Meithrin Gobaith Growing Hope www.stdavidsdiocese.org.uk www.facebook.com/pobl.dewi http://twitter.com/PoblDewi December / Rhagfyr 2017 LMAs: Full speed ahead N her first presidential address to new ways of working are now the Diocesan Conference (Satur- Bishop Joanna has signalled that the move from parishes essential. We simply don’t have day, 7th October), the Bishop to Local Ministry Areas is to be speeded up the money to sustain the existing I pattern of ministry,” she said. announced that the programme of conversion from traditional parishes Thus, by 1st January 2020: become Deans. • Ministry Share will be calcu- The change was also needed, into new Local Ministry Areas • all the 100 or so benefices that • The united PCC will be the lated centrally and charged to she added, because of the adverse (LMAs) is to be accelerated and radi- currently make up the diocese ultimate decision-making body. each church, as at present. effect current methods were having cal changes made to the way they are will be amalgamated into 22-23 • Church accounts will be • Progress and performance will on clergy. “It’s making them ill,” configured. LMAs. consolidated annually. Training be reviewed every two years. she warned. The announcement followed • They will be United Benefices will be offered to assist with The Bishop stressed that the harsh a series of archidiaconal meetings with a single PCC made up this. realities of a changing world meant continued on page 2 in September at which clergy and of representatives from each church officials were asked to final- church. ise the boundaries and to decide • Each LMA will become its own which LMA suited them best. Deanery. At present, about half our • Each will have at least two parishes have entered into LMA stipendiary clergy and two agreements. However, in her church wardens. Individual address to conference, the Bishop churches will have sub-wardens made it clear that opting out would and their own church council. no longer be possible. • Ministry Team Leaders are to Help is at hand The Bishop has appointed Revd Marianne Osborne as the diocesan Ministry Area Development Officer and Transition Missioner. She will head up a team of volunteers who are currently being recruited and who will be equipped to help local church communities with the transition. “Change isn’t coming,” she told conference, “it’s here but we can embrace it if we have some help.” ‘A time of change’: read Marianne’s article on page 2 And it’s happening already . Llanelli has become the first place to introduce the new arrangements for the formation of Local Ministry Areas in St Davids Diocese SERVICE in St Elli’s Church, building on the foundations of both A led by Bishop Joanna, the recent and distant past, making licensed a clergy Ministry Team sure that “everyone is included . under the “gentle oversight” of everyone has a place to belong.” LMA Dean/Priest-in-Charge Revd And she urged people to Huw Mosford. be “charitable” in voicing any The Bro Lliedi LMA, as it is concerns about the new arrange- called, is the first to become both ments. Mistakes would be made, a United Benefice and a Dean- she conceded. “Be forgiving but ery sharing the same borders, as don’t overlook where things could outlined in the Bishop’s address to be done better. Diocesan Conference (see above). “Let’s be honest about what In her address at St Elli’s, we mourn from the past,” she said. Bishop Joanna told a packed “But remember that we are worship- congregation that the diocese was ping the same God, with the same facing “a new time in our life” resources, as the first disciples.” FOCUS ON PLANNING AHEAD – Pages 10 & 11 Am ddim Free 2 Pobl Dewi, December 2017 We now have this opportu- nity to bring about change which A time of change is positive, using our time wisely, Generosity Path Let’s embrace this opportunity to make positive changes in our asking ourselves is our church Huw Anderson, the Diocesan Mission Resources Officer, is mission and ministry, says Marianne Osborne, our new Diocesan healthy? Is it all that it can be, is intending to visit every part of the diocese in the coming months Transition Missioner our faith growing, are we sharing to encourage churches and Local Ministry Areas (LMAs) to the Good News of Christ? participate in a “Generosity Path” one-day workshop WOKE up this morning, drew Bishop Joanna’s address at Dio- Iback the curtains and thought cesan Conference encouraged us VER the day, participants will about the day ahead: what would to look at ourselves and to explore Oexplore the wider concept of it bring? We are constantly being innovative ideas; yes, we will make generosity, starting with God’s moulded, chiselled, shaped by our mistakes, we may stumble as we amazing generosity to us in Christ experiences, good and bad, and, journey forward but God will equip and then reflecting on the appropri- of course, by the work of the Holy us for this journey if we embrace ate response from us. Pressure is Spirit in our lives. Every day is this time of transition. If we ask Him never put on participants to give to different from the day before and to guide us, new doors will open as specific causes or to give specific we welcome this, because our goal others close. amounts or proportions. Instead, is to be transformed into His glory, As Diocesan Transition Mission- the liberating, but neglected, to become more Christ-like, empty- er I am looking forward to meeting concept of generosity is warmly ing ourselves of human sin and you all and enabling you to see that, proposed as a key part of Christian contempt to make room for Him. with God, change can be positive discipleship. Thus, as we start our transition sition will be as much a part of our and encouraging. The workshop is being pro- into Local Ministry Areas, we can lives as our calling as disciples. Be prayerful, worship regularly moted by the Church of England be reassured that change is already We are, of course, afraid of the and be ready for the road ahead. Do stewardship team and has proved in coming years. in our lives - positive change that unknown. For most of us it’s true to not be afraid, take courage; when remarkably successful in getting Teamwork will be essential for we work at by living through the say that we are creatures of habit: we are at our weakest and uncertain people to speak openly about the us all and this course could be espe- example of Christ. I ask that this be we find comfort in the things that His strength will shine through. difficult subject of financial giving. cially helpful for our new LMAs as reflected in the way we approach have proved to be reliable over time, If you feel you have gifts to However, given the dramatic they learn to work together more our structural changes: with a certain nurturing, a comfortable enable and nurture change we are changes happening in our diocese closely. Please contact me (huwan- hope and passion in the knowl- way of being church. We must not seeking up to six people to join at present, it should also be helpful [email protected]) if edge that we are not alone. If we allow fear to hold us back – scrip- the Transition team. Details on in promoting “generosity of spirit”, you would like a “taster” session work together, acknowledging one ture assures us repeatedly ‘fear not’, the diocesan website or e-mail me as large amounts of goodwill and before I fix the actual course dates another’s gifts, then soon this tran- ‘be strong’, ‘I am with you always’. [email protected] patience will be needed amongst us and locations for 2018. continued from front page will witness to our friends and LMAs: Full speed ahead What can I do? families the transforming love of God. When we articulate what So, under the new regime, no In the light of Bishop Joanna’s Episcopal Visitation Charge and that means for us on a personal stipendiary cleric will take more her address to the diocesan conference there will be many in level, without the usual Anglican than three services on a Sunday; our diocese who are asking this question. Robb Wainwright, demurring statement that our faith no lay minister will take more Diocesan Lay Development Officer, invites readers to a series of is deeply personal, then we are than two; and retired clergy can no archidiaconal events which will offer support and encouragement following the command to spread longer be expected to fill in except in this time of change the gospel. in cases of emergency, holidays, What can I do? may seem like sickness or sabbaticals. HE Bishop’s charge and one response has been to organise a cry in the wilderness, but it can But, Bishop Joanna stressed that Taddress laid out some hard a series of Taster Days, one in each also be heard as a willingness to collaboration is key. “The aim of facts about our churches and the archdeaconry, during which our be open, to listen and to take on LMAs is to ensure, given our finan- clergy in our diocese, about the Bishop will introduce just what is faith what we feel the Holy Spirit cial constraints, that we retain a fair need to accept that our current way happening and available to those may be saying to us.