DIOCESE OF EXETER

Vacancy in the Suffragan See of Crediton

2018Submission to Dioceses Commission

THE DIOCESE OF EXETER

The Suffragan Bishop of Crediton, the Right Reverend Dame

Sarah Mullally, was consecrated on 22 July 2015. In December

2017 Bishop Sarah was nominated Bishop of London. The

Bishop’s Diocesan Council (Bishop’s Council and Standing

Committee of the Diocesan Synod) resolved that:

‘This Bishop’s Council, noting the impending vacancy in

the Suffragan See of Crediton subsequent upon the

translation of the Right Reverend Dame Sarah Mullally

to the See of London, wishes to see the See filled and

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an approach made to the Dioceses’ Commission

making the case for the filling of the See.’

The motion was approved unanimously on 20th January 2018.

This paper sets out the background to such an appointment and

the case for filling the See as soon as possible.

January 2018

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The Diocese of ExeterOur Vision and StrategySocial EcclesiasticalMissional

The See of CreditonExeter ArchdeaconryBarnstaple Archdeaconry

The Case for appointing a Bishop of Crediton

Person Specification & Role Description for the Bishop of Crediton

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OUR VISION AND STRATEGY‘I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.’ Jeremiah 29.11

We seek to be people who together are:

Growing in prayer We want to grow in prayer, living a life close to God. This means taking risks as we become more honest with ourselves and more honest with God. Prayer opens up deep places within us to God’s grace which is why it is such a life-giving activity. Growing in prayer is essential if we are to witness to God’s Kingdom and become the people God has called us to be.

Making new disciplesA disciple is someone who follows Jesus Christ. With him as our companion and guide we can travel through life differently, and we hope others will share the adventure with us. We want to be more faithful in our discipleship and allow God to shape our priorities and values. The Christian gospel is good news and we need to find new ways of telling the story, of explaining the faith and giving a reason for the hope that is in us.

Serving the people of Devon with joyWe want to make a difference in the world and witness to God’s love and justice, especially in the communities and schools where we live. Working in partnership with others who are transforming lives, we seek to address the global issues confronting our generation so that everyone may flourish.

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SOCIALDevon is one of the largest counties in England and the Diocese of Exeter is virtually coterminous with the county boundary, covering 2575 square miles. Broadly speaking, the county comprises four main areas: North Devon, East Devon, the broad coastal band in the south which stretches from Exeter to Plymouth, and Dartmoor in the centre.The Diocese has a population of around 1,178,000, concentrated in three main centres: Exeter c129,000; Torbay c140,000; and Plymouth c270,000, the latter including significant areas of deprivation. Exmouth has a population of 36,000 and Barnstaple of 32,000. There are a few other towns with populations over 10,000 and a large number of small towns and villages, frequently divided from each other by steep hills and valleys.Farming and associated supporting industries are very important in the area. There are over 5,000 farms, though few of them are more than 1000 acres. Fluctuating milk prices and the uncertain impact of Brexit on the rural economy continues to generate anxiety in the farming community. Tourism now provides more employment than any other industry in Devon and it brings seasonal employment to both the north and south coasts. There is also a significant service and manufacturing industry, and a number of large naval and military establishments, largely in and around Plymouth, but also at Chivenor near to Barnstaple and the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone near Exmouth.

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ECCLESIASTICALThe Diocese is divided into four Archdeaconries: Exeter, Barnstaple, Totnes and Plymouth. At present there are 22 deaneries (Exeter 7, Totnes 6, Barnstaple 6 and Plymouth 3) following the establishment of a new City Deanery in Plymouth which replaced the three former deaneries in the city. There are two Suffragan sees: Crediton and Plymouth.The Diocesan Bishop provides an overall co-ordination and focus of unity across the Diocese. The Suffragan Bishops assist the Bishop of Exeter in his oversight and share fully in his episcopal work including institutions, licensings and confirmations. With him they are leaders in mission. An informal area scheme operates in which day to day episcopal care is delegated to them. In the case of the Bishop of Crediton this comprises the Archdeaconries of Exeter and Barnstaple, and the Bishop of Plymouth, the Archdeaconries of Plymouth and Totnes. Both Suffragan Bishops have formal Instruments of Delegation. Along with the archdeacons, they are expected to oversee a major portfolio in the life of the diocese.The diocese has 497 parishes (4th highest) and 614 church buildings (5th

highest). In 2016 there were 2860 baptisms, 1620 marriages and 3960 recorded funerals of which 2650 were held in a church building. The October All-Age Average weekly attendance was 23,600 and the Christmas figure was 66,800. By God’s grace, the Diocese has grown in a modest way for the last two years.As of September 2016 there were 200.5 full-time equivalent stipendiary or part-stipendiary Bishops, Priests and Deacons with a further 83 Self-

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Supporting Ministers and 174 Readers. The Diocese is grateful for the ministry of many active retired clergy in the county. We have recently formulated a deployment strategy in anticipation of the reduction in the number of stipendiary clergy through retirement, complemented by a strategy to grow vocations.

MISSIONALFor almost twenty years the Diocese has been organised into Mission Communities of which there are roughly 120. We aim to be mission-oriented, community-focussed and locally-rooted. As God’s people we are called to live out our faith and continue the mission of God as revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We recognise that not every parish can offer every aspect of the Church’s life and ministry, but by joining in partnership with neighbouring churches and forming a Mission Community we can work together more effectively. This will involve a commitment to:

• regular prayer and worship • pastoral care• evangelism and mission, often in collaboration with ecumenical

partners• opportunities for learning, teaching, nurture and growth for disciples

of all ages• youth and children’s work and worship• equipping members for ministry and the development of ministry

teams• ensuring our churches are safe places for all• connecting with the local community especially in service to the

marginalised

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• good administration and stewardship of time, resources and buildings

Mission Communities vary from place to place, but usually involve 150 or more worshiping adults, together with children and young people, in order to form a critical mass. The commitment to work together may be formalised as a united benefice or Team Ministry, or be expressed through a looser partnership. Each Mission Community is encouraged to have a Mission Action Plan. These are working documents which helps the local church look outwards, to grow in prayer, to make new disciples and to serve the people of Devon with joy.

Like many shire counties, the population of Devon is older than the national average, exacerbated by the fact that the county is a popular destination for people in retirement. This represents both a gift and a challenge. Demographic projections underscore the vital importance of evangelism and making new disciples, particularly amongst young families.

The parish share scheme is designed to distribute the financial costs of the Diocese equitably. The Common Fund pays for the clergy, their training, housing and central costs, but it only works if each Mission Community contributes regularly. We support all Mission Communities in their financial administration to develop efficient ways to collect and manage resources through the Parish Giving Scheme.

The Bishop’s Council and Diocesan Synod have maintained a firm grasp of the financial challenges posed in recent years and, as an outcome of a rigorous zero based budget exercise, the average increase in Common Fund for the last few years has been well below inflation – see table below. Looking forward, the current budget for 2018-22 anticipates real terms increases of 1.0% per annum.

The Diocese keeps all aspects of its mission strategy under constant review in the light of accumulating experience. The key priority for the Suffragan Bishops and members of the Bishop’s Staff is to forge creative partnerships in the Gospel and to foster vibrant expressions of God’s Mission in local settings. If our Mission Communities are to flourish they need to be more than economic units or legal entities. They need to embody the life of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and to share that life with others. Jesus came so that we can

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Average % increase Common Fund requested

2009 to 2016 0.63%2014 to 2016 0.08%

YoY % increase/(decrease) requested against the previous

year’s budget2017 (0.03)%2018 1.91%

have life in all its fullness. This is our prayer for the renewal of the Church in Devon.

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THE SEE OF CREDITONThe existence of the two Suffragan Sees has given a balance and rhythm to episcopal oversight in the Diocese. The See of Crediton was founded in 909 following the break-up of the old Anglo-Saxon Diocese which covered much of south and west England. In 1050 the then Bishop, Leofric, moved the See from Crediton to Exeter, and the See of Crediton was suppressed. In 1897, however, the need for a Suffragan Bishop in the Diocese resulted in the creation of the Suffragan See of Crediton, the name being chosen because of its historical significance. Since 1897 there have been nine Bishops of Crediton and the See has been filled continuously since 1954. Both Suffragan Bishops operate across the entire Diocese. However, the area over which the Bishop of Crediton exercises specific delegated responsibility comprises the Archdeaconries of Exeter and Barnstaple. Regular local meetings of the Suffragan Bishop with the Archdeacons, Rural Deans, Lay Chairs and Mission Community Development Advisers form a valuable and well-established forum.

EXETER ARCHDEACONRYThe Exeter Archdeaconry is the largest of the four in the Diocese, and covers south-east Devon from the River Teign eastwards to the Dorset/Somerset border. It includes the city of Exeter which is the hub of the road and rail network leading to all parts of the county. The city is the county town of (new) Devon, an emerging regional capital, and the cathedral city. It also houses the headquarters of the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and the main campus of the University of Exeter. There are a number of significant market towns (Crediton, Cullompton, Honiton, Ottery St Mary, Axminster and Tiverton), and seaside resorts (Exmouth, Sidmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Beer, Seaton, Teignmouth and Dawlish), where there is a high percentage of retired professional people. Although there are many much smaller rural communities in the archdeaconry, in general the area is reasonably prosperous. However, there are significant differences between East Devon and Mid Devon, the latter being notably less prosperous. For example, in the Tiverton area around 30% of school children are in receipt of free school meals, and the rural areas towards the north and west of the archdeaconry are closer in character to North Devon than East Devon.The Archdeaconry comprises seven deaneries: Aylesbeare, which covers the area south-east of Exeter and east of the River Exe, in which Exmouth is the largest town; Cadbury, which has Crediton as its main centre, and includes the rural parishes to the west, north and east of Exeter; Christianity, which is virtually the city of Exeter; Honiton, which includes the town and the communities encircling it, to Lyme Bay in the south and the county boundary to the east; Kenn, an awkwardly-shaped deanery, which comprises the parishes to the west and south-west of Exeter: Ottery, which has Ottery St Mary in the centre and the parishes to the north and south of the town; and Tiverton and Cullompton which comprises the two towns and the surrounding rural areas.Within the seven deaneries there are 175 parishes (but 223 church buildings) in 47 benefices, with the medium term aim of 55.5 full time

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equivalent stipendiary posts, excluding curates in IME 4-7. Currently, there are 18 Self-Supporting Ministers and 10 stipendiary curates in training. The parishes in the Archdeaconry range in their church traditions from the very traditional and the Catholic to the immovably BCP and the strongly Evangelical. Unsurprisingly parishes also vary widely in their attitude to change. The majority of our rural parishes are best described as 'country central' whereas the overtly Evangelical churches are mostly situated in the towns.

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BARNSTAPLE ARCHDEACONRY

The Archdeaconry covers most of North Devon and some of mid-Devon. North Devon is, and sees itself, as a separate world from the rest of Devon and especially from Exeter! The area is predominantly made up of small family farms and rural issues (both national and local) are centre stage. Whilst there is a great pride and resilience amongst these rural communities, life is hard and there are fewer resources available than in east or south Devon.The town of Barnstaple has grown considerably in recent years and is relatively flourishing. It has a new air of confidence, but still contains areas of considerable deprivation. Bideford struggles, but after a long period of serious decline Ilfracombe seems to have turned a corner. In Ilfracombe, a former Community Secondary school has become an 11-18 years Church of England Academy. This is highly significant as there were previously no church secondary schools within the Archdeaconry. The contemporary artist and entrepreneur Damien Hirst has opened a gallery in the town and there is a steady stream of tourists viewing his sculpture Verity on the harbour wall. Within the Archdeaconry is located Lee Abbey, with its resident Christian community of around 90 people serving thousands of people each year. It is a very significant resource both nationally and for the Diocese. Its Warden is an Anglican priest. The Archdeaconry consists of six deaneries: Barnstaple, which includes the town of Barnstaple itself, and the area immediately to the north; Hartland, which includes the important centre of Bideford, and the area west to the

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coast; Holsworthy, which includes the town of Holsworthy and surrounding rural areas; Shirwell, which is the area north-east of Barnstaple to the Somerset border; South Molton, which includes the market town of South Molton, and the rural communities which encircle it; and Torrington, which takes its name from the country town of Great Torrington, and includes the rural areas to its north, east and south. Apart from these larger communities, almost the whole of the Archdeaconry consists of small rural parishes, some of which are very small, scattered and remote. The key line of communication is the North Devon Link Road which runs from exit 27 of the M5, east of Tiverton, to Barnstaple and Bideford. There is also a rail service from Exeter to Barnstaple.A key issue which is being addressed by the Diocese is the future use of our large number of historic and expensive to maintain church buildings. With support from the national Strategic Funding, a ‘Growing the Rural Church’ project has been launched with a fulltime project leader. Pilots are running in each Archdeaconry, but we anticipate that the greatest impact of the project will be in Barnstaple Archdeaconry. The Suffragan Bishop in partnership with the Archdeacon is vital in providing the overall vision and pastoral support which will enable this project to move forward successfully.Within the six deaneries of the Archdeaconry there are 135 parishes (but 156 church buildings) in 33 benefices, with the medium term aim of 28.5 full time equivalent stipendiary posts, excluding curates in IME 4-7. Currently, there are 35.82 FTE posts (32 full-time, 5 half-time and 4 House for Duty). There are also 3 stipendiary curates in training, 10 Self-Supporting Ministers and 7 Self-Supporting curates in training. The pattern of ministry has been agreed, but we are waiting for a number of movements/ retirements before certain strategic changes can be put in place.

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The Archdeaconry is not an area to which many clergy move on retirement, and during vacancies and holiday periods it can be difficult to find cover for the maintenance of Sunday services. This conflicts directly with the seasonal nature of the ministry which is called for to the thousands who take holidays in the area. We need to foster a more imaginative style of ministry in tourism hotspots and are currently exploring different models of ministry in our market and seaside towns.

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The case for filling the See of Crediton

Exeter is the fourth largest English diocese by area, just behind Leeds, York, and Lincoln; the fourth in terms of the number of parishes; and the fifth in terms of church buildings behind Oxford, Lincoln, Norwich and Leeds. All five of these dioceses are currently served by either three or more Bishops. Exeter is the tenth (equal) largest diocese in terms of full-time stipendiary clergy, and second largest in terms of part-time stipendiary clergy. Of the dioceses with more clergy posts, eleven are served by two, three or four Suffragan or Area Bishops. In terms of population, Exeter ranks as the nineteenth largest English diocese.The Diocese is currently served by up to 200 stipendiary bishops, priests and deacons. In practice this means that each Archdeacon relates to around 50 stipendiary clergy and each Suffragan Bishop relates to around 100 stipendiary clergy, not including the growing number of SSMs, Readers and Lay Ministers. The administrative and legal burden on archdeacons and bishops, not least in the realm of safeguarding, has increased significantly in recent years and that even with appropriate levels of administrative support this has still resulted in an increased work-load for the senior staff. It is the opinion of the Bishop’s Council that the number of Suffragan Bishops must be maintained otherwise it will create an unsustainable workload generating a major rearrangement of pastoral care across the Diocese.The Commission will recall that in 2012 a Working Group of the Bishop’s Council and Standing Committee of Diocesan Synod reviewed the pattern of leadership and oversight in the Diocese, partly to consider whether the current establishment of two Suffragan Bishops and four Archdeacons is the appropriate balance. The Working Group concluded that the socio-cultural shape of Devon is served best by sustaining the historic pattern of having two Suffragan Bishops, mindful of the following factors:

Plymouth is a city of in excess of a quarter of a million people and growing, with areas of multiple deprivation. The need for a bishop primarily devoted to the provision of episcopal leadership to that city and its environs remains clear.

The large geographical area of the Diocese, much of which is remote and deeply rural, makes travel incredibly time-consuming. Apart from the axis from Plymouth to Exeter, and the routes from Exeter to the north-east and east of the county, travel across Devon is very slow indeed. This means that the amount of time spent travelling, even with three bishops in post, is significant. As it can take up to two hours to reach some remote rural areas of the Diocese from Exeter, the work of the Bishop of Crediton is equally necessary for the overall level of episcopal ministry now expected within the Church.

Without two Suffragan Bishops this Diocese would be impossible to oversee and theirs is a vital extension of the Diocesan Bishop’s own ministry. Even with four archdeacons shouldering much of the administrative work, the Suffragans are stretched to the limit.

The predominant determinant of the number of Suffragans required is our commitment to mission, our dedication to fulfil the Great

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Commission and the clear need for bishops to lead us in obedience to it.

The Bishop’s Council concluded in 2012 and again now that it is not feasible to achieve the goals we have set with a reduced number of Suffragans. It recommended that the number of Suffragan Bishops within the Diocese of Exeter should remain at two, and that both the See of Crediton and the See of Plymouth should be filled.All this has already been recognised by the Commission within the last three years: in our previous submissions to the Commission in 2014 to fill the vacant See of Plymouth, and then again in 2015 to fill the vacant See of Crediton. Our Diocese is engaged in a period of sustained mission led by the three bishops under the banner ‘Bishops in Mission’. Recent experience shows that the visibility of bishops and their ability to spend significant amounts of time engaged in mission and teaching has a direct impact on the success of the diocesan growth policy and in generating new vocations.

At its meeting in January 2018 the Bishop’s Council and Standing Committee of Diocesan Synod re-endorsed its earlier conclusion that both Suffragan Sees should be filled ‘as and when they fall vacant’. The same Council is now convinced that with the translation of the Right Revd Dame Sarah Mullally to the See of London after only two and a half years will have a severe detrimental effect on the life of the Diocese and its current targeted work in growth and mission if she is not replaced quickly.Having two Suffragan Bishops in the Diocese is crucial in providing the necessary leadership and impetus in making our Vision and Strategy a reality and embedding it the life of the Church in Devon. The bishops are agents of change and growth, and are regarded as pivotal to God’s mission.

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Person Specification and Role Description for the Bishop of Crediton“I long for us to be caught by a fresh vision of the beauty of God and of the glory we see in the face of Jesus Christ and him crucified. In my view nothing else will capture the hearts and minds of our generation. We can have great diocesan strategies, but if we aren’t discovering more of the grace and life of God ourselves then we will have nothing to offer.”

Bishop Robert, Installation Sermon, July 2014

The Bishop of Crediton will: be committed to our diocesan ‘Vision and Strategy’ be a person of prayer, whose discipleship is rooted in the scriptures

and shaped by the riches of the Christian tradition have a passion for mission and be committed to spiritual and

numerical growth ensure that safeguarding is a priority in the Diocese and will be

personally committed to effecting a culture change in the life of the Church of England

be an imaginative and engaging communicator of the faith who is theologically orthodox, generous and accessible

be committed to lifelong learning, motivational leadership and personal development

be a bridge-builder and a focus for unity who is comfortable relating to a diversity of church traditions, including those unable to receive the ministry of women priests and bishops, and be a standard bearer for the Five Guiding Principles

be able to handle conflict appropriately, not shying away from difficult conversations

be able to work strategically across a large geographical area, including remote rural contexts

bring their organisational expertise and strategic thinking to shaping new strategic development funding bids to the National Church

encourage more effective partnership between our parishes, church schools and chaplaincies in loving service to their local communities

be approachable, a good listener and a pastor to all, building mature relationships at every level, fostering trust but also able to offer challenge

foster vocations that reflect the cultural changes that are shaping the 21st century

be a champion of the issues facing the people of Devon

The role of the Bishop of Crediton is to:

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1. share with the Bishop of Exeter and the Bishop of Plymouth in the leadership of the mission of God in the Diocese.

2. develop good working relationships with the Archdeacons of Exeter and Barnstaple, the Director of Mission and Ministry, the Mission Communities Development Advisers, the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, and the Diocesan Secretary in the exercise of pastoral care and in taking forward the diocesan vision and growth strategy.

3. have primary responsibility for the appointment, pastoral care and deployment of clergy in the Archdeaconries, in consultation with other interested parties.

4. be a sponsoring bishop, sharing with the Bishop of Exeter and the Bishop of Plymouth, in the oversight, selection and training of ordinands in consultation with the DDO.

5. oversee at least one major portfolio in the work of the Diocese. The allocation of responsibilities will take into account the gifts and varying interests among the Bishop’s senior staff and be subject to regular review. Proven experience in the areas of safeguarding and finance would be particularly welcome.

6. reach beyond the boundaries of the Church by forging contacts and building relationships with leaders of business, local government, the NHS, the university and the farming community.

7. foster ecumenical co-operation within the Archdeaconries of Exeter and Barnstaple.

8. have a special concern for our church schools and academies to ensure that they are grafted ever more closely into the mission strategy of the Diocese.

9. participate in wider episcopal meetings: SW Bishops (three times a year), and the College of Bishops meetings (twice a year).

10. share with the Bishop of Exeter and the Bishop of Plymouth in the full range of episcopal duties which arise within the Diocese. Some of the primary duties within the two archdeaconries, other than those detailed above, are as follows:a) to take a lead responsibility for the episcopal role in appointments

in a significant proportion of the vacancies.b) to preside at approximately 33% of the confirmation services in the

Diocese as a whole.c) to commission Rural Deans.d) to institute or license, usually when the appointment is internal to

the Diocese.e) to oversee the granting of Permissions to Officiate within the area.f) to assist with, and on occasion preside at, ordinations.g) to meet regularly with the Archdeacons and Rural Deans, and Lay

Chairs, and other relevant groups within the Archdeaconries of Exeter and Barnstaple.

h) to undertake the Ministry Development Reviews of clergy in partnership with the Archdeacons and other trained reviewers

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i) to assist in the exercise of clergy discipline. The Suffragan Bishop generally exercises informal or pastoral discipline, with the Bishop of Exeter normally taking the lead when formal disciplinary action is required under the Clergy Discipline Measure.

SupportThe Suffragan Bishops are each supported by a PA and are members of the College of Canons of the Cathedral. Their Ministry Development Reviews are normally undertaken by the Diocesan Bishop. They are encouraged to maintain a strong relationship with a Spiritual Director and to participate in local and national training of bishops.Location In order to maximise the value of the main arterial roads in Devon which serve the large area already described, the Suffragan Bishop of Crediton lives in a house based in the market town of Tiverton. This house has been extensively re-modelled by the Diocese within the recent past, providing both an office and a meeting space, as well as personal accommodation.

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