From Canon Rob Morris
Sir, - Much of the report Signs of Growth (News,
17 January) is exemplary; and its warnings are salutary. We
need to take them to heart. The report is, however, wholly
deficient in the way it treats what it calls "amalgamations", and
their alleged growth defects in comparison with the minority model
of"a single unit under one leader".
Most church life, mission, work, and clergy deployment does not
happen in single church units under a single leader. Of the 90
posts in one recent week's Church Times appointments and
advertisements, only 27 are in this commended setting;
hardlysurprising when71 per cent of all parishes are
"amalgamations".
The report, however, treats them all as of one kind, without
analysis, whether they are teams, groups, multi-church rural
benefices, linked parishes, or any other of the huge variety of
local arrangements - some prayerfully envisioned and planned; some
spatchcocked together as a last resort. (The report also fails to
recognise that cathedrals and larger parishes are collegially, not
singly, led.)
The report's broad-brush conclusion is that multi-church
amalgamations and teams are less likely to grow. This is at best
one initial observation among others. It cannot claim to be any
kind of conclusion.
We need much more work on what the report fails to address. Most
"amalgamations" are in places where they are the only possible
pattern of contextual mission and ministry. Amalgamations are most
common in areas where growth is hard: scattered rural populations,
outer estates, inner-city areas. Single-church units under one
leader are most common in areas where growth ought to be easier;
and yet, despite local deprivation, mobility and deaths, some
grow.
Raw numerical growth in attendance is also but one measure. It
cannot not tell us how many have come anew to Christ rather than
simply transferred their membership. For more than two-thirds of
parishes and clergy, it does not help us discover apt mission for
challenging contexts. It does not help us discern and nurture the
skills in collegial leadership which in reality most clergy need.
It does not help us to release ordained parish ministries for tasks
other than increasingly stretched incumbency.
I hope that the great bulk of the report is taken very seriously
in every part of the Church. I hope equally that itstreatment of
"amalgamations" is but the beginning of committed and detailed
prayer and work on what these really are, and how they can
grow.
ROB MORRIS
Team Rector of Kings Norton
273 Pershore Road South
Kings Norton
Birmingham B30 3EX
From the Revd Simon Tillotson
Sir, - Though I welcome much that the Archbishop of Canterbury
says, I would take issue with him that a good vicar always leads to
growth in a parish.
This is not sour grapes on my behalf, as we have experienced
some growth at All Saints', Whitstable, in recent years, though,
like many churches, we are faced with challenges. In my 19 years of
ministry, however, I have seen some truly excellent clergy see
decline in their churches, while clergy who seem far less committed
and gifted have seen growth. I think that it is much more to do
with the interplay between the clergy and the laity in the parish
than simply with the cleric himself or herself.
Let us not forget that Jesus and St Paul both experienced
rejection in their ministries quite often. This was not a sign of
failure, but rather a sign that the people were not receptive. I
would hate clergy up and down the country to fall into the trap of
seeing the immediate results of their ministries in terms of
attendance on Sundays. I am convinced that some clergy have served
the Lord extremely faithfully but seen at times catastrophic
decline because their congregations were so immersed in nominal
Christianity that they rejected the message of their incumbent and
left, or, more likely, badmouthed the incumbent behind his or her
back.
Likewise, I have seen many John the Baptist ministries where the
cleric saw little fruit from his or her ministry, but was
essentially preparing the ground for a successor.
I am sure that the Archbishop meant well, and had only so much
space to reflect on this issue; but we all need to be liberated
from a business-model view of ministry. When growth has come in my
ministry, it has often come out of the blue, and had little bearing
to a funeral or wedding I took. I am sure I speak for other clergy
in this respect.
These things need pointing out so that we can all be liberated
from the guilt trip that the business model of cause and effect can
bring about, and thereby cause even more stress for us in the front
line of mission.
SIMON TILLOTSON
The Vicarage
Church Street
Whitstable CT5 1PG