Questions and answers

Q.1 Revd. Roger Gayler (Barking & Dagenham) to ask the Bishop of Chelmsford :

"Would the Bishop like to comment on the effectiveness of Christian Aid's Cut the Carbon March and what should individuals and churches be doing to carry forward the message?"

Bishop's answer: 

"Christian Aid was overwhelmed by the support this imaginative initiative created. It has certainly established our concern at the impact of global warming on the poorest people in the South"

 

Q.2 Revd. Steven Hanna (Barking & Dagenham) to ask the Bishop of Chelmsford :

"A year ago, Bishop John was asked in this Synod what he thought would be the impact of his decision to become a patron of Changing Attitude on those in the Diocese who object to the campaigning stance of that organization.

That patronage has now resulted in a delay to the ordination of a candidate who has passed through the selection processes of this diocese and of the national Church, who has had three years full-time training and who has been offered a post in this diocese as a curate.

Will the Bishop now agree that his patronage of Changing Attitude has become an impediment to the relationship between himself and some of those in his own diocese?"

Bishop's answer: 

1. My patronage of Changing Attitude has not delayed the ordination. No-one can proceed to ordination when they are not willing to receive Holy Communion from the Bishop who ordains them. That discipline has to be accepted by everyone.
2. I am genuinely sorry that some people find my actions a difficulty. I respect them, but I remain of the conviction that we must listen to Gay and Lesbian members of our church and that they need to feel safe to speak.

 

Q.3 Ron McLernon (Hadleigh Deanery) to ask the Bishop of Chelmsford :

Please will you advise what the Chelmsford Diocese procedure is when responding to a media request or if it is necessary to issue a "Press Release" relating to an individual of the Clergy or Laity, Parish, Deanery, Episcopal Area or Diocesan Event?

Who makes the decision on what should be included in the "Press Release" and who is advised that the "Press Release " is being made and when do they receive the information?

Bishop's answer:

"A statement is a reactive answer that we decide to give in response to a question that the media ask with a view to obtaining an immediate response. The procedure for issuing a statement involves obtaining, selecting and presenting information. This information must be verified, relevant to the question, likely to be understood by the reporter and the public and likely to be fairly and accurately reported through the media. Our aim is to provide a persuasive answer that influences perceptions and behaviour and protects or enhances reputation.

A release is a proactive communication which we plan on a subject that we have selected and we give to the media at a future time of our choosing. The procedure when issuing releases on the subjects specified in the Question to Synod involves advance planning and research with regard to those subjects in addition to the procedure for a statement (please see paragraph 1 above). The aim is identical.

The Communications Director would normally prepare all statements and releases. They would need to be approved by the person responsible - often the Bishop! We do our best to advise all involved in advance of issues."

 

Q.4 David Banting (Havering) to ask the Bishop of Chelmsford :

1. Who draws up and authorises services for Ordination and Institution/Licensing, and how is the liturgy on these occasions actually put together?
2. What role is The Bishop's Chaplain playing and what responsibilities is he fulfilling outside the diocese, and on whose authority and with what brief?

Bishop's answer:

1. The Bishop of the Diocese is responsible for these services. The services are constructed within the boundaries of what is lawful and Anglican
2. The Bishop's Chaplain is accountable to the Bishop of the Diocese! This Bishop has always encouraged his chaplain to pursue their own interest in the wider life of church and community. Some of these fall within the brief as Bishop's Chaplain. The list of my present Chaplain's activities would be too long to set out here but they include ecumenical work in Europe - including among the Orthodox, human rights issues in Europe, and the support of Gay and Lesbian clergy.

 

Q.5 Harry Marsh (Chelmsford South) to ask the Chief Executive :

 

Tax changes in 2008

In the light of the Government's announcement of a 2% reduction in basic rate Income Tax from 6 April next, can you please say :

1. What representations have been made by the Church of England to the Chancellor/Treasury as to ways of ameliorating the material reduction in Gift Aid repayment to charities which will result, and
2. What methods of publicity will there be across this diocese to draw attention to the problem and will there be any guidance as to ways of filling the hole in parish finances.

Chief Executive's answer:

1. The main points we raised were:
1. The National church had compiled a detailed document with expert advice and we expressed support for the National Stewardship Committee's response to the consultation.
2. We urged the government to make an immediate transitional change to the gift aid system along the lines of a rate of reclaim that would leave charities no worse off than today. This would then allow permanent changes to follow in due course.
3. An early advertising campaign to promote gift aid giving would be a good idea. It would encourage people to increase the take up of gift aid. Recent campaigns relating to State Benefits and Tax credits were suggested as a good model.
2. There will be an article in the next edition of the month and it will be highlighted on the website. The issue has been discussed at the Deanery Finance Forum and Terry Gray will continue to liaise with Parish Treasurers. We will be encouraging a greater up take of gift aid and asking those who will be better off to reflect this in their giving. Consideration is being given to other communication and advice but as yet no firm decisions on them have been taken.

 

Q.6 Trevor Ireland (Colchester) to ask the Chief Executive :

1. Could the diocese provide some feedback on Back to Church Sunday, for example; How many churches were involved in Back to Church Sunday, what was the response and how has it been assessed, what is the next stage in our planning, as a diocese, to reach the unchurched?
2. As Back to Church Sunday cannot be an annual event for the same people - we already have Christmas for that - what is being done at diocesan level to encourage keeping people in church once they have returned?

Chief Executive's answer:

1. 267 parishes took part from the Chelmsford Diocese which represents over 50%. Early feedback indicates that it was a positive experience in most cases. A survey is under way and further information will be available later. We do not yet have sufficient information to make any statement about how many people returned just yet, although Church House estimates that 20,000 extra people came back to church across the country as a whole. Clearly it is too early to say how many of those who did return will stay.
   While there is scope for improvement in the way it was promoted we feel that the Diocese promoted Back to Church Sunday effectively in 2007. This was the first year that the Diocese endorsed the initiative as a body. The promotion was achieved through letters, resources, publicity and advice in print and online, media events in three locations, and press, radio and online reports. There is always room for improvement and we will be looking into that. Early feedback indicates that nearly all the participants felt encouraged by Back to Church Sunday.
   Participants welcomed the resources overall. They generally rated the posters, invitations/bookmarks and balloons as good and found them useful. The exception was the T-shirts which were generally regarded as being inappropriate and were not used.
   The timescale for ordering materials was tight and some churches missed the deadline but took part without having ordered the resources. The appropriateness of the materials and how they should be used was questioned in some cases. Churches which issued personal invitations reported greater success in regard to attracting people back compared to door-to-door leafleting. What kind of church or service returnees were invited to was also a success factor and in a few cases this was the cause of disagreement in the church as to whether they put on a special service or not. However, this helped the churches to look at themselves and see how friendly they are.
   One comment has pointed up that the day was helpful in making contact with former church members who had left in some disaffection and in healing these relationships as the individuals felt free to return.
   Concern was expressed at a clash with Harvest Festival.
   In considering participation for 2008, the date of 28 September has been set by Church House. Issues for 2008 include advance publicity, encouragement, resources, sharing best practice and familiarisation (possibly via local workshops and/or a central event) and also engagement with the Baptist Church. The North West Baptist Union trialled Back to Church Sunday this year and the Baptist Church intends to offer it across the country next year.
2. I do not think that this is strictly a matter for a diocese. It seems to me that the responsibility lies in the parish to make worship and welcoming and attractive to newcomers. That said we do of course work towards trying to attract and retain a good caliber of clergy and to support them in their ministry.

Q.7 For written reply - Stuart Kimber (Southend) to ask the Bishop of Chelmsford :

"In the light of :

1. Your Patronage of ‘Changing Attitude' whose declared aim is ‘Working for gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender affirmation within the Anglican Communion';
2. Your unwillingness to step down as a Patron of ‘Changing Attitude' despite numerous requests from members of this Diocese to do so;
   
3. Your tacit support of your Chaplain in his convening of a ‘secret' meeting (under the Chatham House rule) of homosexual clergy and their partners due to take place on November 29th this year, at which Archbishop Rowan will speak and celebrate Communion; and
4. Your continuing appointment of clergy in same-sex partnerships to posts within the Diocese;

And in view of the Christian teaching, regularly affirmed by statements issuing from Bishops across the Anglican Communion, that ‘homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture' :

What pastoral and legal advice can you give clergy in this Diocese who sincerely desire to fulfil their oath of canonical obedience to yourself ‘in all things lawful and honest' (Canon C14), but who feel you are failing in this matter to ‘uphold sound and wholesome doctrine and to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange opinions' (Canon C18), and therefore feel driven to explore the possibility of Alternative or Extended Episcopal Oversight?"

Q.8 For written reply - Peter Nicholson (Southend) to ask the Bishop of Chelmsford:

1. "In their guidelines on civil partnerships, the House of Bishops stated that, 'The Church should not collude with the present assumptions of society that all close relationships necessarily include sexual activity' (para 20). Nevertheless, it noted that civil partnerships will be 'widely seen as being predominantly between gay and lesbian people in sexually active relationships' (para 21), and therefore advised clergy in such relationships to 'expect to be asked for assurances that their relationship will be consistent with the teaching set out in Issues in Human Sexuality.' As a matter of policy in this diocese, are such assurances being sought and given?
2. Where appointments are being made of clergy with same-sex partners how will the bishop to make clear to the majority of people in the area concerned, who are not aware of the subtleties in the House of Bishop's guidelines, that, as paragraph 27 states, 'the Church's teaching on sexual ethics remains unchanged'?"

Q.9 For written reply - Revd Paul Carr (Barking to Dagenham) to ask the Chief Executive :

I was encouraged by the ‘wholehearted approval' given to ‘Back To Church Sunday' (B2CS) by Diocesan Synod in March 2007, as well as the support B2CS received from many parishes within the Chelmsford Diocese. Is the Bishop able to update Synod on the following:

1. How many parishes from the Chelmsford Diocese were involved in B2CS?
2. What percentage of parishes in the Chelmsford Diocese does this represent?
3. Did the Diocese promote and/or endorse, the B2CS initiative as well as it could?
4. Do we know whether the B2CS initiative was a positive or negative experience for the parishes involved?
5. Do we have any indication as to how many ‘returnees' responded to the invitation to come back to church?
6. Do we have any indication as to how many of these ‘returnees' have continued to attend church since 30th September 2007?
7. What lessons can we learn from B2CS 2007, both positive and negative, in order to ensure B2CS 2008 involves: a) more parishes; b) is used more effectively as a mission opportunity?

Chief Executive's answer:

1. 267 parishes took part.
2. Approximately 56%.
3. While there is scope for improvement (please see the reply to Question 7 below), the Diocese promoted Back to Church Sunday effectively in 2007. This was the first year that the Diocese endorsed the initiative as a body. The promotion was achieved through letters, resources, publicity and advice in print and online, media events in three locations, and press, radio and online reports.
4. Early feedback indicates that it was positive in most cases. A survey is under way.
5. We do not yet have sufficient information, although Church House estimates that 20,000 extra people came back to church across the country as a whole.
6. No.
7. Early feedback indicates that nearly all the participants felt encouraged by Back to Church Sunday.

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