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Deanery News
News in Brief Ordinations in London
London Ordination Photo-Report Pilgrimage to Ilam, St. Bertram, 11th August 2007
Deanery Meeting 2006
Clergy and people from across the deanery, all bearing some responsibility for the life and witness of the Church nationally gathered at Whirlow Grange from Monday 29th May to Wednesday 31st May to worship, deepen friendship and discuss our way forward together in Mission some 11 years after the inception of the Deanery. We were delighted to have with us over the three days representation from His Eminence the Most Reverend Gregorios, Archbishop of the Greek Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain in the person of Oeconomos Fr. Stephen Maxfield and from the Russian Diocese of Sourozh, the Very Reverend Archpriest Daniel, Dean of the Northern Region representing His Eminence Innokenty of Korsun, temporary administrator Archbishop of the diocese. A well paced and spaced programme of worship, talks and reflection characterised our three days together and the Spirit of God was very much manifest in the harmony and oneness of mind in our midst. The first day offered opportunities to renew old friendships and make new ones with people more recently being involved in the life of the Deanery nationally. In the evening after Vespers the Dean, Fr. Michael Harper, offered his vision of the "Way Ahead" lifting our heads above matters of consolidation and mere survival to mission and spiritual growth. Groups after Supper explored what practical measures could be submitted to our Bishop, Metropolitan Gabriel and the Trustees concerning the development of the Deanery and the opening of new parish communities. Tuesday saw two talks and two group sessions. The first by Fr. Gregory on Education and Ministry, the second on Mission and Evangelism by Fr. Irenaeus. Both talks were followed by discussion groups. Fr. Gregory's talk (slightly edited) talk may be found here. Fr. Irenaeus' contribution offered ways in which the Deanery could help parishes to embrace mission by sharing resources and ideas. The groups that followed these talks provided much useful material for referral to the Trustees and the Bishop. On Tuesday afternoon we were addressed by Archpriest Daniel from the Diocese of Sourozh and his very warm and encouraging address inspired us all. Archpriest Daniel writes:- "I am deeply grateful to have visited your Conference at Whirlow Grange, Sheffield. The Antiochian Deanery has been enabled by the Holy Spirit to go from strength to strength and this is an inspiration to us all. Seeing your genuine fellowship one with another gives me encouragement and hope as I do all I can to work towards a truly pan-Orthodox Western Europe, blessed by all the Patriarchs. In the meantime we shall support each other more and more. My love and prayers, Archpriest Daniel." On the third day after the Liturgy in the morning the conference moved on to receive talks from Peter Schadler about Orthodoxy in the UK from a young person's perspective, from Ole Petter Leserth about his vision for Norway and from Fr. Stephen Maxfield from the Greek Archdiocese. Fr. Stephen helped us to understand some of the complementary strengths of both the Deanery and the Archdiocese and his very positive contribution was well received by all. Fr. Stephen writes:- "Christ is Risen! ... I was pleased to be delegated by his Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain to represent him at the Deanery Conference. It was a time of instruction, good fellowship and joy in the Risen Lord.!" Mention should perhaps be made of the excellent welcome afforded to us by Whirlow Grange and its staff. We shall be knocking on their doors again ere long I suspect! We certainly left the Conference happy and energised. This is something we should be doing regularly. On this we were all agreed. The Deanery is indeed in good heart and carrying forward God's work of mission, of care and of unity. |
