GOOD NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF EXETER CHURCH OF ENGLAND JULY 2015 FTER THE GREAT liturgical busyness of the DEVON church’s year from Advent NEW FUND, set up from a Ato Trinity Sunday we now portion of diocesan reserves, enter those Sundays after will be used to create a Trinity, the green Sundays Diocesan Growth Fund to of the year, called in some resource innovative work aimed parts of the church ordinary at growing the Church of England in Devon. Funds may be used to resource projects such as The Living A Room community café (above) which opened summer 2011 time. Ordinary time is I A series of themed consultations are in Torquay. think a rather unfortunate on-going throughout June and July to gain description and probably wider input from people across the diocese doesn’t pick up the nuances and identify one or two proposals per group. of the original Latin. For Themes include young people: in school Going for GROWTH while these weeks between A new way of living and out, mixed economy church and Fresh Trinity and Advent might Expressions and how to resource parishes about how we can use our gifts to better not have all the great drama or at Pentecost but which Our response to that and mission communities to deliver their serve our communities which will in turn help of the story of God’s great is ongoing, renewed and invitation is a commitment Mission Action Plans. our churches to grow both in spirit and in intervention into human life renewing, pointing us always to grow in our discipleship, The Bishop of Exeter the Rt Revd Robert numbers.” in the person of Jesus Christ, not only to the redemptive to deepen our communion Atwell says: “This is an exciting opportunity Please pray for everyone involved as they they are a key part of the acts of God in the past but to with the Holy Trinity and for us to consider ways in which we can discuss ideas and discern how best to use church’s proclamation and the hope that all things will to grow to the maturity of grow the Church in Devon. As with the the resources. For further details visit the in our own growth as his be renewed in the kingdom faith to which we are called. Parable of the Talents we need to think synod section at www.exeter.anglican.org disciples. that is to come. This is the purpose of these The story of Jesus is not It is no accident that the Sundays after Trinity that simply a history lesson nor great feast of Trinity Sunday we might grow to be more our faith the intellectual lies at the junction between Christ-like by meditating assent to facts about God these two periods of the on his words to us in the and Jesus. By bursting into church’s year. The revelation scriptures, fed by his loving the life of his creation as part of God’s salvation seen in the grace in the sacraments and of that creation God initiates Old Testament and uniquely entering more deeply into a radically new way of living and supremely in the person the communion with one that he o ers to all people, of Jesus, born witness to by another and with the Holy the life of discipleship. This the work of the Holy Spirit, Trinity, who is communion. The future of rural schools is the story that we hear is both the revelation of God 3rd from right Rev Nigel Genders, Chief Education Offi cer, Church of England Board of Education, 2nd right Sir David Carter, proclaimed in that busy as Trinity and the invitation to Regional Commissioner for schools in the South West with diocesan Education Offi cers. time of the church’s year, a us to join in the koinonia, or VER 80 church a report by the National the future by being creative story that does not fi nd an communion, that is the very THE ARCHDEACON OF PLYMOUTH, ending at the Ascension life of the Trinity. THE VEN IAN CHANDLER school governors, Society called Working and investing in better teachers and other Together: the future of rural relationships with other representatives Church of England Schools, schools. We need them to Ofrom around our diocese was the main speaker. He understand this reality attended a day to consider said, “We are hoping that and proactively embrace Diocesan Communications Unit CHURCH OF ENGLAND DIOCESE the future of rural Church of heads and governors get a the future. Federations, www.exeter.anglican.org OF EXETER England schools. sense of reality about the partnerships and twitter.com/cofedevon THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND Chief Education O cer way to secure rural schools collaboration are the facebook search diocese of exeter IN DEVON DEVON Nigel Genders, author of and education provision for way forward.” Exeter to have its own currency XETER is to launch A sense of God its very own complementary SENSE OF GOD was always Following ordination and a move to the currency in a bid there for Kathy Roberts, who UK with her husband Peter, she served her to strengthen local has just been appointed as curacy in Crediton and is now Rector of Eeconomic character and Dean of Women’s Ministry for the benefi ce of Black Torrington as well as build resilience. The city the diocese. She says: “As a taking on this new role, which will support follows in the footsteps of Asmall girl I had a sense of God calling me but women clergy. other places in the West I didn’t really know what to do about it.” As she begins, Kathy is talking to women Country such as Totnes and Kathy was born in Cape Town and later in ministry about what will be helpful for Bristol that have launched attended Sunday School in her local church. them. There have been great steps forward their own currencies. As a musician she enjoyed playing the organ for women in the church but there is still The principal advantage in di erent churches and at the age of 13 much to be done, she says. She adds: of the Exeter Pound, which had a tangible experience of God. She says: “There is still a lot of discrimination against will be available in £1, £5, “I was listening to some music on the radio, women in the church in all sorts of ways.” £10 and £20 notes, will be The team behind the new currency possibly the Alleluia Chorus, and felt the Kathy, 64, describes her journey with God stronger support for Exeter presence of God in the room. It was unasked as being a lot more contemplative now than businesses, emphasising Football Club and various Pound is a great way to and unexpected and I committed myself to in her younger years and she experiences company loyalty, greater other community and further support the local the Lord right then, without really knowing God through prayer, silence and refl ection. benefi t to the local economy, voluntary organisations. community by trading in the anything.” Kathy then attended Scripture And her motivation now she says is ‘to know prompting a stronger sense Martyn Goss, Director pounds which may well end Union camps over the next few years Christ and to make him known,’ inspired by of city and community of Church and Society for up in collection plates and which helped her to experience and learn Paul’s letter to the Philippians. identity and promoting an the Diocese of Exeter says, charitable donations.” more but it wasn’t until she went to teacher improved environment in the “From a perspective of faith The Exeter Pound will be training college, run by the Community of longer term. the scheme will encourage launched on 1 September the Resurrection in Grahamstown, that she Exeter Cathedral will community building, with a community market in began to think more seriously about her accept the currency which economic justice and build the Cathedral Close. calling. I am looking is supported by Exeter City better relationships of trust Council, local businesses, locally. For faith groups For details visit Exeter Chiefs, Exeter City participation in the Exeter www.exeterpound.org.uk forward to raising the Bishop of Maidstone announced “ profi le of HE REVEREND Prebendary Rod Thomas, Vicar of women. There Elburton in Plymouth is to be the Su ragan Bishop of Maidstone, in the Diocese of Canterbury. Rod has is still a lot of been head of Reform, a network for conservative Tevangelicals, since 2007 and his appointment comes following agreement to provide a bishop who takes the Kathy Roberts is discrimination Dean of Women’s conservative evangelical view on male headship. Ministry The Bishop of Exeter, Rt Revd Robert Atwell, said: “I am against women delighted that Rod Thomas is to be the bishop of Maidstone, a post which honours the House of Bishop’s commitment to in the church its fi ve guiding principles for mutual fl ourishing following the ordination of women to the episcopate.” ”.