The Diocese of Chichester Committee Structures: Report Matthew Chinery Registrar of the Diocese of Chichester Solicitor, Winckworth Sherwood LLP

Restructuring for Resourcing Mission  1) Revocation of Area Scheme (2012/2013)  2) 4 th Archdeaconry (Synod Consultation concluded May 2014)  3) Restructuring at Church House (2013/2014)  4) Restructuring of Committees (2014/2015?) Four parts of one whole

“For God so loved the world that he did not send a Committee” (Anon)

Committees – Do we need them? Why?  Yes!  1) Because the law says so  E.g. Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee  2) Efficient administration and Management  Regular meetings  Subsidiarity  Time pressures on Synod  Utilising Expertise & Experience

The Current Structure – A 3-Headed Monster? Diocesan Synod Finance Committee (Directors of DBF) Various Financial Subcommittees Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee Archdeaconry Mission and Pastoral Committees x3 Bishop’s Council Agenda Committee etc

Potential Issues with Current Structure  Joined-up thinking? How? How often?  Synod meets only twice a year, often with significant statutory business (Article 8 references, approval of DBF Accounts  Is the distinction between (for example) what is a “financial” matter and what is a “mission” matter always a real distinction?  What happens when Finance Committee and Bishop’s Council disagree about a proposal and its resourcing?

Aims for any proposed replacement structure  Simple  Understandable  Accountable  Representative

Proposals Presented to Bishop’s Council Diocesan Synod Bishop’s Council (Directors of DBF & Statutory MPC) Archdeaconry Mission and Pastoral Committees (x2? x4?) Operational Finance Committee

How a diagram might look: Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich

A New-Look Bishop’s Council - Scope  Implementing the resolutions of Synod  Reporting to Synod  Shaping Diocesan policy, finance & strategy  Making strategic policy decisions, considering all aspects, including financial  Developing policy to bring to Synod  Ensuring effective governance (including financial management)

Operational Finance Committee- Scope  Facilitation and enabling the implementation of policy as set by Synod and Bishop’s Council  Overseeing the effective management of material assets and funds (whether directly or through specialist subcommittees)

Archdeaconry Mission and Pastoral Subcommittees  Spot the difference?

How and When?  Amendments to both the Articles of Association of the DBF and Standing Orders of Synod  These need to be revisited anyway – 4 th Archdeaconry  Opportunity – May 2015  Dissolution of Synod and its subcommittees  New elections – nobody’s position abolished!  Lead-in period. Experimenting with joint working. Opportunity to review progress in November.

Thank You Matthew Chinery Diocesan Registrar Solicitors and Parliamentary Agents Minerva House 5 Montague Close London SE1 9BB DX London Bridge 6 T F