Task force seeks insight
on struggling parishes
by Ana Watts
Helpful ideas and opinions, gleaned from a series of archdeaconry consultation meetings organized by the Bishop’s Task Force on rural and/or struggling parishes, will influence the recommendations and proposals contained in its final report to Bishop Claude Miller in March of 2009.
“Our mandate flows from a motion of Diocesan Synod in 2007 and demands a functional report. We will ensure it contains understandable, practical and useful recommendations and we will avoid a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Archdeacon Pat Drummond, the task force chair. “The objective is to help struggling parishes regain their health and strength so they can fully participate in our diocesan Shared Mission, ‘To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the making of disciples.’ God has called us to be a diocese of healthy, mission-focused, welcoming and growing parishes.”
The archdeaconry consultations between March 31 and April 26 (see specific dates and locations below) will heavily influence the task force findings and report. The bishop personally invited all parish clergy and issued a general invitation for four lay representatives from each parish to attend the upcoming consultations in their areas. Key discussion questions, including “What makes a healthy parish?” will be sent to participants in advance of the consultations.
“People are also welcome to bring up issues not covered in the pre-circulated questions,” says Archdeacon Drummond. “Those not able to attend the meetings are invited to write to the task force with questions of their own, to suggest other issues for exploration or to offer solutions to some of the problems faced by rural and struggling parishes. We want to hear what is on people’s hearts. No one wants to see churches close, but we know some congregations are getting worn down by the struggle to keep the doors open and the lights on.”
Some parishes in the diocese have already come up with creative ways to alleviate these struggles. In the northern part of the province the parishes of Campbellton, Dalhousie and Restigouche share one part-time priest (two-thirds time). In the Miramichi area one priest and one Church Army captain cover the parishes of Newcastle, Nelson and Hardwicke. Three Kings County parishes –– Upper Kennebecasis, Central Kings and Upham –– share two clergy.
Creative partnerships abound up and down the St. John River Valley. The parish of Madawaska (Edmundston) shares a deacon with th United Church congregation in that city and they worship together. Bishop Claude Miller once described the interim ministry of the Rec. Ellen Curtis in the parishes of The Tobique and Denmark as: "A profitable co-operation for the proclamation of the gospel in pastoral and sacramental ministry." This new way to approach shared ministry offers both parishes, which want to remain independent, an opportunity to achieve this status.
In the Parish of Canterbury, Benton and Kirkland the bishop licensed a lay evangelist to visit and to conduct services three Sundays each month.
In the lower St. John River Valley the relatively new Parish of the Nerepis and St. John is the successful amalgamation of four struggling parishes.
Although the consultations are key to the final task force report, demographic and other relevant statistics as well as background information on previous population shifts will be studied and considered.
The recent urbanization of North American society has certainly had a major impact on rural ministry so we will try to determine what human and financial resources struggling rural parishes may need to continue in ministry. The task force members also have a long reading list that includes the best available publications related to “turning around” ministry in rural and struggling parishes.
A group of archivists and historians is also preparing a brief history of the ways in which the diocese has responded to the plight of struggling parishes from its 18th-century beginnings to the present.
“We are confident that as we read, research, and listen to Anglicans across the province, the Holy Spirit will guide us to produce a helpful final document,” says Archdeacon Drummond. “We want to help parishes continue to thrive. This task force is charged with no other business to ensure we are able to devote our time and effort to this important task.”
Written submissions to the task force should be sent to Jim Morell of Fredericton, jamorell at nbnet.nb.ca . Please put Struggling Parishes in the subject line. Hard copies may be sent to him at 7 Shamrock Terrace, Fredericton E3B 2S4
SCHEDULE OF ARCHDEACONRY/DEANERY MEETINGS
TO DISCUSS
THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL & STRUGGLING PARISHES
St. Andrews
Monday, March 31, 7 p.m., Pennfield
Chatham
Wednesday, April 2, 7 p.m., St. Andrew's Church, Newcastle
Wednesday, April 9, 7 p.m., St. Mary’s Church, Dalhousie.
Kingston and the Kennebecasis
Thursday, April 10, 7:30 p.m., Trinity Church, Sussex
Fredericton and York
Thursday, April 10, 7 p.m., St. Peter's Church, Springhill
Woodstock
Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (lunch provided), St. John's, Edmundston
Saint John
Saturday, April 19, 8:30 a.m. (breakfast), 9:30 a.m. (meeting),
St. Mary and St. Bartholomew
Moncton
Tuesday, April 22, 7 p.m., St. Andrew's hall, Petitcodiac
Woodstock
Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. -2 p.m. (lunch provided), St. Clement's, Prince William
Diocesan Communications
11 March 2008
