archdeacons’ visitation news Spring 2020 - issue 15
Dear Churchwardens One of the privileges of archidiaconal ministry is when conducting a parish visitation to see the look of nervousness on the part of some churchwardens turn to relief and then joy when we are able to say what a splendid job they are doing. Not for a moment do your bishops and archdeacons doubt the immensity of the responsibilities you shoulder or the everincreasing demands on your time and energy. The office of churchwarden is one of the most ancient in the land and it has survived, I suspect, principally because faithful Christians in the parishes have recognised the importance of the role and made it a key way of exercising their discipleship. Thank you, one and all. Since last year, legislation has come in to enable parishes under the same incumbent to form ‘joint councils’. These are quite easy to form, and participating parochial church councils (PCCs) ‘up-load’ to them such powers and responsibilities as they choose. This enables expertise and resources to be shared across the group of churches involved, so that not every church has to
fill all the roles and workstreams of parish life from its own numbers. This approach can help us to live out the reality that we are all one body in Christ, and that we are called to bear one another’s burdens and support and serve our neighbours as ourselves, as the New Testament teaches. If you would like to explore this new possibility further, please be in touch with the archdeacon’s office. One of the things we try to offer new churchwardens is a visit to Edward King House in Lincoln in order to meet the key staff who can help support them and answer their questions. Most people prefer to put a face to a name and the staff here are always happy to explain what they do and how they can help colleagues in the parishes. That offer is also open to churchwardens of longer standing: no question is too small, so feel welcome and encouraged to make an appointment with Tom Wilson or Sue Wilson (our PAs) to come and ‘meet the team’ who are here to support you. Please accept our thanks and appreciation for all you do in the service of Christ and his people.
The Venerable Dr Justine Allain Chapman Archdeacon of Boston
The Venerable Mark Steadman Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey
T: 01522 50 40 39 E: archdeacon.boston @lincoln.anglican.org
T: 01522 50 40 39 E: archdeacon.stow @lincoln.anglican.org
The Venerable Gavin Kirk Archdeacon of Lincoln T: 01522 50 40 39 E: archdeacon.lincoln @lincoln.anglican.org
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The importance of communication After 20 years or so of work as a management consultant, I got a bit fed up with people in churches continually saying that all this management stuff did not apply to the Church. Teaching organisational studies to students, many of whom were ministers in various denominations, was a constant battle to convince them that the questions and frameworks secular management offers can be incredibly useful, even if you need to be careful not to assume that what works in business can be applied wholesale and unfiltered to your local parish.
As key lay leaders in the parish, churchwardens often have considerable experience of applying good-quality management theory, systems and processes at work. They should be able to apply these constructively to their leadership role in their church. There are many insights that can be usefully applied, especially in the context of prayerful, biblical reflection and careful listening to the breadth of the community.
A key concept in any organisation is getting the right person in the right role doing the right work. In churches, we sometimes struggle to find enough people to do the various jobs and so may take anyone who offers. We rely on and rejoice in volunteers in the church to do all sorts of things; but it is always helpful to try to get a good match between the role and the person – even if that means supporting the person as they develop into the role. It may also mean preparing the ground. If you know it is likely that a voluntary job, such as your fellow churchwarden’s, will become vacant in a couple of years’ time, it might be useful to look around for a person now and talk them through the possibility of taking the role, giving them bits of experience to show them that it is doable by someone less than the Archangel Gabriel. It is also necessary, with kindness and tact, to say no to some people who volunteer for jobs in the church. Another management principle is having a clear, shared understanding. What looks like over-the-top bureaucracy can in fact be essential in identifying what is wanted and what is not. A simple volunteer job description
Churchwardens – unsung heroes! Churchwardens are some of the most valuable volunteers in any church, bearing much of the responsibility of running and maintaining the building, not to mention the day-to-day functioning of the parish. The wide range of duties churchwardens undertake makes the role one of the most varied in the church community. From rising damp to blocked drains, un-serviced boilers to crumbling stonework, they always have plenty on their plate!
With gentle humour based on solid experience and pragmatism, his book unravels what it is that churchwardens actually do and what their job can entail. There are many pitfalls for the unwary … and just as many joys as well. Filled with practical wisdom and shrewd common sense, Rotas, Rules and Rectors has practical advice for churchwardens and for those thinking of taking up the role or closely involved in parish work.
Matthew Clements has written a book, Rotas, Rules and Rectors, to ‘help the churchwardens of the Anglican church to thrive, rather than merely survive in the role.’
Copies of his book can be purchased online at www.beingachurchwarden.com and any proceeds go to the Re-Ordering Fund at St Edburg’s Church, Bicester.
for a role can make sure people know what’s expected and where the boundaries are. When a decision or a plan is made at a parochial church council (PCC) meeting, giving it a clear statement of purpose, a description of what it will look like when it’s done, when it is to be done by and who’s going to do it might take a little time but is much more likely to ensure it gets done and that what you end up with is the right thing at the right time for all concerned. A lot of management discussion is about how we work together. There is sometimes an assumption that we just do it the way we’ve always done it or we’re supposed to know automatically what we are supposed to do and how to behave. It is always worthwhile to spend time making sure we know how we are going to work together. As churchwardens, it is crucial to sit down on a regular basis and talk with your clergy about how you are working together. What is going well and why? What is not and why? It is very easy, if we don’t reflect on the process in this way, for all sides to get resentful or pushed aside or put upon. The relationship between clergy and their wardens is very important and precious in leading the mission of the local church and deserves loving attention and nurture. It is especially important to consider different personality types and preferred ways of working, as this provides massive opportunities for creativity and covering all the different aspects of what needs to be done. If it’s ignored, experience shows that misunderstanding, frustration and tension can be the result. Management brings lots of theory from a range of organisations over the years. As Kurt Lewin famously said, ‘there’s nothing as practical as a good theory’. The Revd David Dadswell Diocesan Secretary
ns l ai na nt tio l Co mo eria o t pr ma
We have donated more than £325,000 to churches around the UK Trust130 is a special promotion to increase our support to local churches and their communities. It was initially introduced as a one-off giving programme in 2017 to celebrate and thank our church customers for trusting us over the previous 130 years. SPRING 2020
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Raise money for your church with a Trust130 donation – now extended until 31 December 2020 Trust130 is very simple… For every new direct home insurance policy taken out with Ecclesiastical, we offer to donate £1301 to an Anglican church or cathedral of the policyholder’s choice. A donation of £130 may not sound much, but churches and congregations have used the donations to fund all sorts of things. From the restoration of church artworks to new sound systems, from family BBQ and fun days to new chairs to replace pews, and from structural repairs to new noticeboards and kitchen equipment, the money really does make a big difference.
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If you or your church family would like to know more, or to get a quote, simply call us on 0800 783 0130 quoting AVNEWS20 or visit: www.ecclesiastical.com/trust130 Has your church benefited from one of our Trust130 donations? We’d love to hear how the money has helped your church. Please send your story to: trust130@ecclesiastical.com 1 Subject to terms and conditions – please visit www.ecclesiastical.com/trust130
There is no limit to the number of donations you can receive, so start spreading the word. If you would like some posters or postcards to help you promote this locally, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0800 783 0130.
Taking a sabbatical in 2021? Ecclesiastical’s Ministry Bursary Awards provide financial support for members of the clergy taking extended study leave, and we are now accepting applications for sabbaticals taking place in 2021. You can find out more about the Awards, check the eligibility criteria and apply on our website. Find out more: www.ecclesiastical.com/mba
fully-independent pension and retirement planning advice about the clergy pension, other church pension schemes and all other plans and schemes you or your partner have from previous employers or insurance companies across the market saving and investing for your future (including ethical investments and PCC funds) life assurance and protection for you and your family mortgage advice and specialist advice for those living in tied accommodation who want to buy a home, or re-mortgage. To find out more about the advice we can offer, contact our team on
0800 107 0190 or email: getadvice@ecclesiastical.com Please note: the value of investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back the amount invested. Your capital is at risk. Your home may be at risk if you do not keep up the repayments on any mortgage secured on it.
Parish
Regional winners
Risk Advice Line We know that managing the risks associated with church premises can be a demanding responsibility. That’s why we offer a Risk Management Advice Line. Whenever you need information about managing risk, and can’t find what you are looking for on our website, our experts are here to help. We also have a preferred supplier network of market leaders in their chosen fields offering a range of risk management products and services available at preferential rates. Call our Risk Management Advice Line
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Show your support!
Our Movement for Good awards
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The first stage of our Parish Pixels competition is complete. Congratulations to our nine Regional winners.
Ecclesiastical has always believed in supporting the causes that can make a positive difference to people’s lives. That’s why we work closely with the communities we serve to tackle the issues that are important to them.
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Now our judges would like your help in deciding the overall National winner. Please ‘show your support’ for your favourite entry by voting online at:
www.ecclesiastical.com/parishpixels
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0345 600 7531 or email us at: risk.advice@ecclesiastical.com.
Please have your policy number to hand when you call. The line is open from 09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays.
These awards are a way of recognising and supporting the efforts of these dedicated men and women – people who devote their energies to changing people’s lives for the better.
Vote now
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Information at your fingertips More than ever, it’s important to feel informed. Please also feel reassured that we continue to be here for you. We are updating our website regularly with the latest COVID-19 advice. The website is also a fantastic source of information from safety to security and grants to outreach, plus our products and services. Find out more at: www.ecclesiastical.com/church For our latest COVID-19 statement please visit: www.ecclesiastical.com/ church/coronavirus
1 Scotland
5 West Midlands
St Cuthbert’s: Like the ice appears to break the window, we are a beautiful church in a broken world doing our best to live as Jesus commanded.
St Luke’s: The St Luke’s family has been sparkling like a diamond at the centre of the community of Kingstanding for over 80 years, shining out the love of God for all to see.
2 North East St Stephen’s C of E Church: We are a church family that is open and active every day to support our local community through the beautiful chaos of life and help people to discover the love and grace of God.
3 North West Freedom Church: We may not have our own church building and we may live in an area of deprivation, but we believe that it doesn't matter where you meet to worship God, as long as you meet to worship God.
We recently launched our Movement for Good awards for 2020 – a programme designed to give £1million to charities.1
We’ve opened up the awards to exempt charities so are delighted that churches can be nominated for a donation – don’t forget to tick the exempt box on the registration form. More details about the awards programme can be found on our website at: www.ecclesiastical.com/ movement-for-good
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Please note, anyone can nominate but only eligible charities can win an award. Go to the website address above to view the full Terms and Conditions.
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6 Wales St Teilo’s: A place for quiet reflection.
7 Eastern St Paul’s: We are open every day of the week, welcoming all, offering space, time and hospitality to our local community and beyond.
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8 South East Parish Church of St Stephen: Inspired by the angels, our choir fills our beautiful building with uplifting music to worship the Lord and feed our souls.
4 East Midlands
9 South West
St Stephen’s: We will not be beaten by metal thieves!
All Hallows: We celebrate our faith joyfully.
Do we have up-to-date contact details for you? If you need to update us on changes to names, email addresses, phone numbers and changes to PCC members, you can do this by calling our team on 0345 777 3322
Another million pounds to support church youth work Funeral plans
Another million pounds is being made available by Allchurches Trust – owners of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group – to support churches and Christian organisations to connect with young people.
A funeral plan from Ecclesiastical is an ideal way to make financial provision for your funeral, as well as reducing the worry for your loved ones at a difficult time. You can pre-plan your funeral in as much or as little detail as you like. Making your funeral wishes known in advance and providing for the cost makes sound financial sense. Please contact us for your FREE information pack or visit www.funeralplans.co.uk to find your nearest funeral director.
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Car insurance tailored for the clergy Ecclesiastical Insurance Services offers extra tailored motor insurance to the clergy, with benefits including business use (relating to the church), no direct charges, no administration fees for changes to the policy, and up to £500 cover for church goods in the car. Our Clergy Motor Insurance isn’t available through price comparison sites or online, because we think it’s important to speak to you so we understand your specific needs. Give us a call today to find out more.
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The latest round of grants took the total amount of Growing Lives funding awarded by Allchurches Trust to over £1.3 million pounds, benefiting more than 140 projects. St Margaret’s Church in Aspley, Nottingham, has a £7,000 Growing Lives grant to develop its ‘Bee family’ programme – an after school community group aimed at young families who live on the local estates. With demand for grants still high, Allchurches has decided to continue the Growing Lives programme into 2020, making another million pounds available. Allchurches Trust chairman, Tim Carroll, said: “Our Growing Lives grants programme supports a wide range of projects with young people at their heart. It’s always inspiring to read about the innovative ways in which the organisations we fund are working together to meet local need and realise the power of young people to strengthen community.”
Under Growing Lives, grants of up to £25,000 are available and the amount depends upon the cost of the project and the level of need in the community, ranging from 10% of project cost to 80%. Churches can apply for a grant under this programme even if they have received funding from Allchurches in the last two years, as long as it is for a different project. The programme is also open to cathedrals. You can find out more at: www.allchurches.co.uk/growinglives
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St Margaret’s Church in Aspley, received a
£7,000 grant to develop its ‘Bee family’ programme...
Keeping in touch More than ever, it’s important to keep in touch. We hope that you, your church and community are well and finding new ways to stay connected. We send updates and useful advice by email once a month. If you or anyone else in your church would like to be added to the list, please visit: www.ecclesiastical.com/signup. If you no longer wish to receive them, you can unsubscribe at any time.
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All change! Steven Sleight, Secretary to the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC), looks at forthcoming changes for those intending to do work to their church building. As is often the case in life, you just start getting settled into a routine when someone comes along and moves the goalposts. Much the same could be said about the process of applying for work to your church building: the rules are changing – but hopefully for the better. In 2016 we saw the launch of the online faculty system and changes to levels of permission required to undertake various works to church buildings. The introduction of List A – for which no permissions are needed – and List B – which can be undertaken with the Archdeacon’s permission – allowed parishes to undertake work without the need to make a formal faculty application and all that that entails. Gone was the maximum amount that the Archdeacon had to have in mind when allowing works to happen (what used to be called de minimis) and instead we saw the introduction of categories of work that could be permitted regardless of their cost. As of April 2020, these lists are expanding so that even more items of work can be undertaken either without permission or with the Archdeacon’s say-so. These lists are available on the diocesan website and on the online faculty system when you make your application. The most significant change that will take place is for those faculty petitions which may require consultation with Historic England, amenity societies and the Church Buildings Council. For many years, the process has been that parishes presented their proposals
to the DAC, which offered its advice and advised which other bodies should then be consulted. Parishes often found this unhelpful, believing they had got to the end of the consultation route only to be told that another group or groups would then rake over their plans and potentially raise objections. Recognising this, the system has been changed so that, upon the initial presenting of a case to the DAC, it will advise parishes as to which bodies (if any) it should consult at this early stage. The DAC will only give its formal advice once the comments from the relevant bodies have been received – and they have 42 days in which to do so. The DAC’s Notification of Advice will outline its recommendation to the Chancellor, will note which other bodies have been consulted, and will offer a reason if the DAC decides not to accept one of these body’s objections to the work. It is hoped that this ‘front loading’ of the consultation process will enable the DAC to have all of the information before it when making its recommendation, and will outline much more clearly for the Chancellor of the diocese – who will actually grant permission for the work in the form of a faculty – its advice and that of other interested parties. There is bound to be a settling-down period to allow this new way of working to become part of our routines. However, the changes should see benefits for parishes from the very outset. Parishes should feel free to contact the DAC if further clarification is required.
Church Building Team: Here to help... This diocese is blessed with a wonderful heritage of historic church buildings, but the care and maintenance of this legacy can be challenging. The Church Building Team is here to help you make the most of the church buildings in your care. It is always best to talk with us sooner rather than later and before projects have got a long way into the planning. DAC site visits can be arranged to help you clarify your vision and to ensure that your plans are more likely to be granted a faculty. We also run monthly surgeries at which you can discuss anything church building-related during an hour’s appointment slot. Contact Steven or Peter for DAC and faculty matters, Steven or Gavin for pastoral matters and Matthew or Fran for help with keeping the church buildings upright and open. Steven Sleight (DAC and Pastoral Secretary) T: 01522 50 40 69 E: steven.sleight@lincoln.anglican.org Peter Duff (Assistant DAC Secretary) T: 01522 50 40 45 E: dac.assistant@lincoln.anglican.org Gavin Dix-White (Assistant Pastoral Secretary) T: 01522 50 40 87 E: gavin.dixwhite@lincoln.anglican.org Matthew Godfrey (Historic Churches Support Officer) T: 01522 50 40 48 E: matthew.godfrey@lincoln.anglican.org Fran Bell (Church Development Officer) T: 01522 50 40 18 E: fran.bell@lincoln.anglican.org
Surgery dates for 2020 are: Tuesday, 2nd June Thursday, 2nd July Thursday, 6th August Tuesday, 15th September Thursday, 8th October Tuesday, 3rd November Thursday, 10th December
PGS offers a route for outreach Is your church making the most of ACNY? Every parish church has a free online listing on a Church of England-hosted website known as A Church Near You (www.achurchnearyou.com). As the Church of England states, ‘A Church Near You receives more than 38.5 million page-views each year, and 81 per cent of people who visit the site are first-time visitors’, meaning that this is a great resource to share information and encourage church attendance. The Church of England reports that there are now more than 17,500 church editors on A Church Near You, and all parishes are encouraged to ensure that their listings are up to date and that they include details of special services, such as at Christmas and Easter. (Further information is on the site or from the diocesan Communications team.)
The diocesan office has been working with The Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) and the Diocese of Truro in designing a leaflet to appeal to our wider community audiences, including family, friends and those more on the fringes of church, asking them to ‘Support your church community for future generations’. directly to the PGS office in Gloucester to process. PGS submits any Gift Aid claims and then simply puts all monies donated to your church, plus any Gift Aid claimed, into your church’s bank account in the same month. This recognises that there is much goodwill towards the Church amongst many in our wider communities, who may wish to support the work of their local church, but whose motivations for doing so might be different from those within our worshipping congregations. As a rural diocese we welcome this opportunity, as we think it will be of benefit to many of our churches. Lincoln and Truro are the first dioceses to be able to offer these leaflets, having volunteered to pilot it.
Your Stewardship Officers, Jane Hodgson and Hugo Cobham, will be running the pilot with a number of churches whose congregations are already giving through PGS. If you are interested in using the PGS wider community leaflet, either now if your church is already registered with PGS, or in the future if it is not yet registered, please contact Jane or Hugo, who will be happy to help.
The leaflet itself has a built-in Gift Form offering people the option of contributing financially to their local church in a more regular and planned way; i.e. monthly, quarterly or annually. There is no extra work for the treasurer as the form is sent
M: 07701 36 44 61 E: jane.hodgson@lincoln.anglican.org
Jane Hodgson
Hugo Cobham M: 07885 96 86 08 E: hugo.cobham@lincoln.anglican.org
Sharing good news The Communications Department is here to help you. We are responsible for Crosslincs magazine and the diocesan website (www.lincoln.anglican.org), plus an emailed news bulletin. We also help parishes engage with the media. For information and assistance, please call Adrian Smith on 01522 50 40 37 or Louise Brown on 01522 50 40 64.
Whilst Ecclesiastical has used reasonable endeavours to ensure that the information in this newsletter is correct at the time of publication, please note: (a) the information is not intended to constitute a definitive or complete statement of the law on any subject, (b) the information may over the course of time become incorrect or out of date; and (c) neither Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc. nor its subsidiaries can accept any responsibility or liability for action taken or losses suffered as a result of reliance placed on the information provided in this newsletter.
For more information, call: 0345 777 3322 email: churches@ecclesiastical.com @churchmatters Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc (EIO) Reg. No. 24869. Registered in England at Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, GL11JZ, United Kingdom. EIO is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 113848. Ecclesiastical Financial Advisory Services Ltd (EFAS) Reg. No. 2046087. Registered in England at Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, GL1 1JZ, United Kingdom. EFAS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm Reference Number 126123. © Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc 2020
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