Robert Innes
Diocesan Bishop
Autumn 2014: Recognising the need
Synthesising inputs from previous work,
statements of needs and the Archbishop’s
charge to the new Diocesan Bishop
A largely bottom-up approach
Strategy working group members: David
Coulston, the two bishops, Adrian Mumford,
Debbie Flach, Ann Turner, Patrick Curran, Jack
McDonald, Grace West.
Bishop’s Council day meeting on strategy
facilitated by Sandra Cobben October 2014
Strategy working group facilitated by David
Coulson December 2014
Bishop’s Staff Meeting Presentation January
2015
Trialling at Archdeaconry synods
Adoption at Diocesan Synod 2015
Widespread agreement and support
Personal/Family implications for UK expats:
- Residence entitlements
- Healthcare (S1, EHIC…)
- Pensions (indexation, taxation)
- Anxiety
Local Church implications:
- Financial uncertainty (especially rural
France and Spain)
Clergy recruitment
- A mixed picture: clergy still feel called to
work in Europe – esp for f/t posts
Recognising our long-term presence
Strong national Church commitment to
Europe; especial concern for the vulnerable
New hope for ‘Europe’
- Austrian President Van der Bellen 54%;
Dutch elections; French elections
(Macron 66%); German elections
- NY Times: ‘maybe 2017 is year of Europe’
Different scenarios: but Britain is not leaving
Europe neither is the Anglican Church
Our aim is to build a common purpose
throughout the diocese by:
Knowing ourselves as beloved children of God
Loving God and our neighbour and sharing the
Good News of Jesus Christ
Generating a sense of shared direction in the
power of the Holy Spirit
Providing a focus for all that we do.
We will work towards this by:
1. Building up the Body of Christ and fostering
growth
Within the Anglican tradition through each
congregation and in partnership with other
Churches by:
Encouraging and supporting the vocation of all the
baptized
Deepening faith and practice in prayer and worship
Teaching the faith and promoting Christian
education
Nurturing new disciples, especially young people
2. Sharing, with other churches in the
evangelisation of Europe by
Proclaiming the Good News
Valuing and promoting a culture of welcome,
invitation & hospitality
Seeking opportunities for growth
3. Striving for the creation of a just society and
a sustainable environment by
Defending the poor, the disadvantaged, and those
in need
Promoting a discipline and culture of safeguarding
Combatting slavery and human trafficking
Challenging the comfortable
Encouraging care for the creation
4. Working for Reconciliation
Within the Church at all levels
Among nations, ethnicities & religions
Through intentional engagement with European
and international institutions
5. Resourcing through
Stewardship of our gifts and talents
Increasing numbers of full-time clergy and
candidates for ordained ministry, focusing on
Recruitment
Retention
Resources
Well-structured archdeaconries
Strategy working group and synod working
groups define implementation activities:
Task sheets are written for each activity
Leads to huge numbers of tasks without the
capacity to oversee their implementation
A better approach:
Invite every level of the diocese to consider what
the strategy means for them
Celebrate successful instances of implementation
Consideration by Boards and Committees
Reviewing with Chaplaincy Councils
Extended workshops at Archdeaconry Synods
(NW Europe, Spain, Switzerland)
Videos collected of local good practice
A Diocesan Director of Lay Discipleship
Resourcing and development of Reader ministry
(Conference this week)
On-line network for youth leaders
A diocesan rule of life (trialling at Voorschoten)
An advisor in Spirituality and training of
Spiritual Directors
An interim ministry training course (Sep 2017)
History of Church planting (recent plants in
Groningen, Amersfoort, Sicily)
Excellent relationships with mission agencies
(MTS/ICS Izmir; CMS Kiev; USPG Athens)
‘Thy Kingdom Come’ - prayer iniatitive
Migration/refugees:
diocesan conference 2016
Funding Partnership with USPG (Athens, Calais…)
Parternship with Wiedenfeld Foundation (Ankara)
Partnership with Sant Egidio in Italy
Maintaining Diocese in Europe profile in the UK
Safeguarding:
Major investment in case management, training,
record keeping, safer recruitment
Keeping Europe near the top of the national
church agenda (creation of ‘Europe’ roundtable)
Securing funding for European Represention
Supporting Archiepiscopal links with Patriarchs
of Russia, Constantinople, Serbia
IARCCUM 2016 Conference in Canterbury and
Rome
Well Structured Archdeaconries
A new team of Archdeacons
Greater use of Area Deans
Much improved morale
Appointments and Recruiting
The Talbot Report
Appointments Secretary reporting directly to the Bishop
More interviewing in situ
Bigger involvement of archdeacons
Better co-ordination with and involvement of lay reps
Increasing numbers of ordination candidates
Major national initiatives raising numbers of
younger and BME candidates
New funding system means greater diocesan
control over theological training and funding
CEMES/internship scheme
…We now have the problems of success…
Finance Review Group
Bishop, Diocesan Secretary, DBF Chair, Archdeacon
Paul Vrolijk, David Bean, David Gowan
Operating budget and strategic use of reserves in
the light of Brexit
Can we match more closely the money we collect
with our strategic objectives?
Creation of a ‘Bishop’s Strategic Fund’
Growing awareness of lack of strategic capacity
IT and Communications projects
Data Protection (May 2018 legislation)
HR
Strategic planning (&post-Brexit scenarios)
Help from the national church
Leadership, Coaching and team building (Georgina
Noakes)
Peer Review (July 2017)
Positive discussions about resource for strategic
capacity
Choose an area of the strategy that interests
you
Propose activities needed to deliver the strategy
in France (and say who should deliver them)
Propose three priorities from the whole strategy
as priorities for 2017/8
Be prepared to feed back your answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Building up the body of Christ
The evangelisation of Europe
Justice and the integrity of creation
Reconciliation
Resourcing
A set of activities to be implemented at
Local Level
Archdeaconry Level
Diocesan Level
Robert Innes
Diocesan Bishop