So, the new Bishop of Rochester is the current Bishop of Lynn and not the Bishop of Croydon. I shall have to have strong words with my clerical spy!
My clerical moles inform me that the new bishop has a good track record on social responsibility issues. I hope one of his first steps (no women bishops yet) is to enquire why Church in Society was allowed to close and the failure of those with power within the diocese to take the necessary action to ensure its continuation.
My clerical moles are most upset by the incompetence over this issue shown by people within the diocese. Needless to say, I never received a reply to my communications to the Bishop of Tonbridge.
TYKE IN KENT'S THEOLOGICAL RAMBLINGS
Showing posts with label CIS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CIS. Show all posts
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Monday, 3 May 2010
Church in Society
Still no mention of the demise of Church in Society in the Rochester Link or the Rochester Halo and I haven't received a reply to my e-mails to the Bishop of Tonbridge. Bad show all round.
At a time when there are to be massive cuts in public expenditure which will put added pressure on front-line charities the Church of England has permitted Church in Society to be dissolved.
The Church of England in Kent has lost the plot as far as social responsibility is concerned. William Temple, Robert Runcie and David Sheppard must be revolving in their graves at the speed of turbines.
At a time when there are to be massive cuts in public expenditure which will put added pressure on front-line charities the Church of England has permitted Church in Society to be dissolved.
The Church of England in Kent has lost the plot as far as social responsibility is concerned. William Temple, Robert Runcie and David Sheppard must be revolving in their graves at the speed of turbines.
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Apologies for returning to this......
When Kent County Council announced it was investing significant resources to develop and sustain a Kent-wide credit union I was amazed. Amazed that a Conservative led council was taking this initiative, particularly after my experience with Essex County Council which was less than helpful in advancing the cause of Essex Savers Credit Union.
I was very disappointed by the failure of the voluntary sector (including faith groups) in Kent to support this initiative, as the groups likely to benefit most from a credit union are the very ones voluntary and faith groups help.
My latest endeavour is to promote a foodbank for Kent. One of the leading charities in the UK is FareShare which has a number of projects across the nation. One is in Leicester where it is partnered by the Leicester Diocese of The Church of England, or to be more specific, by the Diocese's Social Responsibility Department.
The Canterbury and Rochester Dioceses used to have a shared social responsibility department - Church in Society - which became an independent charity.
Now there is nothing (at least nothing in the public domain). It would have been sensible to explore the potential for a foodbank with FareShare and CIS as partners along the Leicester model. Who speaks now for social responsibility in the two dioceses?
I was very disappointed by the failure of the voluntary sector (including faith groups) in Kent to support this initiative, as the groups likely to benefit most from a credit union are the very ones voluntary and faith groups help.
My latest endeavour is to promote a foodbank for Kent. One of the leading charities in the UK is FareShare which has a number of projects across the nation. One is in Leicester where it is partnered by the Leicester Diocese of The Church of England, or to be more specific, by the Diocese's Social Responsibility Department.
The Canterbury and Rochester Dioceses used to have a shared social responsibility department - Church in Society - which became an independent charity.
Now there is nothing (at least nothing in the public domain). It would have been sensible to explore the potential for a foodbank with FareShare and CIS as partners along the Leicester model. Who speaks now for social responsibility in the two dioceses?
Monday, 19 April 2010
CIS disappears from the Internet.
Church in Society's website has been taken off the Internet, although I did manage to print for posterity a cached copy of the home page dated 14th April. Links to the CIS site from the Dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester have been deleted.
Yet nowhere is there any mention of the demise of Church in Society, no thanks for the work CIS undertook and not even a mention of staff being made redundant.
To use the Terry-Thomas catchphrase : what an absolute shower.
Yet nowhere is there any mention of the demise of Church in Society, no thanks for the work CIS undertook and not even a mention of staff being made redundant.
To use the Terry-Thomas catchphrase : what an absolute shower.
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Church in Society
Sadly, I have to report that I have received no response to my communications to the Bishop of Tonbridge concerning the demise of Church in Society.
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Deplorable lack of information on closure of CIS
I have trawled through the April edition of the Rochester Link and Rochester Halo and not a word about the demise of Church in Society which closed yesterday. The CIS website is online, still - and there is a link to the site on the Rochester Diocese website.
Not so much as a 'thank you' to staff who have been through a very difficult time for the past year. Deplorable.
Not so much as a 'thank you' to staff who have been through a very difficult time for the past year. Deplorable.
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Today the bell tolls for Church in Society
Church in Society shuts down today. It is so sad. More than that: it is a disgrace. The Church of England has sent out a clear message in Canterbury and Rochester Dioceses that concern for the poor, the outcast, the downtrodden, the oppressed is low in its priorities. And yet, the Church of England has a history of concern for the deprived.
What has gone wrong? It strikes me that there has been a lack of imagination, courage, conviction and positive action to try and save CIS.
Will anything rise from the ashes? What plans are there for the continuation of social responsibility work? Nothing in the public domain, just as nothing has appeared on the websites of the two dioceses or the CIS website about closure.
What has gone wrong? It strikes me that there has been a lack of imagination, courage, conviction and positive action to try and save CIS.
Will anything rise from the ashes? What plans are there for the continuation of social responsibility work? Nothing in the public domain, just as nothing has appeared on the websites of the two dioceses or the CIS website about closure.
I wonder if I will receive a response from Bishop Brian to my e-mails now CIS is defunct?
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Church in Society: Bishop Brian's Easter message
The Bishop of Tonbridge has published his Easter message part of which reads thus:
In that remarkable act, God was saying that although the forces of negativity and destruction are part of the world and even of ourselves, they do do not have the last say. Through God's help we can rise above them and transform them, just as the surfer can change the wave that could bring destruction into a vehicle which will take him to shore more quickly. Hope and new possibilities are always there, trying to break through in the darkest moments. Over the coming months, we all face challenging times as we need to make important political and economic choices. All of us, at some point in our lives, come up against hard times, tough dilemmas and difficult decisions that need to be faced. The events of Good Friday and Easter remind us that we do not have to be victims of this world and that new life can be found in the most unlikely places.
Well, what to make of that. The forces of negativity and destruction have done for Church in Society. No hope and new possibilities there, just redundancies and dissolution. I am curious to know where new life can be found in this context.
Oh yes, almost forgot: I haven't received any response from the Bishop to my e-mails concerning the demise of Church in Society.
In that remarkable act, God was saying that although the forces of negativity and destruction are part of the world and even of ourselves, they do do not have the last say. Through God's help we can rise above them and transform them, just as the surfer can change the wave that could bring destruction into a vehicle which will take him to shore more quickly. Hope and new possibilities are always there, trying to break through in the darkest moments. Over the coming months, we all face challenging times as we need to make important political and economic choices. All of us, at some point in our lives, come up against hard times, tough dilemmas and difficult decisions that need to be faced. The events of Good Friday and Easter remind us that we do not have to be victims of this world and that new life can be found in the most unlikely places.
Well, what to make of that. The forces of negativity and destruction have done for Church in Society. No hope and new possibilities there, just redundancies and dissolution. I am curious to know where new life can be found in this context.
Oh yes, almost forgot: I haven't received any response from the Bishop to my e-mails concerning the demise of Church in Society.
Friday, 19 March 2010
Sod's Law
No sooner do I bemoan the lack of a response to my e-mails to Bishop Brian and the Tonbridge Archdeacon concerning the demise of Church in Society than what should I receive in today's post but a letter from The Venerable Clive Mansell.
My comments and concerns have been noted. And basically, that's it.
My comments and concerns have been noted. And basically, that's it.
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Oh dear!!
I have come to the conclusion that I shall not receive replies to my e-mails to Bishop Brian and the Tonbridge Archdeacon Clive (smiler) Mansell concerning the demise of Church in Society.
Oh well, so be it. I shall concentrate my gunnery and fire off a salvo in a different direction. Hopefully I shall achieve a direct hit.
Oh well, so be it. I shall concentrate my gunnery and fire off a salvo in a different direction. Hopefully I shall achieve a direct hit.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Silence is deafening!
Still no reply to my e-mails to the Bishop of Tonbridge and the Tonbridge Archdeacon concerning the disgraceful decision to allow Church in Society to go to the wall.
I have perused the Church in Society website, the Rochester Diocese website and the diocesan newsletter. Not a word concerning the imminent demise of Church in Society.
The decision to let Church in Society sink into oblivion when there are so many social problems in Kent, well-documented in the story in last Friday's Tunbridge Wells Courier about the problems faced by poor families, is a disgrace. More than that, it is shameful
The Church of England has a fine tradition of supporting the poor, the oppressed and the downtrodden. Robert Runcie, Hugh Montefiore, David Sheppard and William Temple must be spinning in their graves at the speed of turbines at the antics of the Church of England in Kent.
Once the church had lions roaring against social injustice, now we have mute mice.
I have perused the Church in Society website, the Rochester Diocese website and the diocesan newsletter. Not a word concerning the imminent demise of Church in Society.
The decision to let Church in Society sink into oblivion when there are so many social problems in Kent, well-documented in the story in last Friday's Tunbridge Wells Courier about the problems faced by poor families, is a disgrace. More than that, it is shameful
The Church of England has a fine tradition of supporting the poor, the oppressed and the downtrodden. Robert Runcie, Hugh Montefiore, David Sheppard and William Temple must be spinning in their graves at the speed of turbines at the antics of the Church of England in Kent.
Once the church had lions roaring against social injustice, now we have mute mice.
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Try again
Below is my latest e-mail to the Bishop of Tonbridge and the Tonbridge Archdeacon:
I am disappointed, but not surprised, not to have received a response to my e-mail.
The comment in the letter from John Barton that external funding had dried up shows how badly Church in Society has been managed. I work for a voluntary sector organisation and our funding is increasing. The reason for this is that we are pro-active, well-organised and seek out opportunities – all attributes lacking in Church in Society.
Whatever happened to the preferential option for the poor in the deliberations about CIS?
The Church of England in Kent has lost the plot completely in regard to social responsibility.
Perhaps the strategy now is to keep a low profile and hope the objectors will go away. I can assure you, they will not. My blog is working overtime to ensure the matter remains in the public eye.
I am disappointed, but not surprised, not to have received a response to my e-mail.
The comment in the letter from John Barton that external funding had dried up shows how badly Church in Society has been managed. I work for a voluntary sector organisation and our funding is increasing. The reason for this is that we are pro-active, well-organised and seek out opportunities – all attributes lacking in Church in Society.
Whatever happened to the preferential option for the poor in the deliberations about CIS?
The Church of England in Kent has lost the plot completely in regard to social responsibility.
Perhaps the strategy now is to keep a low profile and hope the objectors will go away. I can assure you, they will not. My blog is working overtime to ensure the matter remains in the public eye.
Friday, 12 March 2010
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Day Four: still no response from B & A
I am informed that a number of people in the dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester have not received replies to letters objecting to the wanton destruction of Church in Society.
Brian Castle and Clive (Smiler) Mansell have many questions to answer.
Brian Castle and Clive (Smiler) Mansell have many questions to answer.
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Three days since..........
........I e-mailed the Bishop etc. Maybe the Bishop and Archdeacon do not think a response is called for. I'll send them a reminder in a few days if needs must.
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Two days since.....
..........I e-mailed the Bishop of Tonbridge and the Archdeacon (the latter is a co-chair of Church in Society) about the regretable, indeed short-sighted, decision to close Church in Society
Monday, 8 March 2010
Church in Society Death Rattle
Today I received a letter sent on behalf of the trustees of Church in Society confirming the organisation will cease at the end of March and that staff have been made redundant.
As to the future, the letter states:
The two dioceses will continue with their own social responsibility and pastoral work.
It is just as I feared (see 25 February post): the work is to be farmed out, fragmented and will be ineffectual. What an utter shambles. It's a b****y disgrace.
No positive option for the poor in Kent then as far as the Church of England is concerned. As it debates women bishops and issues concerning genitalia it has lost sight of the heavy burden placed on it to support the poor and needy in our society.
As one cleric put it:
The moral test of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. The poor have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of the nation. We (the Church) are called to look at public policy decisions in terms of how they affect the poor.
I wouldn't gamble the family silver on the expectation that the Church of England will perform likewise in Kent.
As to the future, the letter states:
The two dioceses will continue with their own social responsibility and pastoral work.
It is just as I feared (see 25 February post): the work is to be farmed out, fragmented and will be ineffectual. What an utter shambles. It's a b****y disgrace.
No positive option for the poor in Kent then as far as the Church of England is concerned. As it debates women bishops and issues concerning genitalia it has lost sight of the heavy burden placed on it to support the poor and needy in our society.
As one cleric put it:
The moral test of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. The poor have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of the nation. We (the Church) are called to look at public policy decisions in terms of how they affect the poor.
I wouldn't gamble the family silver on the expectation that the Church of England will perform likewise in Kent.
One day since......
......I e-mailed the Bishop of Tonbridge and the Tonbridge Archdeacon concerning the demise of Church in Society. Replies awaited.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Church in Society RIP
I have written to the Bishop of Tonbridge and the Archdeacon for Tonbridge as follows:
Dear Bishop Brian and Archdeacon
Below is a piece I put on my blog a few weeks ago:
‘The imminent demise of Church in Society (an independent charity underwritten by the Church of England Canterbury and Rochester Dioceses) is a sad development. It calls into question the commitment of the Church of England to tackle social responsibility issues at a strategic level. In the 1980s the Church of England published Faith in the City and Faith in the Countryside which were devastating critiques of the failure of government to tackle problems of social exclusion.
At a time when a draconian cut in public expenditure over a long period is inevitable it will be the voluntary sector (including faith organisations) which will have to pick up the pieces. The disappearance of an infrastructure organisation which could (a) support front-line work by churches, (b) campaign for policy changes, and (c) represent the Church on strategic partnerships in Kent, is an absolute disgrace.
The two dioceses have shunted social responsibility in to a siding. So far nothing has appeared in the public domain about how the two dioceses will ensure the continuation of the work of Church in Society. My guess is that the work will be farmed out, be fragmented and ineffectual.’
I spent the best part of fourteen years as either secretary, chairman or project developer for Tunbridge Wells Churches Social Responsibility Group and during all that time the organisation received support from CIS, in particular David Grimwood, Jane Winter and John Cunningham. To whom will TWCSRG (soon to be part of Tunbridge Wells Churches Together) turn for support, and in particular support that is authoritative and experienced in social responsibility matters?
The Group achieved a great deal in recent years including:
· A leading role in the development of Tunbridge Wells Community Plan
· A significant role in Tunbridge Wells becoming a Fairtrade town
· Worked hard to develop a credit union. The fruit of that work has been the very recent formation of Kent Savers Credit Union
· Helped establish the Good Neighbour Project in Tunbridge Wells
· Brought together churches of different denominations to work together on social responsibility issues
· Has supported Number One Community Trust, Sherwood Peoples Action, Tunbridge Wells Mental Health Resource, the Bridge Trust and Tunbridge Wells Street Teams.
· Played a leading role in the West Kent Community Legal Services Partnership
Had it not been for the support of CIS much of what has been achieved would not have happened.
I am appalled at the behaviour of the Rochester Diocese towards Tony Cross.
Currently I work in the voluntary sector and the sector has adapted to meet the challenges of reduced statutory funding. My feeling is that CIS should have been given the opportunity to produce a new business model to ensure its continuation.
Last September I was sounded out as to my availability to become a director of CIS. I assented to my name going forward, but heard no more. I have many years experience in the voluntary sector, including being chair of Voluntary Action West Kent, Vice-Chair of the Bridge Trust, Chair of Crossroads Carers, Chair of Number One Community Trust, Chair Allsorts Edenbridge Holiday Club, Chair Panda pre-School Playgroup and much more besides.
What I find objectionable is that no consultation has taken place with organisations or individuals who could have come up with a workable model.⁹⁸
Dear Bishop Brian and Archdeacon
Below is a piece I put on my blog a few weeks ago:
‘The imminent demise of Church in Society (an independent charity underwritten by the Church of England Canterbury and Rochester Dioceses) is a sad development. It calls into question the commitment of the Church of England to tackle social responsibility issues at a strategic level. In the 1980s the Church of England published Faith in the City and Faith in the Countryside which were devastating critiques of the failure of government to tackle problems of social exclusion.
At a time when a draconian cut in public expenditure over a long period is inevitable it will be the voluntary sector (including faith organisations) which will have to pick up the pieces. The disappearance of an infrastructure organisation which could (a) support front-line work by churches, (b) campaign for policy changes, and (c) represent the Church on strategic partnerships in Kent, is an absolute disgrace.
The two dioceses have shunted social responsibility in to a siding. So far nothing has appeared in the public domain about how the two dioceses will ensure the continuation of the work of Church in Society. My guess is that the work will be farmed out, be fragmented and ineffectual.’
I spent the best part of fourteen years as either secretary, chairman or project developer for Tunbridge Wells Churches Social Responsibility Group and during all that time the organisation received support from CIS, in particular David Grimwood, Jane Winter and John Cunningham. To whom will TWCSRG (soon to be part of Tunbridge Wells Churches Together) turn for support, and in particular support that is authoritative and experienced in social responsibility matters?
The Group achieved a great deal in recent years including:
· A leading role in the development of Tunbridge Wells Community Plan
· A significant role in Tunbridge Wells becoming a Fairtrade town
· Worked hard to develop a credit union. The fruit of that work has been the very recent formation of Kent Savers Credit Union
· Helped establish the Good Neighbour Project in Tunbridge Wells
· Brought together churches of different denominations to work together on social responsibility issues
· Has supported Number One Community Trust, Sherwood Peoples Action, Tunbridge Wells Mental Health Resource, the Bridge Trust and Tunbridge Wells Street Teams.
· Played a leading role in the West Kent Community Legal Services Partnership
Had it not been for the support of CIS much of what has been achieved would not have happened.
I am appalled at the behaviour of the Rochester Diocese towards Tony Cross.
Currently I work in the voluntary sector and the sector has adapted to meet the challenges of reduced statutory funding. My feeling is that CIS should have been given the opportunity to produce a new business model to ensure its continuation.
Last September I was sounded out as to my availability to become a director of CIS. I assented to my name going forward, but heard no more. I have many years experience in the voluntary sector, including being chair of Voluntary Action West Kent, Vice-Chair of the Bridge Trust, Chair of Crossroads Carers, Chair of Number One Community Trust, Chair Allsorts Edenbridge Holiday Club, Chair Panda pre-School Playgroup and much more besides.
What I find objectionable is that no consultation has taken place with organisations or individuals who could have come up with a workable model.⁹⁸
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Church in Society RIP
The imminent demise of Church in Society (an independent charity underwritten by the Church of England Canterbury and Rochester Dioceses) is a sad development. It calls into question the commitment of the Church of England to tackle social responsibility issues at a strategic level.
In the 1980s the Church of England published Faith in the City and Faith in the Countryside which were devastating critiques of the failure of government to tackle problems of social exclusion.
At a time when a draconian cut in public expenditure over a long period is inevitable it will be the voluntary sector (including faith organisations) which will have to pick up the pieces. The disappearance of an infrastructure organisation which could (a) support front-line work by churches,(b) campaign for policy changes and (c) represent the Church on strategic partnerships in Kent, is an absolute disgrace.
The two dioceses have shunted social responsibility in to a siding. So far nothing has appeared in the public domain about how the two dioceses will ensure the continuation of the work of Church in Society. My guess is that the work will be farmed out, be fragmented and ineffectual.
In the 1980s the Church of England published Faith in the City and Faith in the Countryside which were devastating critiques of the failure of government to tackle problems of social exclusion.
At a time when a draconian cut in public expenditure over a long period is inevitable it will be the voluntary sector (including faith organisations) which will have to pick up the pieces. The disappearance of an infrastructure organisation which could (a) support front-line work by churches,(b) campaign for policy changes and (c) represent the Church on strategic partnerships in Kent, is an absolute disgrace.
The two dioceses have shunted social responsibility in to a siding. So far nothing has appeared in the public domain about how the two dioceses will ensure the continuation of the work of Church in Society. My guess is that the work will be farmed out, be fragmented and ineffectual.
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