The Bishop of Sodor and Man will ask a special meeting of synod to reform the administration of the diocese, abolishing rural deaneries and replacing them with four regional Mission Partnerships to better serve the church on the Isle of Man.The Rt Rev Robert Paterson's report, Recommendations for Mission and Ministry 2009, will be tabled before the Sept 28 special synod.
Its 78 recommendations seek to bolster attendance, improve communications, and respond to a forecasted shortage of clergy in coming years.
The major reform proposed by the bishop is the creation of four Mission Partnerships based upon the principle of subsidiarity, with most decisions taken on the local or least centralized level of authority in church life.
The Rural Deaneries of Castletown, Peel, Douglas and Ramsey will be replaced by a North, South, East and West regional partnership for the diocese’s 28 parishes.
By giving local parish communities a greater hand in their management, the diocese hopes to foster growth in each community.
Bishop Paterson has also proposed opening a non-residential lay and clergy training course for the island, to respond to a shortage of qualified pastors. “It is my intention that every church and local community will, in time, be provided with a known, trained and licensed pastor,” the bishop said.
From 1879 to 1943 the diocese had operated Bishop Wilson College located at the episcopal residence, Bishopscourt in Kirkmichae to train local clergy.
Coupled with a move towards decentralisation is a commitment toward a revamped youth ministry, along with an aggressive move onto the internet and multi-media.
“We recognise that it will not do to expect young people to bridge the enormous cultural gap between the religious behaviour of the 50-plus generation and theirs,” Bishop Paterson noted.
“As far as possible, churches, particularly those of historic and/or community significance, should not be closed,” Bishop Paterson said. However “for many, probably all in rural areas, this will mean that additional, complementary uses should and must be found.”
The present practise of having some churches open only for “an hour or two a week” was an inefficient use of resources and failed to fulfill the “purpose for which they exist: God and people,” the bishops said.
The bishop’s recommendations are based upon the work of two independent commissions.
The September meeting of the Sodor and Man synod will be asked to appoint an implementation committee to take the 78 recommendations forward.
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