The Placeholder Next Steps Forming Ministry Areas Diocese of Swansea and Brecon Summer 2014 From Bishop John … Dear Friends, In this booklet you’ll find the pattern of Ministry Areas by means of which, as they come into being, the Diocese will renew and develop its ministry. This marks the end of a lengthy period of prayerful consultation to which everybody in the Diocese had opportunities to contribute. Ministry Areas, adopted by the whole Church in Wales as the pattern for the future, offer us a fresh and exciting opportunity to renew the ways in which to minister in the communities where we are set. They offer a way of collaborative working, commended by the New Testament, with communities of disciples, lay and ordained, sharing ministry, growing in faith and into the image of Christ, witnessing to those around, and working to create new disciples. Whatever our present way of doing things might be, doing what we’ve always done is not an option however familiar or comfortable that might be. We will commit to a 'group practice' model for collaborative ministry and mission, with local churches working together in partnerships across familiar boundaries to enrich relationships and to share talents, gifts and resources. Instead of offering just one form and style across an area, we will offer a variety of worship and other opportunities, with a common aim of building a stronger, sustainable and more effective church which looks not only down the aisle but also out there into the community. It is intended that the current eleven Area Deaneries are revised to four with the designated Ministry Areas grouped into one of the new Deaneries. Each will have a Synod of Area representatives who will come together to share reflectively on how the new Ministry Areas are developing. Members will share good practice, support each other in faith and vision and review how faithful to the Diocesan Vision church life is developing. What I ask you to do is to recognise this exciting opportunity. This will present us with a profound challenge, open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, to embrace radical change, grasp it, pray for it and work with it for the good of Church and Gospel. The Diocese will commit to giving both encouragement and practical support such as: • Training and advice for setup and monitoring the process • A listening ear and transitional support • A process for feedback and the sharing of stories, and regular updates about how things are going As your Bishop, I am committed to this journey and I rely on each one of you to take courage, to accompany me and to remember that what does not change will die. None of us wants that for the Church we love. Nor do we want it for the Gospel we cherish and which Christ has commanded us to live and proclaim. Ministry Areas in the New Deanery of Swansea Swansea Bonymaen Brynmill Central Swansea Mount Pleasant Pentrechwyth St. Thomas and Kilvey Townhill Uplands Cwmtawe 1 Abercraf Callwen Capel Coelbren Ystalyfera Ystradgynlais Penderi Caereithin Cockett Cwmbwrla Manselton Treboeth Cwmtawe 2 Clydach Pontardawe Cwmtawe 3 Llangyfelach Llansamlet Morriston Please Note - The names of the above Ministry Areas are only provisional - Each Ministry Area will be invited to think through its own name which says something characteristic about itself and its location. Ministry Areas in the New Deanery of Gower Llwchwr Gorseinon Gowerton Llandeilo Tal–y–Bont Loughor Penllergaer Clyne 1 Waunarlwydd Killay Sketty Tycoch Gower Bishopston Cheriton Ilston Llanddewi Llangennith Llanmadoc Llanrhidian Clyne 2 Llanyrnewydd Nicholaston Llwynderw Oxwich Newton Penmaen Oystermouth Pennard Penrice Port Eynon Reynoldston Rhossilli Please Note - The names of the above Ministry Areas are only provisional - Each Ministry Area will be invited to think through its own name which says something characteristic about itself and its location. Ministry Areas in the New Deanery of Brecon Brecon Brecon St. Mary Llanddew Crickhowell Llanfaes Llanspyddid Talgarth Brynmawr Crickhowell Boughrood Cwmdu Bronllys Gilwern Llandefalle Llanbedr Llanfillo Llangattock Llanstephan Llangenny Llyswen Llangynidr Penderyn Talachddu Patricio Talgarth Tretower Cefn Coed Penderyn Pontneathvaughan Vaynor Ystradfellte Hay Bettws Clyro Talybont Capel y Ffin Clyro Bwlch Sennybridge Glasbury Cantref Hay on Wye Llanfihangel Talyllyn Aberyscir Llanigon Llanfrynach Bettws Penpont Llowes Llangasty Crai Llangors Defynnog Llanhamlach Dyffryn Honddu Llansantffraed-juxta-Usk Llandefaelog Fach Llanywern Llandeilo yr Fan Pencelli Llanfihangel Fechan Talybont-on-Usk Llanfihangel Nant Bran Llywel Merthyr Cynog Sennybridge Treaenglas Please Note - The names of the above Ministry Areas Trallwng are only provisional - Each Ministry Area will be invited Trecastle to think through its own name which says something characteristic about itself and its location. Ministry Areas in the New Deanery of Radnor Llandrindod Llanwrtyd Abbeycwmhir Beulah Cefnllys Cilmery Cross Gates Cwmbach Disserth Garth Dolau Llanafan Fawr Howey Llandulas in Tirabad Llanbadarn Fynydd Llanfihangel Brynpabuan Llananno Llangammarch Wells Llanbister Llanwrtyd Wells Llanddewi Ystradenni Lleonfel Parish Church Llandegley Newbridge on Wye Llandrindod Wells Old Church, Llanwrtyd Wells Llanfihangel Helygen Llanyre Gwastedyn Cwmdauddwr Llanwrthwl Builth Nantgwyllt Chapel of Ease Nantmel Aberedw Rhayader Alltmawr St. Harmon Bettws Disserth Knighton Bryngwyn Builth Wells Beguildy Cregrina Cascob Crickadarn Evancoyd Glascwm Heyhope Gwenddwr Knighton Llandabarn y Garreg Llanfihangel Nantmelan Llandeilo Graban Llangunllo Llandewi-Fach New Radnor Llandewi’r Cwm Norton Llanelwedd Pilleth Llanfaredd Whitton Llansantffraed-in-Elwel Llanynis Maesmynis Newchurch Painscastle Rhulen Please Note - The names of the above Ministry Areas are only provisional - Each Ministry Area will be invited to think through its own name which says something characteristic about itself and its location. REVISED NEW DEANERIES Area Deanery of Radnor (formerly Maelienydd and Builth) Archdeaconry of Brecon Area Deanery of Brecon (formerly Hay, Crickhowell and Brecon) Archdeaconry of Gower Area Deanery of Swansea (formerly Cwmtawe, Swansea and Penderi) Area Deanery of Gower (formerly Clyne, Gower and Llwchwr) This map delineates the four new Area Deaneries into which the newly constituted Ministry Areas will be situated. Further explanation is found over the next few pages. The Next Steps In the autumn four meetings (the existing Deanery Conferences grouped together into the new Area Deaneries) will be held to discuss the process below of transitioning into Ministry Areas and the formation of Ministry Teams: 4th September New Gower Area Deanery 9th September New Radnor Area Deanery 25th September New Brecon Area Deanery 1st October New Swansea Area Deanery A Visitation will be made to consider each designated Ministry Area … to share in worship and prayer, to places of significance, to discuss 11 with groups about what it means to be a Ministry Area, agree name, pave the way for the Ministry Area conducting a Mission Action Plan (to include audit of ministry and buildings) 2 Designation and Training of Ministry Area Leader 3 Designation and training of Local Ministry Team Development of Ministry Area Mission Action Plan and formal 4 inauguration of Ministry Area Council 5 Inauguration of new Ministry Area facilitated by development of Mission Action Plan 6 Celebration and Commissioning Service of Ministry Area by the Bishop Ministry Area Teams will: • Consist of lay and ordained ministers, who may be stipendiary or non-stipendiary; • Provide ministry to local congregations using local leaders, who will be members of the Team; • Be led by Team Leaders who receive appropriate induction. The Team Leaders will encourage discipleship among and nurture the ministry potential of all within the Ministry Area. Team Leaders are to understand their calling as being to work through other people as, for instance, a Bishop works through others to bring the message of Christ to the Diocese. .