Why are we revitalising our Deaneries?
Understanding the Case for Change
WHY are we revitalising our Deaneries?
The Diocese of Chester is wonderfully varied - from the Wirral to the High Peak, from rural parishes to industrial heartlands, from market towns to thriving suburbs, from some of our most deprived communities to some of our most affluent. That variety is a strength, but it means one-size-fits-all doesn't work. Our parishes, chaplaincies and schools need to “speak the gospel with a local accent” - joining in with what God is already doing in each community.
The world has also changed a lot in the last 50 years. Church life often doesn't sit at the centre of community life the way it used to, and our church demographics don't yet match the breadth and diversity of the people we serve. These are the challenges that our three diocesan strategic priorities are designed to address:
New Christian Communities that truly engage with the people around us,
New Collaborative Partnerships that let us work together locally, and
New Leadership Development that identifies and releases the leaders we need for the future.
Our Deaneries are best placed to help us respond. They can spot where God is at work and share the good news stories. They can see where there's scope for wider collaboration, and where local mission and ministry needs support. They can spot emerging leaders and help deploy them where they're needed most. And they can bring local insight together, so we direct diocesan resources where they'll make the most difference.
That's why revitalising our Deaneries, and giving them more ability to shape and manage mission and ministry locally, is at the heart of our strategy.
Revitalisation means:
Renewed focus and purpose - Deaneries concentrating on our strategic priorities, shared mission, and pastoral care for leaders
Renewed design and leadership - the right size and shape to be robust, connected and well led, with clear roles for lay and ordained leaders working together.
This consultation is your opportunity to learn more about why we're proposing these changes, and to share what excites you, what concerns you, and anything you think we've missed.
Read the full case for change →