From Mr Philip Johanson
Sir, — My suggestion that the deanery become the unit for mission was not intended to take away from individuals’ commitment to their own church, as Canon Noelle Hall suggests (Letters, 11 September). I agree with her that people will always look to their own church, so to speak. My thinking related more to leadership and support for it.
The deanery, I believe, could become a real unit for mission and ministry, based on the early concept of a minster model. In recent times, a number of parish churches have been designated “minsters” without really implementing a minster model. That model was for clergy to worship and plan together regularly, and to serve the churches in the area. It was real teamwork.
My suggestion is that a church in the deanery should be designated as a deanery minster. The stipendiary leadership in the deanery would meet at least weekly at the minster to worship, train, and plan, and possibly share a communal meal together. The leadership would go out from there to serve the wider community.
This would provide a team concept that enabled individuals both to use their particular gifts and experience across a wider area, and, at the same time, to work in a supportive environment. Licensed workers would be licensed to the deanery minster to work across the deanery.
The deanery should take on responsibility for all stipends and related costs. There would be a deanery administrative centre near the deanery minster so that each church did not need its own admin. This should be more cost-effective, especially when it comes to buying power. The deanery would decide a realistic amount of money to be sent to the diocese.
This would be similar to the suggestion made by the Archbishop of Canterbury when he was Bishop of Durham, as mentioned by another correspondent in the same issue. The diocese would then plan its activities based on its income rather than decided what it was going to do and expect the parishes to pay for it.
PHILIP JOHANSON
10 Ditton Lodge
8 Stourwood Avenue
Bournemouth
Dorset BH6 3PN
