THE DEAN'S LETTER
For many years the Anglican Church in Jersey has been talking about the need for Pastoral Reorganisation — meanwhile both the Roman Catholic
Church and the Methodist Church have started and completed their schemes to provide ministry for the whole Island with less ordained ministers, and using less buildings.
Because of the interwoven constitutional position of the Church of England within the fabric of this Island, and the long history of independence of the ancient parishes, it is just slightly more complicated for us to devise a plan which recognises these excellent traditions and yet is realistic in its use of an ever diminishing resource, that of the ordained clergy.
At the meeting of the Deanery Synod last month the Pastoral Committee presented yet another report, this time with specific recommendations to achieve the required saving of two stipendiary posts. Predictably this was unpopular, especially in the parishes most closely involved.
No parish has ever wanted to be, in the picturesque language of the Instrument of Institution, "bereft of an incumbent" permanently. But the starting point for the debate is that there has been a dearth of vocations to the full-time stipendiary ministry. With the development of Non-Stipendiary Ministry, and the increasing role of Readers, many people with a vocation to ministry, whether ordained or lay, have chosen to remain in their secular employment, and serve the Church in their out-of-work hours. This has been of enormous benefit to the Church, particularly on Sundays for the leadership of worship, but these people are not available for the all-week pastoral care.
The other point is demographic. The population of this Island is unevenly distributed, and presently some 80 per cent of the population is cared for by 40 per cent of the stipendiary clergy.
The report is being considered now, and undoubtedly various parishes will produce alternative recommendations, based on the NIMBY principle, that the changes should happen in one or more of the other parishes. The problem seems all too reminiscent of Solomon's dilemma (1 Kings 3) with only one "baby" claimed by two "mothers," so before we go any further perhaps we should all repeat the prayer recorded in verse 9.
However much everyone would like to, and there is no one that does not want to, we cannot maintain the situation as it is now. There has to be some give somewhere.
JOHN SEAFORD
The Parish of St Clement
The Bishop has confirmed the appointment of the Revd David Shaw as the Ministre Desservant (Priest-in-Charge) of St Clement. David is presently the Curate of Wotton-under-Edge with Ozleworth and North Nibley in rural South Gloucestershire.
After education at Manchester Grammar School and Durham University, where he was part of the congregation at the renowned "St Nick's," the church in the Market Place at the centre of Durham where Dr George Carey, now Archbishop of Canterbury, was once the Vicar, David entered the food industry, first with Unilever, and later becoming a Senior Brand Manager with Kraft General Foods.
His wife, Bridget, is a solicitor, and they have two children, Alexandra and Jonathan, who are not yet at school.
He is eager to see the Church grow in numbers and be effective in the community. It is expected that he will take up his duties in the early autumn and we look forward to his ministry — a ministry which so far has included setting up a Coffee Shop/Drop-In Centre, teaching in the local Primary Schools, leading residential weekends for youth and a couple of trips to Taize. Working for CMS in Kenya for two months has helped him appreciate the advantage of links with the missionary societies and the Church overseas.
We look forward to welcoming David and his family to Jersey.
The Bishop has confirmed the appointment of the Revd David Shaw as the Ministre Desservant (Priest-in-Charge) of St Clement. David is presently the Curate of Wotton-under-Edge with Ozleworth and North Nibley in rural South Gloucestershire.
After education at Manchester Grammar School and Durham University, where he was part of the congregation at the renowned "St Nick's," the church in the Market Place at the centre of Durham where Dr George Carey, now Archbishop of Canterbury, was once the Vicar, David entered the food industry, first with Unilever, and later becoming a Senior Brand Manager with Kraft General Foods.
His wife, Bridget, is a solicitor, and they have two children, Alexandra and Jonathan, who are not yet at school.
He is eager to see the Church grow in numbers and be effective in the community. It is expected that he will take up his duties in the early autumn and we look forward to his ministry — a ministry which so far has included setting up a Coffee Shop/Drop-In Centre, teaching in the local Primary Schools, leading residential weekends for youth and a couple of trips to Taize. Working for CMS in Kenya for two months has helped him appreciate the advantage of links with the missionary societies and the Church overseas.
We look forward to welcoming David and his family to Jersey.
Of Rectors
In "A Constitutional History of Jersey" (1972) F de L Bois, a former Deputy Bailiff, explained concisely the position of the Rector vis-a-vis his Parish. Readers of The PILOT may find this information illuminating in view of the current discussions concerning the perceived need to reduce the number of clergy, initially by two.
"The Governmental body for the Parish is the Assembly of Principals and Officers of the Parish, known as the Parish Assembly:'
"When dealing with the ecclesiastical affairs of the Parish, the Rector of the Parish presides, and when dealing with all the other parish affairs, the Constable presides:'
"The Assembly under the presidency of the Rector is commonly called the Ecclesiastical Assembly and the Assembly under the presidency of the Constable is called the Civil Assembly when contrasted to the Ecclesiastical Assembly, but is commonly called the Parish Assembly."
"The Officers of the Parish are
(a) The Constable, who is head of the civil parish and chief of the parish police;
(b) The Rector, who is appointed by the Crown and is head of the ecclesiastical parish;
(c) The Centeniers, the senior of whom is known as the Chef de Police;
(d) The Procureurs du Bien Publique (Public Trustees);
(e) The Churchwardens;
(f) The Vingteniers;
(g) The Constable's Officers;
(h) The Almoners."
A Rector thus appears to be so inextricably linked into his Parish that to have one Rector appointed to two Parishes is as unthinkable as to combine two Parishes under one Constable. Nor does Jersey Canon Law countenance such an arrangement: "None, either Dean or Minister, shall hold two Benefices together, unless in time of Vacancy." (Canon 14)
As to precedent, the Reverend Edward Durell, in his notes on the Jersey Canons, written in 1837, states
"It does not appear . . . that any individual was ever allowed to hold two benefices in Jersey." (Note 3).
AH
In "A Constitutional History of Jersey" (1972) F de L Bois, a former Deputy Bailiff, explained concisely the position of the Rector vis-a-vis his Parish. Readers of The PILOT may find this information illuminating in view of the current discussions concerning the perceived need to reduce the number of clergy, initially by two.
"The Governmental body for the Parish is the Assembly of Principals and Officers of the Parish, known as the Parish Assembly:'
"When dealing with the ecclesiastical affairs of the Parish, the Rector of the Parish presides, and when dealing with all the other parish affairs, the Constable presides:'
"The Assembly under the presidency of the Rector is commonly called the Ecclesiastical Assembly and the Assembly under the presidency of the Constable is called the Civil Assembly when contrasted to the Ecclesiastical Assembly, but is commonly called the Parish Assembly."
"The Officers of the Parish are
(a) The Constable, who is head of the civil parish and chief of the parish police;
(b) The Rector, who is appointed by the Crown and is head of the ecclesiastical parish;
(c) The Centeniers, the senior of whom is known as the Chef de Police;
(d) The Procureurs du Bien Publique (Public Trustees);
(e) The Churchwardens;
(f) The Vingteniers;
(g) The Constable's Officers;
(h) The Almoners."
A Rector thus appears to be so inextricably linked into his Parish that to have one Rector appointed to two Parishes is as unthinkable as to combine two Parishes under one Constable. Nor does Jersey Canon Law countenance such an arrangement: "None, either Dean or Minister, shall hold two Benefices together, unless in time of Vacancy." (Canon 14)
As to precedent, the Reverend Edward Durell, in his notes on the Jersey Canons, written in 1837, states
"It does not appear . . . that any individual was ever allowed to hold two benefices in Jersey." (Note 3).
AH
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