Ecclesall's 106th Deanery Synod

These notes are in no way to be construed as official minutes - they are the incomplete and highly subjective ramblings of St Marys' ^web _warden

After drinks, Julian welcomed us all.

The Vicar of All Saints, Rev David Rhodes, welcomed us, led a brief time of worship and prayer, and said a bit about a recent Mission Week at All Saints, which had included the church's 80th birthday.

Jackie Butcher, chaired the meeting with gusto, telling us all to smile and nod.

Under Matters Arising, I reported on the activity of the Deanery Forum website (www.ecclesalldeanery.org.uk), or rather the lack of it. Only 21 members and almost no activity since the launch at the last meeting.

Communication Matters

How to communicate the Gospel in postmodern England
by Rev Rob Marshall, Diocesan Communications Officer

Rob explained a bit about his background and experience: at one time is was the football reporter for Radio Sheffield. He now works partly for the Archbishop of York, as well as for his own company which provide media officers for Christian groups. His job is to be proactive about the media. He has helped develop a much improved Diocesan website (www.sheffield.anglican.org) which gets updated three times a day. He receives all the parish newsletters in the diocese (12 a day). He gets ours too now! I'll summarise what he said in bullet points:

• In our culture, the basic facts about Christ are becoming a mystery
• 2.7 million read a broadsheet each day. 3.8 million read the Sun.
• All most journalists are interested in is personal scandal.
• The church is the parish - that's where the good stories are.
• One hour after hearing a talk you only remember 8% of what was said.
• There's a big difference between evangelism and communication.
• Internet use is increasing most rapidly for those aged between 55 and 70.
• Journalists' rules: No more than 14 words in a sentence; No more than two sentences in a paragraph.
• Press releases should say Who What When Where and Why in the first paragraph. No more than 5 paragraphs. Provide digital photos if possible.

He started to talk about communications requiring a transmitter, a receiver and a medium, but didn't really get time to develop this properly. To communicate effectively, we have to overcome the background 'noise' level - there is just so much information bombarding people these days. We can help, for example, by making sure that out-of-date stuff is removed.

A parish audit on communications could include a look at:

• Logo + phrase or slogan (full marks to St Marys).
• Do publications have the same look and feel (full marks to St Marys).
• Website: people new to an area will often google on the name of the neighbourhood (St Marys nul points)

There's a new attempt at a Diocesan Newspaper about to be piloted, sponsored by local companies

Rob finished his talk by plugging a book he'd written with Thora Hird, then giving it away. There may well be some follow-up to this talk, picking up some of the issues in more detail.

Releasing the Energy

Report on the 9th National Conference on the Deanery.
by Angie Lauener

Didn't catch where this was, but 90 people had attended, representing 38 of the 43 anglican dioceses, about half clergy, half laity. Angie said it had been a good thing that dog-collars weren't worn, and name-badges didn't reveal who was clergy and who wasn't.

Several speakers had given very good presentations, including Pam Rhodes (of Songs of Praise) who pointed out that its the personal stories in S of P which have much more impact than the songs.

Things which make deaneries work well included:

• Good bishops
• Try to keep the synod meetings interesting
• Promote and encourage Lay Chairs
• Residential conferences
• Meetings not in churches: airports, schools, theatres.
• Communication: email the Bishop with good news.

Angie had been very encouraged by the conference and had picked up lots of good ideas, which we hoped will be fed into future deanery events. She'd also managed to get herself roped into a research project looking at devolving responsibilities from the diocese to the deanery, which she'll be keeping us informed about.

General Synod Report

by Jackie Butcher

• Apparently the General Synod have voted NO to 'Heresy Trials' (the Clergy Discipline (Doctrine) Measure) to avoid the situation whereby everyone would end up accusing everyone else of heresy.
• They voted YES to relaxing the rules about which church someone may be married in. They voted YES to a requirement for a 'demonstrable connection' so it seems that someone who comes to a Play Group at a church could get married there.
• They voted NO to reducing the number of residential training places for married ordinands (the Hind report).
• YES to restorative justice. This was a good debate about making criminals face what they've done.
• YES to stipend differentials. Don't ask me what they are, but the Bishops voted no.
• YES to Trade Justice. Impressively, Jackie had moved the amendment to get this started herself. The next step from TJM is 'Make Poverty History'. Sheffield Diocesan Synod will be deciding whether to become a Fair Trade diocese in November. Jackie encouraged (although that's not a strong enough description of what she did - she actually jumped up and down) us to do more to promote justice issues.

Other issues discussed were Europe; Christian stamps (Christian ones please); World mission (PCCs encouraged to commit at least 5% of their annual income to the support of the Mission Agencies

Area Dean's Notices

1. A brace of Curates at St James's Norton, Michael Healey, and Stephen Hunter from All Saints Ecclesall were welcomed.
2. Holy Trinity Millhouses have appointed a Youth Worker, and need prayer for the apointment of a new Incumbent
3. St Augustine's Endcliffe is in scaffolding. They were very grateful for the £1,000 received towards their new roof from churches in the Deanery.
4. St Paul's Norton Lees would be starting their £0.65M redevelopment project in March 2005.
5. Angie Lauener is taking on the job of Deanery Treasurer.