Category: News

Latest news from the Network and stories from deaneries acrossthe UK

October Deanery Briefing: The grief phenomenon …..

How bereavement support is preventing mental ill-health, growing churches and transforming lives.
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Bereaved Couple

Bereavement, when it happens often comes when least expected. When we lose a loved one, our intense emotions trigger a massive stress response with wide-ranging repercussions on our mental, emotional but also physical wellbeing.

Working across deaneries we can respond and provide spiritual, emotional and practical support as part of our Christian care for someone who has been bereaved …. we can make a difference.The Bereavement Journey Card

In this webinar Revd Nicky Grey will explain how bereavement impacts and its relationship to mental ill-health and other societal issues, and why The Bereavement Journey® programme is growing so fast with such extraordinary results.

More details and to book.

News of the National Deaneries Conference

National Deaneries Conference

The bi-annual National Deaneries Conferences have been running for almost 50 years. We know from the feedback that they are highly valued. However, we are also aware that, following the lockdowns, the landscape has changed and finances are tighter.

This means we need to take a fresh look and develop an approach to maintain the National Conference’s high standards with the knowledgeable and expert speakers and enable folk to come together to share experiences, in a way that is affordable.
We are working hard and will be unveiling the plans for 2025 in the very near future.

So watch this space!

2024/2025 Deanery Briefings Programme

After a break the National Deaneries Network is back with a new programme of the popular Deanery Briefings.

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The NDN Briefings have become a popular and established series of online briefings, focusing on the key issues of our time, for those with an interest on deaneries.

Looking forward there is once again a varied programme tackling issues based on feedback from the Network.

23 October 2024

The Bereavement Journey – a programme of films and discussion that addresses the range of issues we encounter in bereavement. This Briefing will focus on why and how Deaneries should engage with the programme.
Speaker: Revd Nicky Grey from AtaLoss; providers of the UK's bereavement signposting website.

More details on the Briefing here and to book it's here.

20 November 2024

What’s the point of the Deanery – Where the deanery fits and how it can be effective in the scheme of things.
Speakers: Tug Wilson and Bex Chapman from the NDN

January/February 2025

Supporting and engaging with Mental Health Initiatives – the Deanery’s pivotal role.
Speaker: Rt Revd Jane Steen *

14 May 2025

It’s all about church buildings – from maintenance and funding to exciting alterations and incorporating new uses.
Speakers: TBC from National Church Trust and Churches Conservation Trust *

18 June 2025

Pioneering Parishes - tools for Deaneries to help parishes become more outward looking, engaging with and extending their mission and ministry across the deanery.
Speaker: Revd Greg Bakker *

* Subject to availability of speakers

NDN Situations Vacant

Opportunities with the National Deaneries Network

Due to retirements and job changes the NDN Steering Group are looking for people to join the group.

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We are currently looking to fill these roles:
  • Web content coordinator/writer/contributor
  • Social media manager and content producer
  • NDN subscriber network development and management
  • Event organisation and development
  • Secretary to the group

These are voluntary roles with help with out-of-pocket expenses. Ideally you should have expertise and practical experience of these roles together with a good knowledge and experience of deanery workings and the wider structures of the Church of England.

About the NDN

The NDN is an open network of people interested in and supporting the work of Deaneries.  Although not part of the formal structures of the Church of England the NDN has established it’s self as a key authoritative player working alongside the National Church.

Our members include Lay Chairs, Treasurers, Secretaries, Area/Rural Deans, Archdeacons and the odd Bishop. Currently there are around 1200 active subscribers to the Network, however, our reach is much beyond the subscribers. Our Deanery Briefings have attracted over 2000 delegates.

Membership of the NDN is free and gives access to our library of resources, including videos from previous conferences and briefings.  We are keen to resource Dioceses and the National Church in their work with Deaneries – and give Deaneries a voice on the national stage.

Could you take on one of these roles?

  • Have you a heart for the mission and ministry of the Deanery?
  • Could you make a difference to the influence of the NDN?
  • Could you help continue to embed the NDN in supporting our Deaneries in their mission and ministry?

To find out more about the work of the NDN, the roles, and the time commitment involved call Tug Wilson on 07785 334077 or email him at charity.services@btclick.com to arrange an informal discussion.

September Deanery Briefing: Booking opens

New opportunities to reach the missing younger generations

Growing the faith of our children and young people

With Lucy Moore, Head of the Growing Faith Foundation and Stephen Beamond, Programmes Lead in the Growing Faith Foundation

Ask any member of the church what we should be focusing on in our mission and you would hope to get a response that includes, “We want our children and young people to have faith in Jesus, to grow in that faith and help shape the Church.’

Over the years we have probably researched this aspect of our ministry to the point that what we don’t know is not worth knowing. We have had Children in the Way (1988); All God’s Children (1991) Youth Apart (1996) Growing for Growth (2010) and Rooted in the Church (2016) in addition to the Education Division setting out ten marks of a high performing Diocesan Board of Education. Church members often claim that all the resources are skewed towards the under-16s at the expense of older people.

  • So where are the children and young people?
  • Why do so many parishes not seem to mind that they have few or no younger church members?
  • And how can the church truly become a community for believers of all ages?

In this Deanery Briefing Lucy Moore and Stephen Beamond from the Growing Faith Foundation will outline the work of the Foundation and will suggest practical ways to help the Deanery play its part in supporting and equipping the missional work of the parish with children and young people.

July Deanery Briefing booking opens

Mental Health & wellbeing: resourcing churches, restoring communities

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At a time when mental health and our wellbeing affects so many - whether ordained or lay -  the July Deanery Briefing will throw the spotlight on mental health and wellbeing.

Mental Health and wellbeing concerns

Are you concerned or do you worry about:

  • Rising rates of mental health disorders (especially amongst young people)
  • The lack of mental health support available
  • The Church’s ability to respond?

Chris Cooke and Michèle Hampson,  two priests and former psychiatrists, will present a Christian perspective of mental health and wellbeing and then Ruth Rice and Corin Pilling will inspire you with ways you and your church might respond.

More Details: Mental health & wellbeing: resourcing churches, restoring communities

 

Ruth Rice and Wellbeng Cafes

Ruth Rice

Corin Pilling and Sanctuary Ministries

Corin Pilling

Tackling Modern Slavery

with Caroline Virgo Director of The Clewer Initiative 7:30pm Wednesday 1st February 2023

There are an estimated 136,000 victims in the UK. Modern Slavery comes in many forms and can be difficult to identify- it is present in every type of community and victims don’t fit into a simple stereotype.
  • Could you spot the signs of modern slavery?
  • Would you know what to do if you suspect someone is a victim of modern slavery?
  • What can Deaneries do about modern slavery?

In this Deanery Briefing Caroline Virgo Director of The Clewer Initiative will help Deaneries to consider:

  • What is modern slavery?
  • How might it be taking place in my local community?
  • How do you recognise, respond, record and refer concerns about modern slavery and exploitation?
  • What practical actions can Deaneries take against the issue?

The interactive Briefing will be led by Caroline Virgo using films and case studies which will lead to a greater understanding of the church’s interaction with potential victims.

The Clewer Initiative is the national work of the Church of England to combat modern slavery.

Find out more about the work of The Clewer Initiative via their website: https://theclewerinitiative.org/

About Caroline Virgo

Caroline Virgo will be delivering the Deanery Briefing: The Deanery’s role in tackling Modern Slavery on Wednesday 1 February 2023.

Caroline is Director of The Clewer Initiative. A former barrister, she has been involved in faith based charities and the Church throughout her working life, both in the UK and abroad. Caroline founded the Bristol Debt Advice Centre (now Talking Money  https://www.talkingmoney.org.uk/ ) in 1990 and Hope’s Place http://www.hopesplace.org.uk/ ) in 2004.

Prior to joining The Clewer Initiative as a development officer in 2016 she worked for the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth for five years, first as an external consultant on the Curial Review Board and then as setting up several new initiatives for the incoming Bishop, culminating as Director of Development of Caritas Diocese of Portsmouth. Her interest in Modern Slavery began during her work with Caritas in 2014.

Deanery Briefing Details

Serving those who serve: The Clergy Support Trust

When our vicar or clergy colleagues are not firing on all four cylinders and their ministry begins to suffer, we all feel it. The health and well being of our clergy impacts all of us whether ordained or lay. We all have a role to play to help clergy keep on top of their game.

So how do we enable our clergy brothers and sisters have flourishing and thriving priesthoods?

Ben Cahill-Nicholls

In this Deanery Briefing Ben Cahill-Nicholls from the Clergy Support Trust - the largest and oldest charity serving Anglican ministers and their families – will outline how the trust can respond and support clergy and their families in times of difficulty when the going gets tough.