Croeso Winter 2015 Ministry Areas: Parishes Are Embracing the Vision - Archbishop
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Winter 2015 | Esgobaeth Llandaf | Diocese of Llandaff New Tackling Canon support poverty Francis group retires Pages 2 & 3 Pages 6 & 7 Page 10 From Syria to South Wales – Diocese welcomes refugees A message of welcome has been sent out area and what systems can be put in place to refugees by the Llandaff Diocese as ready for the arrival of refugees. This includes people throughout Wales are invited to the compilation of a list of landlords which join in a national day of prayer. will be passed onto the relevant As part of its response to the current crisis, organisation.” the diocese has been able to offer much A national day of prayer is being held to needed accommodation to one family who offer people a chance to remember those in fled from war-torn Syria. desperate need and who are facing And in an ecumenical show of support, increasingly difficult conditions. Churches are people from many different churches encouraged to mark the day in any way they answered an appeal for help to furnish the can, such as holding 24-hour prayer vigils, empty diocesan property by donating putting on special services or simply opening essential items such as beds. up for people to light candles and say As the family settle into their new home, prayers for refugees. congregations are being urged to continue to offer practical support and prayer to refugees joining their communities. The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan says that it is our Christian duty to help as refugees have no choices left. Refugees pictured in recent “The refugee crisis is a crisis for all of us months at Idomeni between because in the end we are all part of one Greece and Macedonia worldwide human family. In a family when one member suffers we all suffer and the least we can do is offer whatever help we People are also invited to join an open Parsonage Board, that is responsible for call to make church properties available to can,” said the Archbishop. event in the centre of Cardiff led by Cytun – housing the clergy said that for a variety of refugees.” “That is especially true for Christians Churches Together in Wales on this day – reasons they often had a small number of The Church in Wales’ Property Committee because Jesus and his family once had to Thursday, December 10, which is Human properties that were not occupied by a cleric advises that occupation of property is subject flee for their lives to avoid persecution and Rights Day. It will take place outside and rented out. to extensive legal provisions which is why it is death. Refugees have no choices left. Why Tabernacle Church in The Hayes at 4pm. “The period that these properties are essential that they be contacted first before else as a Somali poet put it would people The Governing Body of the Church in Wales available for rent varies but when any church property is offered. feel they were safer on water in flimsy boats passed an emergency motion at its last approached we were able to offer one which “Financial arrangements for occupation will rather than in their own native land?” he said. meeting for churches to show solidarity with was available for long enough to make it be considered on a case-by-case basis but A help group set up by churches in the refugees and those fleeing conflict and to viable to be offered to a refugee family,” said the committee is clear that helping people in Vale of Glamorgan following a series of welcome them into their communities. Mr Davies. this kind of need is a fundamental Christian public meetings is collating a database on Incoming refugees are likely to be housed via A contribution towards the cost of the duty and thus, is part of the mission and support available for refugees in the area and local authorities in the first instance but any house provided for rent is being met by the ministry of the Church,” it says. is working in conjunction with other groups, parishes who think they may have vacant Archbishop. “Parishes should be encouraged to think organisations and the local authority. property which may be suitable for refugees Llandaff diocesan secretary Rowena Small about financial giving to relevant appeals and The Revd Ben Andrews, Rector of St are advised to first contact the property said, “This family, like so many others, has agencies as well as how they will support Mary’s Church, Barry said, “A steering group department of the Church in Wales, so that the been through a terrible ordeal. We are just refugees within their parish life more has been set up which is gathering information can be collated and coordinated. glad that Llandaff was in a position to be one generally.” information on what can be provided in the Tony Davies, chairman of the diocesan of the first dioceses to support the UK-wide Positive choice about organ donation is urged Welsh bishops are urging people to make On December 1, Wales became the first In their statement the bishops said: “As bishops we are wholeheartedly in a positive choice about organ donation country in the UK to introduce a soft opt-out “Whatever your views about the principles favour of organ donation. It is love in action following a change in the law. system. Under the new system, everyone will of Act, the fact remains that there is a great and a wonderful example of what it can They are encouraging people to respond be considered a potential organ donor unless shortage of organs for transplant. 220 mean to love our neighbours, especially to the need for more organs by signing the they opt out by registering their decision not people are currently on the waiting list in those in need. Such generosity is a response organ donor register, removing any doubt to be. Wales – and one donor can save several to God’s generosity towards us. about their wishes in the event of their death. The Church in Wales is a supporter of the lives. In 2014-15, 73 deceased donors “We urge and encourage you to sign the Organ donation, they stress, is a fleshandblood campaign which encourages supported 173 life-saving operations; but Organ Donor Register, and tell your families, “wonderful example of what it can mean to churches to see blood and organ donation sadly, 12 people died whilst waiting for a so that there can be no doubt about your love our neighbours”. as part of their giving. transplant. wishes in the event of your death.” 2 croeso Winter 2015 Ministry Areas: parishes are embracing the vision - Archbishop Ministry areas may not be optional ministry areas; question of the Archiepiscopal See. but there is no ‘one size fits all’, • The whole deanery of Neath has “I know it is a difficult subject but it will members of the Llandaff Diocesan decided it wants to be a ministry area in not go away. I will not be affected but I Conference were told. its own right and the Church Army is am concerned for whoever succeeds During his annual presidential address, setting up a mission centre to make that me, as have four previous archbishops Archbishop Barry said he was raising the possible; been concerned. question of what Ministry Areas could be • Pontlottyn in this diocese and “At a Diocesan Conference some formed during his ongoing series of Rhymney in the diocese of Monmouth years ago you said you believed the deanery visits throughout the diocese. will form a ministry area. Archbishop should be located in Cardiff “I take the view that although I, as but you were not in favour of having that bishop, can tell you that ministry areas “So things are on the move and what person also as Diocesan Bishop of are not optional, the form they take has has been fantastic about all this is how Llandaff with an assistant to whom most to depend a great deal on local input the parishes concerned have got excited of the work would be delegated.” that request. Let me be clear what I am and knowledge. about the prospect, embraced the vision Archbishop Barry told members that asking – open to having a provincial “That means different answers in and seen for themselves the advantages he had put forward a different model group to again look at the issue without different places and a certain untidiness that accrue. That is much better than a and had tried to deal in depth with the in any way tying their hands to any in structures but that is because each centrally imposed plan that people do issue – with the details being available particular model.” part of the diocese is different from other not own.” on the website. To read the full version of Archbishop parts. There is no one size fits all.” In a wide ranging address which “All I ask is that when the Provincial Barry’s presidential address and for more He said that Ministry Areas were covered topics ranging from the refugee Standing Committee asks us whether news from conference visit already in existence in Llandaff – crisis and poverty to same-sex we want to look again at this matter, our http://llandaff.churchinwales.org.uk/dio- although they had different names. relationships, the Archbishop raised the own Standing Committee will be open to inf/diocesan-conference/ “There are Rectorial parishes which reflect the concept of what a ministry area is, that is a number of clerics and lay people working together and pooling their talents for the good of the mission of the church in that particular area – an end if you like to a lone ranger approach to ministry,” said the Archbishop.