DRAFT Minutes
of a Meeting of Monmouth Diocesan Conference Held on the 20th October 2007 at County Hall, Cwmbran
1 Opening Prayers were led by the Bishop
2 Apologies for Absence were received from 20 clergy and 11 lay people
3 Minutes of the meeting of October 14th October 2006 were approved and signed.
4 Matters Arising: There were none.
5 The List of Members was produced and signed
6 The Report of the Standing Committee was presented by the Archdeacon of Newport. He thanked the Secretary for his work in arranging this year’s Conference and for all his work during the preceding year. The Archdeacon informed conference that the Revd David Kellen had relinquished his post as Assistant Secretary to the Diocesan Conference and thanked him for his fifteen years service. The duties of the Assistant Secretary will be absorbed by the Secretary.
The Archdeacon reported on the decisions to make a boundary changes during the year, one of which entailed a redrawing of the boundary line between the Parishes of Newport (Maindee) and Newport (St. Julian). This entailed the transfer of Richmond Road, Somerset Road, Morden Road, Annesley Road, Ronald Road, Leicester Road, and the section of Caerleon Road between Duckpool Road and Richmond Rise from the Parish of Newport (Maindee) to the Parish of Newport (St. Julian). The other was the transfer of the Parish of Risca from the Deanery of Bassaleg to the Deanery of Bedwellty.
The Report of the Standing Committee was proposed and seconded and agreed by Conference without any questions or amendments.
7. The Report of the Diocesan Board of Finance was presented by Mr Peter Lea, Chair of the DBF. He thanked all who had paid their Parish Share on time. A breakdown of costs was given, illustrating that the cost of ministry was the major budget item.
Mr Lea explained that from 2006 it had become compulsory for the Diocese to present its financial information in line with new legislation: the Charity SORP ( Statements Of Recommended Practice) and the corresponding Companies Act. The result is that the figures presented to Conference are in this new format and not only portray different categories of Income and Expenditure but also reflect administrative costs (those for the Diocesan Office) as being allocated to the activities of the Diocese rather than as an extra expense. Three questions were asked from the floor:
The Revd Geoff Waggett (Ebbw Vale) asked if the budgeted deficit could be removed if all church members tithed their giving. Mr Lea accepted that this would probably be the case. The Revd Canon Jeremy Winston (St Mary, Abergavenny) asked if the increased capping of 20% is likely to remain. Mr Lea answered that the DBF had considered this matter at length and that it would not be reduced for the foreseeable future.
The Revd Marian Dowsett ( Llanrumney) asked that some thought be given to the banding structure to give some help to the poorer parishes. Mr Lea promised that the DBF would consider her concern.
The Report was proposed, seconded and accepted by Conference with thanks given to the DBF.
Following Mr Lea’s presentation, the Bishop thanked him for his diligence and hard work over six years and informed Conference that Mr Lea was resigning as Chair of the DBF.
He was to be presented with the Order of St Woolos on the Feast of the Epiphany along with Miss Pam Jones for her work as Bishop’s Visitor. The Bishop presented Mr Lea with a County Double crystal Tantalus and some bottles with which to fill them.
The Bishop introduced Mr Sandy Blair C.B.E. as the new Chair of the DBF.
8. The Reception of Other Diocesan Reports was moved by the Bishop and received en bloc.
9. Motions: None received
10 Answers to written questions: four questions has been received
Question from Mr Michael Vaughan, Llansoy – regarding meetings of the Diocesan Board of Nomination and freehold. The Bishop responded that it is not diocesan policy to suspend all livings as they become vacant and he has recently collated/instituted to livings. Suspension only takes place when there is a proper reason, and this is usually due to pastoral reorganisation. Even so, when a living is suspended [when it would otherwise have been the patronage turn of the Diocesan Board of Nominations], the Board is invited to take part in the appointment in order to retain the principle of rotating patronage. Clergy in the Church in Wales have never had freehold.
Question from the Ven John Blackburn, Risca – regarding which parishes are in arrears and in what amounts. The Bishop responded that at the 31st December 2006 the total unpaid Parish Share amounted to £101,000, but by the end of February 2007 this had been reduced to £40,000 and to date all have been paid.
Question from The Revd Geoff Waggett, Ebbw Vale – regarding the Bishop’s views on the Archbishop of Wales’s statement on the authority of the Bible and its consistency with the ordination oath. The Bishop quoted what the Archbishop had said concerning the Anglican approach to authority which included recognising the inspiration of scripture, but he distinguished between taking the scriptures seriously and interpreting them in a fundamentalist or literal way. The Bishop said that he believed the Archbishop’s approach to be consistent with the ordination oaths and that we should not misuse scripture to our own ends but engage with them in an open and honest way.
Question from the Grosmont PCC requesting an explanation regarding the delays in issuing judgements to faculty applications. The Chancellor responded by apologising unreservedly for the delay with one particular application from Grosmont and assured Conference that the vast majority of faculties are processed without undue delay. He explained the difficulties associated with applications for memorials which should be regarded as a privilege and not a right. A memorial application needed to show that the person had a link with the church and had made a significant contribution to the community or national life, and applications should only be made some years after the person’s death so that their commemoration had passed the test of time.
11 Any Other Business: None
The Bishop thanked the staff of the Diocesan Office for their work throughout the year, the Revd David Neale for his invaluable audio visual work, the Revd David Collingbourne as Secretary to Conference for making all the arrangements and the Registrar for his constant legal help and guidance.
12 The date of the next Ordinary meeting of the Diocesan Conference
will be on Saturday 11th October 2008 at County Hall, Cwmbran.
13 Closing Prayer was offered by the Bishop who also gave The Blessing.
Note:
- An Act of Worship was presented by the Deanery of Monmouth at 11.00 am
- The Bishop’s Address to Conference may be found on the Diocesan Web site
- Presentations were given by the parishes of St.George and St.James, Tredegar; Trellech with Penallt and the Benefice of Caldicot. Many benefices presented their MAPping plans and put them on display. Mrs Caroline Pascoe from the diocese of Llandaff gave a presentation of the MAPping process as undertaken in that diocese. The third presentation was given by the Children’s and Youth Officers on the document ‘Hope for Monmouth - Children and Young People’. Copies were available for each parish to take away.
- The Bishop awarded certificates to Esther Sully and Sasha Wilson for designing the covers of the 2007/8 Diocesan Yearbook and the ‘Hope for Monmouth - Children and Young People’ document. Both Esther and Sasha are pupils of Caerleon Endowed Junior School.
- The Bishop presented and blessed the banner that will be given to the Diocese of the Highveld.