Minutes of meeting of Hammersmith & Fulham Deanery Synod on 15 March 2001 at St Simon’s Church

There were 31 members of Synod present, and 14 apologies. Sarah Burrell, the Deanery Lay Chair, opened the meeting with prayer. The minutes of the last 2 meetings on 16.10.00 and 5.12.00 were accepted.

Business

  1. Accounts. Denis Browne presented the accounts for the last 2 years and these were approved by the meeting, with thanks to Denis.
  2. London Diocesan Board for Schools. Paul Andrew was reappointed for a further 5-year term, with thanks to him from Synod.
  3. White City Youth Initiative. It was agreed that Jonathan would ask Robert Block for a written report and then the Standing Committee would decide whether to give another £2,000 from the Social Fund to the project. This would be the final installment agreed by Synod for the project.
  4. Kensington Area Children’s Work Resource Group. Lawrence Smith is trying to set up this group to train and resource children’s leaders. It was decided to ask Lawrence Smith for a Job Description and an idea of the time commitment required.
  5. Youth Matters Day. This is also being organized by Lawrence Smith, for July 7th 2001.
  6. Peter Makower was co-opted onto Synod (being no longer an ex-officio member, as he has stood down from Diocesan Synod)
  7. Diocesan Synod – report from Sarah Burrell. Our members are Ken Bowler, Sarah Burrell, Jenkin Thomas, Diana Page and Philip Gee. It was agreed to put their contact numbers in Deanery Exchange and on the website. The last meeting had been about "Remarriage in Church after divorce" where there had been overwhelming support of the first of the House of Bishops recommendations, and overwhelming rejection of the second. They are sending a proposal to General Synod that the decision should be made by a diocesan body or bishop’s licence rather than by clergy, hoping that would make it the exception rather than the rule.
  8. General Synod – Sarah welcomed our new link representative, Lee Humby, who said he expected to attend our meetings regularly and would welcome any contact from Synod members. His address: 46 Barnsley Street, Bethnal Green E1 5RB, tel: 07944 099631.

Sarah paid tribute to Jonathan Clark who ends his 5-year term as Area Dean at the end of April, and she

thanked him for all he has done over the last 5 years.

Matt Dunckley of Christ Church Fulham reported on Local Agenda 21 which encourages people to do small but sustainable environmental projects in their local area. Matt asked us to publicise it in our churches and said he would be glad to hear from anyone who is interested: 58 Shorrolds Rd, SW6 7TP; tel: 7381 2625, website: www.hfla21.org.uk. Peter Makower said if anyone is interested, he has related information about the river (tel: 8994 0232).

 

Deanery Mission Action Plan.

  1. Reports from PCCs were asked for; there were none.
  2. Report from Area Dean, assisted by Mike Dyson of the Standing Committee (summary attached).

Ken Bowler said that more cuts are coming, and we will need to face up to major clergy cuts over the coming years. Jonathan said that if we don’t make decisions they will be made for us. The Pastoral Committee’s role is advisory to the Bishop, with no powers, but the Bishop and Archdeacon want to hear what we have to say, and have been accepting our proposals. The Area Council will make the final decisions.

Donald Reece and Ken Bowler proposed thanks to Jonathan and the Pastoral Committee for all their work.

Dates:- Wednesday June 13th Synod

Saturday July 7th Youth Matters Day

The meeting finished at 9.30pm.