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I
took over responsibility as Rural Dean from Revd April Richards in May 2005.
My principal role is being the full-time minister for the Parish of
Bramshott and Liphook. This is shared with being Rural Dean. You will not find
mention of Rural or Area Deans in the pages of Scripture. They have a pastoral
and administrative role, which has developed in the Church of England over many
hundreds of years. For the moment – although there are big questions about the
long-term sustainability of the old parish system – the Church of England is
still organised geographically. The country is split into Dioceses (in our case
the Diocese of Portsmouth since 1927), then Archdeaconries (in our case the
Archdeaconry of the Meon since 1999), Deaneries (Petersfield Deanery for many
years) and finally parishes.
Rural Deans are appointed, from within the clergy of the local Deanery,
by the Bishop. A Rural Dean usually serves for 5 years at a time and has a
responsibility to the Bishop, the Archdeacon, fellow Deanery clergy and the
local parishes. A key role of the Rural Dean is to support parishes during
vacancies and, where appropriate, to be part of the interview process. The
welcome and encouragement of new clergy into parishes is also important.
At my licensing on 4th July 2005, the New Testament reading came
from St Paul’s first letter to the Christians at Thessalonika. Paul challenges
the leadership and Christians to be what is, suggest, a blueprint for me and for
you – both here in the parishes and in the Deanery. ‘We urge you, brothers,
warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with
everyone…..Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all
circumstances….The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.’
1 Thess 5:14, 16-18, 24. My
call to the parish of Bramshott and Liphook and this wider community was never
to do this on my own or in my own strength. We believe in the church as the Body
of Christ and we believe in the God who calls and equips ordinary men, women and
children to do extraordinary things for Him. For each of us the words of Paul
are true – ‘The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.’
Simon
Weeden
Rural
Dean
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