The Diocese of Coventry

Some issues

Affirming Diocesan Purpose Statement
The parish is local but it is not everything about the local.
Do we need a strategy?

The way forward?
Need to debate our proposals as widely as possible:

Different language versions and styles (Daily Mail)
Diocesan Synod

Deaneries and Parishes

Ecumenical Partners

Involve Directors in the debate

As the author of the MLT review, and now concerned with the development of ministry of the newly ordained, I was delighted to see the MLT review mentioned. Developing the MLT model is, in my view, a key strategy for the diocese, within which all other ministry matters, including IME, CME, Reader training and development, and the Bishop's certificate, should sit. Getting the MLT model right is a way of setting the future context of ministry on the right basis - economically as well as theologically: it is one of the few viable options, in my view, for a sustainable local ministry in the next couple of decades, sitting alongside the realities that numbers of self-supporting ministries will grow, while stipendiary ministry will shrink and need to be much more carefully targeted; and that, for the next round of government spending (at least up to 2015) community life will depend on local rather than central initiatives, with reduced spending, and greater emphasis on the voluntary sector and faith communities. In my view, even at a time of limited scope for diocesan spending, this is where we should be putting some key resources. It isn't so much about a fresh expression as recovering our vocation to be a significant part of sustainable social and community growth and cohesion. Paul Wignall.

Hello

Thank you very much for registerig for the discussion on Bishop Christopher's Signposts document.

A few posts have been made but we need to stimulate the debate...

Please do add to any or all of the forums,

tell us what you think,
what you welcome,
what you do not

How do you propose to debate the issues in your parish?
If you have already raised them with your PCC, what did people say?

What does your deanery think: Chapter, Synod Standing Committee???

Thanks very much


Mark

At Christ Church, Cheylesmore, all the members of the PCC have been given a copy of the 'Signposts' document to read over the summer. Other members of the congregation who asked for a copy have also been given one. The plan is to feedback our response at the next PCC meeting in September. They have also been invited to use this discussion board. Hopefully there will be feedback coming in soon.