Mission and Pastoral Conferences 2018 Pastoral reorganisation and

Mission and Pastoral Conferences 2018 Pastoral reorganisation and changes in the Mission and Pastoral etc. (Amendment) Measure 2018

Why are we here? Mostly because of the. . .

Consultation on proposed pastoral reorganisation • The MP(A)M clarifies the consultations in pastoral reorganisation. • Currently, there are effectively 3 stages of consultation: • informal • first formal (s. 6/21) • second formal (on a published draft scheme or order). • The MP(A)M allows dioceses to combine the first two stages.

Consultation on proposed pastoral reorganisation • As of 1 st October, DMPCs may either: • Consult on draft proposals Or • Consult on “the issues which the {Diocesan Mission and Pastoral} committee considers need to be addressed”. • In other words; the first stage of consultation can be on issues, rather than proposed solutions; • Followed by the publication of a draft scheme or order.

Consultation on proposed pastoral reorganisation • Examples of consultation on issues might include: • • Benefices Parsonage Patronage Names • The DMPC • considers • formulates • draft proposals

Consultation on proposed pastoral reorganisation • As ever, consultation must be “meaningful”. In other words DMPCs should: • Be genuine in the consultation: willing to listen to the views of all parties. • Not already have made up their minds • Be willing to vary the proposals or recommendations in light of the consultation. • Why this change to consult on issues? • Encourage solutions from the “grass-roots” of the church and interested parties. • To allow more flexibility in diocesan approach. Can now proceed with just two stages of consultation; issues, then draft scheme or order. • Avoid repetitive consultation on similar looking documents. • Consultation on the issues will be particularly important in Deanery Planning.

Pastoral schemes and orders; preparation, publication and amendment • Dioceses will be able to ask the Commissioners to draft and publish schemes or orders on their behalf. • In cases where the Commissioners have drafted the scheme or order, they will carry out the publication of the statutory notices, • All draft schemes and orders (excluding BPOs and S 17 Orders) will have to be published online by the Commissioners.

Pastoral schemes and orders; preparation, publication and amendment • The Commissioners (in consultation with the Bishop) will be able to amend schemes or orders in light of representations without having to re-publish the draft scheme and repeat the representation procedure. • This is to allow extra flexibility • This should allow a faster process for bringing such draft schemes or orders into effect.

Pastoral schemes and orders; preparation, publication and amendment • Examples of where the new amendment power might be used include: • uniting benefices - selecting an alternative house to be the parsonage than the one named in the draft scheme • changing patronage provisions - for example changing from being exercised jointly to exercising in turns (or vice versa). In this instance we may seek only the views of the patrons and the PCCs, rather than all the interested parties. • Alteration of parish/benefice name

Pastoral church buildings schemes; severance • A new option where a draft scheme proposes closing a church and settling the future of the building in the same scheme (under ss 58 & 59 of the MPM). • If objections are received against the use and upheld by the Commissioners, the closure itself can still be brought into effect as if under s 42 of the MPM.

Glebe transactions; representations • As of 1 st July this year, it is no longer possible for PCCs/incumbents etc to make representations to the Commissioners against glebe transactions. • However, the Diocese must still serve a notice on the PCC/incumbent, for their information only, though there is still a recommended window for comments to be submitted to the DBF. • We have issued guidance on recommended best practice about communicating with them about proposed transactions, found on our website.

Patronage changes • The MP(A)M changes the lapse of patronage provisions in s. 16 of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986. • Previously, patronage lapsed to the relevant Archbishop after 9 months of the vacancy arising. • Now lapses to the Diocesan Bishop. • Lapses after 12 months not 9 • The new compensation provisions should mean that there will be less need for suspension of presentation.

Other forthcoming changes: Amending Canon 39 and CRR changes • Likely to come into effect summer 2019 or spring 2020. • It includes provisions for a new kind of Joint Council (which will be able to hold property, so could essentially put PCCs into abeyance in some cases, reducing the burden of large numbers of meetings) • Amending Canon 39 amends Canons B 11, B 14 and B 14 A • The practical effect will be to lessen the difference between a Parish Church and a Chapel of Ease.

Other forthcoming changes: the draft Church Property Measure • Consolidates • Parsonages Measures • New Parishes Measure and • the property provisions of the Endowments & Glebe Measure. • A single Measure in a modern format. • First consideration was at General Synod this July • Likely to come into effect in 2019.