Diet – in Times

An e-bulletin of news, information and notes for clergy and lay leaders sharing in the ministry within the Diocese. AUTUMN UPDATES PRE-CHRISTMAS EDITION

Welcome to the second edition of this occasional newsletter from the Communications Committee, keeping clergy, Readers and lay leaders, churchwardens, secretaries and treasurers updated about news and developments in our diocese. It aims to focus on matters of more domestic interest to our churches and chaplaincies than can always be included in our website news or The European Anglican.

The dual benefit of coming as an electronic newsletter is that it can be read on screen and need not be printed out (saving resources) and we can include links to other sources with more detailed information. You can even adjust the print size to make for easier reading!

If you are aware of courses, events or information which could usefully be shared please contact [email protected] so we can include it in our next edition. If other church officers in your locality might benefit from this resource please share a copy with them by email.

IN THIS ISSUE  New faces in London and  Diocesan Strategy latest  Important Safeguarding updates  Notes and news from Bishop’s Council  Tweets and web updates  Synod election results  Clergy appointments  News bulletin and information sharing WELCOME TO NEW DIOCESAN AND BISHOP’S OFFICE TEAM MEMBERS Gail Wilmet has joined Bishop Robert’s Brussels Office in a consultative role and on a part-time basis. She will have regular contact with the Diocesan Office in London to facilitate the exchange of information between both offices and will also support Bishop Robert’s ministry when he is in his London office. Gail comes to the Brussels office with huge experience of working at the European Parliament in its Administration.

Lucy Dollman began work on September 1 and is already getting to grips with her new responsibilities as Administrative Secretary, dealing particularly with the finance and travel aspects of the Bishop’s ministry and office.

Before coming to work in the Diocese Lucy was Events Coordinator at University of Roehampton. Having recently moved to Brussels, she is settling in to a new home and job, as well as discovering all the good things of life in .

We welcome two newcomers to the Safeguarding Team, based at Diocesan Office in London.

Ian Carter, a former police Inspector with Essex Police and has special skills and experience in child protection and the wider issues involved, has been appointed Interim Safeguarding Manager and Consultant. He has overall responsibility for Safeguarding matters in the diocese. For the time being, Ian is also acting as the Safeguarding Adviser (the role previously undertaken by Chris Lees). Ian has served at a high level in the Essex Police and has recently completed a period of two years in a similar role with the Diocesan of Chelmsford [email protected]

Kathrine Harris is our Safeguarding Administrator , based in the Diocesan Office, working on DBS checking, rolling-out level 1 electronic training and servicing meetings of the Safeguarding Advisory Committee (under the Chairmanship of Charles Clark).

Please contact Kathrine if you have queries relating to training or DBS checks. [email protected]

DIOCESAN STRATEGY DEVELOPMENTS For the past year Synods and groups across Europe have been presented with a series of statements and suggestions about what our churches are here for, how well we do, what we should be doing and how we can do more in the future.

Bishop Robert has visited many of these groups and explained the background to the plan, “Walking Together in Faith” which was first discussed at Diocesan Synod in in June. The challenge now is to convert the carefully crafted words into practical ambitions and plans for action.

The Bishop has asked those who have seen the strategy to discuss it in small groups and suggest a series of practical priorities. “This focusses the mind wonderfully” he says “and I have been amazed at the variety of good ideas that come out of different audiences across the diocese.”

The five priorities are to build up a common purpose by:-  Building up the Body of Christ and fostering growth  Sharing with other churches and agencies in the evangelisation of Europe  Striving for the creation of a just society and a sustainable environment  Working for reconciliation  With proper resources (Plans have to be achievable and funded. They also involve using people to their best advantage and taking good care of them)

At a national level the Archbishops and General Synod have endorsed a plan to make Church Commissioners funding available for any diocese that has a scheme that fulfils the strict criteria for grants. Because our diocese may submit a strategy plan by late Spring of 2016, some weeks before the Diocesan Synod meets, it has been agreed that a small group will work on a series of ideas which emerged from the October Bishop’s Council meeting to keep up the momentum. You can read more about this in the December edition of The European Anglican

SAFEGUARDING Several recent well publicised cases of historic abuse have served to underline the significance of Safeguarding in the church. Members of Bishop’s Council in October were assured by Bishop Robert that “we are going to change the culture of the Diocese in Europe to demonstrate that we take safeguarding seriously.” There are a number of changes and new aids to help individual congregations fulfil their obligations as safe churches. He told Council members that a Core Group which had been set up to investigate allegations of abuse by the late Bishop is due to meet in November to consider how the matter was handled and conclude the “lessons learned”.

TRAINING More than a hundred people have now completed the online training package for basic safeguarding with the emphasis on children and young people. Everyone who needs safeguarding clearance is required to do this course.

A new course on keeping “vulnerable adults” safe is due to be released by the end of this year.

As well as the online training courses the Diocese is looking to recruit more than 20 people with training skills who will be invited to a “train the trainers” course in the Spring of 2016. They would then be available to offer face to face group training at local and regional level.

Safeguarding Administrator Katherine Harris now supervises applications for safeguarding clearance for anyone in local churches who needs it. The provider of these certificates has changed and APCS (Access Personal Checking Services) now issue them. Anyone in doubt about whether they need clearance for their local church role can check out the guidelines on the diocesan website or consult Kathryn.

SAFEGUARDING POLICY A full and extensive revision of the diocesan Safeguarding policy is almost complete and is due to be published before the end of 2015. It updates and upgrades the earlier versions and should be easier to understand. This will mark a minimum standard across the Diocese. If local law in stronger on any item then that will apply to make it even stronger in that country.

The policy, or protocol (which is a clearer title for it) identifies key responsibilities and who is responsible for which aspect of Safeguarding in the local church. It also has guidance on staff selection, whether for paid or voluntary roles and the importance of keeping full notes and records for future reference.

Links to the protocol and other training updates will be included in the next edition of this newsletter.

NOTES FROM BISHOP’S COUNCIL – OCTOBER 2015 With technology changing ever more rapidly the diocese is preparing to adopt a new “web based” database system which should be a boon to our administration and greatly assist information and communication. The system we will use is being introduced across many of our fellow 41 of the Church of England. Europe’s schedule for the change is currently set for May 2016.

In the wake of the Pilling Report, the Church of England’s “facilitated conversations” on Human Sexuality continue. Our 6 diocesan nominees are due to meet between 9th and 11th November.

Consultation continues on Church of England wide plans to amend the way ordination candidates are funding. Ministry Team is closely in touch with this and considering how any changes wouod affect the Diocese in Europe which is a “net contributor” of ordinands, particularly young ones – i.e. we produce more from within the diocese than we take in (mainly because our unique structures does not allow as many training posts for curacies as mainland dioceses can). Two “apprentice” schemes are currently in place in and Brussels in Belgium.

The Bishop’s Senior Staff meeting has approved a document which outlines the commitments and responsibilities for churches taking on clergy. It defines the pro-rata expectations of priests in part-time posts or on a “house for duty” basis. It also outlines the standards expected in clergy accommodation. In the UK all other dioceses use what is known as the “Green guide” which lays down the minimum stanards for Vicarages and other clergy housing.

Some churches suffer from long interregnums when growth and mission is hard to maintain. Other congregations find it difficult to prepare to advertise for a new priest to lead them. Occasionally churches look in on themselves and need a skilled and experienced person to help them get back on their feet. Interim Ministry is being considered in the Diocese to put a temporary priest into a church for between six and twelve months. This “turn-around” ministry is already proving successful in some English dioceses.

The Advent appeal is for a migrant/refugee project in (see below) and the Lent Appeal 2016 will be for the Friends of the Holy Land. It is hoped to organise a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2017.

ADVENT APPEAL FOCUSES ON CONTINUING MIGRANT CRISIS IN GREECE The Diocese and the Anglican mission agency Us (formerly USPG) are working together to give funding to an emergency centre for refugees at the remote Pharos Lighthouse on the Greek island of Lesvos.

The refugees arrive cold and wet having crossed 15 kilometres from , typically making the journey in small rubber boats crowded with up to 50 people in each. Many make this dangerous crossing at night to avoid the Turkish coastguards that patrol during the day. They come mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan having fled conflict, chaos and persecution in those countries.

Attracted by the lighthouse beam, the refugees that land on the rocky shore are soaked through, tired and hungry. Yet they are still six kilometres from the nearest village, Klio, which is a minimum six-hour walk across often-difficult terrain. It is therefore essential for the health of the refugees that they have dry clothes, food and, in many cases, medical care and shelter before they continue their journey to safety, preferably with a volunteer to act as a guide.

More information of the appeal can be found on the Diocesan Website news section. To donate to the Appeal go to http://www.weareus.org.uk/news/europe/

TWITTER AND WEB UPDATES The diocesan website is a valuable and well used resource. News items are being submitted from churches at an ever increasing rate with encouraging stories and ideas about “good practice” around Europe.

The present site has been in operation for 4 years and our web providers, who also produce the European Anglican magazine, are advising on an overhaul of the site, taking into account the dramatic increases in website technology with a view to relaunching the site during 2016.

Social media habits change rapidly and new forms of information sharing are regularly reviewed. A relatively recent addition has been on which offers a daily reminder of the topic in the diocesan prayer diary. Twitter is also used as a beacon to headline any new announcement or news item when posted on the website. This work has been greatly helped by Pauleen Bang in who has done much of the regular Twitter input, also forwarding local church stories which may be of wider interest. A wider team is in the process of being formed to create a Twitter Team to share the work of a useful information and ministry tool.

SYNOD ELECTIONS General Synod was inaugurated on 24th November after a service in Westminster Abbey. Europe’s representation has been strengthened this time with an additional members in both clergy and laity. Two former delegates return. Canon Debbie Flach from Christ Church in begins a third term on Synod and Madeleine Holmes from the is returned after serving since 2010. Clergy newcomers are Rev Tuomas Mäkipää from St Nicholas’, and Canon Giles Williams from Holy Trinity, . Joining the House of Laity are David Coulston, from Puerto Pollensa in Mallorca and Tjeerd Bijl from St John and St Philip's in .

Because of the varying timescales voting for Diocesan Synod also took place this Autumn with the final counts in October. Those results are below

ELECTED MEMBERS OF DIOCESAN SYNOD 2016-2018

CLERGY Archdeaconry/Deanery Number Names of Representatives Elected Eastern 2 Malcolm Bradshaw, Frank Hegedus 3 Giles Williams, Andrew Biggs (one vacancy) & N Europe 2 Kenneth Dimmick, Jana Grinberga 3 Jennifer de Riverol, , Paul Ormrod & 1 one vacancy NW Europe 2E Andrew Gready, Simon Tyndall 1 Anne Lowen Total 14

LAITY Archdeaconry/Deanery Number Names of Representatives Elected Eastern 2E Miranda Kopetzky, Mary Zahasky France 4E David Bean, Dani Carew, Sarah Hardenberg, Madeleine Holmes Germany & N Europe 3 Nigel Rowley, Susan Boyd, Emmanuel Eneh Gibraltar 4E Joan Berry, David Coulston, Judith Murray, Celia Paterson Italy & Malta 2E Julie Cole, Paul Tillbrook NW Europe 3E Anthony Cummings, Rozette Muzigo-Morrison, Ann Turner Switzerland 2 Nicholas Leaver, Mary Talbot Total 20

The names given in italics represent a change from the 2013-2015 Diocesan Synod ‘E’ signifies there was a contested election

CLERGY APPOINTMENTS, MOVES AND RETIREMENTS In DIET we are able to include the full formal announcement and keep more up to date details of these moves than is possible in The European Anglican magazine.

WELCOME TO The Reverend Paul Earl Philip Brice, currently Pastoral and Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University (Ely) to be Chaplain of the Anglican Church of St Andrew, Zürich, Switzerland (Europe) with effect from 1st October 2015.

The Reverend Grant Norman Crowe, currently Team Vicar in the Central Telford Parish (Lichfield) to be Assistant Chaplain of the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity, , with responsibility for the Anglican Church in Amersfoort, Holland (Europe) with effect from 1 December 2015.

The Reverend Canon David Michael Greenwood, former Military Chaplain for the Government of Canada (British Columbia) to be Priest-in-Charge of the Anglican Church of All Saints, with effect from 1st September 2015.

The Reverend Canon Christopher Kelly Parsons, currently Rector of St Peter, Lakehill and St David by the Sea, Cordova Bay, Victoria, Canada (British Columbia) to be Priest-in-Charge of the Anglican Church in Freiburg, Germany (Europe) with effect from 29th November 2015.

The Venerable Richard Seabrook, currently Vicar-General and of the Murray-Riverland, Australia (Murray), to be Priest-in-Charge of the Anglican Church of St Peter and St Paul, , (Europe) with effect from 2nd November 2015.

The Reverend Julian John Wilson, currently Rector of the Anglican Church of Baschurch and Weston Lullingfields with Hordley (Lichfield) to be Priest-in-Charge of the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity, , Greece (Europe) with effect from 1st August 2015

LEAVING US The Reverend Robert (Bob) John Bates, currently Priest-in-Charge of the Anglican Church of St James, , and Area Dean in the Gibraltar Archdeaconry (Europe) to resign with effect from 30 November 2015.

The Reverend Mpole Samuel Masemola, Assistant Chaplain of the Anglican Church of St Edmund, , with special responsibility for the congregation (Europe) to resign with effect from 13 July 2015.

The Reverend Joseph James Ponic, currently Priest-in-Charge of the Anglican Church of St Andrew, , (Europe) to resign with effect from 30th September 2015.

The Reverend Andrew Keith Sillis, currently Chaplain of the Anglican Churches of St Boniface. and All Saints, Cologne, Germany (Europe) to be Vicar of St Thomas’ Stourbridge (Worcester) with effect from 31st August 2015

The Reverend Ronald Wilson Evans, currently Priest-in-Charge of the Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist, Izmir with St Mary Magdalene, Bornova, Turkey (Europe) to retire with effect from 31 December 2015

TITLE CHANGE The Reverend Nicholas Simon Howe, currently Chaplain of the Anglican Church of St Peter and St Sigfrid, , (Europe) also to be Area Dean of the Nordic and Baltic States (Europe) with effect from 5 September 2015.

At the North West Europe archdeaconry Synod in October, Bishop Robert commissioned two new Area Deans for North-West Europe archdeaconry, Rev Sam van Leer as Area Dean of the , and Rev Stephen Murray as Area Dean of Belgium and Luxemburg. They are pictured here with Acting Archdeacon Meurig.

BITS AND PIECES Rev Brian Llewellyn from St George’s Ieper () writes:- Back in the summer, I was a guest speaker at the Prayer Book Society PBS' annual conference at Girton College. Whilst there, I discovered that we are the only diocese in the C. of E. which doesn't have a diocesan branch. Our members are lumped in with "overseas members" (i.e. the rest of the world). You may know that St. George's is a corporate member. There are a small number of PBS members across the diocese, many of whom are a long way from the next member. I have said I would be prepared to act as a contact point with a view to getting a branch started.

Rev Robin Stockitt who was in Freiburg (Germany) for 13 years and now serves in Northern Ireland asks us to mention his recently published book with an endorsement from Bishop Robert on the back cover. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1498220789?keywords=stockitt&qid=1446625515&ref_=sr_1_1&s=bo oks&sr=1-1

Rev Richard Hall contacted us to promote the English Clergy Association. Founded in 1938, it exists to support Clergy of the Church of England in their vocation and ministry to resource Clergy, Patrons and Churchwardens requiring information or insight. An AGM and Annual Address is held in London in May. General enquiries to [email protected] Modest grants for holidays may be made to Clergy, enquiries to [email protected] Membership is open to the laity Membership enquiries to [email protected] Their magazine, 'Parson and Parish', is free to members www.clergyassoc.co.uk

ADVENT RESOURCES - a time to reflect and restore balance Comings and Goings - Retracing the Christmas story through place and time http://www.brfonline.org.uk/9780857463760/

A daily reading for each day from 1 December through to Epiphany. Gordon Giles helps us to accompany Jesus through some of his comings and goings with connections to the geographical location, historical context and current-day scenarios. His knowledge of the Holy Land is brought out as we engage with biblical events where they took place. Gordon has provided questions to help individuals and groups to think about what Advent, Christmas and Epiphany mean as we journey through the season. A verse from a hymn helps to illustrate each passage. As our own lives are marked by comings and goings, these passages and questions ground our faith in the events that follow, and go before, the Christmas story.

The Word was God - short reflections for Advent. http://www.brfonline.org.uk/9780857464248/ A very short reflection or thought to accompany you through Advent. Slow down to savour the words of one of the best-loved of seasonal Bible readings.

The No-Rehearsal Nativity - yes, as good as it suggests! If you would like to put on a nativity but have no time to rehearse, and would like to be able to include any who turn up on the day, read on... http://www.brfonline.org.uk/9780857463661/

NEXT EDITION OF DIET – is expected to be in January. The Winter edition of The European Anglican is due out on 1st December and news items submitted may also be included on the front page news section of the Diocesan Website. The copy deadline for the March (Spring) edition is 20th January 2016. Items for inclusion in any of these publications should be sent to [email protected]