Minutes of a meeting of Hammersmith & Fulham Deanery Synod on 30th October 2001 at St Andrews Church, Fulham

Stephan Welch welcomed us to St Andrews and invited Nicholas Beale to say a few words about how the parish is managing following the death of Fr David Paget in May. They have received much generosity and support and hope to welcome a new Parish Priest early next year.

1.	Stephan Welch opened the meeting with prayer and welcomed new synod members:- Rev Mark Osborne (priest-in-charge at St John, Walham Green), Frank Moore (St Stephen), Miles Bennett (St Luke), Caroline Davis (St Simon) and Robert Ashdown (St Peter, Fulham).

2.	There were 43 members of Synod present, and 10 apologies in the attendance book.

3.	The minutes of the last synod meeting on 13th June 2001 were approved (Proposed: Naomi 	
	Bryant, seconded: Shaun Atkins)

4. 	Matters arising:-
Ÿ	Minutes and agendas of meetings are now being put on the Deanery website, and the website address on the minutes and agendas
Ÿ	(5.ii) a card has been sent to the widow of Rev John Fowler
Ÿ	(5.iv) the Bishop’s parish evangelist project is still going ahead
Ÿ	(8) Standing Committee have agreed and a grant has been made to St Katherine’s “Dreamcatcher” project from the Welcare account, for which Jim Tate expressed thanks
Ÿ	Madeline Bulman had asked about a procedure for applying for funding from this account, and is drawing up some suggested guidelines which she will present at a future synod
Ÿ	The third instalment of   2,000 from the Welcare account has been given to the White City Youth Initiative; Robert Block thanked synod.

5.	Area Council meetings 12 July & 18 September
	12 July.   Stephan offered copies of the leaflet “Growing Healthy Churches”.
	18 September - St John Glenthorne Road.  Paul Andrew said his PCC was meeting with Lawrence Smith and the Bishop of Fulham the following evening. A survey was being done by the parishioners. St  John’s is to be discussed again at the next Deanery Standing Committe and will be reported on at the next Synod.

6.	Audit of North Hammersmith Parishes. Representatives from each of the 4 parishes were invited to give their response to the proposals:-
St Katherine - Jim Tate said his PCC feels some reluctance at the drastic changes suggested, but encouraged that the needs of the area are being looked at.  He wonders why the audit has been done this way and feels bypassed by a group coming in from outside instead of being consulted and part of the process.
St Stephen - Frank Moore said his PCC had found the proposals exciting and challenging, and had accepted them. However, they had some queries: how would finance be divided between the parishes and the individual ministries?  What benefits are there to joining 4 parishes?  It seems to be a lot, especially regarding difficulties in decision making. 
St Luke - Stephan Cook said St Luke has been having a particularly difficult time. A churchwarden (Sheila Shuttleworth) had died a few days ago, and the other churchwarden’s wife had a serious accident.  Also they have had no priest since the departure of Fr David Cherry 18 months ago.  They were glad to be seen as an area of development and renewal, therefore the PCC had responded positively, but had rejected the team ministry idea.  They already have a group ministry with St Michael & St George and would be happy to extend this to St Katherine and St Stephen, provided that the PCCs remain separate. They could also foresee difficulties of joint ministry with parishes of different beliefs.
St Michael & St George - Robert Block said that for the last 7 years they and St Luke had been run jointly.  Their PCC said a positive yes to some of the suggestions, but had reservations about team ministry. They already feel marginalised, with no power of self-determination.  The PCC voted against team ministry but for group ministry which they would gladly extend to St Katherine and St. Stephen.

SW said he was very encouraged by all 4 responses because they show a genuine desire to do together what already happens and to take advantage of the extra resources being offered.

Comments were invited from the floor:-
Ÿ	The Church of England has started team ministries in other parts of England and they have not worked. They are based on personalities, are legally restrictive and disempowering
Ÿ	When an audit is done it should not go to the Area Council till the parish has seen the audit and been able to comment on it (this suggestion received a round of applause)
Ÿ	The 4 parishes seem to be saying basically the same thing, that they don't want a team ministry, but are open to the other suggestions.
Ÿ	St John Glenthorne Road also feels poor and unempowered, being 80/90% black but positions in the Church of England are often given to white people, therefore there seems to be institutional racism
Ÿ	Suggest we formally welcome the proposals, excluding the one about team ministry
Ÿ	Suggest we do not vote at this stage but take time to reflect;  also took exception to the suggestion of institutional racism, which was certainly not present in the Area Council

Stephan Welch said we have not been asked to vote in any formal way  upon a resolution but to take note that the report has been received.  Nicholas Beale proposed a) that the 4 parishes collectively come to a decision and Synod support what they decide;  b) that future audits should not go the Area Council before the parishes concerned have seen and commented on them.  

The following was agreed:-  Synod has heard responses from the 4 parishes, has taken note of what has received positive support and has encouraged the Parishes to talk further together and produce a combined response.

7.	Common Fund.  Stephan introduced this topic and then we discussed in small groups these four questions:-
i) Is the title “Common Fund” adequately descriptive of the income and expenditure policy in this diocese, as you understand it?
ii) Do we as a deanery, exercise sufficient control over the process of setting annual targets and parish allocations?
iii) Do you respond favourably to the suggestion that we would be more mutually accountable if we produced the kind of annual deanery mission statement by parishes proposed this evening?
iv) Are we still committed as a synod to paying 100% of costs by 2003?

Synod resolved iv as being essential.

Future Dates
Synod:   February 7th 2002
Standing Committee: December 5th

The meeting finished at 9.50pm.

Deanery website: www.starcourse.org/hfd

The next meeting of Hammersmith & Fulham Deanery Synod will be on Thursday February 7th 2002, 8.00pm at St Alban’s Church, Margravine Road

Refreshments will be available before the meeting

AGENDA

8.00	Welcome and Introduction by The Revd Jack Maple

8.05	Opening Prayers

8.10	Minutes of last Synod on 30th October 2001

		Matters arising: Welcare procedure.  Introduction and discussion (document attached)

8.40	Pastoral Matters: update attached.  Short question time if required.

8.45	“Good practice in Deaneries”.  Introduction by Sarah Burrell, retiring Lay Chair.  		
		Time for group discussion and plenary.

9.30	Looking towards a new Synod.  Election procedure.

9.35	Notices and dates.

9.45	Closing devotion.

This agenda can also be found on the Deanery website: www.starcourse.org/hfd