ALL SAINTS' : THE FUTURE - Progress report

A couple of people have asked me to circulate something about what is happening at All Saints'. If the following does not answer your particular questions or concerns I am very happy to talk to individuals about this. I will also be happy to take questions about this at the Annual Meeting.

Why is change needed?

We have lost a full time priest in the parish. When I began discussing the future of All Saints' with Paul Timmis a year or so ago, it emerged that the Methodist Circuit would also lose a minister when he moves (summer next year). Meanwhile, the Rector of this parish has become a Team Rector, with oversight of four more churches and two Team Vicars, one of whom reaches retirement age in 2009 (which will involve supporting a vacancy, possibly of 12 months’ duration). Towards the end of last year we were also put on notice that the diocese will require our deanery to lose another full time priest by 2016: as I expected, now that detailed thinking about that has begun the most likely outcome will be a further decrease in provision of clergy  in the Berkhamsted Team. There are clearly not sufficient clergy to staff all the Anglican churches in Berkhamsted and the Berkhamsted Team.

Why now?

My concern has been to avoid a situation in which All Saints' gradually declined through ever decreasing clerical leadership: the timing of Paul Timmis’ leaving is crucial in this, so I decided that we needed to do something strategic in which he could be fully involved, and lead the congregation. The discussions gradually widened from Paul and me to various other clergy in both denominations (including the Archdeacon and Methodist Circuit Superintendent), the Leadership team at All Saints', the Joint council and the Churchwardens and PCC of the parish. Having proposed various options to those who advise us on structures it became clear that the only option to ensure the continuation of All Saints' Church was for it to become, ultimately, a separate church in the Team under Methodist leadership: that is the goal, though it is not yet legally possible to reach it. But much can be done to move purposefully in that direction. A major advantage of this move is that the Methodist Church, which has no other provision in Berkhamsted, will take responsibility for the provision of continuing clerical leadership, which might otherwise not have happened. That is clearly a desirable outcome.

What now?

Much of the discussion (indeed much discussion over the last 30 years) has focussed on the desire of All Saints' to be an independent, self-determining church, something identifiable that people know they can ‘join’ (and support financially). Since the two All Saints' congregations have been worshipping together, a desire has emerged for a more consistent and coherent liturgical style, rather than the considerable variety from week to week which presently exists. These two concerns are clearly related. Once all involved had got over the initial shock which the prospect of change always prompts, the advantages of the new arrangement in these areas have been grasped enthusiastically.

For this reason the Leadership Team recommended that the first change, to be enacted as quickly as practicable, should be to a new pattern of worship, which should feed the worshiping life of as many of the present members of All Saints' as possible, rather than reflect, primarily, denominational prescriptions.

The date for the change was set as Pentecost this year because that is a significant and appropriate date in the life of the church, and because Paul Timmis could by then have run a course for worship leaders, to increase the participation of church members in the change and in leading worship, while also having more than a year in post to support those who take part.

That is what will happen first: leadership of services will be the responsibility of All Saints' itself, led and overseen by the Methodist Minister, with Anglican Lay Readers and Clergy participating, we hope, monthly.

Structures and Finance

Change in how All Saints' relates to the Anglican parish and the Methodist Circuit both financially and structurally will take longer to negotiate and effect. The Joint Council meeting last week was asked to appoint two small working groups, one for structures and one for finance, to recommend the best way to proceed. There will be further consultations with the diocese the Methodist Church and, inevitably, lawyers. It is not proposed to withdraw from the Sharing Agreement, nor will there be any sudden change of financial arrangements or structural relationships.

Summary

The goal, to make All Saints' a full member of the Anglican Team as a Methodist led church, has the potential to enhance its sense of identity and mission, building on long established relationships in the spirit of the Anglican Methodist Covenant. We have started by working on worship because that is where any church lives, and how people encounter it. It is hoped that starting with worship will also help build prayerful relationships which will assist in the other more administrative tasks.

                                                                                      Fr Michael