and Alford have close links with the early settlement of America. There are outstanding churches in many towns and villages. The Fen country in the south east of Lincolnshire is reminiscent of the Netherlands, which reflects the fact the area was drained in the 18th century by Dutch engineers to produce some of the richest agricultural land in England.
Lincolnshire is dominated by the town of Grimsby with a small fringe of rural Wold villages, whilst North Lincolnshire contains the town of Scunthorpe, but also features the historic towns of Barton, Brigg and Epworth along with large areas of rolling countryside where the Wolds meet the Humber estuary and the fenlands of the Isle of Axholme meet with the fens of South Yorkshire.
The modern Collection museum in Lincoln has an outstanding display of Lincolnshire’s heritage, and the recently refurbished Usher Gallery has a remarkable collection of Lord Tennyson memorabilia. The County Council highly values its close relationship with the Church of England. Bishop John Saxbee kindly agreed to chair the Lincolnshire Assembly and his presence was instrumental in the success of this body. The annual Council service is held in the Cathedral. The chairman of the Council each year is invited to ask a minister of the church to serve as his chaplain, and full Council meetings begin with prayer. Regular meetings are held between members of the Council and senior church figures. The two bodies work together to manage the display of the Magna Carta, and on the wider canvas are working towards gaining World Heritage Site status for the historic area of Lincoln.
The economy of the area has been dominated by the emphasis on regionalisation over the past decade. This followed the previous concentration on Humberside and has had the effect of refocusing economic activity and attention away from the historic links with Lincoln and towards Yorkshire and Leeds. 20% of the UK economy passes through the ports of Grimsby and Immingham. It utilises the rail network and the M180, the only motorway in the Diocese, to move freight into the national networks. The South Humber Area The area is served by Humberside Police Authority, its own health trust and is most likely to be linked to The Bishop of Grimsby describes the overall area Hull and the north bank of the Humber in the new The north of the Diocese contains two unitary post-regional economic groupings. The only services authorities which were formed upon the dissolution the area shares with Lincolnshire are the ambulance of Humberside County Council in 1996. The service, the Lord Lieutenant and the Church (all the combined population of the two authorities main Christian churches work across historic represents just over a third of the population of the Lincolnshire). Diocese with some 380,000 people. North East
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The area in which we minister Grimsby and Cleethorpes represent the largest urban area of the Diocese, with a combined population of 160,000. Grimsby continues to be the national centre for fish processing, but with only limited amounts of fish being landed by sea and the majority coming by road and air transport through Humberside Airport (the only commercial airport in the Diocese). Grimsby and Cleethorpes have significant areas of deprivation and this, combined with a low wage economy, presents significant challenges to both the statutory and voluntary sectors. Against this background the churches work ecumenically through a variety of projects to meet the needs of the community. Grimsby Minster orchestrates a number of social enterprises and the youth work at Shalom has gained national attention. The recently opened St Andrew’s College, a joint Church of England and Roman Catholic secondary school, is a further example of how the churches are addressing the needs of some of the most disadvantaged people in the Diocese.
There are six mosques in the town and the multifaith forum has a key role in community consultation. The St Lawrence Academy, which is solely sponsored by the Diocese, and the Church of England primary school each have an intake of around 30% from the minority communities. The culture of the town and the area tends towards the north of England, with the retail outlets of Doncaster and Sheffield being the shopping places of choice.
North East Lincolnshire The Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Councillor Andrew De Ferias, writes North East Lincolnshire is a diverse area with a unique mixture of industry and tourism. With its roots based in the fishing industry the area has become renowned for its contribution to the UK and Europe's food industries. And more recently the south Humber bank has the prospect of becoming a centre of excellence for the renewable energy industry. The Council is working hard with its partners to realise the community’s vision of making North East Lincolnshire a great place to live, work and receive visitors.
North Lincolnshire Unitary Authority The Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, Councillor Mark Kirk, writes Scunthorpe continues to be dominated by the steelworks. The production of high grade steel in the town ensures that these works have a robust future. The town, with a population of around 80,000, has witnessed a sustained period of diversification in employment and until the recession, the economy was buoyant. Scunthorpe is home to significant ethnic diversity.
People in North Lincolnshire see the area as an attractive and thriving place to live and work. Our population is growing, we have huge investment planned for the South Humber Gateway and thousands of new jobs on the horizon. This is an area where we are proud of our rich industrial and agricultural heritage, but where we also embrace new opportunities to ensure we flourish in the future.
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The Life of the Diocese of Lincoln A history of the Diocese of Lincoln
Introduction
The Diocese of Lincoln as constituted by William the Conqueror stretched from the Humber to the Thames, covering the modern counties of Lincolnshire (with North & North East Lincolnshire), Leicester, Northampton, Huntingdon, Hertford, Cambridge, Bedford, Oxford and Buckingham. Cambridge was removed by the formation of the Diocese of Ely in 1109.
The Diocese of Lincoln has two archdeaconries: the Archdeaconry of Lincoln serves the south western half of the Diocese; the Archdeaconries of Stow & Lindsey (legally still separate but treated in practice as one) serve the northern and eastern half of the Diocese. The archdeaconries comprise 22 deaneries with some 240 benefices and 513 parishes containing 645 Anglican churches, served by 230 licensed priests (stipendiary, NSM and OLM), 137 licensed Readers, and 430 authorised lay ministers.
The rest of this great Diocese continued intact throughout the middle ages. It was divided into the eight archdeaconries of Lincoln, Stow, Leicester, Northampton (consisting of Northants, and Rutland), Huntingdon (Hunts and Herts except for the Archdeaconry of St Albans, which became an exempt jurisdiction in 1163), Bedford, Oxford and Buckingham. The Archdeaconries of Oxford and Northampton ceased to be part of the Diocese of Lincoln in 1541-2 when the dioceses of Oxford and Peterborough were created, leaving the Diocese divided geographically into a northern and a southern portion.
The Diocese covers 2,673 square miles and has a population of around 950,000. There are around 31,000 people on the parish electoral rolls.
The Archdeaconry of Lincoln serves the south west half of the Diocese, from Lincoln in the north to Stamford, and from the Lincolnshire border near Newark to the Norfolk border at Sutton Bridge. It is generally the more prosperous In 1837 the archdeaconries of Bedford half of the Diocese, with and Huntingdon, with the exception of the pleasant towns and villages and Hertfordshire parishes, were transferred to the good access to road and rail networks, diocese of Ely, the archdeaconry of Buckingham to the diocese of Oxford, and the archdeaconry of creating an attractive area for people commuting to Leicester to the diocese of Peterborough. The London and other parts of the East Midlands. Hertfordshire parishes were removed in 1845, and Nevertheless, there are pockets of deprivation in Lincoln and in towns such as Boston, Grantham and became part of the diocese of Rochester. Spalding as well as more hidden rural deprivation. One addition was made: the archdeaconry of Nottingham was added in 1837, but was retained The Archdeaconries of Stow and Lindsey have been only until 1884, when it was transferred to the held by one archdeacon since 1994. This is an area of newly-formed diocese of Southwell. A new considerable contrasts and great physical beauty, from the tiny villages of the Wolds to the towns of archdeaconry of Lindsey was created in 1933.
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The Life of the Diocese of Lincoln Scunthorpe and Grimsby, where there are many challenges to Christian ministry and mission. The North Sea coastal communities, from Cleethorpes in the north to Skegness in the south, exhibit some of the highest levels of deprivation in the East Midlands. Brief profiles of each of the twenty two deaneries are included in Appendix 1 to this document.
Episcopal leadership The Diocese has operated an informal area system for many years, with the Bishops of Grantham and Grimsby overseeing the day-to-day needs of the parishes and deaneries, along with responsibility for appointments and for sponsoring candidates for ordination. In July 2010 this way of working was given legal force through an instrument delegating specific functions of the Bishop of Lincoln. The scheme uses Section 13 of the Dioceses, Pastoral and Mission Measure 2007 to enable the bishops to be exemplars to the Diocese of the clarity needed for effective collaboration and, at the same time, establishing Episcopal Mission Areas, thus emphasising an agenda for mission at every level of Diocesan activity and structure.
3. To clarify further the complementary roles of the three bishops when it comes to who does what, and to whom particular matters should be referred for pastoral support, advice and/or decision. The Episcopal Mission Area of the Bishop of Grantham is coterminous with the Archdeaconry of Lincoln and the Bishop of Grimsby’s Area is coterminous with the Archdeaconries of Stow and Lindsey. The Instrument of Delegation can be found at Appendix 2. The Bishop’s personal staff currently comprises an ordained personal assistant / chaplain, a full time secretary and a small amount of the Head of Communications’ time, as Bishop’s press officer. The current secretary retires in January 2011. Funding equivalent to two secretaries and a chaplain has been included within the new block grant for episcopal ministry from the Church Commissioners and it is recognised that a new Bishop will wish to consider how to best utilise the budget to support his ministry.
In detail, the formal scheme is designed to achieve the following: 1. Under the general oversight of the Bishop of Lincoln, to emphasise the role of the Bishops of Grimsby and Grantham as leaders in mission in the north and south of the Diocese respectively. The introduction of Mission Fora has given added impetus to working together in mission. 2. To take the opportunity to re-affirm the The Bishop’s Staff team comprises the two area terms of a collaborative working agreement Bishops (appointed 2000 & 2006), the two between the bishops which might also be Archdeacons (2007 & 2009), the Dean of Lincoln appropriate to other models of collaborative (2007), the Diocesan Chief Executive (2004) and the ministry now commonplace across the Diocese, Bishop’s ordained personal assistant (2005). including collaboration with our ecumenical partners.
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The Life of the Diocese of Lincoln
Theological spread The Diocese of Lincoln as a whole owes a huge debt to Edward King, Bishop of Lincoln from 1885 until his death in 1910. Edward King’s picture can still be found in vestries across the Diocese – and King’s gentle Catholicism and pastoral inclusiveness are still dominant characteristics of the Diocese’s parishes. However, there is a growing diversity of theological styles and varieties of churchmanship. There are some strong and thriving evangelical congregations, especially in the Archdeaconry of Lincoln. At the other end of the spectrum, 5 Anglo-Catholic benefices have resolved to have extended Episcopal oversight; 26 parishes have passed resolution A, and 29 resolution B, under the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure. Although the Diocesan Synod has yet to debate the General Synod’s motion on the ordination of women as bishops, the Diocese has a long history of supporting the ordination of women as deacons and priests.
Resourcing and financing mission and ministry The Diocese of Lincoln has considerable historic financial resources, with investment capital of £58m. In spite of this (or perhaps because of it), levels of giving have been low in comparison to neighbouring dioceses, with a considerable inherited suspicion of ‘them at Lincoln’ and, in some areas, low levels of parish share payment. We have sought to challenge dependency on historic income for the mission of the local church by devolving significant responsibility and authority to the deaneries, in a process entitled New Era which began in January 2005 after some years of discussion.
not form part of deaneries’ long-term plans. Most recently this has happened from the Jubilee fund. The Diocese’s income from historic resources is allocated to each deanery using a formula which takes account of the civil population and socioeconomic scoring, with each deanery paying the cost of planned stipendiary ministry and an apportionment of other mission and mission support costs. These include the cost of curates in training, much sector chaplaincy through a grant to Lincolnshire Chaplaincy services and many other areas of support and provision. A summary of the Diocese’s budget for 2011 can be found at Appendix 3 to this document. As part of New Era, each deanery was tasked with producing a Mission Area Plan. It is perhaps fair to say that many of the plans were, initially, driven by finance rather than mission, but there are encouraging signs that the balance is beginning to shift, as deaneries have taken responsibility for funding ministry and adjusted to more realistic staffing. In order to plan and deliver mission and ministry effectively, deaneries are being encouraged to review their shape and size, so that they embrace the right configuration for their local context. The two Holland deaneries (around Boston) amalgamated earlier in 2010, and there are is informal co-operation in other areas.
Governance
The Diocesan Council sits at the heart of the synodical stream of our Governance, uniting decision making on pastoral, financial and policy issues. It serves as the Bishop’s Council (and therefore the standing committee of Diocesan Synod), the Mission and Pastoral Committee and the Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF). In some respects the Council is accountable to the Diocesan Synod but it must also Since then capital (which has generally grown faster fulfil the statutory functions of each of the bodies than the rate of inflation) has been used on a which it incorporates. managed basis to support the cost of posts which do
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The Life of the Diocese of Lincoln In fulfilling its duties Diocesan Council is supported by various committees which are accountable to it. The relationship between the Diocesan Council, the committees and other elements of the governance of the Diocese is shown on the diagram in Appendix 4 and the main committees are outlined here: Finance Executive Committee (FEC) The FEC works under delegated authority from the Diocesan Council, to oversee the effective management of the material assets and funds of the Diocese and other funds of which the Board has custody (other than as Custodian Trustee). Committees accountable to the FEC: Housing Committee The purpose of the Housing Committee is to monitor the application of Diocesan policy in relation to clergy houses and Board property so as to best enable the mission of the Diocese. Assets & Glebe Committee The Assets and Glebe Committee works under delegated authority to manage the major assets held by the DBF. Trusts Committee The Trusts Committee acts on behalf of the DBF in fulfilling its functions as Custodian Trustee of funds and properties, and as primary trustee of certain funds and properties held by the DBF on specific charitable trusts.
Human Resources Committee The purpose of the Human Resources Committee is to take a policy overview of HR issues to ensure that policies relating to all Diocesan personnel (lay and ordained) are appropriate, just and sufficient to enable Diocesan policies and objectives to be implemented. Local Pastoral Committees The Diocesan Council (in its role as Mission and Pastoral Committee) delegates authority to four local pastoral committees to make formal decisions arising from Mission Area Planning processes and the work of Mission Fora. Mission Fora Mission Fora aim to create leadership coalitions at local level to develop mission and ministry within areas that are approximately co-terminus with one or more district or unitary authorities. Closed Churches Committee The purpose of the Closed Churches Committee is to oversee the care, maintenance and disposal of closed churches within the Diocese.
Safeguarding Committee The purpose of the Safeguarding Committee is to ensure (a) that there is a policy overview of Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection matters and (b) that Board of Education policies and practice relating to safeguarding are The Diocesan Board of Education (a committee appropriate and sufficient. required by law in each diocese) exists to oversee and shape the Diocese’s policy in relation to work There are also two committees that fall outside the with schools, promoting education, religious Synodical structure: education and religious worship in schools and promoting and supporting church schools The Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of themselves. The DBE is distinct from other Churches (DAC), which is accountable to the Bishop committees in that it falls within the ambit of for advising the Diocesan Chancellor on matters Diocesan Council operationally and financially but is relating to churches. accountable to the Diocesan Synod in terms of The Liturgical Committee, which is accountable to overall education policy. the Bishop for advising on the development of liturgy.
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The Life of the Diocese of Lincoln
Discipleship and lay ministry The Diocese of Lincoln has more than 30 years experience of pioneering Christian adult education and authorised lay ministry (ALM), in association with Reader and Ordained Local Ministry. There is a full time Discipleship and Lay Ministry Development Officer (DLMDO) who oversees the training of lay ministers (for the leading of worship, pastoral care and a variety of roles). Training is delivered locally by deanery tutors. ALMs are authorised by the rural dean with the permission of the Bishop, having met specified ministerial benchmarks, most commonly reached through the Parish Foundation Course followed by modules relating to the area(s) in which they will be exercising ministry. Modules include pastoral visiting, leading worship, parish mission, working in and with schools, elderly people, bereaved people, being a spiritual companion, and working with children.
and are now in training in the School of Theology. The ALM training, supervision and practice in the parishes has (in many cases) given them the confidence to embark upon this. Mission Shaped Ministry, a Fresh Expressions course now running nationally and internationally, was developed by one of our partner churches in Lincolnshire. The training for this, offered by the Diocesan Fresh Expressions Officer and Churches Together in All Lincolnshire (CTAL), is being found to be a crucial means by which outward-looking mission and evangelism-orientated churches can be developed. The DLMD Officer works in association with colleagues in the Regional Training Partnership, with the School of Theology and the Music Development Officer and (with the Resources Department) in supporting better equipped church officers.
Readers
The ministry of Readers is well developed in the Diocese. 137 Readers hold the Bishop’s licence and a further 49 have permission to officiate. A number of Readers have permission to take funerals. The Diocese’s scheme for training and supporting The Diocese also offers a two-year discipleship programme, Exploring Our Faith, delivered in the Readers is highly regarded nationally, with an deaneries, for those wanting to deepen their excellent scheme for regular review and relicensing understanding of the Christian faith and grow in their of Readers. discipleship. One off day and evening follow up Ordained ministry, priestly and courses are also offered for ALMs and others. Where there is a real need, experienced and specially selected ALMs may be trained, and authorised, for leading funerals.
The courses are decentralised, locally delivered, modular, relatively short, not externally validated, and with an emerging vocational element. This approach is highly valued and felt to be appropriate to the Lincolnshire context, as well as the time demands on people’s lives. In October 2010 there were 430 ALMs; we hope that this will increase to 600 by 2015.
diaconal
Lincoln has been a centre of theological learning and excellence for many centuries. Currently led by the Diocese’s Head of Ministry Training (who is now also the Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral), the Lincoln School of Theology has brought together four key institutions in the city of Lincoln: the Diocese of Lincoln, Lincoln Cathedral, the University of Lincoln and Bishop Grosseteste University College. Originally established in 2004, the School’s early success was reflected in a revised A significant number of ALMs have had their vocation to ordained or Reader ministry identified agreement between the partners which took effect
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The Life of the Diocese of Lincoln in 2010. This established the School as a more independent entity, with its awards bearing the name of both Bishop Grosseteste University College and the University of Lincoln. The School has recently moved from the Diocesan Office to Chad Varah House, the home of the former Lincoln Theological College. The three-year foundation degree is validated by the Ministry Division of the Church of England for training for Readers, ordained local ministers and candidates for deployable ordained ministry, both stipendiary and nonstipendiary.
fostering of vocations. Candidates sent to Bishop’s Advisory Panels in this period averaged 7 per annum, rather less than those of neighbouring dioceses in the East Midlands. In 2007 a less cautious approach was agreed and has seen this average rise to 14 candidates per year. The average recommended for training has risen from 6 per annum before 2007 to 11 per annum since then.
The Diocese continues to support an Ordained Local Ministry scheme and runs the training of ordained local ministers alongside those who are candidates for Reader ministry, thus allowing the period of Until 2010 most of the School's undergraduate discernment for ordained ministry to continue into students were sponsored by the Diocese of Lincoln, the training period. The cohort intake for with a few independent students. In 2010 the School Reader/OLM training in 2007 stood at 5. In 2009 it was appointed by the East Midlands Regional had risen to 23 and in 2010 (with the encouragement Training Partnership (RTP) as the provider of part of the Distinct Diaconate) it had risen to 32. There time ordination and Reader training for the Region are currently more than 60 people in training for and was validated by Ministry Division for this volunteer ministry as Reader or OLM. The diocese purpose. also has 9 ordinands in residential or regional training for stipendiary ministry. This could rise to 12 Some students, and some curates, choose to in the foreseeable depending upon the outcome of progress to the BA degree. An MA degree is also pending BAPs. All candidates have indicated a wish available and a number of Readers, curates and to return to the diocese if a suitable curacy can be incumbents from the diocese have taken this degree. found. In 2011 the School will introduce its first full time degree programme, a BA in Theology and Society Lincoln has generally been an ‘importing’ diocese for aimed primarily at undergraduate students intending stipendiary curates. Historically, there has been to be school teachers. There is also a small research difficulty in attracting high calibre candidates to centre within the School sponsored largely by the serve here. This is beginning to change. In 2008 we Cathedral. The centre is concerned with practical and were unable to fill all parishes designated for training political theology and amongst other things has a posts. All curacies for 2011 were filled by the project underway to reflect on the various patterns beginning of September 2010. At Petertide 2010, 26 of ministry experiments being undertaken in the candidates were ordained deacon or priest. Diocese. There is currently one PhD student enrolled in the School, a curate from the Diocese of Lincoln. The Distinct Diaconate has recently found active The School remains small, but is growing, and is encouragement. Currently there are three serving Distinct Deacons, and seven whose vocations are academically and financially very successful. being tested in 2010. All those discerning this Vocations in the Diocese of Lincoln ministry are currently in Reader ministry. Should The Diocese of Lincoln has seen visible growth in the their vocations meet the ordination criteria, they will area of vocations in recent years, which we see as be prepared for ordination through a course of study evidence of growing confidence in many of our which will add to the training they have already parishes. received as Readers and run through the Lincoln Until 2007 there was a cautious approach to the School of Theology.
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The Life of the Diocese of Lincoln The current diocesan policy is to encourage Other Mission and Mission Support vocations at every level but particularly those for self Amongst the ways in which the Diocese helps to supporting ministry. develop and support mission, the team of about 45 staff based in the Diocesan offices are an important Church buildings resource. Led by the Diocesan Chief Executive these The Diocese of Lincoln has some 738 churches, 645 include: of which are regularly used for worship. Of these, • Resources Team: stewardship and 251 (39%) are listed as Grade 1, with 164 (25%) listed fundraising advice as Grade 2* and 171 (27%) as Grade 2. With 91% of • Church buildings: DAC and closed churches all churches in use being listed, care of church • Property (mainly clergy houses) buildings is a major issue for parishes and, through • Work with children and young people the DAC and the archdeacons, the Diocese. • Education • Clergy development and CME Mission Initiatives Fund • Discipleship and lay ministry development The Diocese encourages both local and Diocesan• Communications wide initiatives for mission and evangelism and • Finance supports them financially through the Mission • Stipend and pastoral administration, Initiatives Fund. • IT • Asset management. Examples of mission initiatives include • roadHoG (House of God on the Road) in the Holland deanery: a converted double decker Diocesan Offices and Retreat Centre bus visiting parishes as a mobile centre for The Diocese’s offices are based in one part of The Old mission for young people. Palace in Lincoln and are attractive and recently • Utterby St Andrew: a small congregation in a refurbished (2008). The larger part of the building small village, now running a Saturday (refurbished in 2009) is run as a retreat centre which morning cafe in the village hall, open to all hosts a range of Quiet Days, study events and especially those using the A16. residential retreats for a wide variety of groups and • Ulceby St Nicholas: monthly Café Church, individuals. The Old Palace is also run as a with an entirely new congregation. commercial business available for conferences and • Newton on Trent St Peter: the church training events, as well as for wedding receptions building is used as primary school premises and similar events. during the week in term-time. • Louthesk deanery: imaginative pastoral visiting scheme across the deanery Children & Young People There is a newly re-constituted youth and children’s A Bishop’s Mission Order is currently being prepared work team consisting of one full time officer and two for an area of new housing on the northern side of part time officers. Alongside support for parish and Lincoln community youth work, we also manage a system of The parish of St Stephen and St John New Clee, in youth synods. The Diocese has agreed a youth one of the most economically and socially deprived participation policy, implying the involvement of areas of Grimsby has a long history of creative young people and children at every level of Diocesan engagement with children and young adults. The governance. Shalom Project has won wide respect and several awards for its innovative and effective work.
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The Life of the Diocese of Lincoln
Church schools and education The Board of Education has a family of 141 Church schools and is a strategic partner in education with three local authorities: Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. Over 25,000 children attend Church schools in the Diocese. Whilst the majority of our schools are voluntary controlled primary schools, there is overall a diverse range of types of Church school as summarised in the statistics below: • 102 Primary VC; 29 Primary VA; 5 Primary Foundation • 1 Secondary VC; 2 Secondary Foundation; 0 Secondary VA; 1 Academy; 1 Joint Trust
initiatives. The Board of Education worked with North Lincolnshire and the then DCSF to sponsor and create the St Lawrence Academy in Scunthorpe, which opened in September 2008. The school is now delivering educational transformation for a very challenging and ethnically diverse community. The team has also engaged imaginatively with National Challenge and under-achievement in its schools. In September 2010, St Andrew’s College opened in Cleethorpes North East Lincolnshire. It is the first new Trust School in the country and is a joint Church of England/Catholic secondary school formed under a joint Diocesan Trust with the Catholic Diocese of Nottingham. St Andrew’s replaced two predecessor schools that had a recent history of under-achievement. Under the new Academies programme we already have three of our outstanding schools on the verge of being amongst the first Church of England schools to achieve the new Academy status. The Rt Revd Dr John Saxbee chaired the National Society Council and spoke for Church of England schools in the House of Lords until his retirement. The Chair of our Board of Education, the Rt Revd David Rossdale, Bishop of Grimsby, is also Vice Chair of the National Society Council. The Diocese of Lincoln operates a system of Bishop's Visitors. These are volunteers who provide another link between the Diocese and its Church schools. Bishop's Visitors take an interest in the life of the school, provide pastoral support and act as an advocate for the school in the community; as such they are an important part of the support network for the family of Church schools.
The family of schools is supported by a small but dynamic advisory team comprising a Director, Deputy Director, Diocesan Schools’ Adviser and Buildings Manager. The team is supported by an administrative team delivering support in administration, events management and governor appointment issues. In addition there is a technical assistant in the buildings team who delivers design services for small projects. The Diocese’s education team has an excellent reputation both within the Diocese and nationally. It has engaged positively and creatively with the changing context in education nationally, taking an Many clergy and lay people serve as foundation active role in both shaping and delivering new governors of Church schools, and are involved as governors of other schools.
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The Life of the Diocese of Lincoln
Communications The Diocese recently re-launched its website and publishes a regular e-Bulletin, containing news and information, which is widely distributed to clergy, lay ministers, parish officers and others. There is also a bi-monthly newspaper, called Crosslincs, which is free and distributed from churches throughout the Diocese and to various other places such as schools, colleges and chaplaincies. Crosslincs is designed to be a tool for mission. Whilst key events are advertised and featured in it, the main thrust is to be world facing, giving witness to the work and inspiration of the Church and to provoke thought and discussion of current and relevant topics.
The Diocesan Music Initiative aims to improve the quality of music and worship offered in parish churches, through a variety of training schemes and events headed up by the Diocesan Music Development Officer, and delivered locally by a network of local music tutors. The work is a mission enterprise, funded from the Diocesan Mission Initiatives Fund.
Spirituality The Companions on the Way network is made up of people, lay and ordained, who offer spiritual direction in the diocese. They are people whose calling to this ministry has been recognised and affirmed and who have undergone a process of training and selection. Many of them have extensive experience of spiritual direction and all of them are supervised in this aspect of their ministry. This work is co-ordinated by the Bishop’s Advisory Group for Prayer and Spirituality. Edenham Vicarage near Bourne, is a much valued centre for retreats and quiet days, as well as being the home for the incumbent and his family. The former vicarage at Metheringham has been purchased by the Community of St Francis and was dedicated as San Damiano in November 2010. Three sisters are resident.
Diocesan-wide initiatives
Alongside, and supporting, parish and deanery Cursillo is active in the Diocese. Using The Old Palace based mission and ministry are a number of as its base, Cursillo events encourage up to thirty new pilgrims from around the Diocese each year to Diocesan-wide initiatives incuding: explore and develop their discipleship, based on prayer, study and action in order to encourage their An Open Churches Officer and a Historic Churches Support Officer have been recently appointed in contribution back in their home parishes The order to develop greater community use of church Mothers’ Union is a significant organisation in many buildings, and to put into place a strategy for parishes across the Diocese, with over 1300 prioritising and supporting the future maintenance members. Lincoln Diocesan Mothers' Union is and development of historic church buildings. These privileged to have its centre at St Benedict's Church are fixed term posts, financed by the Diocesan on Lincoln's busiest shopping street. St Benedict's is Pastoral Account, the Mission Initiatives Fund and, in open several days a week to offer prayer, rest and the case of the post of Historic Churches Support refreshments to the general public as well as serving the needs of its members Officer, through partnership with English Heritage.
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Our ecumenical partners within & beyond the Diocese of Lincoln Within the Diocese Our links with other Christian communities go deep into the Lincolnshire soil. The Wesleys grew up in Epworth. Puritans sailed from Boston to then American colonies. The Diocese of Lincoln is a committed member of Churches Together in All Lincolnshire (and hosts CTAL’s staff at Church House in Lincoln). CTAL exists because of a Covenant signed by the leaders of eight churches in historic Lincolnshire. These eight leaders are the presidents of CTAL. CTAL encourages the development of both local ecumenical partnerships and Fresh Expressions of church; Lincolnshire Fresh Expressions Area Strategy Team (FEAST) brings together pioneers, practitioners, senior leaders and champions from different denominations across historic Lincolnshire. The 2010 national Fresh Expressions day was held in Lincolnshire.
fitted to their roofs) and support for the agricultural community. Many parishes have active association with the Methodists, Roman Catholics, Salvation Army, New Life and other Christian communities. As part of our commitment to the Anglican-Methodist Covenant, Methodist ministers are regularly invited to take services in some of our parishes, and some Anglican priests have permission to officiate at Communion services according to the Methodist rite. Anglican parishes support Methodist social and community projects in Scunthorpe and Grimsby. A Roman Catholic priest and a Methodist minister are ‘ecumenical canons of honour’ in the Cathedral. The Archdeacon of Lincoln is currently serving as the Diocesan Ecumenical Officer.
Beyond the Diocese The Diocese of Lincoln has links with:
Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services is a charitable company, working under the umbrella of Churches Together in All Lincolnshire. LCS currently employs 7 stipendiary chaplains who work with 10 volunteers to provide chaplaincy services to industry, urban life, the agricultural sector, further and higher education institutions (including Lincoln University), and the green economy. LCS is currently planning to expand its volunteer base by working in tandem with further education colleges, deaneries and Methodist circuits. LCS also plans to appoint a stipendiary chaplain to the food industry in the south east of the Diocese. The work is funded primarily by grants from the Diocese and some of the other member churches of CTAL. In addition to chaplaincy to institutions across historic Lincolnshire, LCS has been particularly valuable in encouraging environmental awareness (a number of churches have solar panels
•
•
•
• •
The Dioceses of Tiruneveli and TuticorinNazareth (Church of South India) – a longstanding and active link The Dioceses of Brugge (Belgium) and Nottingham (UK) – a well-developed and active three way link between one Anglican and two Roman Catholic dioceses The Diocese of Harnösand (Sweden) – a recently formed and active relationship, currently being developed The Diocese of Shinyanga in Tanzania – a nascent link, currently being explored In addition to these links, Lincoln Diocesan Mothers' Union has links with seven dioceses in Kenya, Nigeria, South India and Bangladesh.
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Other responsibilities & further information Other responsibilities of the Bishop of Lincoln By virtue of his office, the Bishop of Lincoln is, amongst other things: • • • •
Visitor to Eton College, Windsor Visitor to King’s College, Cambridge Visitor to Brasenose College, Oxford Visitor to Lincoln College, Oxford
Further information The following websites will give more information about the Diocese and the area we serve: • • • • •
www.lincoln.anglican.org www.lincolncathedral.com www.lincolnshire.gov.uk www.northlincs.gov.uk www.nelincs.gov.uk
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Statement of Need In offering the following statements about what we seek in our new Bishop we take as read the qualities and aptitudes that would be expected of all bishops, including evident Godliness. The skills, experience and dispositions listed below are not included in a weighted order; rather we pray for someone who encompasses the breadth of our criteria. Given the large area of the Diocese, the Bishop will need to be comfortable about driving long distances on roads of varying quality. We believe that our new Bishop should: •
be confident in ministering across the spread of Church traditions, and be able to relate as well to our Anglo-Catholic and Evangelical parishes (small in number but highly effective) as to our predominantly Liberal and Catholic majority;
•
possess skills of a high order in relation to discerning and working with an emerging vision, building strategy and communicating on a wide scale;
•
be theologically astute, with the ability to critique the way the Diocese does things in the context of where it is;
•
be keen to be an agent of change for mission, energised as much by the Church of the future as by our roots in the past;
•
be a collaborator, practised in recognising and developing the skills and charisms of all parts of the community;
•
have strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability and willingness to listen attentively;
•
be hospitable;
•
have, and be able to communicate, a credible faith, an inclusive approach to the whole people of God and a generous and open theology;
•
be comfortable with those who are yet to find faith;
•
be capable of being excited by both rural and urban contexts;
•
be ready to act as a champion and an ambassador for the whole people of historic Lincolnshire as appropriate;
•
be able and enthusiastic to engage with the secular world and its institutions;
•
be informed about the realities of the world of work and the realities of unemployment;
•
understand the stresses and strains of modern life – including those relating to difficulties with relationships, finances, work and age (both young and old);
•
and finally be the best person for the role regardless of irrelevant personal circumstances.
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Map of the Diocese of Lincoln
Š Global Internet Marking Ltd. www.in-england.co.uk. This map is used with the kind permission of the copyright owner.
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Appendix 1
The Deaneries of the Diocese of Lincoln We have invited each of our twenty two deaneries to describe themselves
The Archdeaconry of Lincoln South Kesteven Mission Area Beltisloe The parishes of Beltisloe Deanery are found in the ‘golden triangle’ between Stamford, Bourne and Grantham. With rich, rolling, farmland and pretty villages of stone built houses, the easy access to the East Coast mail line and the A1 means that this area has attracted people who work in London. The only large community is the town of Bourne, recently brought into Beltisloe following a deanery reorganisation in the south west of the Diocese. The deanery has made a conscious decision in its draft Mission Area Plan to maintain a significant number of stipendiary priests as the key to mission and ministry in its communities; parishes have accepted the financial challenge of the Plan. Grantham Grantham Deanery is situated on the western border of the Diocese, with Loveden to the north and Beltisloe to the south. The deanery is centred on the market town of Grantham which has been greatly extended in the past half century or so. The town is bordered by several large housing estates established at various times, of which one (Earlesfield) is considered to have a high level of deprivation. There is also a relatively sparsely populated rural hinterland with scattered villages. Grantham was formerly an important industrial and railway centre, but this has declined sharply. The local economy is largely based on service industries and supply businesses, with the NHS being an important employer. As a consequence of its good rail links it has also become a commuter community for Leicester, Nottingham, Doncaster and London. The deanery has an active Churches Together, which meets regularly and oversees a number of projects and events across the various denominations represented. The deanery also has a training group consisting of local clergy and Readers; this manages the training of lay ministers and organises events to promote more general adult Christian education in the deanery. Loveden This is a completely rural deanery situated roughly to the north of Grantham, with Lafford Deanery to the east, Graffoe in the north and the Nottinghamshire border to the west. Its population is around 14,000. There are six parish groups, served by three stipendiary priests. The Deanery has to reduce from three to two associate (house for duty) priests in order to meet our budget. There are 33 (mostly Grade 1 listed) churches. We have a fairly ‘Catholic’ liturgical tradition, but are also aware that the Eucharist is not inclusive - so family services, Celtic prayer, all age worship and so on are increasingly being used (alongside, in most parishes, access to regular CW and BCP Holy Communion services).
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Appendix 1 - The Deaneries of Lincoln Stamford The new Stamford Deanery is the smallest in the Diocese, comprising four town benefices (one with two parishes) and a rural benefice of seven parishes. The deanery’s usual Sunday attendance totals 680, 5% of the Diocese’s total, but with a significantly smaller proportion of the population. Attendance in the parishes ranges from a handful to over 300. The geographical sense of the parish is much more significant in the rural group which has some very small village communities. Historically the town parishes comprise a ‘Peculiar’ and there is an intention to give more prominence to the ancient role of Dean of Stamford in linking with the civic life of the town. Lincoln & North Kesteven Mission Area Christianity The Deanery of Christianity serves the City of Lincoln, with its cathedral, castle, hospital and university. The population of 86,000 is rapidly growing in numbers and diversity. There are pleasant residential areas, ancient and Victorian properties and post war suburbs including estates and areas officially designated as deprived. A new way is being forged for the deanery’s 15 parishes, (10 incumbents, reducing to 8) and seventy licensed lay ministers. The Cathedral is represented on Deanery Synod. Ecumenical projects work among the homeless. Street Pastors are active, and there is a mission initiative, St Peter's in the Pub (soon to be designated under a Bishop’s Mission Order). City and churches have good relationships with the Muslim community. Graffoe Graffoe Deanery is a group of rural and suburban parishes to the south and west of Lincoln. It has good communications through the roads radiating from Lincoln, the A46, A607 and the B1188; these roads link the population centres. Many look to Lincoln or to the RAF bases in the area for employment. There is one suburban parish, Hykeham; the rest are villages. A group of three Franciscan sisters have just moved into a former parsonage house in Metheringham. The deanery overlaps two Methodist Circuits, Lincoln South and Sleaford. The Deanery Plan splits the deanery into three clusters, each working with two stipendiary priests. Two parishes have been identified for reorganisation when a vacancy occurs. Lafford Lafford Deanery’s 46 churches serve an adult population of approximately 36,000. Twothirds of the population is based in Sleaford and its adjacent villages; the remainder are distributed between rural parishes. Sleaford is one of the fastest growing areas in the European Union. The average Sunday attendance is about 700. Since 1990 the Deanery has been struggling to reduce from 12 full time stipendiary priests to an affordable number. The Deanery Synod has recently approved a Deanery Plan based on six full time stipendiary priests supported by four associate priests (either part time or house for duty) who together equate to a seventh full-time equivalent. This plan will work only if lay ministry is encouraged and valued by the stipendiary priests.
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Appendix 1 - The Deaneries of Lincoln Boston & South Holland Mission Area Elloe East The Deanery of Elloe East is in the south east corner of the Diocese, abutting the Wash. Much of the current land area was reclaimed from the sea and, like its people, it is rich in resources. The deanery consists of 16 parishes, of small to medium size. There are three small townships, two with markets. We are active in mission. Actors and singers have performed religious based plays, contributing to mission in local primary schools. Our churches are open and welcoming. The people till the land, are resilient, forthright and (again, like the land) need working to produce their best; they can be easily led but are reluctant to be pushed. Elloe West The Deanery of Elloe West is in the south of the Diocese, and shares a border with the Diocese of Peterborough. Spalding is the major town, with a population of 25,000. The area’s economy is dominated by the food processing industry, including transport and intensive food production. On the enlargement of the European Union, many people arrived from Poland, Latvia and Lithuania to work in the area; a large number have stayed, changed the area significantly. Elloe West has 18 parishes, with Sunday attendance ranging from 185 to 8. Altogether the parishes have 6.3% of the Diocese’s total Sunday attendance. Church schools are well supported; there are 2500 children on roll at primary schools in the deanery. Churches Together groups work well in the urban areas, whilst the villages have strong links with other churches. The Roman Catholic church in Spalding has grown with the influx of eastern Europeans, and has a regular Mass in Polish. Holland Holland Deanery is a recent amalgamation of the two former Deaneries of West Holland and East Holland. The deanery has much agriculture. Local land workers and packers have been augmented by Portuguese, Polish, Latvian and Lithuanian migrant workers. Food production and transport are also large industries. Boston is a port and has increased its activities, recently becoming a centre for importing timber. There are 23 parishes in 17 benefices, with parishes from two of the benefices joining in an informal team. In 2009 the electoral rolls for the Deanery totalled 1639 and varied from 5 to 301 per parish. The adult attendance figures totalled 884 and varied from 5 to 118 per parish.
The Archdeaconries of Stow and Lindsey North Lincolnshire Mission Area Isle of Axholme The Isle is a small deanery of eleven parishes (with three incumbents) serving a community of approximately 14,000 people. It is mainly rural in character, with four small towns and a number of villages. Four parish groups are centred on the small towns of Epworth, Haxey, Belton and Crowle. A fairly large number of people commute to Doncaster, Sheffield and Leeds; this is due to its proximity to the M180 and wider motorway network. A significant number of people were born and brought up in the Isle. Although the deanery lies between Scunthorpe and Doncaster, it maintains a very strong independent identity and Isle people are proud of their roots. Manlake This deanery is centred on the industrial garden town of Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire where the steel industry is still a major employer with major support industries. The County of North Lincolnshire is part of the Yorkshire and Humber region for economic development. The deanery is made up of 23 churches in 20
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Appendix 1 - The Deaneries of Lincoln parishes comprising 9 benefices served by 8.5 stipendiary clergy, 3 NSM and 5 active retired clergy, 4 readers and a large cohort of people who have done one form or another of ministry training assist in ministry. There is a significant ethnic minority centred mainly on two parishes of engagement. Yarborough Yarborough Deanery spans a large tranche of the rural area of North Lincolnshire. It has three market towns (Barton upon Humber, Brigg, and Kirton in Lindsey), one large dormitory town (Broughton) and 28 villages/hamlets. There are 28 churches served by six full time stipendiary priests, one house for duty priest, three non-stipendiary priests, three curates and six Readers. One of the churches (Kirton) is on the verge of becoming a Local Ecumenical Partnership where Anglicans, Methodists and Baptists share worship in the parish church and the Methodist chapel, and offer community engagement together based in the former Baptist chapel. The main deanery project is centred on youth work, run jointly with the Methodist Church. West Lindsey Mission Area Corringham Situated to the north west of Lincoln, the deanery’s western boundary follows the River Trent from Newtonon-Trent to East Ferry. Apart from Gainsborough, the deanery has 24 small rural parishes. The Deanery Plan is developing and under review. The deanery is seeking to appoint a priest as a missioner: the thrust of this post would be to work with incumbents and ministry teams, identifying and fostering areas of mission and ministry across the deanery. Good working relations exist with the Methodist Church. The churches in Gainsborough also work on an informal basis with the Methodist Church and other denominations in the town. Lawres Lawres is a deanery with six benefice groups and four incumbents. Our settled Mission and Ministry Plan is for the deanery to organise itself into three groups in the future - north, south and central. There is a mixture of large suburban and very small rural villages amongst the 26 parishes. The deanery is blessed with having a large number of NSM, active retired clergy, Readers and active lay ministry. In several parts of the deanery, there are strong links with both the Methodists and the Independent (Threshold) churches; the latter also have active and growing congregations. West Wold The deanery is a very large geographical area of some 250 sq miles with a population of around 13,000. The area is notable for its open countryside for ramblers. The main centres of population are Caistor and Market & Middle Rasen. Most people travel out of the area for work although there are some small industries in Caistor and the Rasens. In churchmanship, the deanery is largely middle of the road, spanning churches of liberal catholic to open evangelical persuasion. Most of the buildings are well cared for and in good order. There are 7 groups of parishes ministered to by 4 stipendiary clergy, 2 stipendiary curates and a developing lay ministry. North East Lincolnshire Mission Area Grimsby and Cleethorpes Grimsby and Cleethorpes form a major centre of urban population in the Diocese, spanning areas of severe deprivation to those of comparative wealth. 16 churches in 10 benefice groups are ministered to by 9 stipendiary priests and one stipendiary curate. There are also 2 non stipendiary priests and 7 Readers in the
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Appendix 1 - The Deaneries of Lincoln deanery. St James’ Church in Grimsby became a Minster Church in May 2010; and the Deanery Plan is currently under review in the light of changing patterns of ministry. The new Anglican and Roman Catholic joint church secondary school, St Andrew’s College, is a significant ecumenical enterprise, complementing the two Church primary schools in the deanery. Good relationships exist with the Methodist Church. Haverstoe Haverstoe Deanery is the suburban rural fringe of Grimsby and Cleethorpes, largely in the North East Lincolnshire authority area. It contains the major port of Immingham, the petrochemical industries of the Humber Bank, and many rural settlements. There are 26 churches in 6 benefice groups ministered to by 7 stipendiary priests including one centrally funded post. There are also 3 non stipendiary priests, 1 OLM and 5 Readers. There are a significant number of schools - 33 primary schools (of which 6 are Church schools) and 4 comprehensives (including the largest school for 11-16s in the country, now an Academy). East Lindsey Mission Area Bolingbroke This predominantly rural deanery is one of the smallest of the Diocese: the 41 parishes represent 2.5% of the total parish electoral roll membership. The need for expansion of lay participation in all areas of mission and ministry is appreciated. ‘Churches Together’ is supported, especially through good relationships with the Methodist Church. Efforts are made to connect isolated rural communities, by use of the magazine and deanery wide events. Outreach to the wider community is recognised as vital, whilst the ability to assure patterns of worship across the deanery remains important. Calcewaithe and Candleshoe The deanery comprises a large rural area surrounding urban Skegness, and stretching north up the east coast towards Mablethorpe. Skegness and Mablethorpe are relatively deprived areas and have the largest concentration of caravan holiday parks in the country. There are 34 parishes in 7 groups, mainly 2 or 3 churches per group, and two larger groups with 6 and 8 churches. There is an average attendance ranging from the mid 70s to the low teens. The churches work well with other denominations, particularly the Methodist Church, on a number of projects, and there is well organised mission outreach to tourists in the summer months. Horncastle The deanery lies 10 miles from Lincoln, and stretches from the Wolds to the fens. Administratively, the 56 parishes are divided into three partnerships – South Wolds; Limeswood; and the southern partnership, consisting of the Bain valley and Fen & Hill groups. There are three stipendiary priests in two of the partnerships (Limeswood and the Bain Valley and Fen & Hill groups). The South Wolds have one stipendiary priest and one ordained community chaplain; this incumbent of the South Wolds benefices has the responsibility for 26 parishes! More than 55 lay people play an important role in ministry, through the lay ministry scheme. In this deanery, it is essential that incoming incumbents are trained with additional skills, not only to manage effectively, but also to delegate tasks to the laity. Louthesk Louthesk Deanery serves a rural community centred on Louth. It has 37 parishes, grouped into five stipendiary posts, with a further area being supported by central funding until the present post holder retires. Priests work across the deanery as and when needs arise. A deanery administrator co-ordinates weddings, funerals and more. A deanery community worker runs our community larder providing food parcels to those in need: these one-off gifts are a valuable part of our community work. The pastoral visiting scheme has fourteen volunteers who have undergone their first training. The Rural Dean has met with other rural deans in East Lindsey and with the Methodist superintendents to discuss how they might work together.
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Appendix 2
Instrument of Delegation BY THIS INSTRUMENT GIVEN UNDER OUR HAND WE JOHN by Divine Permission LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN pursuant to and by virtue of Section 13 of the Dioceses Pastoral and Mission Measure 2007 and desiring to work collaboratively with my Episcopal colleagues DELEGATE from the date hereinafter written to Our Beloved in Christ DAVID BISHOP OF GRIMSBY and TIMOTHY BISHOP OF GRANTHAM to the extent permitted by law and in the spirit of the foregoing Statement of Purpose and the Prospectus agreed by Diocesan Synod on 8 July 2009 the powers and responsibilities referred to below TO THE INTENT THAT (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) the functions delegated by this instrument to Our Beloved in Christ DAVID BISHOP OF GRIMSBY shall primarily be exercised by you in the Episcopal Mission Area coterminous with the Archdeaconries of Stow and Lindsey in the Diocese of Lincoln in furtherance of your role as Leader in Mission thereof AND TO THE INTENT THAT (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) the functions delegated by this instrument to Our Beloved in Christ TIMOTHY BISHOP OF GRANTHAM shall primarily be exercised by you the Episcopal Mission Area coterminous with the Archdeaconry of Lincoln in the Diocese of Lincoln in furtherance of your role as Leader in Mission thereof First: To enable the Bishops of Grimsby and Grantham to take the collaborative lead in the day-to-day life of their Episcopal Mission Areas, Our responsibilities in relation to the conduct of worship, ministry and mission within our Diocese of Lincoln and (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) in particular in relation to the giving of pastoral guidance generally or in specific cases in relation to: a. baptism and confirmation discipline; b. the use of Extended Communion; c. the admission of children to Holy Communion; d. non-admission to Holy Communion; e. authorisation to administer Holy Communion and Extended Communion; f. the authorisation of lay persons to take services and to preach; g. the approval of forms of occasional services; h. the determination of issues in relation to vesture and similar matters; i. the marriage of divorced and unbaptised persons; j. the grant of licences to non – residents; and k. the grant of licences to permit clergy to engage in occupations which they are not otherwise permitted by law to undertake; l. the exercise of our patronage; m. the appointment and licensing of clergy to posts in their area in collaboration with the Diocesan Bishop as indicated in section six below; Second: To enable the Bishops of Grimsby and Grantham to take the collaborative lead in their Episcopal Mission Areas in supporting the clergy, Our responsibilities in the administration of Episcopal Visitations and the implementation of a Ministerial Appraisal Scheme or Schemes within Our Diocese of Lincoln;
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Appendix 2 - Instrument of Delegation Third: To enable the Bishops of Grimsby and Grantham to take the collaborative lead in their Areas in fostering and nurturing vocations, Our responsibility as Sponsoring Bishop in relation to candidates for ordination as deacons and priests within Our Diocese of Lincoln; Fourth: To enable the Bishops of Grimsby and Grantham to take the collaborative lead in their Episcopal Mission Areas for day-to-day matters relating to the parochial life of our Diocese, Our responsibilities in relation to churches and churchyards within Our Diocese of Lincoln save and except the consecration of new places of worship and including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing): a. the licensing of any building or part thereof for public worship; b. the designation of any building as a parish centre of worship; and c. the consecration of churchyards and burial grounds; Fifth: All other powers and responsibilities that We are permitted by law to delegate to you to take the lead in your Episcopal Mission Area for the ministry we share together save and except Our powers and responsibilities to take the collaborative lead as Diocesan Bishop in arrangements for services in relation to: 1. the ordinations of clergy; 2. confirmation; 3. the blessing of oils; 4. the re-dedication of church buildings; 5. the institution and collation and the licensing of those clergy coming to the Diocese of Lincoln from elsewhere; and 6. deliverance ministry; Sixth: For the avoidance of doubt the following powers and responsibilities are not subject to delegation by this instrument and will continue to be determined collaboratively between the three Bishops under the Our leadership: a. admission to Holy Orders; b. admission to Readership; c. the grant of licences to minister; d. the grant of licences to perform a particular Office; and e. the grant of permission to officiate; f. powers and responsibilities in relation to the consecration, dedication and licensing of new places of worship; and g. powers and responsibilities in relation to the investigation of complaints made under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 AND IN EXERCISING the powers delegated by this instrument regard shall be had at all times to the 1 Collaborative Working Agreement annexed hereto and marked ‘Appendix’
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Appendix 2 - Instrument of Delegation WE CONFIRM that the approval of the Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of Lincoln of the delegation by Us such of Our functions as are specified in this instrument was obtained at a meeting of such Diocesan Synod held on the eight day of July in the year of Our Lord Two thousand and nine THIS INSTRUMENT shall have effect until the date of the expiration of a period of eighteen months beginning with: 1. the date of the Confirmation of Election of another person is Installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln; or 2. the date on which Our Beloved in Christ David shall cease to hold the office of Bishop of Grimsby; or 3. the date on which Our Beloved in Christ Timothy shall cease to hold the office of Bishop of Grantham whichever first occurs. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF We have hereunto set Our hand this day of in the year of Our Lord Two thousand and ten and in the Ninth year of Our Translation and of Our Consecration the Seventeenth
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Appendix 3
Final Budget 2011
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Appendix 4
Diocesan Council within governance structures