Cromer Parish Church 10
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ARCHDEACONRY OF NORWICH The Mitre Benefice These notes are intended to supplement the information given in the PCC document, adding a slightly wider perspective and some additional information. They should be read in conjunction with the fuller description of life in the Diocese of Norwich which can be found at https://www.dioceseofnorwich.org/app/uploads/2020/12/Our-Life-Together-2021.pdf The Benefice and this appointment – a note from the Bishop of Norwich The appointment of a new vicar for the Mitre benefice is a key strategic appointment, not just for the benefice itself but as a significant partner with the diocese, heading up a resource church with considerable potential. The Mitre has been through a number of challenges in the past two years. Rapid expansion in 2013 – 2017 was a great blessing, but the structures and processes were not always in place to underpin and secure a larger church structure. The current team have worked hard to put some of this in place, but the new incumbent will want to ensure that the finance, pastoral care and governance are able to support the bold vision of church-planting and disciple-making. The previous incumbent had a vision for church planting and revitalisation that informed the bid for national funding from the strategic development fund. So strong was his commitment to this that he took on the role of Diocesan Director of Church Planting and Revitalisation in addition to his role as Vicar – a workload that proved to be unsustainable. This arrangement resulted in some blurring of boundaries between the mission of STN and the diocesan Church Planting and Revitalisation Programme, which has taken some untangling. The two roles are now quite separate, and the Vicar of the Mitre benefice will once again revert to a full-time role. However, we still believe that the Mitre benefice has a great deal of expertise and enthusiasm to contribute to the wider life of the diocese, and it has been good to see this taking shape in the neighbouring parish of Earlham, with which a Mission Partnership was formed in 2017. When the current vacancy commenced the right of presentation was suspended to allow the Revd Dave Lloyd to be appointed Interim Priest in Charge in order to see through the revisioning and recruitment process. He is currently discerning where God might next lead him, but he is clear that this isn’t to the post of Vicar of the Mitre Benefice. It is envisaged that the suspension will be lifted following conclusion of the interview process so that the successful candidate can be inducted as Vicar. Diocese and Deanery The Mitre benefice is one of the seven benefices that make up the Norwich South deanery, and is in a Mission Partnership with two of the others. The remaining four benefices are single-church parishes, which can sometimes feel overshadowed by the size of the Mitre+partnerships team. Work continues to be needed to foster a sense of partnership in the gospel across the deanery, and indeed, across the diocese. The Diocese is moving to a new vision ‘Transformed by Christ – prayerfully, pastorally, prophetically’. Work is currently being undertaken to develop the strategies that will support its delivery. At the same time, the financial crisis precipitated by the global pandemic has necessitated a deployment review and a reduction in clergy posts after a long period of maintaining stable numbers. The process of reviewing posts, and how they are funded, is ongoing, but the Mitre benefice is expected to maintain an allocation of two full time stipendiary clergy (plus title curates when allocated) and to pay the full costs of the two posts through its parish share allocation. Enquiries Any priest wanting an informal discussion about this post is welcome to make contact by telephone or email to: The Venerable Karen Hutchinson The Archdeacon of Norwich 01603 620007 [email protected] An application form can be downloaded from the diocesan website www.dioceseofnorwich.org/about/jobs/ and should be sent to Mrs Coralie Nichols, Bishop’s House, Norwich NR3 1SB or email [email protected] no later than 10 am on 26th March. Interviews will take place in Norwich on 14th April, with opportunities to visit the benefice on the 13th April (Covid-19 restrictions permitting). Candidates will be informed a week or more prior to the date whether they have been shortlisted and supplied with a detailed timetable. +Graham Norvic: January 2021 .