This meeting took place Tuesday 15th October at St. Mary Magdalene Church at 7.15 for 7.30pm.

(St. Mary’s is in centre of Richmond, very close to the bus station, and as parking is very difficult in that area, it is probably better to use the buses. The 65 from Kew calls there on its incoming journey, also the 371 from Ham and Petersham, and the 33 and others from Barnes & East Sheen for “inward” journeys., The 33 & 371 leave from outside Waitrose on homeward journeys. The 65 towards Kew calls in the main street, opposite M & S and Tescos.

 Materials for the meeting and the minutes (including comments on the Mission Action Plan) are available below:

This was an excellent presentation that was very well received by all present at the Deanery Synod on 23 January 2013 – presentation given by Rev’d Sue Clarke.

The presentation and minutes can be downloaded below:

Please see the attached minutes of the Synod meeting:

For immediate release                             Thursday 22 November 2012

Know then that you are beloved and valued

These words are from the homily which the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, gave at the midday Eucharist at Southwark Cathedral on Thursday 22 November.  Bishop Christopher had invited the clergy, both women and men, from Southwark Diocese to come to pray together following the vote of the General Synod on Tuesday not to allow women Bishops.

As the service began he noted that the Revd Georgie Heskins was at the altar with him.   He said that he and Georgie had trained for the ministry together and when he had been ordained Deacon in 1983 she had been licensed as a Deaconess. She was ordained Deacon in 1987 and Priest in 1994.  We are, he said, still waiting for the completion of the journey which would allow women to be consecrated to the Episcopate.

In his homily Bishop Christopher spoke of the range of emotions with which everyone had come to this service and of the pain of rejection that this brings to many.  He said, ‘We have seen the bewilderment of politicians, press and parishioners up and down the land following the rejection’ but he said, ‘rest assured we will have women in the Episcopate.  The principle is decided and I am committed to working purposefully to find a way forward.’ He went on to say that as Archbishop Rowan said in his farewell address to General Synod, there is a real need to build trust between all in our Church.

After the service the Bishop met with members of the clergy who wished to speak with him about the vote.

The full text of the Bishop’s sermon can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/d8atzkr