Statement on the Ministry provision at St George’s

We are very fortunate at St George's to benefit from the wisdom and experience of a number of retired clergy each one of these clergy is a great source of inspiration to me as your Rector and I thank God that they are here with us, each in their own way add to the mission and ministry of our community.

Since coming to St George's the diocese has been talking to me about this parish becoming a place where future priests of the Church of England are able to train.

This is a huge responsibility for both me and us as a community. It is also a privilege to think that those individuals who coming here to train, within our church community, will absorb much of what they experience here and use those experiences in the rest of their ministry.

On June 26 th 2010, the Lord Bishop of Chichester will be ordaining new Deacons for the Church. On that day when the deacons are named, the Parish of Rumboldwhyke, Whyke and Portfield will not just be said once (as most of the other parishes who will be welcoming a new Deacon,) but twice, to show that we will be welcoming two new deacons in this parish.

One of these new Deacons we have known about for some time. We have been eagerly waiting for him to begin his new ministry amongst us here at St George's . Andy Wilkes is a home grown talent, and will bring a huge depth of spiritual knowledge and challenges to us. My respect for Andy has grown and grown and I have sought council with him a number of times. I look forward to working alongside Andy and ask you to continue to pray for him and Julia and their family.

Our other new Deacon is someone who is totally new to the diocese. Over twelve months ago I was asked by the DDO (Diocesan Director of Ordinands) if this parish would welcome a female curate. At the time I said no and so since then have been looking through the details of any possible male curates. After looking at three individual profiles, I having seen that each of these had qualities somewhere amongst their details but I rejected them as not appropriate for us at St George's .

Recently I was sent the profile of an individual whose profile did read very well on paper and so I decided to meet this person with the blessing of the PCC.

This candidate has met me, seen us on a Sunday morning, and has met the church wardens. Having met us and seen how we work this candidate turned down another parish so that they could begin their ministry here at St George's .

This is truly a reflection on us as a parish, in that they wish to place themselves in our hands to inform and help their new ministry.

And so I am delighted to say that alongside Andy we will welcome Rebekah Cannon. Rebekah trained at Westcott House in Cambridge . She has a background in theatre and media and comes to us with high recommendations and the Bishop of Chichester's Blessing.

It is important to note at this stage that I understand that the appointment of a female deacon who will go forward to be ordained priest might pose a problem for one or two of you. I would like to assure you now that both I and the other clergy, including our new deacons are aware of this possible situation for some and assure you that all will be done to include all people however they sit on this issue. It is also important to note that this parish has no resolutions set when it comes to recognising the ministry of women as priests.

And so a brief history as how we came to this position:

When appointed as Rector of this parish I was told by both the Bishop and Archdeacon that this would become a training parish. (this shows a great deal of trust in both myself and you as the church family here St George's ).

At the end of 2008 I was asked to put together a parish profile for a possible curate

At the start of 2009 I was asked to look at 2 people as possible curates for St George's neither were right for us.

Conversations were had with the clergy team

Conversations took place at PCC about the gender of a possible curate

Towards the end of 2009 I looked at a further 3 candidates for St George's these were also not appropriate.

I was sent the profile of Rebekah

I asked the PCC permission to see this individual knowing that if she liked me as her training incumbent and I liked her that she would become our new curate in addition to Andy.

I arranged to meet Rebekah

I arranged a second PCC meeting to fully inform my decision as to whether to accept Rebekah as one of our 2 new curates.

I meet Rebekah

I met with Bishop John who gave me his blessing if I wished to appoint Rebekah.

She visited the other parish and said that she wanted to come here.

She met Bishop John and Archdeacon Douglas, The DDO and our Churchwardens.

I have written to Rebekah to formally invite her to be one of 2 curates we will welcome in June this year.

And so here we are.

However, one problem…

In this diocese, there is a policy which I have been challenging ever since I got here. That policy is that if a parish were to gain the ministry of a curate in training then that parish has to pay for their housing!

In response to this I have talked with the Archdeacon and the Diocesan Secretary (Chief Executive) and their response was mixed. However we did gain some ground; at the moment they have offered us up to £500 per month to help pay for the accommodation of a curate, which looking at the present rental climate would gain us two thirds of the rental of the type of house needed.

However, I am in negotiations with the diocese to get a better deal for us as a parish.

This would involve the diocese giving us the £500 per month (£6000 per year) and also a loan to buy a house and the original gift of £500 per month to come off our loan repayments to the Diocese.

Whichever, way the diocese agrees this still will leave us a short fall.

So today we are launching a Train a Priest Fund (TAP) and are calling on the entire congregation to consider if they are able to support this.

This fund would then cover all additional costs of housing our full time curate and pay the ministry expenses for both.

What would it mean for us as a congregation?

It would require 80 households to pledge £5 per month for up to four years.

What does this compare with in the wider world?

• A cinema Ticket


• A weekly subscription to a newspaper


• A bottle of wine (depending on what sort you drink!)


• 2 pints of Beer

And when you bear that in mind with normal household expenditure its not that much, significant but possible for many.

What would we gain?

The ministry of 2 excellent new curates, one stipendiary and one non stipendiary.

Greater pastoral care

New ideas

A firmer foundation for new initiatives

Greater support for existing work

A part in the ministerial formation of new priests within the church.

So as we continue to grow as a community, as a congregation can I ask each of you to offer in thought and prayer what your response to this challenge might be.