Annual Report 2012

THE CHURCH OF ENGLANDBIRMINGHAM

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the Rt Revd David UrquhartBishop of Birmingham

Th e distinctive Christian contribution to the world has been highlighted by the universal interest in the appointment of both a new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby and a new Pope, Francis.

Both are approachable, contemporary communicators of faith and full of joy in the Spirit.

Archbishop Justin has made clear that his personal priorities are prayer, reconciliation and evangelism. Th ese go well with the Church of England goals of promoting the Common Good, Growing Disciples of Jesus and Re-imagining Ministry and are all found in our own Transforming Church programmes.

Th roughout the past year across the Diocese of Birmingham we have had the encouragement of holding each other in daily prayer. Much has also been done in bringing the love of Jesus Christ to our neighbours in practical ways, as illustrated in the pages that follow. New learning about leadership and engagement with the future of church and society has been stimulating for many.

Now we are ready to develop our People and Places strategy so that Christian witness can fl ourish even more throughout our communities. In extending our essential parish ministry, in collaboration with all Christians, I expect there will be a renewed vision for church planting and missionary outreach.

I am deeply grateful to my colleagues and co-workers in the gospel everywhere. It has been particularly rewarding to see how much the two fl oors at 1 Colmore Row are being used as a base for vital parish services and gatherings for crucial planning, training and decisions.

Let us continue in prayer and action expecting the Lord to raise up more, and more confi dent Christians.

‘For God so loved the worldthat he gave his only Son,

that whoever believes in himshould not perish but have eternal life.’

John 3:16

4 BIShop oF BIRmINGham Refl ections on the year and a call to action.

5 BIShop oF aStoN Refl ections on the year.

6 tRaNSFoRmING chURch Mission initiative launched in 2009 to help us grow churches at the heart of each community.

8 mISSIoN appReNtIceS News from a new and exciting project that is making a diff erence in some of the poorest areas in the diocese.

9 maLawI paRtNeRShIp Since 1966 this partnership has benefi tt ed and enriched Christians in Malawi and Birmingham.

10 tRaNSFoRmING woRk Churches and Industry Group Birmingham support the ministry of chaplains in places of work.

11 hIGhLIGhtS FRom oUR chURcheS aND chapLaINS Our churches and chaplains are right at the heart of what we do.

14 BIRmINGham catheDRaL Th e Cathedral is a springboard for mission and a House of Prayer in the city.

16 chURch SchooLS We support Head Teachers, senior staff and governors in 52 schools around the diocese.

18 chILDReN aND FamILIeS We train and support those working with children and families and provide safeguarding advise.

19 yoUNG peopLe We train and support many paid workers and volunteers working with young people.

20 tRaNSFoRmING commUNItIeS aND coNNectING wIth otheR FaIthS We work with many other faiths and are passionate about tackling issues of poverty and disadvantage.

23 commUNIcatIoNS Whatever your role, how you communicate the story of faith is really important.

24 cLeRGy aND Lay DeveLopmeNt We off er clergy ongoing support in study and space for spiritual renewal.

26 tRaINING FoR oRDINatIoN Th ere are many people exploring, or training for, ordinained ministry in the Church of England.

28 ReaDeRS aSSocIatIoN Readers play an important part in the ministry of churches all over the diocese.

31 paStoRaL caRe oF the cLeRGy We consider clergy well-being to be essential to the life and work of the parishes.

32 caRING FoR oUR chURch BUILDINGS Support is off ered to parishes in balancing the historical value of buildings with their modern use.

34 coNtactS A list of people and contacts that you might fi nd useful.

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4 AnnuAl report 2012 tHe cHurcH of englAnd - BirmingHAm 5

BIShop oF BIRmINGhamtHe rt reVd dAVid urQuHArt

BIShop oF aStoNtHe rt reVd Andrew wAtson

Amongst prayer and the many other activities I have engaged with all over the Birmingham diocese in 2012, my involvement in the Social Inclusion Process really stands out.

We, as the Church of England, have an opportunity to bring our unique gift s and stand together with other people and organisations who share God’s heart to reach out to people in need.

When I was asked to lead the Social Inclusion Process, Giving Hope Changing Lives, I did not hesitate to take up the challenge. In this time of unprecedented global economic and social uncertainty, it is vital that we work together across the city to shape the future wellbeing of the people of Birmingham.

As the largest UK city outside London, with one of the most diverse and youthful populations anywhere, Birmingham has the natural talent and global potential to be the very best sett ing for 21st century urban life.

Achieving the best quality of life is important for everyone, but in order to do this, people need to be able to participate fully in society and the economy. Th e high level of disadvantage that persists across Birmingham is extremely distressing and could become worse in the current climate. Inequality and social exclusion is something that we should

not easily accept in a rich country and a city like ours. Our aim is to bridge the gap between the disadvantaged and the powerful, so that more people can participate in the economic and social opportunities at work, home and play.

Evidence from the process shows that the challenges in achieving this aim are most demanding. Our key lines of enquiry, whether in households, streets or communities, in institutions, organisations or enterprises, revealed a new expectation that a more cohesive city is the responsibility of all, and is in the interests of all.

Th is task moves beyond what the city council or national government can do, not least when budgets are being reduced drastically. It will require the combined energy, resources and wisdom of everyone to address some of the fundamental economic and social issues we face, and to protect those who are most vulnerable in our communities. I am extremely grateful for everybody’s contributions so far. Th e fi ndings from the process were set out in our Green Paper (which can be

found at fairbrum.wordpress.com).

Our White Paper (also online)presents the commitments and recommendations that the steering group feels will have an impact on social inclusion in the city. However, this does not cover everything and this is not the end of the process. I am asking for your help and expertise to turn these ideas into action. I invite you to engage immediately with items in this paper that you can infl uence, and also to point out to us areas you can help deliver.

I am aware that I am taking a leap of faith that we want to promote another’s fulfi lment at the same time as our own. As we seek the welfare of the whole city, may we know that we are committ ed to Giving Hope and Changing Lives when, in our relations with our fellow human beings, distant respect moves to deep appreciation and mere tolerance becomes full participation.

a caLL to actIoN

With my brief to oversee Transforming Church in the Birmingham diocese, there’s been a parable there: that it’s good to travel light, to keep it simple, if we are to be eff ective in the mission to which God has called us.

Rhiannon Jones has writt en about Transforming Church elsewhere in this report – and I’ve been especially encouraged by the various conferences for larger, midi and smaller churches held over the past year, all of them very well att ended and much appreciated. Some of the Transforming Church systems need some att ention – but overall it’s been good to see the vast majority of our churches taking mission seriously – something that’s beginning to show in the fi gures. From 2010 to 2011, the number of adult worshippers and electoral roll members stabilised, aft er several years of decline; while Christmas numbers were up 20% and baptism numbers 8%. Children remain a priority (though the published fi gures here didn’t refl ect much of the new activity that is going on with Messy Church and the like). But overall we seem to be stable or even a tiny bit on the up.

I’ve continued to thoroughly enjoy the bread-and-butt er ministry of confi rmations, licensings and special events, and it’s been good to take part in the

opening of the amazing Christchurch, Sparkbrook and the reopening of the fabulous St Barnabas, Erdington. Meanwhile my litt le interviews with baptism and confi rmation candidates–and longer interviews with prospective ordinands–have continued to remind me that the missioning God is still at work all over our diocese, despite the economic and spiritual challenges we face.

I guess around 80% of my ministry is spent within the diocese – but I’ve also taken on a number of roles outside of it, mainly related to mission. I’m on the board of the Archbishops’ College of Evangelists, and I chair both CPAS and the grandly-named ‘Panel for World Mission and the Anglican Communion’, which draws together the chief executives of the various Anglican mission agencies. I’m on the Council of the Queens Foundation, which has been chosen as the only place in which

Methodist ordinands will now be residentially trained – a great coup for the college, which should have major (and positive) implications for theological education in the city and region; and am also on the board of the Sutt on Coldfi eld Charity.

My involvement with the Lutheran churches in Sweden (and especially the Oasis renewal movement) has continued, with the chance to address a smaller summer conference (with 500 participants or so) in 2012 and a larger summer conference (ten times the size) in 2013. It’s a litt le like the UK New Wine network, except that the conferences culminate with High Mass, at which the Bishop of Aston is called upon to concelebrate! Meanwhile I also paid a short trip to Frankfurt, where the German Lutherans are beginning to show a real interest in church planting and fresh expressions.

I feel immensely privileged that my various roles keep me in touch with world mission (through the Panel which I chair), national mission (through CPAS), diocesan mission (through Transforming Church) and local mission (through living in a vicarage!). In amidst the busyness of it all, there is much grace and encouragement.

“I FeeL ImmeNSeLy pRIvILeGeD that my vaRIoUS RoLeS keep me IN toUch wIth woRLD mISSIoN, NatIoNaL mISSIoN, DIoceSaN mISSIoN aND LocaL mISSIoN.”

2012 has been a busy year for me personally, not least because of a dual house and offi ce move, both within the space of a few weeks. I am now a kept man, living in my wife’s vicarage, and it’s been particularly good to get rid of lots of clutt er - old furniture, old books, old fi ling-cabinets and the like.

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“IN 2012 theRe waS a RaNGe oF coNFeReNceS aND tRaINING eveNtS to heLp eqUIp chURcheS to FLoURISh aND Be moRe FULLy what GoD IS caLLING them to Be.”

tRaNSFoRmING chURch

RevD RhIaNNoN JoNeS trAnsforming cHurcH co-ordinAtor

otheR heaDLINeS FRom 2012

n Th e Bishop of Aston and the Transforming Church Co-ordinator (the Revd Rhiannon Jones) gave dozens of presentations, talks and sermons about Transforming Church across the diocese. If you’d like one of them to come to your church or group do ask!

n Th e Transforming Church Facebook page collected its fi rst 300 friends and we are continuing to develop ways of communicating our core message. Do become a friend…

n Transform magazine was discontinued in 2012 but we took this opportunity to launch a Transforming Church eNews lett er once a month to both clergy and Consultants. We hope in time to develop this further.

n 25 Transforming Church Consultants att ended a training programme to help them be the most eff ective Consultants they can be.

n Th e fi rst round of the Mission Apprentice scheme is now over half way through and you can read more about this on page 8.

n Transforming Church in conjunction with the St Albans diocese started work on an initiative called soul[food] which seeks to reach those who come to special services at church (baptisms, weddings, funerals etc) but who are hard to follow up as they usually disappear quickly at the end of services. Th rough the medium of att ractive cards left on each chair or pew, soul[food] aims to link such people up with the church through low key text messages and emails which seek to draw them closer to God. Th is is now being piloted in twelve churches in the diocese as well as in over 30 churches in St Albans diocese, including its Cathedral.

n In October 2012 we were thrilled to be able to appoint a part time TC Intern, Charlott e Cook, who will be working with us until June 2013 before she starts her ordination training.

n A vacancy project (to help churches grow through a vacancy) was launched in conjunction with CPAS and the Diocese of Lichfi eld. Research was carried out in 2012 and the resulting publications are now being trialled as a result.

n A Joined-up-thinking Group was launched for a group of diocesan offi ce staff to increase our collaborative working, chaired for the fi rst year by the TC Co-ordinator.

n We moved offi ces to 1 Colmore Row in September - a very positive step forward for the work of Transforming Church enabling us to have closer contact with other departments.

n In September we enjoyed the opportunity to share the lessons of Transforming Church with the clergy of Swansea and Brecon who came to visit us as part of their annual Clergy School.

coNFeReNceS

n Over 500 people participated in our various Conferences in 2012.

n Th e two Big Splash [Baptism] conferences were well att ended and the Growing Midi sized churches conference was oversubscribed.

n Half a dozen Welcome Courses were organized in churches and in the Handsworth deanery to help churches improve the welcome they off er.

n Th e volunteer team has continued to support our meetings and conferences.

tRaNSFoRmING chURch FUND

n Th e committ ee who meet to discuss the distribution of the TC Fund (dealing with over£250 000 in 2012) continued to meet four times a year throughout 2012 and werepleased to receive many high calibre applications to encourage and developmission across the diocese.

n Th e Transforming Church signage project, launched in 2012, has now awarded 68 grants. 12 churches have applied for faculties and several signs are now emerging around the diocese. Have you spott ed any yet?

n Half a dozen churches have also received fi nancial support for developing their website.

n Grants were awarded to 26 churches to aid their celebration of the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, both excellent occasions for churches to engage with their parish. (Photo above shows the Big Lunch at the Cathedral.)

n Many other imaginative projects were supported throughout the year ranging from the funding of Messy Church initiatives to Bible Study materials to parish weekends away.

We look forward to what God may do in and through Transforming Church in 2013 and beyond.

Do contact us on 0121 426 0420 if you’d like to know more about Transforming Church.

2012 saw another full year for all those working to implement the ten goals of Transforming Church.

We have continued the work of assigning Consultants to parishes and continue to provide advice and resources for many of our parishes. Some of this work is reactive as we respond to the regular requests from churches and some is proactive as we contact parishes with various resources which we think may be of help.

In addition, in 2012 there were a range of conferences and training events to help equip churches to fl ourish and be more fully what God is calling them to be.

teN DIoceSaN GoaLS

1. To grow the number of adults, young people and children within the worshipping Christian community year on year.

2. To make the most of opportunities presented by the occasional o� ces, the church calendar and invitational events such as Back to Church Sunday.

3. To develop an understanding of communications in every parish, promoting a church that is visible, welcoming and accessible.

4. To develop a spiritually-enriching children’s and youth ministry in every parish and church school, encouraging clustering where appropriate.

5. To ensure that a Christian Basics course of some kind is o� ered in every parish at least oncea year.

6. To implement in every parish an appropriate strategy for making con� dent, prayerful disciples in their daily life.

7. To encourage an increasing number of worshipping Christians to take tithing seriously,and to give at least 5% of their income to thelocal church.

8. To increase the range and spiritual fruitfulness of partnerships and community initiatives across the diocese.

9. To increase the number of leaders of all ages, and drawn from every ethnic group, who are trained and deployed in the church and wider community.

10. To encourage every parish community to think through the challenges of relating constructively to those of other faiths.

what IS tRaNSFoRmING chURch?

Transforming Church is the name given to our diocesan mission initiative which aims to grow churches at the heart of each community.

Launched in 2009, it seeks to resource churches to be the best they can be and to grow, both numerically and spiritually.

Using a combination of over 50 Transforming Church Consultants, a Fund churches can dip into and a range of conferences and courses, our goal is to do whatever we can to transform the Church across this diocese in order to give the greatest glory to God.

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mISSIoN appReNtIceS

A project combining structured training and mission experience in someof the most deprived parishes in the Birmingham diocese.

Th e Mission Apprentice Scheme is an imaginative response to the opportunity to bid for Church Commissioners funding to support frontline missional development. Th e Mission Apprentice scheme is a collaborative vision developed through the input of a number of individuals across the Birmingham diocese. Th is vision was to support the growth and development of missional leadership within some of the most deprived parishes in Birmingham.

One year on and we can refl ect back on: the progressive realisation of this vision with the establishment of seven Mission Apprentices working across inner city, outer estate and other faith majority areas; Th e completion of the fi rst year of a learning program focused on supporting and inspiring individual and missional growth; Th e collation of stories and outcomes of initiatives pioneered through the MA’s energy and vision.

Hopefully this short report gives you a fl avour of the Mission Apprentice Scheme and excites you with the potential for this kind of investment across the Birmingham diocese. Th erefore please read on prayerfully, but also refl ectively, considering how you could respond to this impetus within your own parish and/or support the further growth and development of this scheme for individual and Church growth across the diocese.

co-oRDINatoR

Sam Miller is co-ordinating the development of the Mission Apprentice Scheme and is also spott ed around Birmingham representing Urban Devotion Birmingham (www.urbandevotion.org), and championing the role of prayer at the core of mission and heart of our city.

caSeStUDIeS

Jenny Baker - St Gabriel’s, Weoley Castle“I began working as a Mission Apprentice in April, working for St Gabriel’s Church, Weoley Castle. Although some of the other MAs were already working or volunteering for their church, for me it involved moving and beginning from scratch.

“Since beginning I have helped to set up some new projects, including a knitt ing group and a family event based around prayer, community and food. Th is is called Soul:food and meets both weekly and monthly. Th is has enabled me to get to know local families, and to develop relationships with them. I enjoy working with children and as well as Soul:food I have been involved with our Aft er School club project. As well as these activities, I have helped to set up and lead all-age services. Th is year’s Easter Sunday all-age service saw an increase of ten times the amount of children from last year!

“As a part of the local congregation we are also working on adapting to change and recognising and responding to how the church is growing. Th is is helping me to develop my skills in leadership and to see where my gift s and skills are.”

Peter - St Peter and St John’s, Ladywood“When I heard about the Mission Apprentice scheme, it sounded like a breath of fresh air—with a mandate to pioneer new initiatives in deprived areas in order to bring people to Jesus and to see the community fl ourish. It sounded both exciting and dynamic. Th rough the discovery day, I found that St John and St Peter’s church in Ladywood were looking for a Mission Apprentice with a youth work focus; I knew this was a perfect fi t, which I believe God had perfectly orchestrated.

“Th is year, my primary investment has been mobilising the church to reach out and serve its community, particularly in the area of working with children, young people and families. I have spent a lot of my time working with primary schools in our parish. One school in particular in the Spring Hill area, had no previous engagement with SJSP’s church, and now I do: weekly R.E lessons, monthly assemblies and serve on their governing body. Th is has enabled the church to reach out and serve further in its community.

“Another key area of my work has been training volunteers. Th e fi rst group of 11 volunteers are pioneering the sett ing up and organisation of SJSP’s aft er school club. Th e second group is building a youth team to work with teenagers connected to the church, to both plan and lead youth sessions and events. Th e training and support of volunteers has enabled them; to grow in faith, be released in their gift s and passions, develop in their confi dence and skills working with children, young people and families, and develop confi dence in being able to communicate and share their faith with others.

“Personally, it has been an absolute joy to be involved in enabling and equipping a church in mission and seeing people reach new heights in their faith. In addition to this, the MA scheme has drawn me closer in my walk with Jesus and enabled me to be released in my gift s—trying out new innovative ideas, trusting God and seeing him moving powerfully in Ladywood.”

RevD RIchaRD tUckeR mAlAwi pArtnersHip officer

maLawI paRtNeRShIp

Th e Partnership has been in operation since 1966 and continues to

benefi t and enrich Christians in Malawi and Birmingham.

actIvItIeS

Th e Malawi Task Group, the decision making body, met six times during the year.

In February the Malawi Partnership joined with the charity Medic Malawi to organise the Big Breakfast for Malawi.

Th e Big Breakfast brought supporters of Malawi together in many places in Birmingham and all over the UK over the weekend of 24-26 February 2012.

One of the breakfasts organised in Sutt on Coldfi eld was addressed by the Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell, MP for Sutt on Coldfi eld and at that point, Secretary of State for International Development. Mr Mitchell spoke about how the government is helping Malawi and took questions. Th e picture [right]shows Mr Mitchell being thanked by Richard Tucker, Malawi Partnership Offi cer.

Th e Big Breakfast provided much-needed funds for the Malawi Partnership and for Medic Malawi, a charity that supports a Christian community in Mthunthama, Lake Diocese, through funding a hospital, orphanage, emergency feeding centre and schools for the children.

Both the Malawi Partnership Offi cer and the Finance Offi cer visited Malawi during the year. Richard Tucker visited the Lake and Northern Dioceses in May; Paul Wilson visited all four dioceses for 3 weeks in October. A report of his visit can be found on the Partnership website.

Th ree further twinnings between parishes in Birmingham and Malawi were formed in the course of the year, two in Lake Diocese and the fi rst twinning with Northern Malawi. More parishes in Malawi are keen to be twinned with Birmingham; Richard Tucker holds details and would be happy to help with any enquiries.

Two Malawi Containers were sent in 2012 fi lled with good quality second-hand gift s for schools, hospitals, churches and community projects. Th e fi rst of these was overfi lled, and the container team have now introduced a booking system for gift s both from Birmingham Christians and other charities.

FINaNcIaL SUppoRt

Parishes and individual well-wishers in the diocese have given through the Partnership since it began. Support through the Malawi Fund to the dioceses amounted to £57,000 and designated support for parishes and projects at about £35,000. Th e country suff ers from deep-seated poverty, and during 2012 it was forced to devalue an over-valued currency, making essential imports more expensive and lowering living standards. Th e Malawian Church is striving towards self-suffi ciency but is grateful for the generosity of Birmingham Christians.

“the maLawIaN chURch... IS GRateFUL FoRthe GeNeRoSIty oF BIRmINGham chRIStIaNS.”

www.malawipartnership.co.ukFor up-to-date information and contact details please visit our website.

maLawI taSk GRoUp:

chaIR:Th e Revd Richard Tucker

FINaNce oFFIceR:Canon Paul Wilson

SecRetaRy:Mrs Hilary Miller

memBeRS:Th e Rt Revd Andrew Watson(Th e Bishop of Aston)Fr Henry BurgessMrs Liz CarrMr Mike Down ( fr om Nov 2012)Mr Stephen DrewMrs Margaret FulfordMrs Judith GrubbMrs Claire LalandMrs Sandy Osborne (to July 2012)


hIGhLIGhtS FRom Some oF oURchURcheS aND chapLaINS

Birmingham is the UK’s second city with the youngest urban population in one of the most lively and diverse regions. Th e Birmingham diocese, founded in 1905, is one of 44 dioceses in the Church of England. It covers an area of nearly 300 square miles, and includes parishes in the West Midlands including Birmingham and parts of Solihull, Sandwell, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

Right at the heart of what we do there are 188 Church of England churches and worship

centres with an average Sunday att endance of 14,000 from a population of 1.3 million. In these churches are clergy and church-goers

representing a wide scope of Church tradition and breadth of ethnicity.

Around 165 paid priests, together with additional self-supporting ministers, off er

spiritual and pastoral care in the parishes, together with retired clergy, readers, local

ministry teams & other non-ordained ministers.

Th e ninth Bishop of Birmingham, Th e Rt Revd David Urquhart, was welcomed to Birmingham in November

2006. He leads the Church of England across the diocese and has formed a team of senior staff .

Th e Bishop shares his Episcopal oversight with the Suff ragan Bishop of Aston, Th e Rt Revd Andrew Watson.

In the heart of the city, Birmingham Cathedral, dedicated to St Philip, is led by the Dean, Th e Very Revd Catherine Ogle. It has been a place of

Christian worship since 1715 and was designed by the English Baroque architect, Th omas Archer.

Th e diocese is divided into two pastoral administrative areas led by the Archdeacon of Aston (Th e Ven Dr Brian Russell) and the Archdeacon of Birmingham (Th e Ven Hayward

Osborne). Each of these areas contains a number of Deaneries, or groups of parishes.

Below and on the two pages following, are some great stories from our hard-working clergy, lay people and chaplains in our diocese.

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BIRmINGhamaRchDeacoNRy

chRISt chURch,spArkBrook

Christ Church parish has existed for nearly 150 years. In November, aft er a tornado in 2005 caused major damage to the original Victorian building, Bishop

Andrew opened a purpose-built, brand new church building off ering fl exibility to serve the wider community in Sparkbrook.

A new “missional community” is meeting during the week. Th is group continues to pray and serve the local community, exploring contextual ways of reaching out to the people in Sparkbrook. Th is is being led by Revd Richard Sudworth, in partnership with St Christopher’s, Springfi eld.

St BaRNaBaS’,erdington

In December the restored and redeveloped building was rededicated in a service led by Bishop David, and att ended by approximately 350 invited guests. Th e

church’s eight bells signifi ed the occasion ringing for the fi rst time since the building was severely damaged by fi re in 2007.

Th e rededication service off ered thanks to all those involved in the fi ve year programme, including the fi re fi ghters from who initially tackled the blaze. Blessings were off ered for various signifi cant parts of the church that were originally destroyed, including the altar, font, and Chancel window.

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RevD peteR SeLLIck cigB deVelopment director

‘6th Century St Benedict off ers a role model to christian managers today’, a senior solicitor recently said of his role in business.

Speaking at ‘God at Work – Unanswered Questions’ (organised by Chaplaincy Plus) a senior solicitor explained that 6th Century St Benedict’s famous rule of life tells us that the sacred and secular are not separate realms of life. Th is is becoming more obvious as we see the choices made those who have power and wealth: the ethical and spiritual consequences of those options are being writ clear in a time of austerity.

At the annual commissioning service for new Churches and Industry Group Birmingham (CIGB) chaplains, the HR Director of the NEC Group refl ected on the Parable of the Mustard Seed. She heard it as a story of the amazing transformation of people and society that has taken place in her work places. At the national conference of the Industrial Mission Association, in Birmingham, the theologian Ann Morisy told us that she saw chaplains as those who can support people’s own intimations that there is more to life than meets the eye. We can challenge the ‘materialistic paradigm’: if something is legal and lucrative, it does not mean it is the right thing to do. Industrial ministry encourages people ‘to do business with God’.

CIGB Industrial Chaplains have been key fi gures in the regeneration plans for Longbridge, they have been part of a new community heart coming to life, with housing, retail, and community development. Local church members from the area have started chaplaincy at the brand new Bournville College, recognising the hardships facing young people as they consider their future working lives. Similarly chaplains at Jaguar Land Rover have been able to be in places of growth and good news.

On the other hand, at the start of 2012 it was estimated that just 3% of churches nationally were working with unemployed people. In Birmingham and Solihull, a number of churches have started job clubs. Th e AGM in May promoted peer support, mentoring and enterprise as other ways in which churches could engage with youth unemployment.

Some workplaces have needed support in painful economic conditions and staffi ng changes. Our chaplains in Solihull town centre have used the relatively stable economic conditions there to deepen relations with workers, including handing out mince pies at Christmas. While other local shopping areas have found life very tough: one shopkeeper in Kings Heath doesn’t think he has seen such hard times in all his 30 years, and life in Birmingham’s city centre indoor market has also been a struggle.

Th e professional service sector has also seen reductions. In 2012 senior fi nancial leaders came together with CIGB and the Bishop of Birmingham to talk over their concerns and desires for the future. Negotiations with Birmingham City Council to set up chaplaincy in two of their main offi ces had a positive outcome and continues to be a very popular and well used resource for the staff , just at the time when the public sector is facing some of its most challenging cuts. Fire offi cer chaplains have also stood alongside changes to their service.

As well as job clubs and money advice being a growing church response, more people are coming forward for our chaplaincy training programmes, wanting to engage with the issues ‘on the street’. Th e annual licensing service hosted by St Th eresa’s RC church in Coleshill saw some of them being licensed and celebrated ecumenical support of CIGB.

Aft er seven years of spearheading the work of CIGB Barbara Hayes retired from this role in 2012. In her time as Team Leader she extended the network of workplace chaplains and succeeded in advocating the Christian view in discussions about economic issues at many senior levels. Th rough her understanding of the economic scene and its impact on businesses, she promoted reports on issues such as the nature of work, migration and new industry possibilities for the Midlands.

Recognising that CIGB was evolving into a considerable network of local teams, Barbara’s post was reconfi gured as ‘Development Director’ and we appointed Revd Peter Sellick to this role in November. Peter comes to Birmingham and Solihull aft er ten years of chaplaincy and church roles in West Bromwich, and experience of networking with Sandwell Churches Link Project.

“INDUStRIaL chapLaINS have BeeN key FIGUReS IN the ReGeNeRatIoN pLaNS FoR LoNGBRIDGe.”

For all the latest information, training opportunities, stories and dates for your diary visit www.cigb.org.uk.


St thomaS’, nutHurst

St Thomas’s have joined with Hockley Heath Baptists this year in the spirit

of Fellowship and Outreach, to produce a monthly lunch of homemade soup and cakes open to anyone in the surrounding area. The “Church Sandwich” has a filling of a short thought for the day by either the Vicar or the Baptist Minister, the fish paste in the bread!

hIGhLIGhtS FRom Some oF oUR chURcheS aND chapLaINS

aStoN aND NecheLLS, foodBAnk

The Foodbank, which is entirely volunteer run, handed out 1,300

food parcels to local people in crisis in its first full year (570 recipients were children). Handling 9.5 tonnes of food means that the Foodbank bust out of its original warehouse and it has now taken over the church hall stage in the St Matthew’s, Duddeston.

BaRNt GReeN aND coFtoN hackett

Barnt Green and Cofton Hackett with Lickey and Blackwell

hold evangelistic Men’s Breakfasts three times a year at Kings Norton Golf Club, with guest speakers and up to 120 attending.

chRISt the kING, sAlter street And sHirley

A highlight from 2012 was the setting up

of ‘Messy Church’ at Widney Junior School. What began as an Advent Series, looking at Angels and Shepherd and Kings, has now become a regular monthly event. 25-30 people come and enjoy craft activities, a child-centred service and a picnic tea. Some of those families now come on Sundays too, which is great!

eLmDoN, tHe cHurcH in tHe pArk

Last year was a time of prayer for renewal. By the year’s end we

were starting to see the fruit of this in our life and witness, with increased congregations and new families coming. Under our new strapline, ‘Elmdon Church - the church in the park’, we look forward to seeing what God has in store for 2013.

hoLy tRINIty, sutton coldfield

In 2012 we finally got permission to proceed with re-ordering our

building. We are thrilled. Now we turn our thoughts to raise funds to pay for it... hold us in your prayers!

chapLaINS FoR weLLBeING, sAndwell

The Chaplains for Wellbeing working in the Sandwell Area are

working with patients in GP settings across Sandwell. The service expanded to 5 chaplains working in three sites in December 2012. The Professional Association of Community Healthcare Chaplains was launched at a National Conference held in Harborne in November 2012. Stafford University is studying the efficacy and financial benefits of Chaplaincy as commissioned by Sandwell Mental Health and Wellbeing as a low level intervention. This will be an ongoing research project in 2013. [Photo of speakers at the Conference, at Harborne Hall in November.]

St aGNeS, moseley

A number of us have been meeting to study Claire Smith’s excellent book “God’s good

design - what the Bible really says about men and women”, reminding us that we are equal but have different roles within the church.

St aLpheGe, soliHull

Numerous celebrations to mark the millennium of the martyrdom of our

Patron Saint. Some 40 events, national and local recorded on millennium website. Patronal Festival with Eucharist presided by Bp David at which new icon was dedicated. Young families continue to grow and attend special service “The Junction”. Music developing with talented new director of music.

St BaRth-oLomew’S, Allens cross

Spread the Gospel, with Fun days, outdoor services, Table top

sales, Seasonal competitions, on the ground which awaits a new building. Sundays we meet in a Community Hall, blessed with a thriving children’s group. During Lent an interactive story of Holy week is held in a local schools after-school club. The children armed with palm crosses and crowns, explained the story to parents on their way home.

St JameS’, HAndswortH

A highlight of the year was to welcome the ministry of The Revd Rajinder Daniel as an

honorary assistant priest. It was also good to have Margaret Daley with us as a ministerial student on placement from Queen’s. Much appreciation was expressed for our well attended Quiet Day led by Revd Linda Isiorho.

St JohN’S, middleton

The church in Middleton has the possibility of growing slowly. We

are becoming a welcoming church. The introduction of music school has given some interest among the people and I am happy with the adults. I have been visiting a few families in the villages. People are generally welcoming. I appreciate Pat Geoff, Penny for their contribution to the church.

St maRy’S, wytHAll

Oh help! Oh No! It’s... the very special guest at our Christingle service. We were also blessed

with a bumper turnout to our service of Nine Lessons and Carols, led by a brand new community choir numbering over fifty!

St maRy’S, lApwortH

We have continued to develop our monthly Family Service so that it works better for

children. Puppets have played an important role in four services. Twice the puppets have had a dialogue with the Rector and children! We have been given two puppets and the money to buy some more, so more developments will follow!

St NIchoLaS’, curdwortH

We have also developed a music group in Curdworth and in Wishaw. We

are working on the pastoral care team who would visit people in need of prayers. We are also thankful to Patricia and Lisa for leading the Sunday club. The children actively led the worship service on Mothering Sunday.

St peteR’S, mAney

We threw ourselves into the celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee last

summer with a special all-age service on 3 June followed by The Big Lunch to which we invited members of our local community to join us in a picnic in the church grounds and vicarage garden. Although the rain drove us into the Church Hall (bouncy castle and all) instead, everyone still had a great day and toasted her Majesty with many cups of tea!

St peteR aND St paUL’S, wAter orton

THE LINK, our new Parish Hall, a gift from the Church to the

village, has proved to be a wonderful meeting place. We welcome people from the village of all ages who can enjoy a Sunday morning where they are greeted with coffee and croissants and have the opportunity to request prayer and to chat about the Christian faith.

St StepheN’S aND St wULStaN’S, selly pArk

In March 2013, we ran a week of special events

under the title ‘Freedom’. We had a Butcher & Beer night for men, a Fashion & Faith event for women, a mobile zoo for families and a Cheese & Wine evening to finish the week off. We’re very thankful to God that many guests came, had fun and heard something of the freedom that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings.

St maRy the vIRGIN, pype HAyes

Miss Chris Barnsley (Reader-in-Training) “Caught up in the

powerful whirlwind of the Holy Spirit early in 2012, I spent three months meeting and praying with a spiritual director. By May we had discerned my calling to Readership. Selection Day proved exciting, its outcome overwhelming! October saw 16 Readers-in-Training, myself included, embarking on the 2012-2014 course. God certainly surprised me when I least expected it!”


Colossians 3:14-16 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

2012


“we aRe RIchLy BLeSSeD IN the qUaLIty oF the commItmeNt that IS SeeN IN the catheDRaL... eNaBLING peopLe to come heRe to Be INSpIReD aND eNcoURaGeD IN FaIth.”

BIRmINGham catheDRaL

Bishop David wrote a ‘Th ank you lett er’ to the Queen and hundreds of people in Birmingham came in their Cathedral to add signatures and heart-felt thanks. A beautiful Civic Service was held on the Jubilee weekend. We had planned to hold a ‘Big Lunch’ outside, but, as the rain fell in torrents, we quickly ‘turned the Cathedral around’, put up bunting inside and held lunch in the Cathedral! A great time was had by all.

We then welcomed the American and Jamaican track and fi eld teams to Birmingham with an ecumenical Olympic Service. Th e joyful and dignifi ed Service made a deep impression on our visitors with the Americans confi rming that it had been ‘the highlight of the pre-Olympic camp in Birmingham.’

pRayeR aND woRShIp

Worship is the heart-beat of Birmingham Cathedral. It is central to our life and the regular rhythm of services day by day defi nes who we are and sustains what we do. Th e Cathedral is a place of quiet prayer during the day and

our congregations are growing. As well as our celebration of the liturgical year, we held the largest ever number of ‘special services’ tailor-made for particular occasions. During 2012 the Cathedral Chapter completed the Liturgy Plan, outlining our understanding of worship and sett ing out challenges for the future.

Th e music at Birmingham Cathedral is one of our greatest treasures. Th e Cathedral choir nurtures over 30 children and young people in the life of faith. As well as welcoming the parishes of the diocese to worship, the Cathedral musicians support parishes in Services and worship across the diocese.

‘tRaNSFoRmING pReSeNce’

Th e Cathedral Chapter has a fi ve year ‘Transforming Cathedral’ plan to improve our facilities and regards the care of our Cathedral building and facilities as a mission imperative. 2012 saw a continued eff ort to raise standards and gain bett er order.

Th e Cathedral lighting has reached the end of its life and we plan to replace it and decorate the cathedral interior. A working party has consulted with the Cathedral congregations and other stake-holders and 2013 will see fund-raising to enable the lighting to be renewed as soon as possible.

Cathedral Square is a marvellous resource, the only public green space in the city centre and with very low crime rates. We manage a regular programme of outdoor activities including worship and prayer, arts interventions, charitable events and public information activities.

We are hugely blessed in our fi ne team of bell-ringers making the Cathedral’s presence felt (and heard) in the city centre for Sunday worship and, in 2012, a staggering total of 15 special events.

In 2012 there were two ‘stand-out’ national events gathering us together and lift ing our spirits: the celebrations of HM the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympic and Paralympic games. Birmingham Cathedral played a key local role inboth of these celebrations.

veRy RevD catheRINe oGLe deAn of BirmingHAm

‘tRaNSFoRmING eNGaGemeNt’

2012 saw our most active year as a cathedral in terms of events, special services, tours and recitals. In 2012 we held 271 events (in addition to our regular worship) fi gures for previous years are:

2011 – 230; 2010 – 219; 2009 – 170; 2008 - 153.

Our most important relationship is with the Bishop and parishes of diocese. It is a great joy to host events for the diocesan family including Ordination Services, regular 3D course Services, school leavers services, and the MU Festival. During 2012, the Dean has been visiting Deanery Synods to discuss Cathedral plans to celebrate our 300th anniversary in 2015.

Th e Cathedral clergy work ecumenically in partnership with ChaplaincyPlus and on ‘Carols in the City’ sited in Cathedral Square in 2012. We support Christian Aid throughout the year and enable many fund-raising activities to be carried out on our premises which raise thousands of pounds, particularly over Christmas.

We do all sorts of things that might not be expected, for example, we held the Higher Education and Fellowship awards ceremony for Birmingham Metropolitan College for the fi rst time and continued to host Flatpack fi lm events.

We host weekly recitals, a summer organ festival and many concerts with the Cathedral choir. Th e Royal Ballet Sinfonia Orchestra performed a marvellous Autumn concert with us in the Cathedral and the girls of the choir went on to join them for performances of Mendellsohn’s ‘Th e Dream’ at the Hippodrome and Sadlers Wells, London, and in Grenada, Spain. Our ‘Come and Sing’ events grew in popularity. Th e Cathedral choir sang Choral Evensong for a live broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

During 2012 there was a continuing improvement to the Cathedral profi le in the local and national media. Local press coverage has improved and stories have been picked up in the Church Times. Th e Dean and Canons regularly broadcast on BBCWM. ‘Cathedral news’ is now published bi-

monthly to improve internal communication. We distributed 10,000 leafl ets at Christmas promoting Services and events. We use Twitt er and our iPhone app enables our Cathedral sermons to be heard anywhere in the world!

‘tRaNSFoRmING DIScIpLeShIp’

Cathedral visitors are welcomed by a team of Visitors Chaplains. Th e trained volunteers of the Cathedral Education Team guide school parties and adult groups into deeper knowledge and understanding of Christian faith. In 2012 we teamed up with St Martins in the Bullring to provide a children’s Advent Pilgrimage.

We held a Lent Course refl ecting on faith in a multi-faith city; a Cathedral ‘Community Learning Day’ on the theme of ‘Th e Body of Christ’ and a Cathedral weekend retreat. Regular groups include the long standing ‘Tuesday Talks’; a new young adults group; weekly bible study; wedding and confi rmation preparation.

FINaNceS

Th e fi nancial health of the Cathedral continues to improve with very careful monitoring of expenditure. We have seen our fi nancial situation go from deep defi cit in 2010 to a modest surplus in 2012. Th is is a remarkable achievement. Now the challenge is to fund-raise for repairs and renovations in the Cathedral and in preparation for the 300th anniversary celebrations in 2015.

thaNkS

None of our extensive ministry and mission would be possible without the generous support of our congregation and the selfl ess work of our volunteers, staff , diocesan clergy and retired clergy and our Cathedral clergy team. We are richly blessed in the quality of the commitment that is seen in the Cathedral day in and day out enabling people to come here to be inspired and encouraged in faith. I have enormous confi dence as we look ahead to 2013 and beyond to our 300th anniversary celebrations in 2015.


DIoceSaN BoaRD oF eDUcatIoN

BIShop’S appoINtmeNtS

chaIR:Th e Archdeacon of Birmingham n

Mr John Richardson nMrs Ava Sturridge-Packer n

eLecteD By DIoceSaN SyNoDMrs Pat Saunders (Vice-Chair) nnMr Terry Adams nTh e Revd Jeremy DussekTh e Revd Kevin Ellis nMr J. Barrie Hall nnMr Ron Herd nTh e Revd Gregg MensinghTh e Revd Nick Parker nMs Madeleine Ruehl nTh e Revd Richard Tebbs nTh e Revd Richard Tucker nMr Michael Whitewood

co-opteDMr Brian Aldridge (Sandwell LA)Mr Mark Gore (Warwickshire LA)Th e Revd Linda Isiorho nMr Mark Lanyon nMr Chris Palmer (Solihull LA)Mrs Jill Saunders (Birmingham LA)

DBe oFFIceRS

DIRectoR oF eDUcatIoN:Th e Revd Jackie Hughes nn

SchooLS SUppoRt oFFIceR:Th e Revd Peter French nnn

Re aDvISeR:Mrs Jill Stolberg nn

SecRetaRy to DBe:Miss Emma Lardner (to April 2012)Miss Susan Crosthwaite (from July 2012)

aDmIN aSSIStaNt:Mrs Melanie McKernan

tReaSUReR:Mr Robin Goater n

n eXecUtIve commItteen BUILDINGS & FINaNce commItteen GoveRNoRS’ commItteen cURRIcULUm & Re commItteeMrs Linda Buckingham nMs Donna Green nMrs Lynn Harrison n

Th e role of the DiocesanBoard of Education has in2012 undergone a massive shift , taking on direct responsibility for a chain of new sponsored Academies.

Th ese are church schools which have been required to adopt this new status under government policy. Working through the newly created Diocese of Birmingham Educational Trust (DBET), the Board as Sponsor is charged with ensuring rising standards of academic achievement together with robust fi nancial management - responsibilities which previously sat with local authorities.

At the same time a number of other high-performing church schools have of their own volition converted to Academy status. Th e Board has assisted them in this transition, while making sure the strong and valuable relations within the church school family remain intact.

Meanwhile, the offi cers of the Board have worked with all our other schools to ensure they are appropriately supported and challenged to meet national standards and performance requirements. Th is has been coupled with the clear imperative of the distinctiveness of the Christian ethos. We take seriously the statement of the Church of England at national level: that church schools are at the centre of the church’s mission.

We continue to work with colleagues in our fi ve Local Authorities on a range of education issues, and in appointing Heads and Deputies. But with the diminution of Local Authority services, our church schools are increasingly looking to us to signpost them towards quality assured service providers. So in 2012 DBET developed a Diocesan Partnership Framework of approved providers, in line with Department for Education guidelines, enabling schools to choose with confi dence from those listed.

In addition 2012 saw the development of the Diocesan Partnership Agreement with schools – a voluntary subscription service through which schools can access a range of professional veNeRaBLe haywaRD oSBoRNe dBe cHAir

chURch SchooLS

development and support services at reduced cost through collective purchasing by the Church of England - Birmingham.

Clearly the Education team are now involved in a range of activities not previously part of their remit but now central in the changing educational landscape. Workloads have therefore substantially increased but by judicious commissioning using Partnership Agreement funding and Academy funding, a range of aff ordable, quality consultants are increasing the team’s capacity and expertise.

All this is consistent with recommendations in the 2012 national report “Church Schools for the Future”. As a DBE we are looking closely at the implications of this report for how we develop our work further.

coNFeReNceS aND eveNtS

Our successful and much appreciated training opportunities for Church Schools across the diocese in 2012 included:

n Our senior leaders conference March at the Lakes Conference Centre at Barston, Solihull, with keynote speaker Dr David Woods from the DFE, dealing with the church school ethos, followed by a range of workshops. Over 90% of our schools were represented.

n Our termly briefi ng sessions for school leaders, looking at yet more proposed changes to the Ofsted framework, pupil assessment and teachers’ performance management.

n Our Governors’ conference in May, with Ian Carnell as main speaker, held at Bartley Green High School;

n Our two briefi ng sessions for Governing Body Chairs and clerks in November, updating on a range of diocesan policies, the new OFSTED framework and the role of the clerk.

capItaL FUNDING FoRchURch SchooLS

2012 saw continued uncertainty around capital funding available for building projects in voluntary aided schools. Th e DBE is ably supported in gaining a reasonable number of successful bids by our two building consultants YMD Boon and Derek Evans Ltd., who are also supporting our fi rst academies with their funding applications.

Th e Bishop Wilson rebuilding project in Solihull continues to move closer to completion with the expectation that the new school will be open for September 2013.

chaNGeS to theStatUtoRy INSpectIoNoF aNGLIcaN SchooLS.

With OfSTED changes in during 2012, the National Society decided to update arrangements for denominational inspections, and joined with Methodist colleagues to produce a draft document for the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS). Circulated in September, there were many features to welcome: a higher priority for religious education, particularly within Voluntary Controlled schools; greater clarity about the distinguishing features of church schools; a strengthened role for the governing body.

A note of discord, however, was sounded by the requirement that, in all church schools, the Collective Worship should be Trinitarian in nature, and that inspectors should judge the extent to which pupils ‘respond to God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit’. While this may be a laudable aspiration in the church schools of the nation, it is decidedly controversial in some multifaith Birmingham schools. Th e DBE responded by suggesting that inspectors note how well ‘worship enables learners to develop an understanding of Jesus Christ, and of the Christian understanding of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.’

Th e published framework is due to be implemented in April 2013, and training will be off ered to all our schools and clergy in the summer term.

movING FoRwaRD

It has been a busy and challenging year–but thanks to our hardworking and highly skilled staff team, and the outstanding leadership of Jackie Hughes as Director, we enter the new year with great confi dence. Th e Board itself has completed its three-year term, and so new members will be welcomed into role at the start of 2013.

yeaR SIX LeaveRS SeRvIce, BirmingHAm cAtHedrAlEach year pupils celebrate their time at Primary School and are commissioned into Year Seven.


yoUNG peopLe

Supporting and equipping the work of churches with children and families is an important part of the work of The Church of England - Birmingham. Claire Wesley, a Reader, is Bishop’s Adviser for Children’s Ministry, and alongside others with diocesan-wide roles, is working towards the ten diocesan goals set through Transforming Church (see page 6). Claire also oversees child safeguarding training.

Transforming Church’s Diocesan Goal #1 is about being committed to numerical growth across all ages. Advice and support is offered to parishes to reach and keep families through fresh expressions of church like ‘Messy Church’. There are now 18 across the diocese.

Transforming Church’s Diocesan Goal #2 is about making the most of occasional services. Following successful conferences on marriage in previous years, a day conference called ‘The Big Splash’ was offered twice during October. It aimed to help churches make the most of opportunities arising before, during and after baptisms. Around 80 people—including Clergy, Readers and lay minsters–were present at each day representing 67 different parishes. The day included discussions around the subject of good practice: how to keep people after baptism; baptism preparation courses;

team working in baptism preparation and follow up; potential lay roles in the liturgy; Godly Play in baptism preparation and in Family and adult baptisms. Attendees appreciated learning from other parishes and said the day had been, “very stimulating”, one person said it “has made me think of all the things we could do.”

In addition to this, a workshop on “Using seasonal celebrations to reach families” was included in the Growing with God conference for Children’s leaders.

hIGhLIGhtS FRom the yeaR:

Much of the work we engage with fits into Transforming Church Diocesan Goal #4: “To develop a spiritually-enriching children’s and youth ministry in every parish and church school, encouraging clustering where appropriate.”

n Enabling Children’s Discipleship: An Open-Handed Approach – a CME Day for curates, aiming to help engage with children in ways which build relationships, nurture spirituality and foster Christian discipleship within the child’s family.

n Bishop’s Certificate in Children’s Ministry is an an 18-month course equipping those who work with children on Sundays or midweek. 38 students from 22 parishes enrolled this year. This course helps develop participants explore

Children’s Ministry through theory and practical studies coupled with theological reflection.

n Growing with God – a day conference empowering children’s leaders with practical and spiritual ideas was attended by 153 delegates from 48 parishes. Workshops helped to develop skills and experience in using puppets and games, transition, quiet times with children, creative prayer, children with additional needs, and discipleship.

n Advice and support for parishes in: safeguarding, child protection and safe recruitment: 168 people attended safeguarding training.

n Advice and support to eight parishes on employing a children’s worker. Six of these consultations led to applications to the Transforming Church Fund.

n Support for paid children’s workers in parishes.

n Advice, support or training to 60 different parishes through email consultation. Advice on current developments and resources in children’s ministry and seasonal ideas for families with young children provided via monthly eNews letter.

n Training for four parishes on starting Junior Church, resources, admission of baptised children to communion before confirmation, and Godly Play.

n Visits to four parishes to assist with Transforming Church action plans and to one parish for help in auditing work with children and young people.

As encouraged by Transforming Church Diocesan Goal #8, Children’s work training was delivered in partnership with Open the Book, Polesworth Deanery, Praxis, Springdale College and Future Builders.

If you want to find out more about working with children in the Birmingham diocese please get in touch with Claire Wesley (see page 36).

Transforming youth ministry in churches across the diocese is an important part of the work of The Church of England - Birmingham. Helen Tomblin is Bishop’s Adviser for Youth Work and Craig Gilman is Assistant Youth Adviser and Digital Youth Adviser, both work part time See page 36 for contact details. Assistance was given to Helen at the Mission Learning Group of the Bishop’s Council in identifying priorities of work in the context of a reduction in staff time for youth work to one full-time post in line with other comparable posts. This helped shape the priorities for youth work which were then presented at Diocesan Synod in November 2012.

Working towards Transforming Church’s Diocesan Goal #4 (see page 6), Helen and Craig were involved in continued, and new, work across the diocese through…

n Catalyst - youth events in the Cathedral that seek to encourage and support the range of traditions by offering three different styles of worship across the year: reflective through ‘Catalyst Calm’; outreaching through ‘Catalyst Culture’ (an open stage in Cathedral Square); and celebratory through upbeat worship in ‘Catalyst Celebration’. Attendance ranges between 40 and 200 (many of whom have little or no contact with the church otherwise);

n Supporting young people in their pilgrimage to Walsingham—building on an Anglo-Catholic mass held as part of Catalyst and making contact with new young people;

n Re-launching the Youth Pilgrimage to Taizé in partnership with the Vocations Team. The 14 Pilgrims also took part in gatherings to prepare for the spiritual journey in advance of the trip;

n Responding to parishes seeking advice and support – offered partly through developing a new strategy of youth work consultancy;

n Planning and support of Holy Trinity Birchfield’s Convention (alongside Adviser for Minority Anglicans) which gave a showcase for young people’s spirituality and discipleship and encouraged young people to take a lead in planning and running such events;

n Being Safe, an annual First Aid Training Day which had full attendance;

n Minority Ethnic work - implementing multicultural resources, training and puppetry ministry for children and young people.

Transforming Church Diocesan Goals #5 and #6 relate to providing an annual Christian basics course and making confident, prayerful disciples. Planning for Confirmation training took place to help participants consider the relevance of confirmation in the light of our diocesan children

and communion policy. The aim is to equip leaders, with resource examples, to prepare young people for their continuing journey of faith.

Monthly gatherings of up to 21 paid youth workers took place with the aim to encourage and support them in their discipleship and, in turn, empower them to develop confident, prayerful disciples in the young people with whom they work.

In 2012, the youth team were able to engage in…

n One-to-one mentoring of employed youth workers;

n Training representatives from 63 parishes in working with young people: Creative Prayer, Bringing Liturgy to Life, Digital Disciples - Integrity Online;

n Supporting five Transforming Church Fund applications and guiding the project towards completion;

n Promoting and administering opportunities for young people to undertake short-term projects or year-outs – drawing on funds provided by the St Martin’s Trust. Young people report on these experiences as life changing. In 2012 £5,500 was awarded to 11 young people from the diocese.

Consistent with Transforming Church Diocesan Goal #8 the youth team partnered on other initiatives through…

n Hosting regional and national meetings for Youth Advisers which included planning for ‘Summit’ – a national conference for 2013 in which brings together many major youth work organisations;

n Bishop’s Youth Council continual involvement in the annual ‘Sleep Out’ raising funds for St Basil’s charity for the homeless for whom they raised over £1,000 in 2012;

n Running workshops in various churches on ‘holistic health’ - combining physical challenge with the spiritual challenge to young people to consider their spiritual health. Helen Tomblin published a booklet in the Grove Youth series entitled ‘Holistic Health’ in 2012.

chILDReN aND FamILIeS


the FaIthFUL NeIGhBoURhooDS ceNtRe

The Faithful Neighbourhoods Centre (FNC) in Sparkhill has been established for over a year. It is rapidly becoming a well-used and much visited venue for events that bring people from across the diocese and also ones that support work in the local community. The FNC exists to: Provide a space where people of all faiths and none can meet one another, resource Christians living in a multi-faith society and support people as they discover ways of working together to improve and strengthen their local areas.

The Centre is home to diocesan Interfaith Relations and Community Regeneration departments, Near Neighbours Birmingham, Thrive Together Birmingham, Housing Justice and InterServe.

We are able to collaborate on a number of issues and share thinking and resources from our different areas of work. The tasks we are involved in fall into three broad themes: tackling Poverty, engaging with Other Faiths and Transforming Communities.

During the past year the centre has hosted a wide range of activities including: the Birmingham Faith Guiding Course; groups of youth workers, ordinands and theological students exploring mission and ministry in multi-faith contexts; Understanding Pakistani’s training days; ecumenical prayer gatherings and much more.

commUNIty ReGeNeRatIoN

The purpose of the Community Regeneration department is to encourage and support Christians and churches to participate in activities that help to transform the lives of people living in their local neighbourhoods and particularly to support Christian activity that alleviates poverty and disadvantage.

We endeavor to achieve this in three ways:

n Offering a support service to churches, projects and individuals to enable them to tackle issues of poverty and disadvantage

n Encouraging churches to develop a vision for how they might have a greater impact on the lives of people in their local communities

n Raising the profile of the work that Christians and churches do to address the needs of communities across the diocese particularly with local authorities and statutory bodies

We intend that the Community Regeneration department should be a valuable resource to support churches and community projects with advice on issues such as employment of staff, funding, organisational policies and governance, to creative use of church-owned buildings, project support, and developing parish strategies to better engage with their local community.

thRIve toGetheR BIRmINGham

One of our major pieces of work this year has been developing Thrive Together Birmingham so that on 1st January 2013 it will become an independent charitable company. It has three members who make up what is described as a Joint Venture, these are the Bishop of Birmingham, the Diocesan Board of Finance and the Church Urban Fund, who have undertaken to fund Thrive while it gets established. Directors/trustees are being appointed to take responsibility for the operation of Thrive including shaping its work and Bishop David has invited Colin Marsh, Ecumenical Development Officer for Birmingham Churches Together, to chair the board of trustees and Fred Rattley is acting Chief Executive.

Sarah Turner is the Development Worker for Thrive and she has become a valued member of our wider team that serves churches across the diocese. We all see it as priority to explore how Anglican churches can collaborate with Christians from churches of other denominations, and indeed people of other faiths and none, so Sarah is developing excellent links with other churches. This approach is leading to some positive outcomes and collaborations particularly in relation to night shelters for the homeless and foodbanks.

CUF staff will work with trustees to develop a fundraising strategy and it is encouraging that some charitable trusts are already contributing to Thrive as they see the potential for Thrive’s role and some churches have made donations in response to the letter circulated by CUF endorsed by Bishop David.

It is a source of some pride that the Church Urban Fund invited the Diocese of Birmingham to be one of three pilot Joint Ventures. A further 10 are now in development with many looking to Birmingham as a model.

hIGhLIGhtS

With the impact of recession growing, we have seen financial support for community activities significantly reduced but despite this we continue to see more churches willing to devote their resources (of people, buildings, and even money) to the benefit of their local community.

This asset based approach, which draws on all the skills and resources that are available in neighbourhoods, has paid dividends in enabling us to make a mark on Birmingham’s Social Inclusion Inquiry ‘Bringing Hope Changing Lives’ which, under the chairmanship of Bishop David, has been examining issues of poverty and exclusion across the city..

For many years our churches have been meeting the needs of older people through the provision of day centres and lunch clubs funded through local authority grants. This year a new ecumenical partnership of churches working together has been formed and then commissioned jointly to deliver services to vulnerable older people over the next two years. The Community Regeneration team has been able to help in liaising with Birmingham City Council, bringing the partners together, preparing the successful commissioning bid in collaboration with a lead body, the Digbeth Trust, and are now working on a training and development programme in partnership with Thrive.

We were really pleased to have been able to support the development of an ecumenical Practical Action Network in Smethwick which is enabling churches to come together to address issues of poverty through setting up a foodbank and exploring other practical responses.

We continue to run the ‘Know Your Church – Know Your Neighbourhood’ programme with church members across the diocese and are encouraged by demand and particularly by the willingness of clergy to work with us to tailor the programme to their context.

One of our commitments is to support community workers who are employed by local churches in areas of considerable deprivation to facilitate their church’s involvement with their local neighbourhoods. This year we have been delighted to support the development of the Mission Apprentice Programme and the seven new workers who are employed and also to continue our relationship with the Nehemiah Foundation who employ and train three community regeneration workers through the Near Neighbours programme.

We are pleased to have had some involvement in supporting the Strengthening Estate Ministry group of estate based clergy as they come together to share the joys and challenges of their ministry and to explore new approaches. We are excited that this model is now being adopted by clergy in the inner city and hope we can share similar collaboration in supporting that new network.

tRaNSFoRmING commUNItIeS aNDcoNNectING wIth otheR FaIthS

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INteRFaIth ReLatIoNS

There has continued to be a good level of relationships between people of different faiths across the diocese. The variety of ministries and approaches to this important work is as varied as the churches and the people in them. During the year we ran a number of training courses often in partnership with others. These included an ‘Asian Awareness Course’ with East West Trust.

Many churches have got involved in their own on-going work with people of different faiths and it’s been an encouragement to hear stories of children’s holiday clubs, carers and toddler groups, dialogue groups, language courses, refugee and asylum seeker work and women’s projects that are creative and authentic expressions of The Gospel being lived out across the diocese.

One of the biggest projects we got involved in during 2012 was a breakfast celebration for the Olympic Torch Relay which came past the Centre. We were able to be the conduit which brought together a wide range of local groups including Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, schools, businesses and the police.

We have also been involved in running a course called ‘Catalyst’ for young faith leaders. Starting in October, young adults from Christian, Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist backgrounds have met together to learn leadership skills and to build friendships and understanding of the different faith communities in Birmingham.

NeaR NeIGhBoURS

Near Neighbours made around 70 awards to people wanting to run projects that bring people of different faiths together. The total value of the awards was about £220,000 and we will have brought around 2,000 people together.

Grants were awarded to groups from the Christian, Muslim and Hindu traditions and included lots of local events to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. Other fun encounter projects included a Pantomime run by a Hindu Temple and the local Anglican Church, dance projects, an arts festival, events to celebrate St George’s day, a party for Nigerian Independence day and Christmas parties.

Other projects encouraged civic engagement in a local neighbourhood and included job clubs, parenting courses, work with asylum seekers, ESOL lessons and environmental projects.

Many Anglican churches have been involved with Near Neighbours in many different ways and it is fantastic to see churches building new partnerships and forming friendships with neighbours from different faith traditions.

We were delighted the Bishop of Birmingham, working with comedian Barbara Nice, was able to host our celebration of Near Neighbours during Interfaith Week and the launch of our Faithful Friends photography exhibition. The exhibition has been borrowed by churches, faith communities and chaplaincies across the Diocese, raising the profile of the work of Near Neighbours and the importance of friendships that build bridges in a fragmented society.

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Steve SqUIReS director of communicAtions

The Communications Department exists to serve churches in developing effective ways to communicate the life and purpose of God’s people in the Birmingham diocese.

This operates both internally and externally—looking at how we communicate with one another and how we are perceived outside of our church structures. We work closely with the Bishop of Birmingham and the Bishop of Aston in communicating their mission objectives.

During 2012, alongside his daily work around the diocese, much of Bishop David’s communication has been focused around the Social Inclusion Process (see page 4). Statements and interviews in newspapers like the Birmingham Mail and Post, as well as extended interviews on both BBC Midlands Today and BBC Inside Out, have been about championing work with some of the poorest people in the Birmingham diocese.

A review of internal communication was undertaken and it was decided that Transform Magazine (which had been sharing stories from around the diocese for a number of years) would be ‘rested’ and reimagined in 2013. Our quartley publication, Praying Together, continues a shared pattern of prayer and is appreciated by many people across the diocese. Special thanks goes to Peter Chapman, who has worked hard on collating this and has now passed the job of collating stories and prayers to Charlotte Gibson.

The review also highlighted a real need for updating the diocesan-wide website. The site has served us well but, with an increasingly interactive approach to the web, it was felt it needed to be brought up-to-date in terms of both content and functionality. It is hoped that the new site will go ‘live’ at some point in the Autumn 2013. The site aims to serve parishes in the ‘business’ of church life but also to share stories that encourage and envision mission initiatives around the diocese.

FILm aND pRINt

The Communications Department are keen to improve all aspects of printed media and to create a stronger sense of ‘brand identification’ across the variety of departments and projects in the Birmingham diocese. Much of this work is done within the department using external agencies when necessary. This includes:

n Posters and leaflets for conferences like Growing With God;

n Internal publications (eg. explaining Safeguarding, Common Fund and Stewardship);

n Leaflets highlighting the work of people like Near Neighbours and the Faithful Neighbourhoods Centre.

In addition to printed material we have been exploring communication through film, producing:

n A Christmas message from Bishop David;

n An interview with Bishop Andrew explaining Transforming Church;

n Films exploring the Malawi Partnership and ‘Run the Race. Keep the Faith.’ as part of the Great Birmingham Run.

pReSS eNGaGemeNt

n Bishop Andrew was involved in promoting the Real Easter Egg and fighting to save Birmingham’s Wholesale Market.

n Bishop David has been activitly involved in the Social Inclusion Process and a variety of press opportunities arising from that. He was also involved in giving thanks for the Queen during the Jubilee activities and welcoming the Jamaican and Olympic teams to Birmingham.

n It has been good to see Birmingham Cathedral feature in numerous media agencies around the City. The Olympic Service which welcomed the USA and Jamaican teams to Birmingham was a particular highlight.

n Work was completed on the £3.8m restoration of St Barnabas’, Erdington after an arson attack in 2007 and the building was redidicated by Bishop David in December.

SocIaL meDIa

During 2012 we ventured into the world of Social Media. It has been good to make Praying Together avaiable through Twitter and Facebook and to see Bishop David’s tweets reaching a wider audience. This is something for continued development.

tRaNSFoRmING commUNItIeS aNDcoNNectING wIth otheR FaIthS coNtINUeD commUNIcatIoNS


cLeRGy aND Lay DeveLopmeNt

The Church of England - Birmingham places a high level of importance on training and development of both clergy and lay ministers.

the mISSIoN LeaRNING GRoUp

The Mission Learning Group of the Bishop’s Council continued to meet during 2012. Items included thorough discussion concerning:

n Improving communications with parishes to enhance the take-up of the training being offered by the Bishop’s Advisers.

n Identifying priorities with the Youth Adviser in the context of a reduction in staff time for youthwork to one full-time post in line with other comparable posts.

n Inclusion of questions on the Archdeacons’ Articles of Enquiry for the Visitation (May 2012) ascertaining progress in parishes towards their Transforming Church goals. Responses to these were shared with the staff of Advisers.

cLeRGy

Clergy Continuing Ministerial Development aims to nourish Clergy to be mission-minded, theologically informed and spiritually resourced in such ways that they are able to lead PCCs and congregations confidently and prayerfully. This leadership is to be offered in ways which are inspiring, encouraging, enabling, challenging and appreciative of others.

Clergy are supported to take up wider roles such as Transforming Church consultants, contributors to diocesan events and lead training for others. The Transforming Church framework is excellent in identifying mission priorities and training is also in relation to the Ordinal, the Canons and the National Learning Outcomes for curates, for example:

n Many clergy sabbaticals in 2012 were about ‘spirituality and mission’, that is being built up as a resource so that clergy can give greater impetus in mission in their ministries;

n MA courses and individual studies are similarly supporting clergy in this transition to more overt mission;

n Diocesan study courses including those on Leadership and First Incumbency, and Bishop’s Study Days;

n Training emphasises missional approaches to ministry through the West Midlands Regional Leadership programme. All curate training has a missional dimension, including a focus on evangelistic strategies;

n Support is given to Clergy in a range of contexts and traditions to reflect on best practice in mission, evangelism and theology which promotes Christian witness.

n Adviser contributes to identifying Clergy to lead diocesan courses, such as 3D and Growing Gifts

n Training for curates training on helping others to pray, youthwork and children’s ministry.

n Fostering prayer and spiritual life through retreats, quiet days and spiritual direction.

n Line-Management and Supervision training for Clergy with youth- and childeren’s workers.

n A session on communications is included in curate training and the new Clergy induction programme.

n Training for incumbents in faculty applications to facilitate missional approaches to church buildings (public access, noticeboards, visual impact etc).

n Revd Canon Mark Pryce (Bishop’s Adviser for Clergy Continuing Ministerial Development) leads quiet days and retreats for local churches and groups, as does the Archdeacon of Aston.

aDULt Lay DeveLopmeNt

Lay ministers (co-workers who are not ordained) play a vital role in the life of many parishes. Revd Liz Howlett is Bishop’s Adviser for Lay Adult Education and Training. Transforming Church Diocesan Goal #6, ‘making confident, prayerful disciples’, is particularly relevant to this work and a variety of courses continued to be available in 2012:

n The Diocesan Course for Developing Disciples (3D): a Bible-based study course designed to help transform discipleship and enable participants to grow as confident followers of Jesus. 190 people enrolled in 2012/13 (the average is 150) for this 30-week course, meeting in small groups across the diocese with a range of experienced and knowledgeable tutors, both lay and ordained.

n Growing Gifts: for those who complete 3D and sense a growing desire to go further in their faith. The annual programme offers opportunities for study, exploration in prayer and developing practical skills. 100 people participated in the different training days in 2012.

n Learning for Discipleship: for those seeking academic theological study. This annual programme offers termly modules – taken as stand-alone courses or in combination so that three courses successfully completed with assessed written work leads to a Bishop’s Certificate in Learning for Discipleship. Each

year an average of 80 participants take one or more modules. These include Readers for further training, those exploring vocation and those seeking a theological grounding for discipleship in daily life.

n Reader training : this programme provides two sessions focused on Daily Life and Faith and Work – to support lay leaders to enable others in their churches to make links between Sunday and the rest of their life and work.

n Reader Ministry: after initial Reader training, and following licensing, continual training is offer through the NEXT programme, encouraging an ethos of life-long learning. Training days for all serving Readers are held three times a year. 15 new Readers licensed in January 2013, with a further one to follow and 16 entered training in September 2012. Reader Continuing Education included a New Testament Study Day in 2012 (led by Canon Dr Paula Gooder).

n Pastoral Care and Community Skills: the Bishop’s Scheme has been operating for 12 years and there are 146 commissioned members of teams in 31 parishes across the diocese, with a further 51 people in training for commissioning from another nine parishes. Annual Away Days provided for the teams offer further training, support and affirmation, with high attendances. Ongoing support for teams is provided from volunteer Diocesan Advisers and they are the link with further training for those already commissioned.

n Adult Safeguarding training : Basic training sessions were offered three times in the year and a total of 75 people attended these sessions.

Transforming Church Diocesan Goal #9 is “To increase the number of leaders of all ages, and drawn from every ethnic group, who are trained and deployed in the church and wider community”. Working towards this in 2012 included:

n Development of Clergy as leaders is key to all Clergy Ministerial Development so that they can foster leadership in others;

n Inclusion and collaborative working as a key emphasis in regional leadership development programme;

n Session for curates on building a Black, White and Asian church – in liaison with Bishop’s Adviser for Minority ethnic Anglicans;

n Ensuring minority ethnic Anglican input to the Clergy Induction programme.

Essential to meeting this goal is the work of Joycelyn Lewis-Gregory (Bishop’s Adviser for Minority Ethnic Anglicans and Vicar of the Cotteridge Church) whose work has included:

n Meeting and supporting individuals exploring licensed and ordained ministry, and those seeking grants from the Bishop’s Empowering Discipleship Fund;

n Updating the ‘Health Check’ for Churches on Race and Ethnicity and advice and support is offered to churches with examples of good practice;

n Leadership training at St George’s Newtown with those who have taken the 3D course highlighting opportunities for taking up leadership roles in the local and wider Church.

n A Celebration of Minority Ethnic Anglicans – a day conference, supported by the Bishop of Birmingham, to listen, worship and network, with leaders from amongst Minority Ethnic Anglicans. The Day promoted resources for leadership, diocesan courses, and opportunities for pastoral support especially for asylum seekers and refugees.

n The Archdeacons continue to provide annually in an induction for new Churchwardens, training evenings and also a Quiet Morning each Advent to support them in their spiritual life and discipleship. The Quiet Morning (led by Mark Pryce) was well attended in 2012 with a good representative range of minority ethnic Wardens.

Transforming Church Diocesan Goal #7 relates to encouraging worshipping Christians to take tithing seriously and so in 2012 diocesan finances and stewardship were made a part of the new annual Clergy Induction programme.

Consistent with the Transforming Church Diocesan Goal #8 to increase partnership and community initiatives:

n Clergy and lay training was delivered in part through regional and ecumenical cooperation under the umbrella of the West Midlands Regional Training Partnership – through staff liaison sharing good practice, creative ideas and resources;

n Input from the Community Regeneration Department and the Diocesan Board of Education was ensured for both curates training and the Clergy induction programme;

n A whole range of local, regional and national colleagues were drawn on in continuing ministerial development for Readers and lay pastoral ministers;

n There was an increase in links with the Faithful Neighbourhood Centre (see page 20).

n Emphasis on collaborative working in leadership training of Incumbents of Curates, Readers and Clergy with pastoral care teams.

Diocesan goal #10 is about encouraging positive relationships with those of other faiths. A variety of activities in 2012 are worked towards this mission criteria:

n Session for curates on practical theology of partnerships using Faithful Friendships as a model, in conjunction with Near Neighbours;

n Study of the Anglican theology of inter-faith relations through the ‘Generous Love’ document;

n Bishop’s Study Morning for Clergy on inter-faith relations;

n Ensuring input from Faithful Neighbourhood Centre to Clergy induction programme;

n 3D course includes a session which explores living as Christians in a diocese of many faiths.


2012 was another busy year with 59 women and men exploring a call to the Ordained Ministry with the Director of Ordinands (see details in ‘Chart 1’).

Th e discernment process is rigorous, and necessarily so. Th e Church needs to be confi dent that a candidate has a strong personal sense of God calling them to this particular ministry and also that this vocation is recognised and supported by others. We are requiring more and more of our ordained ministers and so it is important that we gather evidence of a broad range of gift s, skills and aptitudes and also be assured that a candidate has the physical, emotional and spiritual stamina for the long haul of ministry.

Our work requires att entive listening and I am hugely grateful to those who share the task of discernment:

n Vocations Advisers meet enquirers early on in the process and help to run the Signposts vocations course each Spring. Th e Vocations Team meets with the DDO three times a year and their ideas, advice and support are invaluable.

n Examining Chaplains interview candidates later on in the process and their sharp insight and wise advice is greatly appreciated. Th eir reports inform Bishop Andrew, the Sponsoring Bishop, and help him decide whether to sponsor a candidate for a national Bishops’ Advisory Panel.

n A number of clergy supervise candidates on placement. Th e ‘Ministry in the Church of England’ selection criterion requires a candidate to have both breadth and depth of experience and so a placement in a church of a diff erent size, tradition, social context or style of ministry from that from which they come is a very important part of the discernment process. I am grateful to those who are willing to refl ect openly and honestly in this way with candidates.

n Others accompany candidates as they engage with some theological reading, maybe for the fi rst time, and tutors on Learning for Discipleship modules which many candidates take at Th e Queen’s Foundation write Educational References for those who have not studied for many years. Th ank you to them too!

Each diocese works within the Criteria for Selection which are approved by the House of Bishops. You can fi nd a summary of these by searching for ‘Summary of Criteria’ atwww.churchofengland.org.

During the year we have off ered a number of events to help inform and equip candidates.

n Th e Signposts Course Over fi ve evenings participants had the opportunity to meet with a range of priests who are in ministry in parishes and chaplaincies, as well is in secular employment. Th ese evenings are always hugely encouraging as we hear from women and men

tRaINING FoR oRDINatIoN

“we See GoD coNtINUING to caLL aND eqUIpwomeN aND meN to LeaD GoD’S peopLe.”

of diff erent ages, genders, ethnicities, church traditions - all of whom are passionate, as well as realistic, about God’s call to be in ministry in their particular context. Th e Vocations Team has off ered a series of follow-up Signposts evenings on diff erent aspects of ministry - being Anglican, prayer, mission and evangelism, leadership, pastoral care. I am grateful to all who have contributed to equipping and encouraging candidates in this way.

n A Pilgrimage to Taizé As part of the Vocations Team’s strategy to recruit more young ordinands I led a Pilgrimage to the Taizé Community in France in the summer, together with Helen Tomblin and Craig Gilman, the Bishop’s Youth Advisers. Th is was designed to encourage young people to listen to God and consider what God might be calling them to do with their lives. You can watch a video of our trip at youtu.be/9z8AyXFDcds. Seeds were sown and we do not yet know what harvest may be reaped. Another pilgrimage is planned for 2013.

I have continued to work fruitfully with Joycelyn Lewis-Gregory, the Bishop’s Adviser for Minority Ethnic Anglicans, as we encourage minority ethnic members of our congregations to off er their gift s in all areas of the Church’s life. Th e Church of England also wants more young people to consider Ordained Ministry. Each diocese has been asked to identify a Minority Ethnic Vocations Champion and a Young Vocations Champion and I am delighted that the Bishop has appointed Joycelyn Lewis-Gregory and Lydia Gaston to these roles. Towards the end of the year we began to plan a diocesan event for young people in November 2013.

I am delighted that 11 people in their twenties explored Ordained Ministry this year. A national statistic emerged during the year which gives cause for concern – that of under-32’s (Ministry Division’s defi nition of a young vocation) att ending Bishops’ Advisory Panels only 1 out of every 5 is a woman. Th ere may be a number of reasons: large evangelical churches tend to produce young men for ministry; there continue to be challenges around the balance

of ministry and family life which aff ect women more than men; some young women may wonder whether the Church of England is ready to accept their gift s, especially following the General Synod’s vote in November. Th is is certainly a matt er that we will keep an eye on in Birmingham.

We currently have 22 ordinands (see details in ‘Chart 2’): 16 are training locally at Th e Queen’s Foundation and six are in full-time training at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, St John’s College, Nott ingham and Wycliff e Hall, Oxford. Th ere is evidence that concern about spouses’ employment and children’s schooling is meaning that more ordinands are choosing to train locally, usually remaining in their own homes.

Th e Ordination of Deacons and Priests took place in July and June. Retreats were held at Barnes Close near Bromsgrove and were led by Canon Pete Wilcox, now Dean of Liverpool, and the Revd Peter Harrison from the Diocese of York.

Our work is relentless, but hugely encouraging when we see God continuing to call and equip women

and men to lead God’s people. Many thanks go to my secretary, Marlyce Bryan, for her support and hard work and to Bishop Andrew, the Sponsoring Bishop, with whom I work closely. Please pray for us and for those whom we accompany.

RevD caNoN FaIth cLaRINGBULL director of ordinAnds

vocatIoNS team:Paul Bracher Rich BurleyRebecca Clarke Stuart DimesJonathan Dowman Lydia GastonPaul Hinton Adrian LeahyJoycelyn Lewis-GregorySimon Marshall Tim MeathrelDaniel Ramble Emma Sykes

eXamINING chapLaINS:Jenny Arnold Paul CudbySteve Doel Nigel HandDuncan Hill-Brown Alison JoyceCharles LawrenceAndrew Lenox-ConynghamEdmund Newey Pamela OgilvieRowena Pailing Nick ParkerSmitha Prasadam Mark PrycePaul Ratt igan Brian RussellLouise Shaw Patrick TaylorLarry Wright

Pictured: Th e group of people on their Pilgrimage to Taizé.

ORDINANDS IN TRAININGORDINANDS IN TRAININGORDINANDS IN TRAININGORDINANDS IN TRAINING 2012 Apr-12

Men 11Women 11

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Minority Ethnic 4White 18

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20>30>40>50>60+

aGe ethNIcItyORDINANDS IN TRAININGORDINANDS IN TRAININGORDINANDS IN TRAININGORDINANDS IN TRAINING 2012 Apr-12

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cateGoRy oF SpoNSoRShIp

cHArt 2

Pictured: Newly ordained Priests with their Training Incumbents


Men 32Women 27

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cHArt 1

cateGoRy oF SpoNSoRShIp


“the aSSocIatIoN IS Set Up to FURtheR the mINIStRy oF ReaDeRS LIceNSeD wIthIN the BIRmINGham DIoceSe.”

ReaDeRS aSSocIatIoN

memBeRShIp

Members of the Readers’ Association either hold the Bishop’s licence or those over 70 have the Bishop’s permission to offi ciate in the Diocese of Birmingham. Th ose who have now retired from active ministry and have given faithful service are given the titleReader Emeritus.

aImS

Th e Association is set up to further the ministry of Readers licensed within the Birmingham diocese; to administer the organisation in accordance with Bishops’ Regulations; and to off er the Diocesan Bishop advice on matt ers relating to Readers.

In addition the Association is responsible for the selection and admission of new Readers, for the maintenance of records and statistics about Reader ministry, for liaison with the Central Readers’ Council, and in conjunction with the Warden of Readers, for the pastoral support and care of Readers. Th e Association is also responsible for Continuing Ministerial Education (CME) and Post Licensing Training via the NEXT course.

oFFIceRS

In the past year, 2012, the Readers’ Association committ ee have been:

wArden Revd Martin Stephenson

AssistAnt Paul RaymerwArden

secretAry Mike Lynch

treAsurer Chris Dunbar

initiAl Juliet BakkertrAining

secretAry

engAgements Peter ConabeersecretAry

cme sec’y David Harrison

elected Ruth Coopercommittee Sue Dilworth

memBers

the waRDeN oFReaDeRS’ commIttee

Th e Warden of Readers’ committ ee met four times in 2012/13.

In September the committ ee had a report back on the successful Reader selection day held in June where we had 16 candidates going forward for selection. Th ere is confi dence in

the Birmingham approach to training with the emphasis on providing a practical course and learning experience rather than one that is more academically focused and linked to a specifi c qualifi cation. Th is appears to continue to att ract a wide variety of candidates to apply for Reader selection. Numbers coming into training nationally have been in decline but in Birmingham numbers are stable and increasing. We also welcomed 2 new Assistant Wardens Jackie Burton for Aston Deanery and Sheila Richmond for Solihull Deanery. We were sad to hear that Paul Smith Solihull Deanery had to resign as assistant warden due to ill health. Our Warden has completed 5 years service in the role and with the ‘Readers Matt ers’ group looking at the future role of the Warden and that of the Assistant Wardens.

In November we discussed the preparations for the Licensing service in January 2013 amendments to the web-site and the opening of applications for the 2013 Reader selection conference.

In January we heard the news that the Reader web-site was off line as a result of being hacked and the committ ee agreed to contact a fellow Reader for additional assistance in re-instating the web-site. Th e Warden gave a presentation on Reader ministry at the Diocesan Synod in

Statistics for 2011 based upon 73% (78%)of returns received by 25 April 2012 2012 2011 2010 2009

Numbers of Services assisted in leading in own parish 1822 2274 2271 2177

Number of sermons preached in own parish 1772 1876 1991 1956

Services conducted in absence of a priest in own parish 1167 1142 1179 1176

Funerals conducted in absence of a priest 507 505 403 458

Number of Readers involved in this ministry 38 41 45 48

Services conducted in absence of a priest in another parish 175 251 257 226

% of Readers assisting with Holy Communion 85% 87% 90% 94%

% of Readers assisting with Morning or Evening Prayer 74% 78% 79% 78%

% of Readers taking Sacrament to the sick 45% 43% 30% 25%

% of Readers leading services in the week 40% 42% 39% 47%

% of Readers leading services of all age worship 55% 59% 58% 58%

% of Readers att ending a CME Training event 50% 52% - -

March. From the CME committ ee we also heard of plans for the training day with the Bishop due to take place in the autumn of 2013.

During the year the committ ee made arrangements for the annual licensing service and the Reader selection conference. Other items considered included, Post Licensing Training; Continuing Ministerial Education; the introduction of newly trained Readers into our Association and provision of cover for services.

Th e Assistant Wardens have met together twice during the year, sharing a meal together and discussing how they can support Reader ministry within their own Deaneries. Th e aim is for there to be one Assistant Warden in every Deanery, as points of contact for Readers and Clergy around the Diocese. We hope to complete the appointing of Assistant Wardens for all 13 deaneries in 2013.

ReaDeRS StatIStIcS

Th e table below shows the statistics presented to Central Readers Council in the annual capitation return at the end of December 2012.

Status Men Women TOTAL

Active 76 88 164

Unatt ached to a Parish 1 4 5

Permission to offi ciate 19 23 42

Emeritus 22 18 40

TOTAL 118 133 251

peRmISSIoN to oFFIcIate (pto) aND emeRItUS

We give thanks for their service to the following who on reaching the age of 70 now have Bishop’s Permission to Offi ciate:

Carol Applegate St Lukes, Lee BankJudith Emery St Mary, WythallPauline Griffi ths St Leonard, Marston GreenPaul Raymer St Leonard, Marston GreenJill Williams St Peter, Tile Cross

We also give thanks for their service to the following who have elected to take Emeritus status:

Noel Barrow St Paul, Balsall HeathNorman Hart St Leonard, FranckleyGill Salkeld Cott eridge ChurchGloria Lawrence St Peter & St Paul, AstonJim Snowdon Emmanuel, Wylde GreenConnie Jinks St Hilda, Warley WoodsFrank Robinson St Peter, ManeyJanet Haverson St Leonard, Frankley

we weLcome:ReaDeRS aDmItteD aND LIceNSeD

Readers admitt ed and licensed by Bishop David Urquhart in Birmingham Cathedral on Saturday 19th January 2013:

Peter Prasadam St Paul, HamsteadPeter Salt Christ Church, YardleyMichelle Grannell Holy Trinity, Birchfi eldChristopher Walton Th e Ascension, Hall GreenDawn Parker St Anne, West HeathJanet Th omas Christ Church, Summerfi eldJoanne Taylor Bishop Latimer, BirminghamPaul Martin Old Church, SmethwickNicholas Partridge St Nicholas, ElmdonShirley Turner St Andrew, Chelmsley WoodVictoria Hubble St Faith & St Laurence, Harborne

ReaDeRS’ woRk IN theIR paRISheS aND IN the DIoceSe

I set out below information relating to the work which is undertaken by Readers within thediocese. Th ere are still 64 Returns of Service outstanding, which is 11 more than last year.

Continued...

Keith Whitehead St Peter, HarborneGeoff Miller Aston & Nechells TeamDavid Ash Kings Norton TeamGlynis Gayton St Nicholas, Baddesley Ensor

Readers previously admitt ed whose licence was transferred by the Bishop of Birmingham:

James Lethbridge St Philip, Dorridge Carol Mayes St Swithin, Barston

Due to snow on the morning of the service Ian Morrey from Holy Trinity, Lickey with St Catherine, Blackwell was unable to att end and will be licensed later in the year within his own parish.

Th e licence of Amanda Butler was revived from being unatt ached to serve with the Kings Norton Team ministry.


ReaDeR aSSocIatIoN coNtINUeD

FaReweLLS

During the year the following of our members died: E Ward Young, St Columbus, Banners Gate; Eric Downing, St Editha, Polesworth; Zelda Hilleard, St Peter & St Paul, Aston; Ron Morris, St Peter & St Paul, Aston; Malcolm Sorby, St Mary Selly Oak, (and Assistant Warden). Th ey will be missed within their parishes and their local communities.

Two Readers resigned their licences during the year: Stephanie Moustache, Holy Trinity, Lickey; and Ian Wright St Clement, Castle Bromwich.

In addition a further four Readers left the diocese to live and minister elsewhere: Eileen Bayliss (Emeritus) St Bede, Brandwood; Henry Jerwood, Knowle Parish Church; Gillian James St Chads, Rubery; Margaret Douglas St Benedicts, Bordesley.We wish them ‘God speed’.

Two Readers have been ordained as Deacon: Sally Nash, Christ the King, Erdington; Sue Larkin, St Th omas, Garrett s Green. We continue to pray for them in their new ministry.

meetINGS oF the ceNtRaLReaDeRS coUNcIL

Th e Warden, Secretary and Assistant Warden Paul Raymer represented the Diocese at the Central Readers’ Council AGM 20th April 2013at St Marys Primrose Hill in London.

eveNtS oRGaNISeD By the aSSocIatIoN DURING 2012

Th e spring training event took place led by Dave Allen on the subject of ‘Using Diff erent Versionsof the Bible in Preaching’ at Luke’s Church Centre.

May 23 2012 / Annual Service followed by Annual General Meeting at St Pauls in the Jewellery Quarter.

June 2012 / Selection Conference at Coleshill Primary School where 16 applicants were selected for training.

July 2012 / Funeral Training Day led by Revd Liz Howlett , Derek Case and Jill Williams.

4th December 2012 / ‘Doors Service’ an occasion when newly trained candidates are passed on from the Diocese Training course to the Association and aft erwards meet with the offi cers and committ ee.

Saturday 12th January 2013 / ‘Quiet Day’ for Readers who were to be Licensed led by Mike & Jeannie Lynch at St Swithin, Barston.

Saturday 19th January 2013 / Licensing Service at Birmingham Cathedral conducted by the Bishop for Birmingham, David Urquhart, at which 13 candidates were admitt ed and licensed and 10 Readers were commissioned as Assistant Wardens.

Saturday May 19th 2012 / Th e spring training event was led by Paula Gooder on 2 Corinthians ‘When ministry is challenged and challenging’ at Luke’s Church Centre.

Th e CME committ ee did not organise an autumn training event as Readers were invited to participate in the ‘Big Splash’ which was training for Baptism preparation alongside Clergy and members of pastoral care teams.

thaNkS

Th e work of the Association is sustained by the voluntary eff orts of many Readers, too numerous to mention them all. Our thanks are also due to Rev Liz Howlett , the Bishop’s Adviser for Adult Lay Education and Training, and Ven. Dr Brian Russell, for their contributions to training days and selection conference and for their support of Reader ministry via the Readers matt ers group. Andrea Stevens at the Diocesan offi ce who helps in so many ways, particularly with the mailings to all Readers. Our offi cers and committ ee for all they do to enable the work of the Association to run smoothly. We thank the Reader training course tutors for their work in preparing our new candidates for their future roles in ministry. Th anks to Revd David Warbrick who has co-ordinated the Next training programme for newly licensed Readers for a number of years and has now passed the baton on to Revd Helen Hingley who we welcome to the role. To Juliet Bakker for organising the selection conference for our clergy and Reader selectors and those who volunteer to help on the day. Th e many people who have helped to lead our Training Days and the other events supported by the association..

Th anks to Revd Canon Janet Chapman who led the planning for the licensing service and with Revd Kate Stowe made sure everything ran smoothly on the day. Th anks to Pat Joyce at Birmingham Diocesan Registry offi ce for preparing the licences for the new Readers and those with Permission to Offi ciate. Finally, our thanks to Bishop David, for presiding at the licensing service and hosting the meal at Bishops Croft for the newly licensed Readers.

mIke LyNch secretAry

paStoRaL caRe oF the cLeRGy

Th e report ‘Affi rmation and Accountability’, published by the Society of Mary and Martha (www.sheldon.uk.com) in 2002, was a detailed exploration of the need to prevent clergy stress, sickness and ill-health retirement. In this report the appointment of an Adviser in Counselling and Th erapy was advocated for every diocese in England and Wales. Th e Diocese of Birmingham was one of those dioceses which pioneered this role and the post of Bishop’s Adviser for Pastoral Care of the Clergy and their Families has been in existence since the 1980’s. Th ere continues to be a lively interest in Clergy well-being in the Birmingham diocese.

Revd Susannah Izzard is the current Adviser for Pastoral Care of the Clergy and has been in post since January 2007. Th e work of the Adviser includes both preventative and remedial roles, as she works to enhance clergy well-being via the provision of groups, workshops, work-life balance reviews and quiet days, and also co-ordinates the Diocesan Clergy Counselling Service.

To promote clergy well-being, Susannah runs groups that provide opportunities for clergy facing similar situations, among which are the bi-monthly First Time Incumbents’ Support Group, and other groups for minority clergy. In 2012, a study day for single clergy was off ered, in conjunction with the Adviser for Pastoral Care of the Clergy in the diocese of Worcester. Th is has led to an emerging group planning activities to encourage wellbeing.

Annually, as part of the Induction programme for clergy joining the diocese, and CME training years 1-4, Susannah gives a presentation on Sustaining Wellbeing in Ministry, which aims to heighten awareness of, and promote good practice in self care. She off ers Quiet Days and study days to Deanery Chapters, and in 2012 worked with the Warley Deanery chapter during their residential.

Th e Adviser for Pastoral Care is a member of the Anglican Association of Advisers in Pastoral Care and Counselling, which writes:

‘Ministry can be fulfi lling ; it is also demanding both in terms of time and requiring psychological and spiritual resilience, so both proper ongoing support and assistance in times of crisis are vital. Many of the pressures clergy experience are common to other occupations: long work hours, organisational and personal and family pressures. Particular pressures for clergy and those in ministry include: an open ended occupation, which means there is always something you could be doing , or someone you could be visiting ; working fr om home, so it is hard to leave “work” behind and callers at the door don’t respect days off . Isolation can be a problem; working at weekends when others are off , in some cases litt le contact with colleagues. Following a vocation is a source of joy but also brings challenges of its own.’ (pastoralcare.org.uk);

During 2012, support continued to be off ered to clergy through the Diocesan Clergy Counselling Service. Th is is a confi dential service provided by ten accredited counsellors and psychotherapists who have particular gift s in working with spiritual issues. Th ere is also a life coach to whom referrals may be made. Clients self-refer via the Bishop’s Adviser for Pastoral Care of the Clergy and their Families, who meets with each potential client to explore the presenting issues and think about what kind of counselling or coaching support may be of most help. Th e service continued to be well-used, with 23 referrals during 2012. Th e most prevalent presenting issues continue to be work stress, relationships with colleagues and personal relationships. Th is refl ects a national profi le of clergy coming forward for counselling.

“theRe coNtINUeS to Be a LIveLy INteReSt IN cLeRGy weLL-BeING IN the BIRmINGham DIoceSe.”

RevD SUSaNNah IzzaRD AdViser for pAstorAl cAre of tHe clergy


caRING FoR oUR chURch BUILDINGS

DIoceSaN aDvISoRy commItteeFoR the caRe oF chURcheS

pURpoSe

Th e Diocesan Advisory Committ ee for the Care of Churches (DAC) is a statutory body established by Canon that operates in secular legislation as defi ned by the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991. Its main function is to give advice on the architecture, archaeology, art and history of places of worship to the Diocesan Chancellor and the Archdeacons as part of the judicial Faculty permission process.

Th e Committ ee also advises clergy and churchwardens who are planning work to their church buildings and grounds. Members and advisers have a detailed experience and knowledge of the use, development and good stewardship of church buildings; the living liturgy and worship of the Church of England; church architecture, archaeology, art and history; and the care of historic fabric and furnishings. Th e Committ ee can off er advice and support to parishes at all stages of a project, from initial thoughts through to making a Faculty application, and fi nally to completion.

compoSItIoN

Th e Committ ee is chaired by a person appointed by the Bishop. In addition to the Chair, the Committ ee must constitute: the Archdeacons of the diocese; two elected members of the Diocesan Synod; one nominee from English Heritage; one nominee from the National Amenity Societies; one nominee from the Local Government Association; and at least seven other members appointed by the Bishop’s Council. Th e Committ ee must have a quorum of one third of its members, including one Archdeacon and one architect, and is appointed on a six-yearly basis. Th e current cycle is 2010 to 2016.

Sadly, Mr Mark Stefan stood down as the Churchyards Adviser on 13th March and the Revd Robert Fieldson stood down as a Diocesan Synod nominee on 30th October. Mr Richard Waddell was suggested to the Bishop as a suitable new Churchyards Adviser before the end of the year and it was hoped that the Bishop’s Council would select a new nominee from the Diocesan Synod during January 2013. Th e Committ ee continued to seek a Church Furnishings and a Health, Safety and Disability Adviser. Mr Adrian Mann was Secretary to the Committ ee throughout 2011. Mr Keith Wadsworth was the Committ ee Administrator until 2nd April, having provided maternity cover for Mrs Vicki Tildesley, who supported the Committ ee for the rest of the year.

Mr John Edwards QC served as the acting Diocesan Chancellor until 12th November, when Mr Mark Powell QC became the new Chancellor for the Birmingham diocese, following the departure of Mr Martin Cardinal QC at the end of 2011. Th e Chancellor and Deputy Chancellor were supported throughout the year by Mr Hugh Carslake, as the Diocesan Registrar, and Mrs Pat Joyce, as Clerk to the Diocesan Registrar.

Th anks were off ered for the diligent and eff ective service of all members, advisers and staff . Particular gratitude was off ered to Mr Mark Stefan and the Revd Robert Fieldson for the very valuable input and advice that they were able to off er to parishes, the Committ ee and the Chancellor during their years of voluntary service.

caSewoRk

During 7 meetings in 2012 (DAC282 to DAC288), the Committ ee considered 284 items of business, including 98 new petitions. Th e Chancellor granted permission for 89 petitions for Faculty to carry out work to churches in the iocese. Petitions from parishes covered everything from the installation of a memorial plaque to full liturgical reordering, with work to heating systems and maintenance to external building fabric being particularly prevalent.

Th ankfully, the amount of theft s of lead and copper from the exterior of church buildings in 2012 had decreased below the fi gures for 2011 and 2010. Th ese att acks have caused serious hardship for churches in the diocese as at least one in every fi ve has suff ered some degree of metal theft since 2007. It is hoped that this problem will now decline, due to the installation of alternative materials at many churches and the deployment of new security systems.

In the summer of 2012, following consultation with the Committ ee, Transforming Church released new guidance to help all parishes set up consistent, eff ective, aff ordable and appropriate sign and notice boards to further support their welcome, mission and outreach. To assist in the development of new signage, Transforming Church off ered £50,000 in grants to parishes that needed new boards. In total, 68 churches expressed a desire to take advantage of these funds and 10 were in a position to seek Faculty permission during 2012.

Th e Committ ee was helped most when church building custodians were familiar with its statutory responsibilities and were aware of the support its members and advisers could off er. Th e Faculty process might appear burdensome and eff orts had been made to improve understanding of how to progress through it as quickly and as easily as possible. Th e Committ ee had been able to work

with the organisers of Continuing Ministerial Education to provide training for new clergy. Its ‘care of buildings’ webpage was viewable on the Church of England - Birmingham website.

Th e Committ ee was glad to be involved at diocesan level in a project to review the condition of the fabric of all Anglican churches nationally through an assessment of quinquennial inspection reports, which was organised by the Cathedrals and Church Buildings Division of Church House, Westminster and funded by English Heritage. It was hoped that this would help bring important grant funding to churches with the greatest need. Th e Committ ee also hoped that parishes would be able to take full advantage of the new ‘Grants for Places of Worship Scheme’, which would now be administered by the Heritage Lott ery Fund, rather than by English Heritage.

SUmmaRy

Overall, the Committ ee hoped that, throughout 2012, it had been able to assist parishes in the good stewardship and the eff ective and sensitive development of their church buildings, in the furtherance of their mission and the provision of pastoral care. Th e Committ ee extend its usual invitation to any clergy and churchwardens to join and observe any of its meetings where they, as att endees, were not petitioning for Faculty.

St BaRNaBaS, erdington Work was completed on the £3.8m restoration aft er an arson att ack in 2007 and the building was redidicated by Bishop David in December.

memBeRSDr Jim Berrow (Chair, appointed by Bishop David)Ex offi cio Th e Ven. Hayward Osborne (Archdeacon of Birmingham) Th e Ven. Dr Brian Russell (Archdeacon of Aston)Mr Graeme Beamish (Architect)Mr Tim Bridges(Amenity Societies’ nominee)Mr Derek Clarke (Architect)Ms Helen Ellison (Local Government Association nominee)Mr Ken Fairbairn (Architect)Th e Revd Mary Gilbert (Diocesan Synod nominee)Mr Christopher Hargreaves (Planner)Dr Mike Hodder (Archaeologist)Mr Robin Hurley (Architect)Dr Sarah Lewis (English Heritage nominee)Mrs Merryn Lloyd (Craft Designer)Mrs Dawn Morse (Heritage Planner)Mr Stephen Oliver (Architect)Mr Harry Rawlings (Electrical Engineer)Mr Charles Shapcott (Structural Engineer)Mr Brough Skingley (Mechanical and Electrical Engineer)

aDvISoRSMr David Bradnock MBE JP DL FBHI (Clocks)Mr Peter Cook (Special Projects)Th e Very Revd Catherine Ogle (Textiles)Mr Chris Rice (Conservation)Mr Andrew Stubbs (Bells)

Dac StaFFMr Adrian Mann (Secretary to the Committ ee)Mrs Vicki Tildesley (Administrator)

aDRIaN maNN secretAry to tHe committee

“the commIttee caN oFFeR aDvIce aNDSUppoRt to paRISheS at aLL StaGeS oFa pRoJect FRom INItIaL thoUGhtS...to compLetIoN.”


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########@birmingham.anglican.org E

phone numbers and emails end or begin with the above unless otherwise noted.

cIGB

commUNIcatIoNS chURcheS & pRopeRty DIoceSaN SecRetaRy

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DavID URqUhaRt

E davidu

kate Stowe

E Bishops chaplain

chRIS wRIGht

E christinew

maRy RoSe

E maryr

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RIchaRD tUckeR

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maLawI oFFIceR

q 0121 427 1163 k Bishop’s croft, old church rd, Harborne, Birmingham B17 0Bg

chaIR oF hoUSe oF cLeRGy

maRtIN StepheNSoN

E martin. stephenson @cantab.net

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the FaIthFUL NeIGhBoURhooDS ceNtRe

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Supported by the Church of England - Birmingham, the Faithful Neighbourhood Centre is aplace where people of diff erent faiths can meet and a resource for the wider church (see page 20).

Th e Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance is a company limited by guarantee Registered in England No. 440966. Registered offi ce as above. Registered Charity No. 249403.

THE CHURCH OF ENGLANDBIRMINGHAM

aNNUaL RepoRt 2012

ASTONCENTRAL BIRMINGHAMCOLESHILLEDGBASTONHANDSWORTHKINGS NORTONMOSELEYPOLESWORTHSHIRLEYSOLIHULLSUTTON COLDFIELDWARLEYYARDLEY & BORDESLEY

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Annual Report 2012

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