St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

Deanery with attitude and clout

For many years “Calverley Deanery” has been the unknown layer of synodical government - a group of 16 parishes, unrelated except for geography, meeting together in a Synod which is neither use nor ornament and entirely without powers. But all that is about to change...

Bradford Diocese has decided to cut back on some support services to parishes, and give the money to the deaneries instead. The theory is that the deaneries will be able to decide what local needs they have, and use the money in a better way than the diocese would have done.

So at the Deanery Synod meeting of 17th September, members were asked to think of ways of spending Ł6,698. (Actually, that is the money for 2002 - there will be at least the same again in 2003, and unspent money will roll forward for three years.)

It would be possible to hold a “bidding” process whereby parishes would compete for the money, or to ask groups of parishes to cluster together and suggest ways they could spend on joint working. But it was generally felt it was better to aim at doing something which would work across the whole deanery, and which would involve all the parishes working and growing together. Paul Walker (the Rural Dean) invited us to be bold in dreaming dreams and seeing visions.

Here were some suggestions (some of them less serious than others):

• Secretary for the Rural Dean
• Part-time Youth Worker
• Schools / Drugs Worker
• Bereavement consultant
• A huge Harvest Supper
• Tent & activites in Peel Park
• A mission
• Buy a video projector etc
• Buy a printing machine
• Deanery image consultant
• Deanery holiday in Spain

It was agreed that a short list of concrete proposals or options should be drawn up, so that the next Synod will have something to get its teeth into.

It was also agreed that we ought to meet more often as a Deanery for joint services. The last two joint services, at Wrose and Thorpe Edge, have been very interesting and uplifting events, and these are going to happen more frequently.

If you have suggestions for spending Ł6,698, why not mention them to your Deanery Synod members (the clergy, Evelyn Hinchliffe, Roger Marks and Tony Wood)? Who knows, maybe your suggestion will be a way of Christians making this part of Bradford a better place!

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. October 2002, Page 11.
Home Page. Index of articles. In this issue: (October 2002) Vicar's Letter, Roof Money, Window, Question, Schooling, Deanery. Calverley Deanery	Deanery with attitude and clout For many years “Calverley Deanery” has been the unknown layer of synodical government - a group of 16 parishes, unrelated except for geography, meeting together in a Synod which is neither use nor ornament and entirely without powers. But all that is about to change... Bradford Diocese has decided to cut back on some support services to parishes, and give the money to the deaneries instead. The theory is that the deaneries will be able to decide what local needs they have, and use the money in a better way than the diocese would have done. So at the Deanery Synod meeting of 17th September, members were asked to think of ways of spending Ł6,698. (Actually, that is the money for 2002 - there will be at least the same again in 2003, and unspent money will roll forward for three years.) It would be possible to hold a “bidding” process whereby parishes would compete for the money, or to ask groups of parishes to cluster together and suggest ways they could spend on joint working. But it was generally felt it was better to aim at doing something which would work across the whole deanery, and which would involve all the parishes working and growing together. Paul Walker (the Rural Dean) invited us to be bold in dreaming dreams and seeing visions. Here were some suggestions (some of them less serious than others): • Secretary for the Rural Dean • Part-time Youth Worker • Schools / Drugs Worker • Bereavement consultant • A huge Harvest Supper • Tent & activites in Peel Park • A mission • Buy a video projector etc • Buy a printing machine • Deanery image consultant • Deanery holiday in Spain It was agreed that a short list of concrete proposals or options should be drawn up, so that the next Synod will have something to get its teeth into. It was also agreed that we ought to meet more often as a Deanery for joint services. The last two joint services, at Wrose and Thorpe Edge, have been very interesting and uplifting events, and these are going to happen more frequently. If you have suggestions for spending Ł6,698, why not mention them to your Deanery Synod members (the clergy, Evelyn Hinchliffe, Roger Marks and Tony Wood)? Who knows, maybe your suggestion will be a way of Christians making this part of Bradford a better place! John Hartley
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