1
Deanery Synod Report
April 2025
This has been another important year for the Deanery Synod as it continues to develop and implement the Deanery plan at a time of falling Church attendance and challenging financial constraints. The Deanery Synod has also spent time discussing ideas in making safe-guarding central to all church activities and also launched the programme ‘Seeking, Sharing and Sending’, a three -year plan to develop mission in the diocese.
The Deanery Synod met on March 7th 2024 at St Mary’s Monkseaton, June 26th 2024 at St Mary’s Willington, October 3rd 2024 and 18th February 2025 at Holy Saviour’s Tynemouth.
March 7th 2024. St Mary’s, Monkseaton.
This was Tim Mayfield’s last meeting as Area Dean. He stood down on the 30th April and was replaced by Rev. Nigel Taylor.
A presentation was made by Tara Russell the Diocesan Education Lead and Sue White on the Church ‘Growing Younger’. This is a programme to increase church attendance by young people. Different scenarios were outlined and then discussed in small groups. Feedback was given. The importance of toddler groups and growing relationships with schools were key in bringing more young people into church it was decided.
There was a presentation from the Finance Officer, Iain Shaw. All financial targets were met and exceeded in 2023.
June 26th 2024. St Mary’s, Willington
Rev. Nigel Taylor introduced himself as the new Area Dean. He explained the purpose of the Deanery Synod and asked for greater participation from those attending the Synod.
The issue of safeguarding was discussed. It was stressed that safeguarding was not just a tick box exercise but needed to be integrated into all aspects of church life.
There was feedback from the Deanery planning group. The costing of the plan was presented and discussed. Tynemouth Deanery has been cut by two Stipends. Across the Diocese there is a deficit of 1.1 million and the intention is to make savings of 330k this year.
Iain Shaw the Financial Officer gave a presentation and thanked Churches as financial targets are ahead.
Tim Mayfield discussed Environmental issues affecting the Diocese. A carbon Net Zero Officer is to be appointed soon.
Oct 3rd 2024. Holy Saviours, Tynemouth.
The meeting begun with a moment of silent prayer for Reverend Katie Watson who died recently.
Two questions were asked after the previous meetings minutes were approved.
It was asked whether in this time of financial constraints the levels of staffing at Church House would be under the same level of financial scrutiny as the number of Stipends in the Deanery.
It was also asked if the Diocesan running costs are, disproportionally high in comparison to other Dioceses, and whether there was a benchmark against which this could be judged. It was decided a question would be asked at the next Diocesan Synod.
There was the launch of the programme, Seeking, Sharing and Sending. The first year of the programme was concerned with ‘Seeking’ and a ‘Seeking’ prayer cycle card and ‘Seeking’ response postcard were given out as part of the launch. People are invited to fill in and return the Postcard.
There was a discussion on Safeguarding with an emphasis in changing the culture and embedding safeguarding as part of Church life and not seeing it as a tick-box exercise.
There was a report on the progress of the Deanery Plan. Stipends in the Deanery will be reduced by 2 (14-12). The Diocese would the number of stipends will be eventually reduced to 11. We are asked to pray for the Deanery Planning Group.
Iain Shaw, the Deanery Finance Officer presented the Financial Statements for 2023 this was to assist with both the Mid-year review and planning for next year. The report highlighted average weekly giving of each church in relation to the Deanery Average, and the reserves of each church against the Deanery Average. St George’s Church has weekly giving just above the Deanery Average and reserves well above the Deanery Average
Finally, Tim Mayfield, the new Bishop’s Advisor on the Environment talked about the progress of appointing Net Zero advisors.
February 18th 2025. Holy Saviours, Tynemouth.
The main item was a talk from the Revd. Canon Dr. Rae Caro, Mission Enabler, on “Building from the Ground Up.”
Canon Rae said that mission is critical. She talked about all the motivations that we have for mission, eg biblical, compassion, justice, survival, money, social, discernment, salvation, joy, discipleship and top-down projects, and the barriers to mission, eg people not being able to express who God is for them.
Canon Rae went on to ask “Who is God” and mentioned that God is love, God is our refuge and strength, God is with us, God is faithful and God is a God of justice. She then asked, “Which images of God dominate our Church?” “Which images of God do we want to communicate more deeply?” and we discussed this in small groups.
Canon Rae then asked, “What is the message?” She said that whatever we do speaks of who God is. The next question was “What are we trying to tell people?” and she mentioned the Diocesan strap line, ‘Seeking, Sharing and Sending.’
“Who is God?” was the next question, again discussed in small groups, and Canon Rae talked of her own experience, adding that God transforms lives. She said that “Who God is” is reflected in our church buildings and asked “Does what we already do speak of who God is?” She said that authenticity is very important and that we need to increase confidence in our congregations.
After Canon Rae’s presentation, we had safeguarding – there is a new diocesan team in place – the Deanery plan – it is being re-done, looking at priorities – and the report from Iain Shaw, the Deanery Finance Officer. Although some numbers had gone down over the last two years, the Easter Day attendance, usual child attendance, usual adult attendance and usual Sunday attendance had gone up.
There is currently no Deanery Environment Champion and the Diocesan Environment Adviser was in Tanzania, so there was no report and the reports from General Synod and on the ALM Course were to be sent round.
Emma Doran, Vice-Chair, reported briefly on the November Diocesan Synod, saying that the main focus was finance and that the 80 stipendiary posts we currently have may have to go down to 60 in three years’ time. She said that every deanery is losing people.
In AOB, Revd. Nigel, Area Dean, reminded us that we have to do new electoral rolls this year and that Revd. Daniel McCarthy was being inducted as Rector of the North Shields Parish on Monday, 3rd March.
Sean Dowinton and Margaret Patterson.