In Milton Keynes we were worried that the culture of the Deanery had become one based on structures and rules rather than relationships and creativity. In many ways, this may have been an unintended consequence of positive ideals…
For years we had been working to bring the denominations together in the growth of the new city. This meant a necessary focus on ecumenical structures and the organisational life of LEPs (Local Ecumenical Partnerships). This may sound simple, but each church, issue or plan would need to take into account four or five denominations and the rules and expectations that each denomination may have…
In the meantime, the non-LEP parishes found the whole thing very difficult and often wanted nothing to do with any of it…
Suspicion, bureaucracy and legalism easily became part of our organisational culture – and I don’t think it was doing us any good…
During the past year or so, we’ve been trying to do things that help change the culture of the Deanery. It won’t happen overnight, but I hope that a few little things will slowly help us to build trust and work together better.
One of the most successful things that we’ve done has been what we’ve called Deanery Lunches…
The way this works is that we invite five or six people each week to meet together for lunch. That’s all.
The guest list is large, however, and includes ministers, lay leaders and ecumenical partners. We also try to mix things up, so it’s never the same group and people don’t always come with people from their parish.
At each lunch people often meet each other for the first time, talk about things that matter to them – and often make plans…
I have to say that I’ve often found Deanery Lunches to be moving and deeply significant as people have shared with each other.
This isn’t a big thing, but we hope it will be part of the way we shift the culture of our Deanery from suspicion to trust – from an emphasis on structures to an emphasis on relationships – from a fear of decline to a delight in our common life…
Tim Norwood
(Area Dean Milton Keynes)