My brother likes his toys, always has, always will. And this makes me very lucky as he passes the not quite new on to me; it means I now have a little keyboard so I can write these entries 'live' at St John's. Though it's not quite live blogging as I couldn't find a wifi point until I got home... and then there was a day's wait while I found the tiny keypad phone thing again... but it's one step closer. Again my usual caveat, if you want impartial accuracy go to the minutes, this is simply me being there.
Bishop Tom's Address
A week of change, Gordon Brown, weather, Wimbledon, floods. Terror too - with the bombing doctors we can't avoid the fact that it's roots are in an ideology, not solely in poverty or marginalisation.
And there's a constitutional green paper - it proposes a one name system for appointing diocesan bishops to the PM to take to the Queen. Is this a rubber stamping? Could it squeeze out bishops in the Lords? And does taking a political choice out of the appointments impair the role of talking to faith groups.
Synod & the Covenant. Enough to say he's hoping for an amendment.
Tonights focus on Regeneration, of people as well as places. New priests and SPARs as a sign of the church regenerating to speak to every new generation. Let us embrace this change and vow to play a part in this regeneration.
Questions
The draft covenant?
Bishop Tom: Outlined the process. In substance its hastily prepared and overfull. It might work if its really an instrument of unity not a club to enforce a club. But there's no implication that synodical processes are being side lined. Lambeth conference isn't yet a decision making body, though it seems to be being given more importance.
Energy efficiency and the DAC?
DAC is working with the Diocesan Environmental Officer. National advice for carbon footprints is being sought.
Godly Play
Colin Slee
Gave a resonating account of his experience of Godly play at Dean's convention. Abraham's journey using "I wonder why?" to get right inside a story. Opened up some reluctant Deans, it's not just for children.
Diane Craven
Play is serious. Playing because you're young or learning to play again.
Godly Play takes liturgy seriously, swims in symbols and mystery; so teaches all about worship. It takes scripture seriously, asking questions unasked. It takes relationships seriously, grounded in trust. It children seriously, not avoiding hard questions. It takes learning seriously, kinestic and physical. It takes experience seriously.
Questions, in summary:
What is distinctive? It's a 'school' of thought.
How do we get it into church schools? It's starting to get there, but more work needs to be done with the Education Board.
From what age? Possibly 3 (though from experience I'd say most 2 year olds are capable if you remove the sitting still bit)
Annual Report & Accounts
Moved to received annual reports.
Parsonage replacement timescale was queried. It'll be out in Autumn.
Report makes little reference to "Faith in the Cities" (in particular regret over the OLM merger to NSMs was given). In response the fostering of urban vocations through the roadshows. Numbers of non-stipendary priests is going up.
Synod received unanimously.
Moved to receive accounts.
All money in & a good return on Diocesan assets. Also came in under budget due to a few vacant posts, and some timing on housing expenditure.
Didn't need to draw on pension fund; but could invest in a new Growing Churches fund. 2007 may be a difficult year for some churches owing to rise in pensions, it is hoped the new fund will aid these churches. 2008 is dependant on the decisions taken at General Synod regarding pensions.
(Andrew Britton said his thanks and goodbyes, he generously outlined the diocesan strengths as he's off to the Arch-Bishop's Council, it is their gain.)
Motion was passed with one abstention.
Regeneration
Context of a changing London with younger and ethnically diverse population. Traditional trades have declined and financial and business employment has risen and should continue to rise.
Bishop Tom gave a quick journey through regeneration projects:
Southbank regeneration, reimagined iconic buildings. Tate Modern, the Globe, City Hall, Millennium Wheel & Southwark Cathedral. New development could dwarf the Cathedral How do we respond?
Elephant & Castle due for a big renewal, if its built. Local clergy involved with decisions regarding community.
Aylesbury estate to be coming down, Peckham town centre has a number of initiatives. How do we consider Ministry to such changing populations? Battersea Power Station has new plans. The Dome is forecasted to have 10000 new homes by 2020. Parish has been negotiating with planners and other faiths. The Ferrier Estate not a good story in regard to the community. Thamesmead is not in a good state, there is little provision for community facilities in the new West Thamesmead. Clapham Park is a good story of community and church partnership.
Non-urban regeneration too, affordable housing through Diocesan schemes, but much expensive development too.
Transport extensions are many coming across the river.
The river itself may well become a commuter means.
Church has a continuing investment in new good schools bringing regeneration.
Themes:
Iconic buildings. Affordability. Who are being displaced? Stratified community.
Issues:
Develop existing considerable church involvement.
Partnership
Pastoral reorganisation
Deployment & training of ministry
Buildings?
Education, should it become a church 'industry'?
Plan finances.
For parishes:
With walled communities focused on security, how does the church get in?
With divided communities along lines of wealth?
Reading
Malcolm Troy "Regeneration & Renewal"
Tim Scott "Keeping the Momentum"
Stories from the parishes
Andrew Dodd - Newingham and the E&C.
Much money going its way as one 10 stories to 42 story buildings.
St. Mary's is involved in planning. Its green space proposals brought in Yr6 students to redesign a soulless design. If engaged the church becomes an honest broker to the process.
Sharmane Odesena - St Mark's Academy
Fear of faith aspects in school, but its now oversubscribed, when it becomes visible it elicits a sense of pride in a school.
Bishop Christopher
The church has to hold it together as the corporate memory.
As to the Ferrier Estate; a disempowered community, compulsory displacement and no new build yet, shops encouraged to closed. Broken promises of a rolling regeneration fuelled by high land prices.
A dilemma for the church, committed to hold faith with the beleaguered community but having to plan for the new community having been seen as a block to change. Conciliation is also needed to ensure a continuing presence.
Discussion groups
In my pairing with Jackie, we talked about supporting clergy involved in such areas, Southwark does support well, possibly there is a need to engage in analysis of what we do well to beef up it up for focused clergy.
Ecological concerns.
Stand with the people.
Faithful Cities report - building faithful capital. Church as a critical partner.
Problems of conflict of interests in the church between community and developers.
London is growing at 2.3 citizens an hour. It is still a verdant city, but now there are gated communities and more and more flats. There is displacement and growth and change. Holding the corporate memory, and reflecting in prayer the Lord's interest in the marginalised.
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