Copthorne Village website

10.  Summary of Proposals

There have been a number of important discussions in parishes, leading to a variety of proposals coming forward. The DRG wishes to highlight a number of the most important and useful ones to address first:

1)    That a thorough and detailed debate - on the advantages of either remaining as one larger Deanery of East Grinstead & Crawley, or splitting in to two separate Deaneries of Crawley, and East Grinstead - be undertaken by the Deanery Synod. Depending on the outcome of the debate, a further resolution, possibly along the lines that Crawley Down have proposed, be followed:
That the Archdeacon of Horsham, or someone of similar, or higher standing, should convene and chair a working party to discuss:
a)    The reorganisation of the parishes within Crawley in order to equip the Crawley parishes to meet their financial challenges and be more effective thereby in their mission to the people of Crawley.
b)    The possible formation of Crawley into a separate Deanery.
2)    That the Rural Dean has adequate clergy (e.g. a curate or an NSM) and administrative support within their own parish, to allow a more active engagement with Deanery matters, including staffing and pastoral support, vacancies, enabling mission, and keeping Chapter & Synod ‘vital’
3)    That the Rural Dean (or a representative from the Deanery Standing Committee) be actively involved in all future discussions within the Deanery about job cuts, vacancies & appointments, offering assistance in drawing up profiles, and helping support the parish during the vacancy
4)    That immediate attention be paid to the possibility of appointing an Assistant Rural Dean in ‘the other part’ of the Deanery
5)    That the mission and ministry to the new development of 2,500 houses to the West of East Grinstead be given urgent and serious consideration by the Bishop of Chichester and the Bishop of Southwark, particularly with respect to the fact that any ancient diocesan boundaries running through the development will mean little to those moving in
6)    That thought be given to the optimum number of worship centres in some of our parishes, and specific mention is made of EG St Swithun & EG St Mary; Ifield; Crawley town centre; and Cowden with Hammerwood
7)    That Extended Communion be re-considered within the fresh pastoral context of the shortage of available ordained clergy, and the need to continue to pastorally support a Eucharistic ministry in some parish circumstances
8)    The DRG ask that the reality of the full fee income be fully credited and seen within Deanery and Diocesan Accounts
9)    (under the existing Deanery structure) The EGD should aim for 90% PMC including full fees, by 2010
10)    The EGD wishes to be assured by the Diocese (Board of Finance?) and the Central Church, that the costly financial and staffing sacrifices being made at parochial level are also being undertaken by those areas of the wider church
11)    That a forum for celebrating lay ministry within the EGD, and sharing of training, and good practise be created within the Deanery - see for example the Brighton Churches ‘Being Here’
12)    That children, youth & schools work be given high priority within the mission strategies of parishes and the Deanery, with cross-Deanery and interdenominational emphases, with highlights promoted in the media
13)    That the Bishop consider that clergy and lay posts be licensed beyond a single parish, and in some cases, across the deanery
14)    That the EGDS recognises and accepts that difficult decisions will have to be made in the future for us to be more effective in our mission and ministry
15)    That consideration is given to what sort of authority, and group, may need to carry on the work started by the existing Deanery Review Group, especially regarding staffing, finance, and mission