Harrogate Deanery Synod
The Deanery Synod comprises representatives, clerical and lay, from the town parishes of Harrogate, Knaresborough and Wetherby, along with the villages of the surrounding area, 38 in all. Four meetings were held in 2007.
Ken Newby
Harrogate Deanery Plan
The wider context
- Nationally the number of stipendiary clergy available in the Church of England is falling.
- At the same time other forms of ministry including Non Stipendiary Ministers, Readers and House for Duty Priests are growing.
- There is also an increased awareness of the role of lay people in both church leadership and the exercise of ministry.
- In this context the role of stipendiary clergy is changing significantly. It is not only their numbers but also their functions that are being reviewed
The Diocesan Challenge
- The Diocese of Ripon & Leeds is committed to employing its allocation of the national pool as calculated by a nationally agreed formula based on population, congregation size and geographic area.
- The Diocese then allocates clergy to Deaneries using the same formula, in a process called ‘Deanery Resources for Mission’.
- We are now working with ‘DRM3’ which sets out the number of stipendiary posts available in 2015 .
- Each Deanery has been asked to draw up its own ‘Deanery Mission Plan’ setting out its strategy for moving towards the targets for 2015.
Deanery Target
- Harrogate Deanery currently employs 17 stipendiary clergy across 15 benefices with 33 places of worship
- DRM3 allocates 15 stipendiary clergy to Harrogate Deanery.
Other forms of Authorised Ministry
- The DRM process does not include Curates, House for Duty Priests, Non Stipendiary Clergy, Fresh Expression Ministers, Church Army Officers or Readers.
- The Diocese has recently developed a House For Duty Policy which limits the future availability of these posts.
- In our Deanery Plan we are looking to indicate possible training posts and recognise the valuable contribution of other forms of ministry.
- We do however need to be wary of the limited ability to plan for the distribution of these posts into the future.
Our Priorities
- What are we seeking to achieve as a church in Harrogate?
- Possible priorities include:
- Bearing witness to the gospel.
- Maintaining holy spaces in each community.
- Encouraging churches to grow numerically & spiritually.
- Working together with our ecumenical partners.
- Promoting vocations .
Portfolios
Part of the changing role of clergy is a recognition that most full time clergy carry some area of responsibility alongside their parochial duties. These include Area Dean, Asst DDO and other Diocesan wide responsibilities.
Across the Diocese a number of Deaneries have been identifying specialist roles that clergy can undertake throughout their Deanery.
Mission Areas
Mission Area 1: Lower Wharfedale (North Rigton, Weeton, Kirkby Overblow, Sicklinghall, Pool & Arthington)
Mission Area 2: Wetherby (Wetherby, Collingham, Harwood, Spofforth, Kirk Deighton, Follifoot & Little Ribston)
Mission Area 3: Knaresborough (Knaresborough Team, Walkingham Hill & Nidd)
Mission Area 4: Harrogate East & Starbeck (Christchurch & Starbeck)
Mission Area 5: Harrogate Town Centre (St Peter’s)
Mission Area 6: Harrogate SW and Pannal (Pannal, Beckwithshaw, St Mark’s & St Mary’s)
Mission Area 7: Harrogate North & Bilton (St Wilfrid’s & Bilton Team)
Mission Area 8: Hampsthwaite, Killinghall & Birstwith
Where do we go next?
- This presentation is offered by the Deanery Mission & Pastoral Committee as a sharing of its present ideas.
- Synod members are encouraged to take these back to their P.C.C.s for comment.
- Any comments received before the end of August will be considered in drawing up a first draft of a Deanery Plan for submission to the Diocesan Mission & Pastoral Committee on September 8th.
- Over the next 7 years Senior Staff will refer to the deanery Plan when considering appointments in the Harrogate Deanery.
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